Natural Awakenings Fairfield County September 2017

H E A L T H Y

L I V I N G

H E A L T H Y

feel good • live simply • laugh more

Cancer Free

Strategies for Natural Prevention and Healing

WHY YOGA?

Rodney Yee and Yogi Brian on the Yogic Life

P L A N E T

FREE

Screen Detox How to Set Boundaries in the Digital Era

September 2017 | Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition | eNaturalAwakenings.com

The Natural Choice – The Breiner Whole-Body Health Center

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

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501 Kings Highway East, Suite 108, Fairfield CT

Doesn’t it make sense to see the authority?

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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

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

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

natural awakenings

The Center for EcoAgriculture, Aesthetics and Human Development Courses. Workshops. Lectures. Retreats.

Learn how to live a healthy and happy lifĐľ full of possibility!

Women’s Wellness Warriors Retreat with Dr. Kristine Blanche September 22 - 24, 2017 Friday - Sunday

The Possibility Principle, Learning to Live a Fearless and Resilient Life with Mel Schwartz October 20 - 22, 2017 Friday - Sunday

The Learning Collaborative Lodging and accommodations available.

Aid for those in need.

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September 2017

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contents 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.

Clinics The UB Clinics are open to the public and provide comprehensive healthcare services to over 20,000 patients per year with an emphasis on wellness and prevention at the nation’s Center of Excellence for integrative healthcare.

Call today to discover how you can receive state-of-the-art, patient-centered care in the following fields:

• Acupuncture • Chiropractic

• Dental Hygiene • Naturopathic Medicine

29 RODNEY YEE ON YOGA AS A WAY OF LIFE

29

Simple Strategies for Staying on Track

by Marlaina Donato

30 WHY YOGA?

by Brian Buturla

No insurance is needed.

34 COLLABORATION WITH

Call to schedule an appointment: 203-576-4349 60 Lafayette Street - Bridgeport, CT 06606

Turning Point Healing

CONSCIOUS INTENT

Arts & Education Center

by Nicole Miale

bridgeport.edu/UBclinics

36 LIVE CANCER-FREE

Natural Ways to Prevent and Heal Cancer

by Linda Sechrist

39 BEING BEAUTY

What Makes Us Glow

by Glennon Doyle Melton

44 TAP OUT OF IT

EFT Can Ease the Trauma

36 52

of a Cancer Diagnosis

by Suzanne Rossini

46 MORE THAN SKIN DEEP

Thermography Maps

Body Temperature Changes

by Ariana Rawls Fine

52 FABULOUS FAN FARE Healthy Tailgating Foods to Cheer For

by Judith Fertig

58 FAMILY SCREEN TIME

How to Set Boundaries in the Digital Era

by April Thompson

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8 newsbriefs 19 healthbriefs 22 wisewords 24 globalbriefs 26 masteringyoga 28 yogabriefs 29 fitbody 32 yogaprofiles 34 communityspotlight 48 practitionerprofiles 50 inspiredtable 52 consciouseating 60 naturallyhealthypet 64 petresourceguide 67 calendar 7 1 classifieds 72 resourceguide 78 displayadindex

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

Deadline for ads: the 12th of the month.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Visit eNaturalAwakenings.com.

Deadline for News Briefs: the 12th of the month.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Visit eNaturalAwakenings.com.

Deadline for magazine calendar listings: the 12th of the month. Website calendar listings may be entered at any time.

REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets!

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

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Natural Health & WELLNESS CENTER

Individualized Treatment Plans for Acute and Chronic Conditions Osteoarthritis & Joint Disorders • Back Problems Cholesterol Problems • Anxiety & Depression Fatigue, Insomnia & Weight Gain • Diabetes High Blood Pressure • Headaches & Migraine Upper Respiratory Conditions

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September 2017

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letterfrompublisher

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contact us Publisher/Executive Editor Nicole Miale Editor Ariana Rawls Fine Design & Production Kathleen Fellows Erica Mills Local Contributors Alison Birks, Lorraine Elmo, Dianne Frost, Mary Oquendo, Suzanne Rossini, Marie Winters Sales & Marketing Leslie McLean Nicole Miale Operations Jill Badyrka Distribution Man in Motion LLC Richard Bruno Natural Awakenings Fairfield County 137 Danbury Rd, #323, New Milford, CT 06776 Phone: 203-885-4674 Fax: 203-516-2392 NicoleM@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com eNaturalAwakenings.com NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com © 2017 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.

here are very few people among us who have not been touched in some way by the modern epidemic called cancer. Whether it is direct personal experience or the painful experience of loving and supporting someone else dealing with their illness, cancer has sadly become a point of commonality for many.

In this issue we tackled the broad subject, specifically looking at natural strategies to both prevent and heal cancer. While things have gotten better with the advent of integrative cancer centers, the concepts of prevention and healing cancer are still not widely discussed by conventional physicians. We hope the information provided is Nicole Miale educational and supportive; it is sent with love and utmost compassion for anyone in need.

September is yoga month across the nation; in recognition we’ve expanded the usual Mastering Yoga section to include information from many studios around the area, educational tidbits about the various benefits of yoga, plus articles from the two men who were my first yogis. One taught me on videotape (yes, that long ago, lol) and the other in person; I’m still grateful to both! Rodney Yee and Norwalk’s own Yogi Brian Buturla each share some insightful words on what it means to choose and live a yogic lifestyle.

I have some news to share. It’s hard to believe sometimes, but I’ve been publisher of Natural Awakenings in Fairfield/Southwestern Litchfield Counties for more than four years. I still love what I do! Sure, there are days when I’m frustrated, overtired or all talked out. Even those days are OK with me because I know what I do matters. That’s why when the recent chance arose to take over the Hartford County edition of Natural Awakenings, I realized quickly I still had more to give. I love what I do enough that I want to do even more of it! It is tremendously exciting as I look forward to being of service to a new, vibrant community where I already know some people but look forward to reconnecting with and meeting many more. Community expansion has always been our mantra here at Natural Awakenings and that has not changed with the years. So with this September issue I am now the publisher of two amazing Natural Awakenings editions. Exciting!

There are many great events coming up this month across the state. Natural Awakenings will be at many, with one edition or the other. I look forward to seeing you there!

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 $30 (for 12 issues) to the above address.

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

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Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

See our advertiser index on page 78, making it easier to find the resources you need. natural awakenings

Thyroid cancer rates are skyrocketing due to toxic flame retardants in many household furnishings including mattresses.

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September 2017

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newsbriefs

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the revolution of consciousness A Conscious Lifestyle Event

Sunday, September 24, 2017 THE REGGIE LEWIS CENTER • BOSTON, MA Healthy Living / Healthy Planet Vendors • Interactive Workshops Bodywork Oasis* • Movement Classes • Labyrinth Walking Meditation Documentary Film Screening and More

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*some bodywork may require a nominal fee or suggested donation

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

he Institute for Holistic Health Studies (IHHS) at Western Connecticut State University has announced its schedule of programs for the fall semester.

The semester kicks off with the presentation of Meditation: Multicultural Perspectives on September 6 from 4:45 to 8:45pm, in the Campus Center of the WCSU Westside campus, located on Mill Plain Road in Danbury. Several workshops presented by local practitioners and educators will offer various styles of meditation including yoga, drumming, intuitive meditation and Tibetan singing bowls. This event is free and open to the public.

The Wellness Wednesday Workshop series begins on September 13 with Dr. Michael Finkelstein presenting An Introduction to the Integrative Approach to Health. This series of free workshops, open to the public, will take place in White Hall, Room 127, on the WCSU Midtown campus, located at 181 White Street, Danbury.

Additional Wellness Wednesday workshops include: • Acupuncture for Stress Management with Laura Shahinian Kara (September 27); • Decoding Food Labels with Deb Oria (October 11); • Poetry and Journaling for Self and Social Action with Rebecca Schoenewolf (October 25); • Drumming for the Health of It with Herman Olivera III (November 8); and • Pilates for You with Marion Cooper (November 28).

The IHHS sponsors a monthly Sahaja Yoga Meditation on the second Tuesday of the month (September 12, October 10, November 14 and December 12) at 7pm in Warner Hall, Room 103, on the WCSU Midtown campus. This is a seated meditation with breath work, finger mudras, affirmations and chakra clearing. This meditation event is free and open to the public.

Stressed is Desserts Spelled Backwards, a special event presentation sponsored by IHHS, will offer the wisdom of internationally known author, award-winning film director, motivational speaker and holistic stress management expert, Brian Luke Seaward, PhD. The event will be held October 18 at 7:30pm in the Ives concert hall on the WCSU Midtown campus, located at 181 White Street, Danbury. Tickets for this presentation are available at the WCSU box office at 203-837-TIXX or WCSU.edu/Tickets, or at the door. General admission is $15. A book signing will immediately follow the presentation.

For more information, visit WCSU.edu/IHHS.

natural awakenings

Opening Bell Sounding for ViBe Café in Newtown

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OUND (A Center for Arts & Mindfulness) is expanding in the historic Hawleyville Chapel in Newtown.

This fall, ViBe Café will be opened on the main floor of the center. Dubbed a conscious cafe and bookstore, it will be a place where folks can come enjoy community with others looking to connect, share and grow while surrounded by delicious local food and drinks.

The café will be a local coffee house and tea bar offering grab-and-go healthy farm-to-table food that changes with each season. The signature ViBé blend coffee from Redding Roasters and an extensive tea selection ranging from the basic Earl Grey and chai rooibos to anahata (heart chakra tea) to fairtraded decadent hot cocoa and local kombucha are sure to inspire any artist, seeker or healer. The main food items are healthy salads, baked goods and snacks created by local Newtown chef Pam Buchler of Aquarian Caterers. The bookstore will house a wide selection of new and used books.

ViBe Café is a collaborative effort between new age recording artist and founder/director of SOUND, Jennifer Aurelia, and Dr. Sarah Baroody, a Danbury ophthalmologist and book lover.

ViBé Cafe is planned to open for business this fall alongside the new schedule of classes, workshops and events at SOUND.

SOUND (A Center for Arts and Mindfulness), a center for creative expression and conscious education, was opened on December 15, 2012 by Aurelia (previously known as Jennifer Zulli) with a focus on healing arts, intuitive development, sound and expressive arts.

For more information, visit SOUNDCenterArts.com. Location: SOUND (A Center for Arts & Mindfulness), 31 Hawleyville Rd, Newtown.

Expanding Possibility Through Vision Eyecare Associates, PC Dr. Randy Schulman, M.S., O.D., FCOVD Dr. Narvan Bennett, O.D. Dr. Stephen Carr, O.D. Dr. Brian Rodrigues, O.D.

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September 2017

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newsbriefs Dance Experiences for All Ages in Norwalk

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rtistry in Motion

by Phillip Morris has opened in Norwalk with additional classes to be held in Fairfield this fall.

Owner and director Phillip Morris, an artist, choreographer and coach, has taught in the Fairfield County area for three years. He began his dance training in a competitive studio while studying classical voice privately. After high school he was accepted into A.M.D.A. in New York City, where he studied musical theater and acting. Morris continued his studies at the Ailey/BFA program. Currently he’s training in extreme stretch handstand and contortions at Aerial Arts and Circus Warehouse.

Morris has performed and taught internationally with Gloria Estefan, Jean Ann Ryan Productions, MMVAs, Harry Jerome Awards, Caribana Toronto, Stiletto Entertainment, Donald Byrd, Rosie O’ Donnell and Disney.

He was also honored to be one of the first instructors to implement dance into the academic school setting in Ontario, Canada. Morris continues to teach recreational and competitive dance across the U.S. and Canada.

He also holds certifications in AFAA, 30/60/90 and Floor Tech.

Dancers from age six to 75 can choose to perform, compete or just take classes to explore self-awareness and grace. Competition teams offer a positive growth perspective to dance, working on life skills, discipline and team cooperation. Artistry in Motion offers classes in contemporary, jazz, Broadway, and ballet for children, teens and adults.

For more information, call 646-7259989 or email AIMStudiosCT@gmail. com for the fall schedule.

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Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

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Preserving Connecticut Vitality through Music

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n September 23, from 3:30pm to sunset, at Middlebury’s Tranquility Farm, Jazz at the Lake will celebrate Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition’s (PRWC) ongoing environmental stewardship and coalition-based leadership. The event will also raise funds needed to support its internship and youth conservation corps programs, educational programs, the development of and advocacy for sustainable water and land use policies, watershed monitoring and restoration initiatives, and other important work.

The Berkshire Jazz Orchestra, a 17-piece ensemble, will play at Jazz at the Lake. Fine food and wine, silent and live auctions, and special guests will also be on hand at the event. With a promise to knock your socks off with music by greats such as Stan Kenton, Buddy Rich, Glen Miller and Tommy Dorsey, the music also includes silky renditions of familiar favorites. Tickets are $75 per person.

For more information, visit Pomperaug.org. Location: Tranquility Rd, Middlebury.

Birth Symposium: Having the Birth You Want

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ircle for Life Midwifery and St. Vincent’s Medical Center are hosting the St. Vincent’s Third Annual Birth Symposium on September 13, from 7 to 9pm, in Bridgeport. The event enables women to talk with family birthing experts about planning their desired birth experience at St. Vincent’s homelike midwifery suite and birthing center.

The event will be held in the Cancer Center on Level 4, Hawley 1, which is located at 2800 Main Street in Bridgeport. Birth center tours will start at 6:30pm, but note that those interested must meet in the hospital’s lobby.

Meet Circle for Life Midwifery’s midwives, including Sarah Najamy, CNM; Parvin Kasraian, CNM; and Jemine Wayman, CNM. Melissa Melendez, BSN, RNC-MNN, the nurse manager for the Family Birthing Center, will be on hand to answer questions about the center. Other service providers include Bradley Method’s Nancy and George Bernsten; Jodi Palmieri, RN, LLC, St. Vincent’s lactation specialist; Cynthis Overgard of HypnoBirthing of CT; From Labor to Love Photography’s JoAnn Marrero; Jodi, a child passenger safety technician with Car Safe; Birthing from Within’s Giedre Kere; Birth Partners of CT; doulas; and other services from Fairfield County.

For more information, call 203-944-0264 or visit StVincents.org/Community-Wellness/Events-Classes/ Birth-Symposium. Location: St. Vincents Cancer Center on Level 4, Hawley 1, 2800 Main St, Bridgeport.

Lovе. Sex. Intimacy.

Workshops & Retreats

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Coaching & Enhanced Reiki Healing One-and-a-half hour sessions

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Offering mental health services in the Danbury area.

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

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September 2017

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newsbriefs

Holistic and Psychic Fair in Watertown

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White Memorial Hosts 36th Annual Family Nature Day

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For more information, call 860-567-0857 or visit WhiteMemorialCC.org. Location: The White Memorial Foundation, 80 Whitehall Rd, Litchfield.

Psychic Holistic

Fair

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n September 23, The White Memorial Conservation Center will hold its 36th annual celebration of Mother Nature. A day for all ages, the event is filled from 11am to 5pm with live animals, guided nature walks, information booths, horse-drawn wagon rides, music, and food provided by The Litchfield Lions Club and AmandaBakes.

Brian Bradley will bring his free-flying hawks and falcons. Learn about beloved bats and prickly porcupines with Gerri Griswold. Riverside Reptiles’ Brian Kleinman will show off his knowledge of the many friends he’ll be bringing along. Meet a bald eagle, golden eagle and more with Horizon Wings Raptor Rehabilitation and Education Center. Cyril the Sorcerer will whip up environmental magic while music is being provided by The Zolla Boys.

Other offerings include an artisans market, a silent auction, nature crafts for the children and more. A trip for two to Iceland with Gerri Griswold in January is the first prize in the event’s raffle, courtesy of Krummi Travel LLC. Admission is $6 person; The White Memorial Foundation members and children under 12 are admitted free.

The White Memorial Conservation Center, an environmental education center and nature museum, is located in the heart of the 4,000-acre White Memorial Foundation in the hills of northwestern Connecticut.

n September 24 from 10am to 5pm, The Metaphysical Center will host a free psychic and holistic fair at the VFW in Watertown. Nine readers of various specialties will be present, including mediums, medical intuitives using body scanning, tarot card readers, channelers, an Akashic records reader, reiki healers, paranormal investigators and others. Practitioners will offer 20-minute sessions for $20 each.

In addition to the readers, the fair will feature free lectures all day starting at 11am. Lecture topics include essential oils, medicinal benefits of weeds, hauntings and possessions, paranormal investigation and past life regression. More than a dozen vendors will be present for attendees to visit between readings, featuring esssential oils, crafts, demonstrations, door prizes, retail products and other items.

Dee Randis, sponsor and organizer of the event, opened The Metaphysical Center in 1989 (store now closed) and has been an astrologer for over 40 years. She continues to run workshops and events as well as conduct readings from her private space in Watertown. The fair’s co-sponsor, Jill Morrison, will be coordinating the schedule for the readers during the fair. A portion of the proceeds from the event will support veterans and animal rescue organizations.

For more information or to be a vendor at the event, contact Dee Randis at 860-274-1690. Location: VFW Post 5157, 866 Thomaston Rd, Rte 6, Watertown. See ad, page 13.

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info@drroseann.com  www.drroseann.com 12

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

natural awakenings

We treat the following conditions: ADHD / ADD / Executive Functioning Anxiety & Anxiety-Related Disorders Autism Behavioral & Social Issues Chronic Pain / Fibromyalgia Concussion / TBI Depression / Mood Issues Learning Disability / Dyslexia Lyme, PANDAS/PANS Chronic Health Conditions PTSD / Trauma Seizures Sleep Problems

Vaccine Injury Awareness Events

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For more information and registration for the exclusive evening events, visit HealthChoiceCT.org/Events. Evening event location: One Mohegan Sun Dr, Abenaki Room, Uncasville.

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5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Psychic 5 5 Holistic 5 5 r i Fa 5 Reiki Healings 5 Body Scanning 5 Hypnosis 5 Essential Oils 5 Spiritual Coaching 5 Paranormal Investigation 5 Psychics 5 Mediums 5 Past Life Regression 5 Reflexology Psysomatic (mind & body) Kinesiology 5 5 Door Prizes 5 Retail Products and more…

5 Free Lectures Every Hour Starting at 11am 5 Sponsored by Dee Randis, Metaphysical Center Jill Morrison, Coordinator of Readers 5 5 andOffering 20 minute Readings for $20 5 VFW 866 Thomaston Rd. Route 6 5 Post 5157 Watertown, CT 5 5 We Support Our Veterans!

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SUNDAY Sept. 24, 2017

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n September 15, Health Choice CT (formerly Health Freedom Action CT) will present a Vaccine Injury and Awareness Day in Hartford. The day will begin with a Health and Safety Forum at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford from 10am to noon, sponsored by Representative Vincent Candelora. Mark Blaxill will moderate a discussion with a panel of physicians, scientists, researchers and health advocates, including Sin Hang Lee, MD; Kelly Brogan, MD; and Del Bigtree. The panelists will discuss scientific findings and suppressed critical safety issues regarding vaccines and other pharmaceuticals followed by a question and answer session.

Mark Blaxill, a business author and the co-founder/executive director of XLP Capital, is also the father of a daughter diagnosed with autism, the chairman and co-founder of the Canary Party and Health Choice, the editor-at-large for Age of Autism, a former director of SafeMinds and a frequent speaker at autism conferences.

Kelly Brogan, MD, is a Manhattan-based holistic women’s health psychiatrist; author of A Mind of Your Own; and co-editor of the Integrative Therapies for Depression textbook. She is on the boards of a number of magazines, foundations and holistic health resource organizations. Dr. Brogan is also the medical director for Fearless Parent and a founding member of Health Freedom Action.

Pathologist Sin Hang Lee, MD, is currently the director of Milford Molecular Diagnostics, located in Milford. He has developed and published routine Sanger sequencing-based diagnostic methods for HPV, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Lyme disease borreliae and BRCA1/2 mutations.

Dara Berger, author of How to Prevent Autism, is a documentary filmmaker who is currently working on a film about how to prevent chronic illness in children through her documentary film production company, Say It Out Loud Productions, Inc.

Del Bigtree, the producer of the Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe documentary, was an Emmy Award-winning producer on the daytime talk show, The Doctors, for six years.

He is both a filmmaker and an investigative medical journalist.

After the forum ends, the group will move to the steps of the Capitol from 1 to 3pm for a Vaccine Injury and Awareness rally, with a lineup of speakers including Bigtree, Blaxill, Berger and many others.

Health Choice CT will then travel south to Mohegan Sun for an inspiring and informational evening with Bigtree, following Chiro-X-Travaganza 2017, a large Northeast chiropractic convention.. The evening kicks off from 5:30 to 7:30pm with an exclusive VIP event. The $99 ticket includes a meet-and-greet, Q&A and digital photo opportunity with Bigtree, and an amazing “swag” bag. There will be a break from 7:30 to 8:30pm. A general audience event with Bigtree follows from 8:30 to 9:30pm with a $15 admission ticket (this event is included in the VIP ticket price).

The daytime events in Hartford are free. Evening VIP and general events are by ticket only and are expected to sell out.

10am-5pm Free Admission

A contribution will be made to CT Animal Rescue

eNaturalAwakenings.com

September 2017

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newsbriefs

LET US TREAT

Y U

Save the Date for Stamford’s Fall Health Expo

to a free pilates class

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Mind-Body Connection Pilates pilatesMBC.com | New Milford, CT | 860.350.3643

Natural

Healthcare Alternatives Family Based Chiropractic Care

Specializing In Infants, Children, and Pre and Postnatal Women

Pre and Postnatal Women

Back, Pelvic, Neck, Shoulder, and Arm Pain • Headaches Carpal Tunnel Syndrome • Improve spinal and pelvic alignment to help babies in the breech or occiput posterior "sunny side up" presentations • Reduce The Incidence of C-Section

Children

Ear Infections • Asthma & Allergies • Scoliosis • Colic Reflux • ADHD • Sports Injuries • Torticollis Lactation Issues / Tongue-Tie Complications

Dr. Risa M. Sloves

For information and updates, visit HWS-Expos.com, or follow on Twitter @HWS_Expos, Instagram @HWS_Expos and Facebook.com/HWS.Expos. Location: Chelsea Piers Connecticut, 1 Blachley Rd, Stamford. See ad, page 43.

Dr. Sloves has 25 years of experience and is one of the only Chiropractic Physicians in Connecticut with Board Certification in Maternity and Pediatric Care.

Call 203-838-1555

Associates in Family Chiropractic 156 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06851 www.ctChiropractic.com

14

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

he 6th Annual Stamford Health, Health Wellness & Sports Expo 2017, presented by WABC-TV, returns to Chelsea Piers CT on October 21, from 10am to 4pm, and October 22, from 11am to 5pm.

Visitors will find health education provided by Stamford Hospital, fun activities for children and special guests. The latest health information, products, services and demos from over 100 exhibitors will also be offered. New attractions this year will include Discover Scuba classes with Capt. Saam’s Scuba School in the pool on Sunday afternoon. Flu shots provided by CVS Health (insurance and/or cash payments accepted) and healthy food demos with Jenna Hourani, RD, a retail dietitian from Grade A ShopRite, will be available.

The Healthy Restaurant Sampling Zone will feature 18 area restaurants offering healthy cuisine tastings. The Loft Healthy Seminars will be led by participating restaurant representatives. The Shark Tank Health Zone will showcase “As Seen on Shark Tank” wellness entrepreneurs such as Billy Blanks Jr. of Dance It Out, who will conduct his popular dance fitness class. Healthy raffle prizes, a silent auction to benefit The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County and much more are in store.

Sponsors are Stamford Health, WABC-TV, Grade A ShopRite, CVS Health, EBMAS CT Martial Arts, Even Hotels, Mountainside, Val’s Putnam Wines & Liquors, Healthcare News, News 12 Connecticut, Stamford Magazine/Moffly Media, Star 99.9, 95.9 Fox, The Advocate/Hearst Media Services, Natural Awakenings, Jen Danzi and Macaroni Kid.

This event is created and produced by TMK Sports & Entertainment, a Greenwich-based event marketing company.

Admission and parking are free.

They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself. ~Andy Warhol

natural awakenings

Westport’s New Beauty & Wellness Celebrates First Anniversary

N

ew Beauty & Wellness (NB&W) recently celebrated its first anniversary in Westport, where it offers a curated and personalized holistic spa experience. A variety of expert services are available, including botox, SculpSure body contouring, laser treatments, massage, advanced reflexology, result-driven facial therapies, therapeutic body treatments and spray tans. It also offers complimentary, customized consultations to carefully choose the right wellness and aesthetic services for each guest’s needs.

“As New Beauty & Wellness celebrates its first anniversary, we are proud to offer a transformative experience, ensuring each client feels the personalized beauty and wellness they seek,” says Stephen M. Dowicz, who owns NB&W with Edward Schaufler, and Michele and Paul Dowicz. “We are proud of our team and our great relationships in the community and look forward to strengthening them even more.”

Located on Post Road East across from Greens Farms Elementary School, the two-floor, 3,750-square-foot NB&W space has a state-of-the-art medical spa with skin care and body treatment rooms, a tranquility lounge and a changing room with steam shower. The beauty and wellness boutique offers a range of skin and body care products from Environ, Eye Envy, Naturopathica, PCA Skin, Rituals and Thémaé; Jane Iredale’s mineralbased and ILIA’s gluten-free and organic makeup lines; LED LightStim products; and Rituals candles. In addition, the Vitality Bar has full-leaf teas, tinctures and fortified honeys from Naturopathica.

For more information, call 203-6444507 or visit NewBeautyWellness.com, Facebook.com/NewBeautyWellness and Instagram @NewBeautyWellness.

Location: New Beauty & Wellness, 1137 Post Rd East, Westport.

Lose Weight with Hypnosis Our Virtual Gastric Band program is the proven, natural, relaxing, and enjoyable way to lose weight!

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September 2017

15

SPIRITUAL EDUCATION There is no greater gift you can give your child.

Help your children feel the Father-Mother Love of God. At the Christian Science Sunday School, all children learn to know His tender care for each one of them.

newsbriefs Southport’s Sabita Welcomes Experienced Professionals

S

abita Holistic Center, a woman-owned business in Southport started by Sabita Kanhai in 2002, is proud to announce two new practitioners have joined the center.

For almost 20 years, Adam Adam Moore Susie Basler Moore’s primary role has been that of personal development and life management coach. His professional skills and trainings include being a master practitioner of neurolinguistic programming (NLP), certified professional and conversational hypnotist, and certified post-rehabilitation and corrective exercise master trainer. Moore sees clients in Southport as well as in New York City and Chicago. Adam was recognized as “One of the 99 Individuals to Watch” by Time Out New York magazine.

Susie Basler, MS, LMSW, is joining Sabita Holistic Center’s team to lead group as well as individual therapy sessions for women and children. She has long been a voice for healing in the Westport and Fairfield community, and is currently the president of the Westport Rotary Club. For 30 years, she has been the executive director of Project Return, a private, nonprofit group home for teenage girls in Westport.

Sabita Holistic Center includes a team of doctors and therapists with years of training and experience in traditional and conventional medicines. Their holistic approach draws from nutrition, naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, yoga, reflexology, energy work, qigong and meditation.

For more information, visit SabitaHolisticCenter.com. Location: Sabita Holistic Center, 3519 Post Rd, Southport.

And all thy children shall be “ taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.”

Isaiah 54:13 Our Bible-based Sunday School teaches children the Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Sermon on the Mount. Children learn that these teachings are applicable in their daily lives.

Sunday School classes are held every Sunday morning 10:00-11:00. All are welcome to attend through the age of 19.

To receive a free copy of this week's Bible Lesson email: westport@christiansciencect.org

christiansciencect.org/westport First Church of Christ, Scientist 55 Compo Rd South, Westport, CT 16

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

Honoring Loved Ones with Butterflies

O

n September 10 from 1 to 3pm,, join the New Milford VNA and Hospice at Harrybrooke Park for the Wings of Hope butterfly release. This inspirational, family-friendly event is uplifting and a source of healing for those who have lost someone special in their lives. Together, watch these delicate winged creatures dance away into the sky in honor of lost loved ones.

The event includes music, a memory quilts display, face painting, a children’s art corner, hand-crafted jewelry, refreshments and more. Bring your chairs and blankets to enjoy the event as well. Butterflies need to be reserved by September 1 in order to release them at the Wings of Hope event.

For more information, and to purchase butterflies and event sponsorships, call 860-354-2216 or visit NewMilfordVNA.org/ Calendar/Wings-Hope-Memorial-Butterfly-Release. Location: Harrybrooke Park, 100 Still River Dr, New Milford.

natural awakenings

Healing Guidance from Horses in Wilton

RS Holistic Counseling, Coaching and Healing Expands Services

B

eth Leas of TLC Center Norwalk has teamed up with Carrie Brady to offer innovative equine energy programs with the horses at Tatiana Fleischman Brady’s Possibilities Farm in Wilton.

TLC Possibilities offers four equine-assisted energy healing classes, which are suitable for all different levels of energy healing experience. The classes are Reiki 1 Certification Training for Adults, Reiki 1 Certification Training for Kids (8-13), Reiki Reattunement Evening for All Levels Reiki Practitioners and Advanced Energetics Training for All Practitioners.

Unlike humans, horses are prey animals and rely on being energetically attuned to their environment for survival.

As such, they are great mirrors for the state of individual energy; they pick up on your slightest gestures, physiological responses—such as muscle tension and heart rate—and conscious and subconscious energy states. Horses provide transparent, immediate and non-judgmental feedback on how you’re relating to yourself, others and the environment.

Possibilities Farm’s resident horses Potato, Mere and Paddington will help you hone your skills in communicating and listening energetically.

H

For a schedule of classes and more information, call Beth Leas at 203-856-9566, email TLCBethLeas@gmail.com or visit BethLeas.com or PossibilitiesFarm.com. See ad, page 29.

For more information on the new service and group, call 203-826-2558 or visit RSHolisticServices.com. Locations: 152 Deer Hill Ave, Ste 119, Danbury, and 246 Federal Rd, Ste C23-A, Brookfield. See ad, page 11.

olistic coach and energy healer Rebecca Schoenewolf, RMT, LPC, LMHC, is offering healing sessions in her new Brookfield office. Each session lasts for 90 minutes and contains 45 minutes of processing life issues and concerns, followed by 45 minutes of energy healing. The energy healing portion is a blend Rebecca of reiki, crystal and pendulum work, and Schoenewolf channeling (occasionally); it ends with gentle Tingsha bells chimed above the client’s whole body.

People who have experienced this individualized combination of healing have reported a significant decrease in stress, increase in feeling focused and clearer about their lives, and feeling more grounded and centered, Schoenewolf says. When they return they have reported that the effects of their session continued to reverberate throughout the following week(s), and that they see and feel positive changes in continuous, profound ways.

Schoenewolf is a holistic licensed mental health clinician and maintains a clinical mental health practice in Danbury, specializing in assisting people who experience trauma, depression, anxiety, difficult life events, grief and other issues. She is establishing a new group, The Art of Communication, which starts September 13. It consists of eight weekly meetings to explore how your belief systems affect how you communicate to yourself,, leading into how you communicate with others. The group will touch upon anger and conflict management. The final session is about having fun through storytelling and play.

Hunter Healing Hands

Integrative & Intuitive Shamanic Wellness Jessica Hunter

Integrative & Intuitive Healing Sessions

Quality Holistic Healing Education that is Personal, Professional, and Passionate!

Professional Space Clearing & Blessing for Homes, Land or Businesses

Certification & Accredited Programs in Reiki, Crystal Healing, & Shamanic Healing

Drum & Rattle Making Sessions

Shamanic Teacher, Practitioner, Shamanic Medium, Crystal Healing Teacher, Melody Certified Crystal Healing Practitioner, Reiki Master, OM, Circle of the Sacred Earth

Shamanic Healing, Shamanic Mediumship, Melody Crystal Healing, Acupressure, Reiki, Shamanic Spiritual Counseling

Legal Sacred Ceremonies

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

September 2017

17

ecotip Elder Force Elzbieta Sekowska/Shutterstock.com

Retired Volunteers Keep National Parks Humming up, contributing to the 7.9 million service hours worked in 2015 by all 400,000 volunteers. Volunteer opportunities also exist at National Wildlife Refuge sites, fish hatcheries and endangered species field offices of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

Sallie Gentry, volunteer coordinator for the Southeast Region, based in Atlanta, notes that Georgia’s Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has Retirees are volunteering at hundreds a dozen designated spots for motor of nationally protected lands. They homes in its Volunteer Village. She says staff visitor centers, do maintenance, most volunteers are local retired resiclean up debris and remind visitors to dents whose working hours vary while keep food items secure from wildlife.

RV volunteers commit to 20 hours a Last year, volunteers outnumbered week for at least three months. In reNational Park Service staff about 20 to turn, they get free hookups for electricone, expanding the financially strapped ity, sewage, propane and water. “They agency’s ability to serve hundreds of have skills they want to contribute, but millions of visitors. are also looking for a social outlet,”

Nearly a third them are and 9:11notes Gentry. Cookouts and potlucks IC half page adof 12-16.pdf 1 54 12/18/16 PM

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Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

natural awakenings

are common.

She also cites the Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge, an important migratory stop especially for songbirds, as a place with great appeal. “We supply uniforms, training, tools and orientations,” says Gentry.

“It’s a mutually beneficial investment.”

She suggests that individuals apply for specific sites at least a year in advance.

Megan Wandag, volunteer coordinator for the USFWS Midwest Region, based in Minneapolis, cites the popular Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, in Bloomington, and the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, near Des Moines, as “oases near urban areas.”

USFWS Southwest Region volunteer coordinator Juli Niemann highlights the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, in central New Mexico, that has 18 recreation vehicle spots and an average occupancy duration of five months. “It’s a prime wintering place for sandhill cranes.”

Volunteer.gov updates site details and contact information at federal facilities nationwide.

healthbriefs

Detox the Bedroom for Healthier Sleep

by Dave Spittal

D

ue to the unique qualities and numerous applications of polyurethane foam, it can be found in many different places in the home; the list can include furniture, mattresses, walls, under carpets, and even in personal gear such as helmets, shoes and mattresses. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that long-term exposure to polyurethane foam may cause cancer, infertility and miscarriages, autoimmune issues, neurological disorders, child behavior issues, allergies and asthma.

The chemical fumes, or off-gassing, that we often smell in new products containing polyurethane foam are called volatile organic compounds (VOC) and have been shown in EPA studies to attach themselves to dust particles. When inhaled, the dust—with its chemical riders—enters the lungs and is absorbed into the bloodstream.

There are different answers as to why this is still so widespread, but arguably the main one is that in its solid form, polyurethane foam only releases a relatively minute amount of toxicity into the air. This means that only long-term exposure that lasts for many years will have any noticeable effect.

Besides its ubiquitous use in everyday products, polyurethane is also a main ingredient in virtually every mattress in the U.S.; because of this, it is nearly impossible to isolate sleeping on polyurethane as the cause of any significant increase in cancer and other chemically induced illnesses.

Without a proven causal relationship between spending eight hours a day inches away from polyurethane and health issues, there is no way to regulate its use in mattresses.

The first step in limiting VOC exposure in the home is sleeping on a polyurethane-free mattress. According to federal law, the contents of a mattress must be displayed on its law label sewn onto the back of the mattress. We can easily determine the contents of our current mattress by reviewing the contents listed on this tag. For those interested in sleeping in a chemical-free environment, simply make sure polyurethane is not listed as an ingredient on any mattress.

Dave Spittal is the owner of Healthy Choice Organic Mattress, located on 21 South Ave in New Canaan. Connect at 203-920-1244 or HCMattress.com. See ad, page 7.

WHERE

C O O P E R AT I V

SS CENTER E & WELLNE

S T E E M A RT

S S E N L WEL A rt , Ta i

C h i, M a

p oga, Acu ssage, Y

u n c tu re

& M o re

.. .

Upcoming Workshops: Women’s Health - Bettina Zumdick - Sat. 9/16 Meditating In & Through the Body - Lama Urgyan Zangpo - Tues. - 9/26-11/14 Chakra Chi: Root to Sky: Yoga - Pauline Koinis - Sat. 9/30-Sun. 10/1

Check out our website for more details!

valleyspiritcoop.com 8 6 0 . 6 1 9 . 2 7 8 8 | i n f o @ v a l l ey s p i r i t c o o p . c o m 6 GREEN HILL ROAD, WASHINGTON DEPOT, CT

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Create a lifetime of fulfillment by learning how to establish and maintain meaningful relationships, while building mastery and skillfulness in all areas of your life. yoga • meDITaTIon • mInDfulneSS DBT InDIvIDual TheRapy • DBT gRoup TheRapy CognITIve BehavIoRal TheRapy

1-888-745-3372 5 Sylvan Road South, Westport, CT 06880 fax 203-307-5788 • www.ccbhtherapy.com eNaturalAwakenings.com

September 2017

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healthbriefs Quality Programs for the Mind, Body & Soul September 12 The Conversation

A book discussion on The Five Invitations, by Frank Ostaseski

All are welcome whether you've read the book or not; just come to enjoy!

September 23 7pm - 10pm

Workshop with renowned medical intuitve and healer, Kimberly Meredith Healings do take place. Kimberly, a Spiritual Activist, speaks about how we can embrace the 12th Dimension and fill our body with trust, love, and light.

She channels the Holy Spirit and Edgar Cayce about how we can raise global consciousness by understanding that God is not religion.

¡ Meditation and Hands-on Bowl Therapy

September 27 7pm $40

Tibetan Bowls Sound Healing

To Register and for more information call (203) 912-2791 or visit www.liphebalance.com

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

Beautiful Hair Shouldn’t Be Hazardous To Your Health The best thing about our products is what we leave out!

No Ammonia | No Parabens | No Scalp Staining | No Scalp Discomfort

i Celebrating 27 years in business! I Salon AponteLLC 838 Main Street, Tollgate Plaza, Monroe, CT 203-261-2838

Tues & Fri 9-5 | Wed & Thur 9-8 • Sat 8-4 | www.salonaponte.com

Restore physical and emotional wholeness.

Harness joy, love and inner peace.

Improve interpersonal relationships.

Reconnect with your partner and the world.

Find your purpose and live up to your highest potential.

Nurturing You Into Health

ROBIN QUEEN FINKELSTEIN Psychospiritual Counseling Specializing in Individual, Couples and Family Counseling SlowMedicineTherapist.com

SunRaven: The Home of Slow Medicine The Center for Integrative Medicine and Wellness Founded by Robin’s partner, Dr. Michael Finkelstein 501 Guard Hill Road Bedford, NY 10506 914-218-3113 • info@slowmedicine.org • www.slowmedicine.org

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Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

natural awakenings

CBD Shows Efficacy for Relief of Many Conditions

C

annabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive component of Cannabis that is demonstrating a wide range of therapeutic benefits. CBD is naturally occurring in the hemp plant. Based on studies done to date, CBD seems to support nutrition of aging bodies and has been found to have benefits as a neuroprotectant, for example in limiting neurological damage following stroke and trauma, or in the treatment of neuro-degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, epilepsy, autism and more.

It is also widely used for conditions such as chronic pain, anxiety, nausea, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, schizophrenia, diabetes, PTSD, alcoholism, strokes and cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other ailments. While sufferers of some of those conditions may be eligible for medical marijuana programs, CBD is being shown to offer relief without the psychoactive effects of traditional use of cannabis so there is no need for a prescription.

For more information, call 203-2589851, email Sallie@HempHealthDirect. com or visit HempHealthDirect.com.

See ad, page 39.

145 Grassy Plain St. Bethel, CT

R

esearchers from several international universities have found that seniors that provide caregiving services live longer than those that do not. The scientists analyzed survival data and information collected from the Berlin Aging Study on 500 adults over the age of 69 from 1990 to 2009. They compared survival rates from the subjects that provided caregiving for children, grandchildren and friends to those that did not.

Of the subjects analyzed, the half that took care of their grandchildren or children were still alive 10 years after their first interview in 1990. Caring for non-family members also produced positive results, with half of the subjects living for seven years after the initial interview. Conversely, 50 percent of those that did not participate in any caregiving had died just four years after their first interview.

The researchers warn that caregiving must be done in moderation. Ralph Hertwig, director of the Center for Adaptive Rationality and the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, in Berlin, explains, “A moderate level of caregiving involvement seems to have positive effects on health, but previous studies have shown that more intense involvement causes stress, which has a negative effect on physical and mental health.”

Soul Focus Mela Rispoli 203-570-3868 mrispoli2@aol.com

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

Happiness • Strength • Hope • Wisdom • Coping • Flourishing

Ann C. Reeves, Psy. D, CAPP Licensed Psychologist

203-451-6208

annreevespsych@optonline.net • www.annreevespsychology.com Offices in Newtown & Wilton, CT

Tonsillectomies Help Only Temporarily

R

esearchers from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, in Nashville, Tennessee, examined the effectiveness of tonsillectomies in children with recurring throat infections. Using data from nearly 10,000 studies of tonsillectomies, the scientists analyzed illness rates and quality of life for young patients following the surgery.

The analysis found that children experienced a notable drop in school absences and infections in the first year after the surgery, but that these benefits did not persist over time. Dr. Siva Chinnadurai, an associate professor of otolaryngology and co-author of the report, believes, “For any child being considered a candidate for surgery, the family must have a personalized discussion with their healthcare provider about all of the factors that may be in play and how tonsils fit in as one overall factor of that child’s health.”

CandyBox Images/Shutterstock.com

Nestor Rizhniak/Shutterstock.com

Caring for Others Prolongs Life

Massage Therapy

The Gift of Relaxation Specializing in: Swedish • Pregnancy • Injury • Infant Trigger Point • CranioSacral Therapy

Robin Ordan, LMT 203-561-8535

www.robinordanlmt.com Located on the Old Greenwich/Stamford Border eNaturalAwakenings.com

September 2017

21

wisewords

to help people recovering from cancer.

The collagen product helps undo some of the damage caused by the medicine.

What is different about your proprietary skin care line?

A Conversation About Skin with Hilda Demirjian

by Nicole Miale

N

atural Awakenings’ Publisher Nicole Miale recently sat down with Hilda Demirjian, owner of two aesthetic laser and skin care centers in Hilda Demirjian White Plains and Manhattan, New York, to discuss her passion for skin, education, and her proprietary skin care product line.

How did you first develop interest in health and skin care?

My passion for skin began in my native country, Persia, where skin care and wellness is still considered highly valuable and important. As a young girl in Persia—considered by some to be the “Mecca” of skin care—I grew up visiting hammams (steam rooms) and spas from the age of six on a weekly basis.

As an adult, my love for radiant skin grew into a driving passion. My mission is to help every individual to make them feel confident and give them hope 22

for them to love their skin, the largest organ in the body, once again.

What is your specialty?

Skin education is my passion and I travel the world, presenting at conferences and events. I always state, “Laser is my business, skin is my passion.” I specialize in combining the science of aesthetic laser with the ancient world of skin care. I use a unique laser technique which provides nearly painless treatments for laser hair removal, and collagen and skin rejuvenation. I work with many types of skin without limiting my clients. This applies to people with rosacea, acne, sun damage, scars, stretch marks, and many more conditions, including illnesses like cancer.

What were some of your earlier influences?

I was particularly affected by my grandmother’s experience when she was undergoing chemotherapy for cancer.

I can remember touching her skin and feeling how papery and thin it had become because of the treatment. My flagship collagen product developed with green apple stem cells was something I created in part because I wanted

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

natural awakenings

I formulated my own premium quality skin care product line through many years of scientific research with 100 percent botanical sources, including fruit stem cells. I’m particularly proud of Collagen-Elastin Gel with Apple Stem Cells; it is an innovative all-treatment formula derived from botanical sources that actively stimulates the growth of the protein collagen in the epidermis.

By replacing the lost collagen, the product strengthens the skin and reduces the appearance of scars, acne, fine lines, wrinkles and stretch marks. Users will quickly see substantial improvements in the look and the feel of their skin, as well as an elimination of dullness when consistently applying the gel.

Working at a cellular level, Collagen-Elastin Gel heals and rejuvenates pre/post-surgical scars by providing enough protein levels so that the skin does not suffer after surgery. The gel has also proven effective at healing skin damage following cancer treatments, including mastectomies.

What should a client or patient expect from working with you?

Confidentiality and compassion are my hallmarks. My work is more than a business. I am devoted to my clients and work with them to restore hope, confidence and self-esteem. I work with many individuals recovering from serious illness, including cancer, and devote time and support to charitable organizations such as the American Cancer Society, Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation, YMCA, Gilda’s Club and White Plains Hospital.

For more information about Hilda Demirjian Laser & Skin Care Centers, visit HildaDemirjianLaser.com. For more about the skin care products, visit HildaDemirjianSkincare.com. To order products, visit Amazon.com. Locations: 508 Mamaroneck Ave, White Plains, NY (914-686-2121), and 161 Madison Ave, Ste 3B, New York, NY (212-991-8566).

See ad, page 8.

Master of Arts Degrees

Perfect for Teachers & Healthcare workers!

Master of Arts in Integrative Health and Healing This program examines health, wellness and illness from a holistic perspective. This approach involves comparing, connecting and integrating conventional, alternative and complementary approaches to promoting health and wellness as well as towards prevention and healing.

Curriculum: Nutrition, Herbal Medicine, Stress Management, Chinese Traditional Medicine, Ayurveda Medicine, Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Energy Medicine, Positive Psychology, Mindfulness-based Methodologies, Breath Work, Shamanism, Sound Healing & more…

Master of Arts in Learning and Thinking Embraces a philosophy of education rooted in relationship, holism, and meaning, predicated on a learning context that develops the knowledge, skills, competencies and imagination in a world of constant flux.

2 Year Program – 1 Weekend Per Month

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September 2017

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globalbriefs

Detect critical health issues 8-10 years BEFORE mammograms with Thermal Imaging

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

Experiential Ed

inflammation

• 100% safe & FDA-registered • Safe for implants, mastectomy & pregnancy • No radiation or painful breast compression • Monitor & assess pain & pathology anywhere on the body

Alexander Raths/Shutterstock.com

Gestalt-Based Curricula Emerging

Call (203) 856-1421 or visit

be your light!

9

www.AlbaThermalImaging.com

be

Finland, internationally renowned for innovative educational practices, is poised to become the first country to eliminate school subjects. Officials are making changes to be implemented by 2020 that will revolutionize how the school system works by allowing pupils to absorb a body of knowledge about language, economics and communication skills.

“We need something to fit for the 21st century,” says Department of Education head Marjo Kyllonen. The system will be introduced for seniors beginning at age 16.

They will choose which topic or phenomenon they want to study, bearing in mind their ambitions and capabilities. “Instead of staying passively in their benches listening to the teachers, students will now often work in smaller groups collaborating on projects, rather than just assigned classwork and homework.”

Another new model of learning sparked by XQ: The Super School Project (xqsuperschool.org) is underway at New Harmony High School, housed on a floating barge at the mouth of the Mississippi River southeast of New Orleans. They’ve received a $10 million grant to work on environmental issues when it opens in 2018.

“High schools today are not preparing students for the demands of today’s world,” says XQ Senior School Strategist Monica Martinez; she notes that about a third of college students must take remedial courses and are not prepared to thrive as employees.

your light !

Milkweed Mittens

When you are being your light you:

9

One-on-one Sessions workshops & Trainings with

Eilis Philpott Master Healer and Teacher

Common Weed Is Lightweight Insulator

Leene/Shutterstock.com

• Live Your Soul's Purpose • Attain Deep Peace • Have Balance Around Giving and Receiving • Have Loving, Supportive Relationships • Have the Career that Sings to Your Soul

The Canadian Coast Guard is testing milkweed pods as a source of potential environmentally friendly insulation in partnership with Encore3, a manufacturing company in Québec, Canada, in prototype parkas, gloves and mittens.

The plant is roughly five times lighter than synthetic insulation and hypoallergenic.

The Farm Between, in Cambridge, Vermont, harvests the plants and sends the material to Encore3. Co-owner John Hayden says, “Milkweed is grown as an intercrop between the rows in our apple orchard to increase biodiversity and provide a host plant for monarch caterpillars.

Monarch populations are in serious decline, and the two things we can do to help on the land we steward are to not use pesticides and provide milkweed habitat.”

203-767-5954 • Fairfield, CT Eilis@SoulHealingJourney.com www.SoulHealingJourney.com 24

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

We are not victims of aging, sickness and death.

These are part of the scenery, not the seer, who is immune to any form of change.

This seer is the spirit, the expression of eternal being. ~Deepak Chopra natural awakenings

Plutonium Problem

J.D.S./Shutterstock.com

Glass or Cement May Encase Nuclear Waste Congress might consider authorizing the U.S. Department of Energy to encase much of the nuclear waste at the Washington state Hanford Nuclear Reservation, the nation’s largest waste repository, in a cement-like mixture, according to a new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office. It states that when burying the waste, cement would be less expensive and faster than vitrification, an alternative process currently used to turn the waste into glass logs.

A $17 billion vitrification plant, one of the federal government’s most expensive construction projects, is intended to separate much of the waste into high- and low-level radioactive material, but construction has stalled over design and safety concerns. After the highly radioactive waste is immobilized in the glass logs, it would theoretically be shipped to an as-yet-nonexistent national repository proposed for Yucca Mountain, in Nevada.

The 56 million gallons of waste in question is left over from plutonium production for nuclear weapons since World War II, and the site itself has a history of leaks. The Department of Energy likes the cement burial, but state officials believe the best way to safely deal with the waste and protect the environment is by turning it into glass.

Source: enews.earthlink.net

NOREEN EHRLICH

Success Coach, Radio Host, Motivator, Money Expert CREATE THE INCREDIBLE LIFE YOU DESIRE Are you ready to become the best version of yourself?

and thrive professionally.

SCHEDULE YOUR FREE CONSULTATION 475-205-1121 or noreen@noreenehrlich.com. . • www.noreenehrlich.com

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Mastering Yoga

The yoga community in Fairfield County and the Housatonic Valley has never been more vibrant!

This section provides connections to studios and teachers in the area, as well as helpful editorial to support your efforts to improve your practice.

yogabriefs 2017–2018 Workshops Join Us! Saturdays, 1:30–4:30 p.m.

The Yoga Studio, Club Fit Briarcliff Nonmembers welcome

September 9 ∗ Todd Norian Tantra Yoga

followed by Prana Party & Kirtan with Todd

October 14 ∗ Tzahi Moskovitz Traction Action

Nov. 11 ∗ Ken Nelson & Lesli Lang Transformational Teaching

December 9 ∗ Rudy Peirce Dynamic Gentle Yoga

January 13 ∗ Patty Holmes

A Breath-Centered Approach to the Art of Joy and Inspiration

February 10 ∗ Deirdre Breen Ayurveda and Yoga: Integrating the Twin Sciences

March 10 ∗ Shari Friedrichsen Yoga and the Heart

April 14 ∗ Vandita Kate Marchesiello

Transform, Relax, and Rejuvenate: A Brief Retreat with Lasting Results

May 12 ∗ Priti Robyn Ross

Magical Mystery Tour of Yoga Through the Koshas

June 30 ∗ Tao Porchon-Lynch Celebrating Life at Nearly 100!

ytayoga.com YTA membership is open to teachers, studio owners, and individual practitioners.

YTA_AD_NAWest-Sept2017.indd 1

8/16/17 5:45 AM

Less is only more where more is no good. ~Frank Lloyd Wright 26

New Year Yoga Journey to Southern India

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he Yoga Shala and Thrive Yoga, both located in Ridgefield, will be conducting a guided trip through Southern India from January 20 through February 3, 2018. Trip highlights include visits to Kerala, Mysore, Chennai and Auroville.

Participants will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in Indian culture while participating in traditional yogic practices daily. Includes study and discussions of yogic philosophy with senior teachers. Visit sacred temple sites, ashrams and local markets, all while experiencing the warmth and hospitality of the Indian people.

Take part in the two-week trip to India, or continue on with an optional extension trip to Thailand. Previous journeys to India have proven to be an opportunity to experience travel as both life-affirming and transformative. Space is limited and deadline for signup is November 1.

For more information, trip itineraries and fees, contact Val at Info@TheYogaShalaCT.com or Valerie at ThriveOnYogaCT@gmail.com.

Sama Yoga Welcomes Autumn

S

ama Yoga Center in New Canaan will offer a free class to the community on September 9 at 11am to welcome the fall season. The 75-minute class is open to all (no prior yoga experience needed), and will be taught by yoga instructor Josh Kane. A casual Josh Kane Maria Kathy Sward reception and refreshments will follow.

Tabaschek

Sama Yoga also has two new workshops on the schedule this fall. Yin/Yang: An Autumnal Equinox Gathering with Maria Tabaschek will take place on September 23 from 2 to 4pm. Originally from Mexico, Tabaschek is a holistic health coach and reiki healer as well as yoga instructor. The workshop will have a “yin/yang” focus, which Tabaschek describes as “a marriage between movement and stillness.” No prior yoga experience is necessary for this workshop, but familiarity with the basics of yoga will be helpful.

Yoga for the Management of Arthritis & Osteoporosis with Dr. Kathy Sward will be held on October 7 at 2pm. Sward is an exercise and stress physiologist, certified yoga instructor, reiki master, researcher and former professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. This two-hour workshop will explore the physiology of osteoporosis, arthritis and osteopenia, and how yoga can help. Participants will learn how to enhance healing as well as decrease discomfort and pain through gentle and therapeutic postures designed to improve bone and muscular strength.

No prior yoga experience is necessary.

For more information or to register, call 203-594-7077, email Info@SamaYogaCenter. com or visit SamaYogaCenter.com. Location: Sama Yoga Center, 45 Grove St (inside Halo Studios, underneath the New Canaan Racquet Club), New Canaan.

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

natural awakenings

Chakra Chi: Root to Sky Yoga Workshop

O

n September 30 and October 1 from noon to 5pm, Pauline Koinis will lead the Chakra Clearing Workshop at Valley Spirit Cooperative and Wellness Center in Washington Depot. The process will include use of essential oils, crystals, yoga and meditation. The intent is for participants to come away feeling lighter, more joyful and full of love.

The word “chakra” has its roots in the Sanskrit language.

The Hindus thought of the chakra as a wheel of spinning energy, or energy center, where consciousness resides governing Pauline Koinis various attributes of individual physical and spiritual aspects.

The chakras are not physical but part of the “subtle anatomy”, or what you may simply think of as an energetic point of consciousness within the body where the spirit and physical worlds meet.

There are seven major energy centers, or chakras, with five aligned vertically along the spine and two residing in the head area. The base or survival chakra resides at the base of the spine and connects or grounds you to the earth. The crown chakra, at the top of the head, is not within the body, but in the “spiritual essence” serving as a gateway to everything that is Divinity, or God. The other major chakras are the sexual creativity chakra in the naval area, the emotional chakra in the solar plexus area, the heart chakra in the heart area, the throat chakra in the throat area, and the third-eye chakra in the middle of the forehead. Each of these major chakras uniquely influences various physical and spiritual aspects of your life.

Clearing the chakras is a process where perceptions and blockages stored within the chakras are transformed, lightening up the energy and making it easier to come from Spirit. The more you align with Spirit, the less you will judge and the more you will be in harmony with things and beings around you.

The cost is $25 per person. Pre-registration is required.

For more information or to register, call 860-619-2788 or visit ValleySpiritCoop. com. Location: Valley Spirit Cooperative, 6 Green Hill Rd, Washington Depot.

See ad, page 19.

onthecover

Photo by James Jackson

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hotograph of yoga teacher, Nya Alemayhu (YogaWithNya.com) at the D.C. War Memorial. James Jackson is a freelance lifestyle photographer who creates emotive images of food, people and spaces. You can find him on Instagram/Twitter at @ThisIsJamesJ or his website, ThisIsJames.com.

JIIVA YOGA SCHOOL 2018 200HR YOGA TEACHER TRAINING Aspire to teach, deepen your practice, unlock your potential and transform your understanding of yoga with a mind, body, spirit connection unlike any you have encountered.

CLASSES BEGIN JANUARY 2018

THE JIIVA YOGA SCHOOL 2900 MAIN ST. SUITE 1A STRATFORD, CT 06614 203-345-7747

WWW.JIIVACENTER.COM eNaturalAwakenings.com

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yogabriefs Workshop Lineup for Yoga Teachers and Committed Students

T

he Yoga Teachers Association of the Hudson Valley (YTA) has announced its lineup of instructors and topics for its 2017-18 season. Todd Norian, master yogi and founder of Ashaya Yoga, will kick off the season on September 9 with Tantra Yoga: Alignment Refinement for Body, Mind, and Heart. The workshop will be followed

by YTA’s annual Prana Party, featuring kirtan with Norian.

This is an opportunity open to all to connect with yoga teachers and other yoga enthusiasts from the tri-state area; light refreshments will be served.

The season will continue in October with Tzahi Tzahi Moskovitz Moskovitz and Traction Action, a workshop on how to use a yoga strap in poses (both sitting and standing), backbends and inversions to modify or deepen a yoga practice. This will be followed by Ken Nelson and Lesli Lang’s Transformational Teaching in November and Dynamic Gentle Yoga with Rudy Peirce in December.

Workshops in 2018 will be led by Patty Holmes, Deirdre Breen, Shari Friedrichsen, Priti Robyn Ross and Vandita Kate Marchesiello; they will cover topics such as yoga and the heart, the koshas, and the twin sciences of yoga and Ayurveda. The season will close out with beloved yogini Tao Porchon-Lynch on June 30, 2018.

The workshops take place on Saturdays from 1:30 to 4:30pm at Club Fit in Briarcliff Manor, New York. They are open to members and non-members.

YTA is an educational nonprofit run by volunteers. Membership is open to studio owners, yoga teachers and individual practitioners. Workshops are usually held on the second Saturday of the month and are $45 for members, $65 for nonmembers in advance. Continuing education credits are available for all workshops.

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

Location: Club Fit, 584 North State Rd, Briarcliff Manor, NY. See ad, page 26.

Yoga Increases Healthy Brain Marker

Elena Ray/Shutterstock.com

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study from Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, in São Paulo, Brazil, suggests a link between regular yoga practice and an increase in brain cortical thickness, associated with memory and attention.

The researchers used brain imaging scans (CT) to measure the cortical thickness of 42 Brazilian women older than 59. Twenty-one of the subjects had practiced hatha yoga regularly for at least eight years. These women were compared to 21 other women matched for age and education that engaged in other physical activity comparable to hatha yoga.

The researchers found that the cortical thickness in the yoga practitioners was significantly greater in the left prefrontal lobe of the brain. This portion of brain gray matter is linked to awareness, attention, executive function and memory, suggesting that hatha yoga practice may be associated with cognitive preservation.

The scientists added, “The present results parallel those previously reported in which younger yoga and meditation practitioners had greater gray matter volumes than non-practitioners in the following brain regions: larger gray matter volume in the right anterior insula and right inferior temporal gyrus.”

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natural awakenings

CBD-infused Yoga Workshop in Norwalk

W

ith an emphasis on breathing techniques and meditation, the new Norwalk-based Paz Yoga practices thoughtful and reflexive yoga to promote peace in the mind, body and spirit. Owner Rebecca Goletz is committed to creating and nourishing a yoga community by bringing practices of peace, mindfulness and movement through a variety of ongoing classes and workshops.

On September 17 at 3:15pm, learn about a proprietary, nano-enhanced allnatural, non-GMO, soy- and gluten-free hemp oil with 100 percent absorption, cultivated for its high CBD and low THC content. The informational session will be followed by a CBD-infused yoga nidra workshop of guided deep relaxation and vibrational healing.

Bathed in the healing vibrations of crystal alchemy bowls, coupled with the calming effects of hemp oil, experience a realm of rest and reconnection by lying down and embracing the natural flowing energy within. The hemp oil is optional. Prime My Body (PMB) pharmaceutical-grade premium hemp oil is most commonly used for natural pain relief and for its anti-inflammatory, anxiety-reducing and insomnia relieving properties. PMB hemp oil is the cannabinoid-rich, whole-plant hemp extract, which is legal in all 50 U.S. states.

For more information or to sign up for the workshop, call 203-354-7070 or visit PazYogaCenter.com. For more information on PMB hemp oil, call Lisa Jacoby at 203-981-7092 or visit RaisingConsciousness.PrimeMyBody. com. Location: Paz Yoga, 430 Main Ave, 2nd Fl, Norwalk.

Yoga Lessens Back Pain and Opioid Use

W Yana Ermakova/Shutterstock.com

ith the U.S. opioid epidemic reaching a boiling point, insight into the effectiveness of alternative methods of pain relief has become increasingly relevant. Scientists from the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System have found yoga to be an effective technique to reduce back pain.

The researchers divided 150 California veterans with chronic low back pain into two equal groups. One attended two yoga classes per week—comprising postures, movement and breathing techniques—for 12 weeks in addition to their more conventional treatment. The other continued such treatment without yoga.

Scientists measured pain levels before and after the core study period and again six months later.

After only 12 weeks, those that participated in the yoga practice experienced a 2.05 point reduction in Roland−Morris Disability Questionnaire scores, compared to a 1.29 reduction for those that received only usual care. After six months, this difference increased, with the yoga group’s scores decreasing 3.37 points compared to only an 0.89 reduction in the usual care group. In addition, pain intensity scores were reduced by 0.61 in the yoga group and 0.04 in the group receiving usual care after 12 weeks.

Opioid medication use declined among all participants, from 20 percent to 8 percent after six months.

152 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT • 203-856-9566 • www.203TLC.com TLC Center was founded in 1997 by Beth Leas on the premise that a single candle burns brighter in a gathering.

Today TLC is Fairfield County’s largest holistic health network, with more than 90 independent members. TLC Members are dedicated to healthy living by offering high quality private sessions, products, workshops and classes.

Energy Healing

Personal Development

Transformative Healing

Soul Healing Journey, LLC Eilis Philpott Fairfield 203-767-5954 Eilis@SoulHealingJourney.com SoulHealingJourney.com

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

Learning with Horses Carrie Brady Possibilities Farm Wilton 203-210-7484 LifeYouveImagined@gmail.com PossibilitiesFarm.com

i

Tesa Baum, CHT, RM Hypnosis, Reiki, Higher Brain Living, Mind-Body Therapies Ridgefield 203-244-5141

25+ years experience Energy Healing, Meditation, Tarot Private sessions, Workshops, Events In-person or by phone 203-856-9566 www.bethleas.com Norwalk

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fitbody

Rodney Yee on Yoga as a Way of Life

You can blink and half your life is gone.

You can’t always be busy, busy, busy; you have to decide how to fill your life.

Simple Strategies for Staying on Track

by Marlaina Donato

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enowned yogi and international teacher Rodney Yee, of New York City, has maintained an inspired yoga practice for 37 years while juggling career obligations, fame and family life.

While the benefits of yoga are increasingly well known—from stress reduction and pain management to a more limber body and inner peace—Yee is also aware of the challenges to maintaining a consistent practice. Here he shares insights on the pitfalls encountered by both beginning and advanced students.

“My advice is to first get rid of self-berating behavior, including judgmental inner dialogue. In many aspects of life, we are constantly measuring ourselves against a standard, which is a waste of time and energy,” says Yee.

With a professional background in classical dance and gymnastics, Yee decided to give yoga a try at a nearby studio when he craved more physical flexibility. “As many people do, I came to yoga for a reason. I was a dancer with tight joints. After the first class, I couldn’t believe how I felt. It was not at all like an athletic high; I had a sense of well-being and knew what it means to feel peaceful and clear.”

For people with jam-packed lives, finding time for exercise can be daunting. Yee suggests a relaxed approach to scheduling yoga into a busy day. “As the rishis [Hindu sages] say, we shouldn’t ‘try’ to meditate, not try to force a natural state. To say, ‘I have to do yoga,’ just puts another thing on our to-do list. Sometimes discipline is needed, but another part of discipline is not about force.”

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Different approaches to yoga abound, and part of staying motivated may include exploration of a variety of traditions as individual needs change due to lifestyle, health, interests or simple curiosity. Yee reminds us to go with the flow and follow how we feel in the moment. “Different schools of yoga exist because each offers something different. There is a form for all of our moods and a practice for how you feel at any given time.”

Reflecting on how his own practice has evolved through the years, Yee recollects, “In my 20s and 30s, my yoga practice was arduous, including three to four hours of strong, physical work and a half hour of pranayama [breath work].

Then for 20 years, it involved a lot of teaching. Over the past 17 years, my practice has become more subtle, with a focus on sequencing and meditation; it’s about how to do this all day long in the context of my body and my life; about being both centered and in the world. In some way, we’re always doing yoga, as we already take 20,000 breaths a day. From a philosophical and ethical point of view, yogis have no choice but to practice.”

Because many American women have found their way to a yogic path, men often assume it’s primarily a women’s niche. But yoga has been a male practice for nearly 2,500 years in other countries. Yee encourages men to not feel intimidated. “Why not try something that can help you improve your business, family life and even your golf game?” he queries.

While Yee believes in a no-pressure approach, he also suggests inviting ways to foster consistency. “If you are just beginning, set aside a half-hour before going to bed or get up a half-hour earlier. Also note that pain is less to be avoided than learned from.”

Wisdom can come from dedication to a yoga practice.

Yee’s philosophy is, “You can blink and half your life is gone.

You can’t always be busy, busy, busy; you have to decide how to fill your life. As spiritual teacher Ram Dass counsels, ‘Be here now.’ Train yourself to bring body, mind and heart together and fully drink from that.”

Learn more at YeeYoga.com.

Marlaina Donato is a freelance writer, author and multimedia artist. Connect at MarlainaDonato.com.

natural awakenings

Photo of Yogi Brian Buturla

Why Yoga?

The yamas and niyamas, known as the foundation of the yoga practice, are just one part of the whole yogic system.

When the system is practiced diligently, it is not uncommon for the modern aspirant to experience a super-conscious state of being called samadhi. Samadhi is the yoga practitioner’s reward, and euphoric absorption with all beings and energies. With the right game plan, peace at your job, peace in your family, contentment and happiness is attainable.

The Foundation of a Successful Yoga Practice

by Brian Buturla

W

hy yoga? The answer is simply because we most likely have not mastered all aspects of our mental, physical and spiritual well-being yet. Yoga not only gives us freedom from the daily bondages of life, but also helps us accomplish what was previously thought as “unattainable”.

It gives us spiritual enlightenment, the power to cure most “dis-ease” and the ability to see from the right perspective. Yoga helps us act without error while it teaches us to come together as one in a state of peaceful union.

Starting or perfecting a yoga practice at this present time will help us keep our sanity and become more centered in the very fast-paced world in which we live.

The ancient yoga masters removed themselves from society and took refuge in mountaintop caves to find their “true self” or spiritual nature. They contemplated what the underlying issues were that caused human suffering and sadness, and then brought their understanding and teachings back into the world for all of us to learn and benefit from.

Many masters’ thoughts were organized by Patanjali, considered the father of today’s classical yoga system. He was the first individual to get the yamas (practice of self-discipline) and niyamas (observance of personal vows) extracted from the ancient yoga masters and passed on to future generations. Patanjali did this to help individuals strengthen themselves and to advance society as a whole.

In his yoga darshan, Patanjali lists five restraints under the yama category.

• Ahimsa: non-violence or dynamic loving for all living beings • Asteya: non-stealing or honesty •Aparigraha: the adoption of a simple lifestyle and non-hoarding • Satya: truth, purity and harmony in one’s thoughts and deeds •Brahmacharya: celibacy or extreme devotion to a life partner Under the category of niyama, he lists five important observances.

• Shauca: purity • Santosha: contentment • Tapas: austerity or strict economy • Svadhyaya: study of the self •Ishvara pranidhana: devotion to God

Without the yamas and niyamas, there is no real understanding of yoga, true happiness or resolution in our lives. If we follow them the best we can, we will personally benefit in countless ways. Practicing yoga along with the yamas and niyamas everyday takes work; however, it ultimately brings us closer to the concept of kaivalya, or a continuous state of samadhi (sustained spiritual bliss).

To avoid the common pitfalls and bumps in the yogic path, find a qualified teacher who has each student’s personal development in the center of their heart. Yoga means union; this path is not meant to be traveled alone.

Yogi Brian Buturla is the owner of Yogi Brian’s Classical Yoga Studio in Norwalk. Named, initiated and 800-hour-certified by his guru, Sri Yogi Dharma Mittra, Buturla offers therapeutic rehabilitative yoga, private yoga instruction and group yoga classes. Connect at YogiBrian.com.

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yogaprofiles InnerSpaces by Karen

Jiiva Yoga, Reiki & Massage Center

11 Nettleton Ave, Newtown 203-470-6969 KarenJPierce@earthlink.net InnerSpacesbyKaren.com Practice/Business summary: Karen Pierce is a yoga teacher, shamanic energy worker and professional organizer. Clutter is physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. She combines personal and space clearing with clutter and yoga therapy to assist in the release of tension in the body and energy field, and creating a space that promotes well-being.

What initially led you to a yogic path/how long have you been practicing?

Pierce was introduced to meditation as a teen and has continued to deepen her practice over nearly three decades by blending yoga, mindfulness, shamanism and energy clearing.

What training and/or certifications do you have?

Pierce is a 500 e-RYT yoga teacher, certified yoga therapist, certified YogaEd instructor and NAPO professional organizer. She recently applied to be a yoga teacher training school. She has also received sacred rites through a lineage of light carriers and Q’ero elders from Peru.

Do you work in a studio setting, in clients’ home or does it vary?

She teaches at several local yoga studios, adult education classes, and sees clients one-on-one in her home or her client’s home.

What is your particular specialty or favorite aspect of teaching yoga?

Adapting yoga and shamanism to the unique needs of each individual, whether that’s movement, breathing, meditation or indigenous teachings Do you have any teacher trainings or special workshops coming up that you want Natural Awakenings’ readers to know about?

Pierce will be holding a seven-week Awaken the Energy Healer Within: An Introduction to Shamanism workshop beginning October 3 from 7:30 to 9:30pm. This course focuses on creating health and harmony using tools that activate your self-healing abilities, such as working with the body’s energy centers, muscle testing, shamanic yoga nidra and more. Yoga teacher training is coming in 2018!

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2900 Main St, Stratford 203-345-7747 Support@JiivaCenter.com JiivaCenter.com Facebook.com/JiivaYoga Twitter.com/JiivaCenter Instagram.com/JiivaYoga Practice/Business summary: The Jiiva Center is a full service yoga and reiki facility offering seven days of yoga, 200-hour and 300hour yoga teacher training, massage, reiki healing, reiki training programs, counseling, an amazing array of workshops, and a small boutique with hand-crafted jewelry and clothing for the yogi-minded individual.

What certifications do you have?

We are 200-hour and 300-hour certified by Yoga Alliance and a NCBTMB-approved provider for massage therapists teaching classes in reiki.

Do you work in a studio setting, in clients’ home or does it vary?

We have a beautiful spacious yoga studio and healing environment, and all are welcome. We pride ourselves on the ability to reach all levels—from beginner to advanced— and enjoy watching our clients grow mentally, physically and spiritually.

Do you have any teacher trainings or special workshops coming up that you want Natural Awakenings’ readers to know about?

We have unique workshops throughout the month of September, along with the beginning of our Reiki Master Course. Registration is open for our 200-hour yoga teacher training, with early bird prices and payment plans available.

We also are excited to announce registration will soon be open for our third yoga retreat to beautiful Jamaica in February! More info online at JiivaCenter.com.

natural awakenings

yogaprofiles Sama Yoga Center

Yoga Teachers Association

Rebekah Jacobs, Owner/Director 45 Grove St, New Canaan 203-594-7077 Info@SamaYogaCenter.com SamaYogaCenter.com

Workshops held at the yoga studio at Club Fit, Briarcliff Manor, NY 914-582-7816 YTAPresident@gmail.com YTAYoga.com

Practice/Business summary: Sama Yoga Center offers a wide variety of yoga styles seven days a week for every body, age and ability, as well as series, workshops and private sessions. The center is located at 45 Grove Street in New Canaan, inside Halo Studios and underneath the New Canaan Racquet Club.

Practice/Business summary: Yoga Teachers Association (YTA) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that provides affordable continuing education to yoga teachers and students in the tri-state area. We offer monthly workshops led by nationally recognized and accomplished local instructors.

What should a client or patient expect from working with you?

The word “sama” means calmness, tranquility, equal or same. We offer an array of styles and instructors who work with you to help you find your best practice. Classes are offered by certified, experienced and compassionate teachers in our state-of-the art yoga studio with radiant heated floors, as well as a seasonal outdoor yoga deck and meditation garden (weather permitting).

What initially led you to a yogic path/how long have you been practicing?

The YTA was established in 1979.

What is your favorite aspect of teaching yoga?

Yoga is a strategy for overall health, well-being and joy, on and off the mat. It can help to alleviate stress and balance your sleep patterns, stimulate digestion and bring fluidity into joints, help to facilitate clear boundaries and move through trauma. Practicing yoga can help increase flexibility, confidence, awareness, focus and balance.

Do you work in a studio setting, in clients’ home or does it vary?

Workshops take place Saturdays from 1:30 to 4:30pm at Club Fit in Briarcliff Manor, NY, and are $45 for members and $55 for nonmembers in advance. Annual membership is $50 for teachers and individual practitioners and $75 for studio owners. Members receive $20 off each workshop, listing in the YTA directory, a monthly newsletter, and access to our new Yoga Teacher Triad program and YTA Yoga Talks series.

What do you most want Natural Awakenings’ readers to know about your studio?

All levels and styles are welcome here. Our certified teachers work together with you to attune to your needs. If you’re brand new to yoga, you may wish to begin with a gentle class, or join our beginner’s workshop. If you’re an athlete looking to enhance your sport, you may wish to join an open level class where options are offered for different levels and a bit of flow to get the heart rate up. Or at any level, you may want to engage in a private one-on-one session, where we meet you where you are. Private sessions provide an opportunity for individualized attention so that we can help you develop a practice that is just right for you, at your own pace, in your own time. We see it as our mission at Sama to empower you to move at your own pace and to offer strategic tools that you can take from your mat into your life.

What training and/or certifications do you have?

Teachers receive three CEUs per workshop and can complete their CE requirement in just one year with the YTA. We also offer complimentary membership to current yoga teacher trainees.

Do you have any teacher trainings or special workshops coming up that you want Natural Awakenings’ readers to know about?

On September 9, we are hosting a tantra yoga workshop with master yogi Todd Norian, which will be followed by our 2017–18 season-opening Prana Party featuring kirtan with Todd. Upcoming workshops include Traction Action with Tzahi Moskovitz, Transformational Teaching with Ken Nelson and Lesli Lang, and Dynamic Gentle Yoga with Rudy Peirce.

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communityspotlight

Heal. Enlighten. Renew.

Collaboration with Conscious Intent At Turning Point Healing Arts & Education Center

by Nicole Miale

N

owhere is the concept of the sum of the parts being greater than the individual pieces more borne out than in a truly integrative healing center like Ridgefield’s Turning Point Healing Arts & Education Center. As visioned and manifested by founder JoAnn Inserra Duncan of Turning Point Reiki, the healing space’s six practitioners have been serving Ridgefield and the region since opening in January 2015.

“For years I wanted to create a center where someone could come, have many different services, be supported and meet a variety of healing needs,” Inserra Duncan, a Reiki Master Teacher, explains. “To do that, I wanted to work with people who had a high degree of skill in their field and commanded respect in the community. The group that wound up being here is exactly right.”

The practitioner group currently includes Mary Beth Johnston, a massage therapist; Deana Paqua, a shamanic practitioner and teacher; Valerie Rich, a yoga, meditation and Alexander Technique teacher; Stacy Raymond, a clinical psychologist with a specialty in trauma resolution and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR); and Brenda Story, who practices multiple energy treatment modalities, such as Reconnective 34

Healing and IET (as do Inserra Duncan and Paqua). Each of them is also a Reiki Master. Their individual areas of expertise vary widely from that common point of experience and training, yet the commonality of their training creates synergy, Story says, and also creates unique opportunities for intragroup referrals.

“Every time we gather, I learn from the others,” Story explains. “As a life-long learner, I so appreciate the opportunity to work with this group and keep growing myself while helping others. I can help more people because I’m constantly exposed to all the other information.”

Inserra Duncan says she’s thrilled with how it has been working and the response clients have had to the unique center. It starts with the practitioners who work there, but the space itself sets the tone for client experience. “The energy in the space is very peaceful,” she says. “People who come say it feels like a home rather than an office. We worked to create a space that’s very inviting and homey, which makes people feel relaxed before starting their session or class.”

There is no competition between the practitioners, just collaboration and dedication to serving the needs of the people who come through the

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

natural awakenings

door. “It is tough sometimes being a solo practitioner and being out there on your own,” Paqua says. “Becoming a part of the Turning Point Center has been a wonderful experience. I love having the chance to work with a group of people with so much integrity. They are each authentic and committed to their healing work.”

The practitioners share and refer clients to each other and meet frequently to discuss the needs of the center, clients and themselves. “We work well together because we have a good sense of where each of our work begins and ends,” Raymond says. Rich agrees, and says the feeling of support and connection between the group members is quite different than her past experiences working in various gyms and studios. “We all do different things but support each other with the same vision and mission,” she explains. “It’s a place where we are all dedicated to helping humanity.”

That healing vision begins with Inserra Duncan, who spends much of her time teaching Reiki, but also has developed a specialty for treating clients with tick-borne illnesses and chronic conditions such as cancer.

“Fear and uncertainty can be so depleting,” she says. “Reiki helps reduce or eliminate anxiety, pain, fatigue and improves overall healing, so it’s particularly helpful for people dealing with cancer or other major chronic illness, whether they’re also using conventional medicine or not. Reiki can’t do any harm; it can only help.”

“We know now from the studies that have been done that trauma and energy imbalance can lead to disease in the body,” she continues. “An integrated approach is very important, especially when dealing with a major trauma or illness. For example, let the medicine do its job to kill the cancer cells that are already there while using Reiki and other healing modalities to help prevent recurrence and aid in healing.”

This approach is one of the things Raymond particularly likes about the group. “Centers like ours are really important because they fulfill an integrative medicine niche in our own little way,” she says.

Community outreach and edu-

cation are important parts of their mission. Paqua is an adjunct faculty member at Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) and she and Inserra Duncan are also advisory board members of the Institute of Holistic Health Studies (IHHS) at WCSU.

Each member of The Center’s team participates in or leads educational events and workshops, whether at The Center itself or at local community venues, i.e. a wellness lecture series scheduled by Ridgefield Library. The Center’s physical space—three treatment rooms, a waiting room, a small classroom and a kitchen—is a frequent site for workshops and classes, including the Divorce S.H.A.R.E. Group Inserra Duncan holds on a monthly basis for community members going through the divorce process. Those groups benefit from the collaborative nature of the practitioner group Inserra Duncan has attracted; some of the practitioners have been presenters for the divorce group, supporting their healing through a difficult life transition. It is just another way that clients who come to The Center have a variety of needs met, another manifestation of

The practitioners share and refer clients to each other and meet frequently to discuss the needs of the center, clients and themselves.

Inserra Duncan’s original vision.

“If you put out the clear intent to serve the highest healing good, people get what they need,” Johnston says.

Inserra Duncan agrees, “The people who are supposed to find you, find you. I think there’s a lot to be said for the energetic connection where clients are guided to a particular practitioner.”

They could do a lot worse than to find themselves in the capable hands of any practitioner at the Turning Point Healing Arts & Education Center.

For more information, contact: JoAnn Inserra Duncan, MS, RMT, call 203-438-3050 or email JDuncan@ TurningPointReiki.com. See Community Resource Guide listing, page 76.

Mary Beth Johnston, LMT, RMT, call 914-419-7961 or email MBJMassage25@gmail.com.

Deana Paqua, MS, LMT, RMT, call 203-994-5045 or email Deana.Paqua@ gmail.com or visit EmbodyTheSacred.net.

See ad, page 21.

Stacy Raymond, PsyD, call 203-4930344, email DrStacyRaymond@gmail. com or visit DrStacyRaymond.com.

Valerie Rich, (AmSAT) RM RYT 500, call 203-482-2278, email ThriveOnYogaCT@gmail.com or visit ThriveYogaCT.com.

Brenda Story, RMT, call 203-948-0841 or email SoaringHawk.BrendaS@ gmail.com.

Turning Point Healing Arts & Education Center is located at 100B Danbury Rd, Ste 101, Ridgefield.

Nicole Miale is publisher of Natural Awakenings Fairfield County/ Housatonic Valley and Greater Hartford County. Connect at NicoleM@ NaturalAwakeningsmag.com.

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LIVE CANCER-FREE Natural Ways to Prevent and Heal Cancer

by Linda Sechrist

V

ictorious warriors against cancer are speaking to other patients about their journeys of recovery and healing. Two who regularly speak to physicians, as well, are Glenn Sabin, author of n of 1: One Man’s Harvarddocumented Remission of Incurable Cancer Using Only Natural Methods, and Kathy Mydlach-Bero, author of EAT: An Unconventional Decade in the Life of a Cancer Patient. Their stories demonstrate the healing effectiveness of healthy lifestyle measures still widely categorized as prevention.

Whole Life Triumphs

Determined to become free of the chronic lymphocytic leukemia that had defined his life for 20 years, Sabin, who lives near Washington, D.C., appointed himself the subject of his own research experiment. He subsequently became a poster child for the remedial synergy of biological individuality, a whole systems approach to integrative oncology and self-induced healing through lifestyle and supplement interventions. Sabin now dedicates his business development firm, FON Consulting, to advancing integrative medicine as the new standard of care. His mission is to open minds to the idea that knowledge, empowerment and 36

self-efficacy are our best allies against a life-limiting diagnosis, and we can do much to help the healing process.

Writing to Joe Biden regarding the vice president’s Cancer Moonshot initiative, he candidly describes America’s present cancer-friendly environment.

“The public has become conditioned to existing in a broken food chain that remains in disrepair due to misguided farming subsidies [and] untested or otherwise questionable chemicals (many of which are banned in other countries) that are present in the water we drink, the air we breathe, food we consume and products we use. Current therapies or those in the drug pipeline won’t improve the 50/50 odds of developing cancer. What will have the greatest impact are consumer education toward powerful lifestyle changes and access to the building blocks of basic health.”

Mydlach-Bero made her remarkable recovery from rare and unrelated aggressive Stage 4 inflammatory breast cancer and a high-grade tumor in her head and neck. To tell her story, the resident of Delafield, Wisconsin, relied on her 18 journals as a surrogate memory to chronicle a 10-year journey of courageous exploration, self-evolution, self-advocacy and self-transformation that connected

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natural awakenings

esis process triggered by inflammation and keeps it permanently activated to ensure that cancerous cells receive a dedicated, uninterrupted blood supply,” explains Mydlach-Bero.

For three years, she largely consumed only items from the list of angiogenesis-inhibiting foods now posted at KathyMydlachBero.com/food-research.

These include green tea, strawberries, blackberries, red tart cherries, raspberries, blueberries, apples, grapefruit, lemons, tomatoes, cinnamon, purple potatoes, kale, grape seed oil and pomegranate. In 2008, she completely replaced both the drugs to combat the side effects of chemo and radiation and a long-term medication for preventing recurrence with healthful foods.

Her physicians were admittedly uncomfortable with her decision to combine chemotherapy and radiation treatments with “food as medicine”, reiki, prayer, meditation, mindfulness and supplement intervention. But that didn’t deter her. To awaken others to the practicality of food as medicine, she founded NuGenesis Farm, in Pewaukee, a nonprofit modeled after her home practice.

Prevention is Paramount

Pioneering physicians and researchers agree with Sabin and Myldach-Bero that

michaeljung/Shutterstock.com

her with her healing potential.

Then the mother of two young daughters, Mydlach-Bero rejected a 21-month prognosis in 2005, along with the notion that disease and medicine would determine her fate.

Defying the odds, she applied what she learned from research regarding Avastin, a pharmaceutical created to combat harmful growth of new blood cells, and the benefits of growing and eating foods containing angiogenesisinhibiting compounds that oppose such growth and so work to prevent, improve and avert recurrences of chronic disease. “Cancer hijacks the angiogen-

comprehensive prevention, the key to solving the cancer epidemic, is missing from conventional medicine. Leading voices include Dr. Andrew Weil, founder and director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at the College of Medicine, University of Arizona (AzCIM), in Tucson; Dr. Carlos M. Garcia, founder of Utopia Wellness, near Tampa, Florida; advocate Susan Silberstein, Ph.D., founder of BeatCancer.org, in Richboro, Pennsylvania; and Ajay Goel, Ph.D., director of the Center for Epigenetics, Cancer Prevention and Cancer Genomics at Baylor University Medical Center’s Research Institute, in Dallas.

Weil pioneered the earliest efforts to develop a comprehensive curriculum in evidence-based integrative medicine and the field of integrative oncology.

“We’ve known for nearly 15 years that inflammation is the root cause of many chronic diseases. Since 2012 scientific evidence has proven that a healthy lifestyle and an anti-inflammatory diet can influence various cancers,” says Weil.

His curriculum for health professionals and the general public was the first to cite the role of a nutrient-rich, anti-inflammatory diet in cancer prevention and

treatment. “Health professionals graduate armed with a better understanding of the complex interactions between cancer, gut microbiome and nutrition,” advises Weil, whose paradigm inspires his chain of True Food Kitchen restaurants.

It includes lots of fruits and vegetables, moderate amounts of whole or cracked grains, al dente pasta, healthy fats and plant-based proteins from legumes, nuts and seafood as well as poultry and lean, antibiotic-free grassfed meats, cheese and eggs. Plus, he likes white, green and oolong teas, fresh herbs and spices, up to two glasses of red wine a day (less for women; possibly none for those at high-risk for breast cancer), and dark chocolate for antioxidant polyphenols.

Integrative Oncology, authored

by Weil and Dr. Donald I. Abrams, an integrative oncologist, is mandatory reading for AzCIM students that learn to use complementary interventions in prevention and conventional cancer care. Subjects such as antioxidants, cannabinoids, energy medicine, mindbody medicine, music and expressive art therapies are covered, as well as naturopathic oncology, plus the roles

that community and spirituality play in prevention and treatment.

Goel’s 20-year career in cancer prevention research has produced a wealth of related articles. Among his findings, he advises, “Curcumin, a yellow compound extracted from turmeric, has become a gold standard for prevention and the natural treatment of many chronic health conditions, including colon cancer. It targets cancer stem cells, disrupts cancer cell communication, triggers cancer cell death and helps to prevent cancerous mutations to cells. It’s also been shown to improve the efficacy of conventional treatments including fewer adverse effects.” He recommends only taking turmeric products with BCM-95 percent active curcuminoids.

Customized Protocols

Considering each individual’s biological individuality as a Petri dish, Garcia’s studies help achieve an anti-cancer life.

He advises, “There is no ‘one size fits all’ medical protocol box for cancer treatment. Customized modifications to lifestyle and diet are required because food nutrients directly impact the mechanisms by which cancer cells grow and

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spread. The right nutrition can reverse a compromised immune system, which research shows is a major contributor to the development of cancer.”

Whether for improvement or prevention, Garcia’s patient protocols always begin with a comprehensive evaluation appointment to learn about the individual he is treating. For cancer patients, his two-phase, eight-week program involves immune-enhancing therapies followed by immunotherapy aimed to de-cloak the camouflaged protein coating of wily cancer cells so the body’s immune system can identify and destroy them.

Mind/Body Detox

To maintain good health, Judy Seeger, a doctor of naturopathy near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, recommends a regular detoxification regimen to cleanse environmental and product toxins and toxic emotions. Through experience, she has learned that individuals living with cancer need to substantially support their abnormally functioning elimination system to rid it of dead proteins from destroyed cancer cells and chemotherapy drugs that are overtaxing the immune system.

“Clearing out toxic, stressful emotions that produce acid, weaken the immune system and create an environment for cancer to propagate is essential,” says Seeger. “Fulfilling the body’s requirement for an ongoing healthy nutritional plan that maintains a healing alkaline environment reduces both the risk of

a cancer as well as recurrence.” She has observed that when an individual’s healing process has stalled despite their doing all the right things to improve their biochemistry, it’s frequently because they haven’t done an emotional detox and lack feeling a spiritual connection to something larger than themselves.

Silberstein categorizes cancer as epidemic. She speaks regularly regarding preventing cancer and its recurrence at medical and nursing schools, continuing oncology nursing education programs and universities. “What is needed more than new treatment research is public education regarding the true causes of cancer and continuing education credits in lifestyle training for medical professionals,” she says. Silberstein’s nonprofit organization provides online holistic cancer coach training for health professionals as well as research-based education and counseling on how to prevent, cope with and beat cancer through immune-boosting holistic approaches.

The list of books authored by cancer survivors continues to grow, offering helpful insight into how individuals are negotiating the challenges of their healing journey. Two recent books, Surviving the Storm: A Workbook for Telling Your Cancer Story, by Psychotherapist Cheryl Krauter, and Cancer Survivorship Coping Tools: We’ll Get You Through This, by Barbara Tako, are particularly helpful regarding the onslaught of toxic feelings and emotions that stress the mind and body—fear, anger, isolation, anxiety,

depression and uncertainty, as well as loss and grief. Emphasizing the need for individuals diagnosed with cancer to tell their stories, the authors encourage keeping a journal. The act of getting thoughts and experiences out of the mind and onto paper supports emotional cleansing.

“It’s important to share the real story of the emotional storm that is cancer, as well as the ravages of its treatments and invisible, but lingering side effects; to tell the tale of the cancer survivor who is moving from patient to person; and to explore and discover who you are after having faced down your mortality,” Krauter counsels.

Changed Paradigm

Results of the Human Genome Project, as well as the work of Bruce Lipton, Ph.D., stem cell biologist and author of The Biology of Belief, and other epigenetic researchers support the point that “environmental signals” that directly affect our DNA expression include our thoughts, emotions, belief system, exposure to sunlight, exercise and everything we put into our body.

Such new science shatters the idea that we are victims of our genes and environment. It shines light on the fact that we have tremendous power to shape and direct our own physical health. Our entire lifestyle is pivotal.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Connect at ItsAllAboutWe.com.

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BEING BEAUTY What Makes Us Glow

by Glennon Doyle Melton

P

lenty of people are pretty, but haven’t yet learned how to be beautiful. They have the right look for the times, but they don’t glow. Beautiful women glow.

That’s because beautiful is not about how we look on the outside; it is about what we’re made of and being “full of beauty” on the inside. Beautiful people spend time discovering what their idea of beauty is on this Earth. They know themselves well enough to know what they love, and they love themselves enough to fill up with a little of their particular kind of beauty each day.

When we are with a beautiful woman, we might not notice her hair, skin, body or clothes, because we’ll be distracted by the way she makes us feel. She is so full of beauty that some of it overflows onto us. We feel warm and safe and curious around her. Her eyes typically twinkle a little and she’ll look at us closely—because a beautiful, wise woman knows that the quickest way to fill up with beauty is to soak in another’s beauty. The most beautiful women take their time with other people; they are filling up.

Women concerned with being pretty think about what they look like, but women concerned with being beautiful think about what they are looking at, taking in the loveliness around them. They are absorbing the whole beautiful world and making all that beauty theirs to give to others.

Source: Adapted excerpt from Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton (Flatiron Books). She’s the founder and president of the nonprofit Together Rising. Read more at Momastery.com/blog.

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Healthy People Have Cancer, Too

It’s Never Too Late to Adopt Healthier Habits

by Marie Winters

F

or many people, a cancer diagnosis leaves them feeling like they have failed at being healthy. Those with advanced, incurable illness often feel like they’ve been permanently shut out of the land of the healthy. But it isn’t true; it is possible to be focused on living healthy for most of our adult lives,

maintaining a mostly plant-based diet, exercising regularly, and meditating and practicing frequently…and still get cancer. When we get that diagnosis, we don’t say, “I used to be healthy.” It is still very much possible to be a healthy person with cancer. What we are seeing now, though, is what many naturopath-

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natural awakenings

ic doctors have known for years: the body’s overall health is going to help in a fight against cancer.

For naturopathic doctors, this is not a surprising concept. Naturopathic medicine seeks to optimize the health of the whole person using diet, exercise and lifestyle changes; also, when appropriate, they offer vitamins, minerals and food-based supplements. Patients’ energy, sleep, digestion and sense of well-being can improve; all of these factors can improve overall well-being whether someone has cancer or not.

Oncologists may be open to a naturopath’s recommendations for their patients as long as it doesn’t interfere with chemotherapy or radiation. The treatments often help the oncologist’s patients feel like they are actively participating in their own care. The patients aren’t simply showing up for visits, passively receiving treatment, then going home to sit and wait for the next round. Although oncologists may not be convinced a naturopath is helping their patients fight cancer, they usually approve of the fighting spirit the practitioner helps to impart.

Exercise is a good example. Studies are published quite frequently these days demonstrating that people with cancer can improve their quality of life with exercise. A 2016 meta-analysis published in OncoTargets and Therapy demonstrated that exercise can help to alleviate anxiety and depression; improve emotional and social well-being; and positively impact lean body mass, body mass index and muscle strength.

All that while helping to reduce insulin and insulin-like growth factor-II in women with breast cancer who exercise during cancer treatment. Not only do women who exercise after a cancer diagnosis get healthier and feel better, they also live longer. Another landmark meta-analysis, published in 2015 in Acta Oncologica, demonstrated that women with breast cancer that exercise have lower rates of all-cause and breast cancer-related death; they also have fewer recurrences, incidences of progression and new primary cancers.

This effect held true for women that exercised prior to diagnosis, as well as women that began exercising both during and after cancer treatment.

Let’s look at another marker of overall health: vitamin D status. It turns out that women with higher circulating levels of vitamin D also have better outcomes when it comes to fighting breast cancer. There’s a clear linear relationship between vitamin D status and overall survival; this means that the more vitamin D circulating in our blood, the longer we are likely to live, according to a meta-analysis published in Integrative Cancer Therapies in 2017.

While breast cancer often dominates integrative cancer research, those with breast cancer are obviously not the only patients who can benefit from improving their overall health status. Take something that many people overlook in this fast-paced day and age: healthy sleep habits. Published in Sleep Medicine in 2017, a recent study of patients with advanced biliary and pancreatic cancer found that those with the best sleep habits had better overall survival.

Healthy sleep is likewise important for those diagnosed with colorectal cancer. People with colorectal cancer who sleep seven to eight hours per night have a 36 percent improvement in overall survival compared to those who sleep less than five hours per night, found a 2017 study in Sleep. In fact, sleeping less than five hours per night was associated with a 54 percent increase in colorectal cancer-associated mortality.

Research is ongoing on the impact of adopting healthful eating habits after a cancer diagnosis. We may very well see similar results to those found about the impact of exercise. The bottom line is that it is never too late to adopt a personalized exercise regimen, boost circulating levels of vitamin D, or work on longer and sounder periods of rest.

Marie Winters, ND, FABNO, is a faculty member for the University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine. She offers personalized natural medicine in her Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, practice, specializing in allergies, asthma, digestive disorders and integrative oncology.

She is also the president of the Pennsylvania Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Connect at MAWinter@ Bridgeport.edu. See ad, page 4.

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A New Take on C.A.N.C.E.R.

Pathway to Hope and Higher Purpose

by Lorraine Elmo

R

eceiving a cancer diagnosis is undoubtedly one of the scariest, most daunting, overwhelming, “side-swiping” experiences in life. When cancer has invaded the body, the mind hits a crossroad. It is often viewed as an unfortunate, tragic stroke of bad luck for which we are forever doomed. Alternatively, it can be viewed as a divine opportunity to change and evolve for the better. Although it may appear obvious what the optimal choice is, more often than not, cancer is still considered by most to be the ultimate curse.

The reality is that everyone has at least one form of “C.A.N.C.E.R.”, or “Concerning Active Neurosis Causing Extreme Resistance”. When it materializes and invades the physical body in

the form of a physical disease, we have gone too far in resisting the belief in a higher power. Or it may be we are ready to relinquish old belief systems that no longer serve us in order to open our hearts and minds to evolve and serve a higher purpose in life.

Unlike other illnesses, cancer has the power to stop people in their unconscious tracks and dramatically pull them into the present. As cancer patients await test results and treatment protocols, all other life distractions and complaints that once consumed them fall to the wayside, appearing more trivial and minuscule than ever relative to their current circumstances.

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natural awakenings

of pain and suffering until the expected end is achieved.

There is no other reason for cancer, an illness or tragedy to occur, except to provide an opportunity to connect with divine wisdom and the higher truth of our existence. Orienting oneself to cancer, or any illness or suffering, as a pathway to healing, not only has the potential to increase the quality of life and life expectancy, it also has the potential to provide a pathway of hope and inspiration to others who suffer from cancer, illnesses and life traumas.

Although it is important to recognize and honor all feelings as they arise, it is of utmost importance to not give into negative, gloom-and-doom reactions. Rather than resigning ourselves to typical, fearful reactions—such as anxiety, depression, seclusion, denial and resistance—consider the following more positive alternatives:

Take a good hard look at your life.

Decide and choose to only continue with the life practices that bring you joy and serve the whole. Eliminate unnecessary stressors. Take the necessary steps to accomplish and do the things you’ve always dreamed of doing.

Study and practice mindfulness and meditation, in which one develops the practice of always living consciously and orienting to life as a witness to life events as they unfold. Through this practice, we develop the skill of mindfully responding rather than impulsively reacting to the unexpected hurdles along the pathway of life.

Read about, study and practice alternative forms of healing, including use of natural herbs and remedies.

Acupuncture, energy healing, ayurveda, angel therapy and any other healing arts can add to our awareness.

Consider believing in a higher presence, whether it be called God, Jesus, the Universe, Source or something else. Practice believing and trusting in a higher presence every day, first thing in the morning and right before retiring to bed. Learn how to pray, and make very clear, deliberate and specific requests for healing and protection. Know that you are never alone, and will always receive help and guidance when you ask for it with merciful awareness, gratitude

and an open mind and heart. “Let go and let God,” as the saying goes.

Learn to distinguish between the ego, or the false sense of self that processes most of our reactive emotions, and the higher self, which is the self that communicates through oneness, truth and love.

Stay tuned and open to miracles unfolding that you couldn’t possibly have imagined or foreseen.

Practicing the three Es can definitely help.

1. Eat Well: Eat healthy, organic whole foods; drink lots of water; and consider interval fasting.

2. Exercise: Get into a daily routine of exercising first thing in the morning; make sure to do exercises that are motivating .

3. Express yourself: Write in a journal as often as possible.

Indulge in creative talents. Express through the arts and through music, go to therapy and read books about spirituality. Join a support group.

A Year to Live by Steven Levine is a beautifully written book by an expert in the dying process. He speaks to facing a fear of dying and practicing doing a “life review”, a process reported by people with near-death experiences in which all of life is reviewed. This practice allows for acceptance, forgiveness and completion. The delicate and powerfully healing process does not have to wait until physical death to be experienced. It can be done in this lifetime, and is carefully outlined in Levine’s book to transport the self from ego-driven fear and a false sense of separation to a sense of oneness, enlightenment, healing and inner peace.

It helps to share our experience with others and move outside our comfort zone. Instead of contracting into the darkness of our worst fears, expand outward into the lightness of hope and what is possible. Join or lead a support group. By sharing our stories, we know that we are not only helping ourselves to not feel so alone, but we are also helping to support and heal others going through a similar journey.

An enormous spiritual transformation is taking place in our world. It is time for the ego’s old, worn out ways of existing in separation to end; it is time for a more mindful, meditative life orientation as part of a larger collective, and as a “witness”, to begin. It is time to stop reacting negatively and to start responding positively to life’s “curve balls”. It is time to step into the pain rather than resisting it.

Give the cancer, ailment or suffering permission to exist, and to be actualized and healed. Keep an open mind and heart. Embrace the cancer with merciful awareness. Believe that a higher presence is available to help heal and support us. Let go of the notion that everything in life must be under our control. Give permission to receive love, prayers and healing from others and from a higher presence. Cancer does not have to be a dreadful experience. On the contrary, it can be an awakening, and a unique opportunity to evolve our spirit and heal our soul.

Lorraine Elmo, a pediatric occupational therapist residing in Trumbull, is also a breast cancer survivor who leads a private support group for breast cancer survivors. Follow her creative songs, poems and positive posts on Facebook at Lorraine’s Big Pink Adventure.

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Tap Out of It EFT Can Ease the Trauma of a Cancer Diagnosis

by Suzanne Rossini

C

ancer. The word—once whispered, now spoken aloud—still comes as a shock. Hearing that we or a loved one have cancer is a blow, and it can be a terrifying moment. It leaves even the strongest among us stunned.

Shock, fear, anger and numbness are all expected, but sometimes these reactions intensify so tremendously that they begin to interfere not only with our ability to function, but to heal.

Many leading cancer institutes are now paying attention to the emotional and psychological effects of a cancer diagnosis and treatment; they are recognizing that both can be so traumatic as to cause symptoms of PTS (post-traumatic stress) or PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), which can stand in

the way of battling the disease. Dr. Fremonta Meyer, part of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, acknowledges that it is common for cancer patients—even if they don’t have full-blown PTSD—to have some symptoms of it.

“Cancer patients experiencing PTSD may skip appointments or procedures to avoid triggers that remind them of their trauma, which could cause health problems if they miss surveillance scans or other follow-up,” Meyer says. “Seeking psychological help during and immediately following cancer treatment can help patients process their emotions and heal mentally and emotionally. If you don’t pay attention to processing a trauma, you might be more vulnerable to PTSD later on.”

Tapping, an Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), can help. It is a form of emotional acupuncture without needles that is used to process traumas large and small by clearing any disruption in the body’s energy system. By finger tapping on the body’s energy meridian points while simultaneously focusing on a specific problem, tapping can relieve a variety of physical and physiological problems, including the PTS and PTSD symptoms that can result from a cancer diagnosis and/or treatment.

Gary Craig, a Stanford University engineer and the founder of EFT/Tapping more than 30 years ago, believed that our negative emotions are caused by a disruption in the body’s energy system; this is a situation that can be simply reversed by tapping. According to recent research at Harvard Medical College, the most effective treatments for trauma can be found in the energy psychologies like EFT/tapping. Brain scans show that stimulating meridian points on the body sends a calming signal to the amygdale; saliva tests reveal significant reduction in cortisol levels. In the words of Dr. Eric Leskowitz from the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, “EFT is the treatment of choice for rapid intervention in traumatic situations…its use can prevent the future development of fullblown PTSD.”

How people react to traumatic news is based on what Dr. Richard Scaer, a physician and traumatologist, describes as “The Trauma Capsule”. This is the place in the brain where all

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the traumas of our lives are stored.

Each time we experience a traumatic event, a complicated series of switches turns on in the limbic system of the brain. Although there are many parts to the limbic system, let’s focus on the three key areas responsible for processing trauma: the amygdala, or alarm system; the hippocampus, or memory system; and the orbital frontal cortex, or information/assessment system.

Information stored in the limbic system falls into our trauma capsule after each traumatic event. For example, the development of the orbital frontal cortex is critical to the mother-infant bond established in infancy. People who suffered traumas—such as adoption, separation due to illness or abandonment—during this stage of development exhibit less efficient orbital frontal cortex in brain scans. If this is a piece of our trauma capsule, we may be more prone to trauma and emotional distress.

The amygdala fires the alarm when we perceive ourselves to be in a lifethreatening situation. The brain “freezes in fear”. That can explain why most of us are asked to bring a caregiver when the doctor is going to give us bad news. We often have trouble recalling information when the brain is in this stage of trauma.

The hippocampus can’t do its job if the amygdala keeps firing the alarm. If the “freeze” of the traumatic event is not “discharged”, or completed at the time of trauma, the body is hardwired through the procedural memory to react or repeat every nuance of that event whenever a memory resembling the event triggers us.

We know that animals in the wild shake violently after killing prey to somatically discharge the trauma completing the art of escape. Indigenous people continue to engage in ritualistic behaviors that involve “shaking”. Interestingly, domestic animals do not go through this process because they live in cages; also humans no longer “discharge” trauma because we live in cultural “cages”, where it is seen as abnormal. This may be why we are more easily traumatized than our ancestors. It also explains why the more untreated trauma we suffer— particularly in early childhood—the less resilient we are to new traumas. This may give insight as to why there is a

wide range of individual reactions to a cancer diagnosis; some people are able to handle it better than others.

Over the course of his life’s work Scaer came to believe that untreated trauma was the cause of all chronic pain and disease. He describes this physiological circuit in his book, The Body Bears The Burden.

Knowing that trauma once established is self-perpetuating and responsive to outside triggers, we can better understand how and why EFT/Tapping can help. Clinical research has shown that it can interrupt these psychological and physiological circuits by actually intercepting the signal to the amygdale; this stops the act of self-perpetuation and triggers a new and different response in the brain, allowing us to be in the present moment and energetically freeing our system from the past. Once healed,

sions, these details can remain completely private to us; somatic release and healing occurs regardless of revelation of the facts to the practitioner.

If we have had many traumas in our lives, we probably have many triggers in our capsule that do not make sense to us.

These triggers are likely attached to specific, forgotten memories and need to be healed to be cleared. Once the trauma is healed and the triggers disappear, we will come to know a sense of well-being that gives us renewed strength to meet the current challenges we face.

A skilled tapping practitioner uses specialized techniques to help us travel back gently, tracing our pain and emotional distress to a point of origin. They use the power of our heart combined with their knowledge of the body’s energy meridians and honed EFT/tapping skills to give us the courage and strength

“If it isn’t properly treated, trauma self-perpetuates.

EFT/tapping is a powerful tool because it re-regulates the brain dysfunction that trauma causes.” ~Dr. Lori Leyden the overwhelming symptoms of worry and anxiety become manageable, sleep returns and pain is less. We can live in the present moment instead of trapped in the traumas of the past or worries of the future.

“Trauma is a neurological state that may manifest as chronic stress, body pains, headaches, trouble sleeping and a whole host of other symptoms. If it isn’t properly treated, trauma self-perpetuates.

EFT/Tapping is a powerful tool because it re-regulates the brain dysfunction that trauma causes and allows the person to achieve a strong state of resilience,” said Dr. Lori Leyden, an internationallyrespected trauma specialist and EFT/tapping trainer with AAMET International.

Looking at cancer through the lens of trauma and using the power of EFT/ tapping to heal the broader emotional and psychological effects of a diagnosis can help with its many challenges. This includes not only understanding and reacting to a diagnosis but also treatment or recurrence.

A skilled practitioner can guide us through the specific details of our trauma capsule. During the tapping ses-

to heal our deepest wounds. The beauty of tapping is also that the practitioner can provide us with some tools for selfhelp; this enables us to use some simple self-help technique in addition to working with the practitioner in person.

Dr. Patricia Carrington, a leading psychologist and a pioneer in the burgeoning field of energy psychology, was asked by a woman diagnosed with cancer how EFT/tapping could help. She replied, “You need to follow only one rule when doing this: do not water down and try to minimize any emotion that you are feeling. It is dealing with the raw emotion, recognizing and accepting it, that is going to heal you of the painful inner feelings, and which may perhaps ultimately heal you…certainly it will greatly improve your prognosis if the negative emotions around this illness are removed.”

Suzanne Rossini is a certified EFT practitioner at The Tapping Practice, an EFT group practice in Sandy Hook (formerly Tapping for Peace). Connect at Tapping4PeaceCT@gmail.com or Tapping4PeaceCT.com.

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MORE THAN SKIN DEEP

Thermography Maps Body Temperature Changes

by Ariana Rawls Fine

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hen it comes to breast health, there are now a number of ways to document changes in breast tissue. These include mammograms (x-ray), computed tomography scans (CT scan), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasounds, infrared camera and thermometry.

Infrared Thermography

Infrared thermography, one example of infrared imaging science, is an image snippet of any thermal abnormalities in our bodies that can indicate injury, disease or the progression potential toward an issue. How can mapping our skin’s temperature offer a glimpse into our bodies’ inner workings? What can it tell us? Is it reliable? Yes, in fact the scientific imaging can help physicians with diagnosis, prognosis, and rehabilitation or lifestyle change optimization.

Rachel Mazzarelli, the owner of the multi-location, Connecticut-based Whole Health LLC and a certified clinical thermographer, emphasizes that thermography is not a replacement for getting a mammogram but rather an alternative view. Mammograms and ultrasounds are tests of structure, such as looking for calcification, a mass or a cyst, she explains. However, it can take up to 8-12 years for something to 46

show up on mammograms, whereas a thermogram, a test of physiology, could sense a shift in the second year. Overall, health and lifestyle are important pieces for breast health while genetics play a smaller role, Mazzarelli continues. With thermograms, patients feel encouraged and competent when they see the dietary and lifestyle changes they are making reflected in the imaging. On the question of accuracy, she points to an analysis done by the American College of Clinical Thermography.

Of the close to 160,000 thermograms reviewed, around 90 percent were accurate with very few being false positives. This figure is substantially better when compared to the 50 to 60 percent chance of false positives quoted for those that have had 10 or more annual mammograms, according to 2011 and 2012 reviews published in the Lancet and Annals of Internal Medicine.

Deborah McIntosh, CCT, agrees with the use of thermography as an “early warning system”. She is the owner of Norwalk-based Alba Thermal Imaging, LLC, a certified clinical thermographer and a massage therapist. With clients returning annually for the 12 years she has been practicing thermography, McIntosh has seen how some have made dietary changes,

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

natural awakenings

worked with an herbalist or naturopath, and adapted to a healthier lifestyle.

These changes have been reflected in the follow-up imaging with some showing an arrest of disease progression or diminishing warning signs of an issue.

Some of McIntosh’s clients with cancer utilize the imaging to find out how their allopathic treatments are working. McIntosh had one client who came every six months; because of that frequency, they saw a quick change in heat patterns that, when further investigated by the client’s physician, was shown to be a very rare form of uterine cancer. Such a story exemplifies how thermograms can be used to show physicians when a potential problem may be brewing.

In order to prepare for the appointment, McIntosh asks her patients to not have any bodywork done on the day of the test; refrain from having any hot drinks or smoking two hours prior; use no deodorant, lotions or ointments on the areas being imaged; and abstain from shaving underarms or sunbathing that day.

What happens once the images are taken? Thermal images are uploaded to a network of board-certified thermologists who then interprets the scan and sends a report back to her. That report is then shared with McIntosh’s patient and possibly the patient’s physicians.

Regulation Thermography

Digital infrared thermal imaging, or thermograms, work by converting infrared radiation emanating from the surface of the skin into electrical charges that are translated into visual graphs mapping the body temperatures on a screen for physicians to interpret. In regulation thermometry, a high-tech thermometer does a whole-body scan and measures the temperature of 116 body points, including ones in the breast, thyroid, digestive system and brain. This enables the practitioner to read information about the functional capacity of the body and its underlying organ systems, explains Dr. Gary Gruber, a naturopathic physician and the owner of Family and Environmental Medicine, which has locations in New Canaan and Stamford.

In the case of breast health, regulation thermography also looks at a dozen criteria that can change breast tissue. By doing so, the scan can provide clues as

to underlying influences that are the root cause for the diseased tissue; this can include inflammation, toxic overload, lymphatic drainage issues and infections, Gruber expands.

“One of the things that regulation thermography has shown over the years are patterns of dysfunction—or algorithms almost,” Gruber says. He gives an example of one patient who came to him last year showing a pattern of susceptibility toward a degenerative disease after an analysis through regulation thermography. Utilizing different tools—such as bike exercises with oxygen therapy, dietary changes, complex homeopathic remedies and supplements—they were able to reduce her susceptibility to the degenerative disease.

“If you are overwhelmed by toxins, stress, viruses and bacteria, you have an overloaded and dysfunctioning immune system, which then adds on another stressor. For example, we might find out a patient is not detoxing well, which then gives us a clue as to what other tests to do—such as genomic or nutritional—and thereby uncovering patterns of information that you cannot get from infrared alone,” Gruber says. “This is why I am so excited about doing regulation thermography.

We are looking at how the body is talking to itself.” He goes on to explain that, while infrared uncovers inflammation in the tissues—an important piece of breast health—it can’t tell if it is a virus or another type of infection causing the issue. With regulation thermography, the “why” is more evident through patterns for viral loads, chronic lymphatic conditions, changes of circulation to the head and more.

Practitioners of both types of thermography recommend a scan once a year or every six months if there is a particular issue. The scans can look into how the body is communicating with itself; if the immune system, hormones or other systems are out of balance, we experience symptoms. Thermography eavesdrops on that conversation to see what is throwing the communication out of balance, Gruber explains.

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Ariana Rawls Fine is editor of Natural Awakenings Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley and Natural Awakenings New Haven/Middlesex Counties. She resides in Stratford with her family.

Local Resources Deborah McIntosh, CCT • Alba Thermal Imaging, LLC 71 East Ave, Ste D, Norwalk 203-856-1421 • AlbaThermalImaging.com SOPHIA Natural Health Center 31 Old Rte 7, Brookfield • 203-740-9300 • INM.center Gary Gruber, ND • Family and Environmental Medicine • 68 Old Stamford Rd, New Canaan • 203-966-6360 • 111 High Ridge Rd, Stamford •203-539-1149 ScienceMeetsNature.org/Regulation-Thermography Rachel Mazzarelli • Whole Health Thermography Mobile locations in Stamford, Fairfield, Norwalk, Milford, Southbury and Bethel, as well as New York locations in Northport, Bellmore, Katonah and Carmel 203-257-3785 • WholeHealthThermography.com eNaturalAwakenings.com

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practitionerprofiles Alba Thermal Imaging LLC

SOPHIA Natural Health Center

Debbie McIntosh 71 East Ave, Ste D, Norwalk 203-856-1421 McDebbie@optonline.net AlbaThermalImaging.com

31 Old Route 7, Brookfield 203-740-9300 Info@SophiaNaturalHealth.com INM.center

Practice/Business summary or primary services offered: Alba offers a digital thermal imaging service that records the thermal patterns of your body; this can determine the cause of pain, aid in early detection of disease and pathology, and evaluate sensory nerve irritation. The procedure is safe, painless and non-invasive; it monitors the thermal abnormalities of disease and injury from the patient’s body as well as aids in the diagnosis, including breast disease, soft tissue injury, stroke screening and inflammatory disease, just to name a few.

What first drew you to this work?

I was drawn to thermography because I felt it would be a very useful tool for people in this area to have at their disposal. I found the technology fascinating and I enjoy working with clients.

Why do you feel passionate about thermography?

I am passionate about thermography as a whole because it is a tool that can aid in earlier detection. It is very valuable to people to put their mind at ease or give them power to search for further answers.

What should a client or patient expect from working with you?

I am caring and compassionate, and provide a first-class service in a healing, non-medical environment.

What do you most want Natural Awakenings’ readers to know about you/your business?

Thermography is an invaluable tool to aid in diagnosis, possibly giving answers where other tests have failed. I care about my clients and like to help in any way I can. I learn new information every day from clients’ experiences, knowledge and research.

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Practice/Business summary: Using our unique system of integrative natural medicine, including thermography and state-of-theart technology and testing, you will experience a wellness approach that focuses on the root cause of your health problems.

What first drew you to this work?

A desire to introduce and educate as many women as possible to the benefits of this life-saving technology.

Why do you feel passionate about thermography?

Thermography can detect minute changes in your body that can literally mean the difference between being preventative and proactive with your health, or having to be reactive to bigger issues later on.

What should a client or patient expect from working with you?

A patient can be assured of a thoroughly professional screening with a state-of-the-art camera, specialized medical interpretation of images and reports, and personalized follow-up.

What do you most want Natural Awakenings’ readers to know about you/your business?

With almost two decades of experience, our medical professionals are specialists in addressing any potential risk factors that may show up in your screening. We will develop a natural protocol based on your individual needs.

natural awakenings

Holistic Heaven Kerry Hardy, RN, HNB-BC, RMT, CCH 203-895-5134 Kerry@HolisticHeavenWellness.com HolisticHeavenWellness.com Practice/Business summary: I am a holistic certified RN, certified holistic cancer coach, Reiki Master, pranic healer, crystal healer and intuitive. I work with clients to connect the mind, body and spirit for optimal health and healing. Specializing in patients and families experiencing chronic pain, chronic disease, cancer and transitional care. I use energy therapies, breathing and meditation techniques, nutritional support, aromatherapy, dōTERRA essential oil education, hospice and transitional care and support.

What first drew you to this profession?

Through my own personal journey in various medical settings as a nurse—and a mother of four—I learned that there were many effective ways of healing that weren’t included in conventional medicine. My exposure to trauma, chronic illness and cancer has shown me that a balanced approach using non-invasive practices can be effective to restore physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.

How is your work different from that of others in your profession?

With my training as a nurse, I understand the biology of “disease” in the body and how the mind and spirit are interconnected. All three need to work together for optimal health and well-being. Experience with hospice and transitional care in both long-term care facilities and the home-care environment adds depth to my work.

What should a client or patient expect from working with you?

I believe that healing comes from within and that your gut intuition is so important! After a personalized assessment, I will help you understand your condition, tune in to your body, and discover how you can empower yourself to heal.

What is the most important thing that you want Natural Awakenings’ readers to know about you or your business?

I’m passionate about empowering clients to take their health and healing into their own hands and find methods that resonate with them individually. Also, as I often see the barriers my patients encounter with illness, transportation or mobility issues, I provide in-home visits and distant energy healings as well.

DRS2HEALTH (Doctors To Health) Dorette Lewis-Senior, ND, MSAC, BS-RN, LCM Yale New Haven Health, Integrative Medicine 5520 Park Ave, Trumbull 855-735-2533 Doctors@DoctorsToHealth.com DRS2HEALTH.COM Practice/Business Summary: My company offers naturopathic medical services and recommends natural supplements. We provide services to the whole family.

Many people are not aware of the wide scope of modalities available to them through naturopathic medicine. Most persons think only about herbs when I mention naturopathic medicine but there is also great successes using homeopathy, acupuncture and Chinese medicine, clinical nutrition and health counseling. Like conventional medicine, we use bloodwork, MRIs, CT scans, ultrasounds and many other diagnostic tools. In addition to those, I use some less typical tests—like hair analysis, saliva testing and thermography information—to solve complex health concerns.

What first drew you to this work?

As a native of Jamaica, I experienced the successes of natural healing when I was given herbs as a child. My passion is to promote healthy lifestyle practices and wellness. I developed my passion for healing while pursuing my nursing degree. I wanted to be able to address the total person rather than just their symptoms. Today, I extend my passion to heal individuals and communities; I believe that through proper screenings such as thermography, teaching and careful application of natural modalities, I can help save lives.

What should a client or patient expect from working with you?

I have expanded my practice to include medical thermography and I have become certified as a thermographer by Med-Hot Thermal Imaging. I address the total person rather than just their symptoms. Today I extend my passion to heal individuals and communities and believe that through proper screenings, teaching and careful application of natural modalities, I can help save lives.

What do you most want Natural Awakenings’ readers to know about you/your business?

Naturopathy is applicable to every sickness. There is truly no condition that is beyond help. Some conditions may not be cured, but everything can be improved.

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inspiredtable

INSPIRED

An Organic Celebration Featuring the Mike Casey Trio

TABLE

Photo Courtesy MikeCaseyJazz.com

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OFA Organic Land Care Program and CT NOFA are hosting Jazz Dinner at Waldingfield Farm on September 16 from 4 to 8:30pm. Visit an organic farm hidden in the Litchfield Hills for a fine, locally sourced, seasonal dinner. Acclaimed jazz artists The Mike Casey Trio will play as guest performers.

Refreshments and the farm tour will take place at 4pm, followed by cocktails and the first course at 5pm. The Mike Casey Trio will begin performing at 6pm, followed by dinner and dessert. The Mike Casey Trio will perform an hour-long concert of upbeat original music and jazz classics as guests celebrate organic food from around Connecticut.

Each member is an alumni of The Hartt School as well as the Litchfield Jazz Camp, presented by the Mike Casey Litchfield Jazz Festival.

The fee is $125 per person for early birds until August 30 and for CT NOFA members. Otherwise, it is $150 per person or $750 for a table of six people.

For reservations, visit CTNOFA.org, or call Executive Director Jeff Cordulack at 203-613-8813 between the hours of 8am and 8pm. Event location: Waldingfield Farm, Inc, 24 East St, Washington.

A Farm-to-Table Evening Event

I

n the true spirit of “fresh and local”, reserve a place at Hunt Hill Farm for its farm-to-table dinner on September 9 from 5:30 to 10pm. Enjoy a three-course meal with certified organic vegetables, cheeses, meats, fruits and even ice pops from local farms. Dinner will be set against a beautiful Connecticut farm backdrop and a view from east of the Aspetuck River.

Nestled in Litchfield County and set high on a hill, The Silo at Hunt Hill Farm in New Milford is a farm “foodie” experience. The evening begins with cocktails in front of the Henderson red barn with views of the pastures. Once dinnertime arrives, guests are led to a long farm table to enjoy dinner. Book early as seating is limited. The cost is $100 per person.

The Silo at Hunt Hill Farm is dedicated to cultivating love of land, food and the arts. Through innovative educational programs, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization highlights the role of the kitchen as a hub to strengthen individual, family and community bonds.

To advertise or participate in our next issue, call

For more information, call 860-355-0300 or visit tinyurl.com/FarmToTable99.

Location: 44 Upland Rd, New Milford.

203-885-4674 50

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

I don’t go by the rule book...

I lead from the heart, not the head. ~Princess Diana natural awakenings

a katz/Shutterstock.com

Send Off Summer with a Last Taste of Craft Beer

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Toxic Practices

Monsanto Faces New Scandal The Monsanto agrochemical company, long cited for its ubiquitous toxic Roundup herbicide and pro-genetically modified organism (GMO) science, is reeling from the disclosure of internal communications that indicate it suppressed knowledge of the potential dangers of its herbicide and received insider help from U.S. regulators.

Many documents have been made public by attorneys involved in a personal injury case involving cancer, just one of hundreds pending (reference nonprofit U.S. Right to Know at usrtk.org). Attorney Brent Wisner states, “These [documents] show that Monsanto has deliberately been stopping studies that look bad for them, ghostwriting literature and engaging in a whole host of corporate malfeasance. They have been telling everybody that these products are safe because regulators have said they are safe, but it turns out that Monsanto has been in bed with U.S. regulators, while misleading European regulators.”

Monsanto is currently seeking to merge with Germany’s Bayer AG, another industry giant, but the deal is subject to government review. It remains to be seen if these revelations will interfere with the process or prompt other actions by such regulating bodies as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

ocated at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park with picturesque views of Greenwich Harbor, the Last Taste of Summer Craft Beer Festival on September 30 will feature brews and pours from more than 30 of Connecticut’s craft breweries, local food trucks, live music, lawn games and activities. VIP ticket holders will enjoy a variety of sours and hard-to-find brews.

The event will also raise awareness and funds to support Live Green CT!’s Zero Waste School Fellowship. That is an effort to crowdsource innovative ideas and implement programs and practices that will provide environmental education, encourage food rescue and food scrap composting, increase recycling rates, minimize trash and reduce material costs in schools. Community involvement includes Curbside Compost, Greenwich Clean and Green Val’s Putnam Wines and Liquors.

The main event runs from 1 to 4:30pm. General admission includes tastings of pours throughout the general festival grounds, a souvenir tasting glass, a variety of food choices from food trucks, games and activities, a variety of exhibits and displays, live music, and free parking in designated lots on a “first come, first served” basis.

In addition to early access at noon in the VIP area, VIP ticket holders get complimentary parking in the Island Beach lot from noon to 1pm; live, acoustic music; samples of pours throughout the festival beer gardens; games and activities; and exclusive tasting opportunities of pours and samples not available in the general tasting area.

Buy tickets before August 31 and take advantage of early-bird pricing, which is $65 for VIP and $35 for general admission. After August 31, prices are $75 and $40, respectively. Designated drivers are $25 and those 20 years old and under are $15. Processing fees apply. Gate prices will be higher. Over 21 attendees can bring blankets and chairs to the rain-or-shine event but no coolers, food, alcohol, ice, glass or beverages. Proceeds of the craft beer festival will go towards Live Green CT!’s Zero Food Waste Fellowship.

For more information, visit LiveGreenCT.org/Craft-Beer-Festival. Those interested in volunteering can contact Live Green CT!’s Daphne Dixon at 203-536-4695 or Daphne@LiveGreenCT.org, or Scot Weicker at 203-536-9377 or SWeicker@ SBWEventsGroup.com. Location: Roger Sherman Baldwin Park, 100 Arch St, Greenwich. See ad, page 47.

FARM TO TABLE ORGANIC AND SUSTAINABLE PRODUCE & MEATS. Watch for our Hybrid Boats Delivering Your Farm Products to Market "Sustainability One Neighborhood at a Time"

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photos by Stephen Blancett

consciouseating

FABULOUS FAN FARE Healthy Tailgating Foods to Cheer For

by Judith Fertig

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at, play, party… and repeat. We may call it tailgating, fangating, homegating, a watch party or simply eating with friends before a big game. According to the American Tailgaters Association, in St. Paul, Minnesota, an estimated 50 million Americans tailgate annually.

Whether we’re on the road or at home, making the menu healthy is a winning strategy for hosts and guests. Here, two experts divulge their winning ways.

Says Debbie Moose, author of Fan Fare: A Playbook of Great Recipes for Tailgating or Watching the Game at Home, Ivy League schools like Princeton and Yale claim credit for pregame picnics that 19th-century sports fans packed into their horse and buggy for local road trips. Moose lives in the tailgate trifecta of the North Carolina triangle, home to Duke, North Carolina and Wake Forest universities. She enjoyed discovering that University of Washington sports fans from the Seattle area like to sail to their chosen picnic spots, while

University of Hawaii folks grill fish on hibachis in Honolulu.

Moose naturally prefers healthy, Southern-style fare such as deviled eggs and marinated green bean salad, which can be served hot, cold or at room temperature. “At the game or at home, your guests will be moving around, so go for foods that can be eaten with one hand,” she suggests.

She also plans her menu around color, universal appeal and variety because it’s healthier than just serving a mound of barbecued chicken wings and a big bowl of potato chips. She likes recipes that can do double duty; her black bean summer salad with cherry tomatoes and corn can function as a colorful side dish or as a salsa for nonGMO blue corn chips. “Recipes that you can do ahead of time make things easier on game day; just pull them from the fridge and go,” says Moose.

Daina Falk, of New York City, grew up around professional athletes because her father, David Falk, is a well-known

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

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natural awakenings

sports agent. Excitement-generating sports are in her blood and inspired her to write The Hungry Fan’s Game Day Cookbook. She knows that most of the tailgating in her area takes place for football and baseball games and NASCAR races. On HungryFan.com, Falk serves up tips for every fangating/homegating occasion, from the Kentucky Derby to the Super Bowl.

“Keep your menu interesting,” says Falk. “I always like to feature a dish for each team. For instance, if you’re hosting an Alabama versus Washington watch party, you could feature an Alabama barbecue dish with white sauce and oysters or other fresh seafood. Both dishes are characteristic of the local foods in the universities’ respective hometowns.” Falk recommends buying more local beer than needed to make sure not to run out. Game day guests can get hot and thirsty, indoors or out.

Supply lots of filtered water in nonbreakable containers.

For easy entertaining, Falk recommends biodegradable dishes and cups.

“Whenever there are a lot of people in one room, especially when they’re drinking, a glass will likely be broken,” she says. “Save yourself cleanup and the risk of glass shards by committing to temporary cups and plates that are Earth-friendly and compostable.”

Judith Fertig writes cookbooks and foodie fiction from Overland Park, KS (JudithFertig.com).

Healthy Tailgating Recipes Bring a large pot of water to a boil.

Place the sliced onions in a colander over the sink.

In a small bowl, stir together the oil, vinegar, salt and pepper until combined. Stir in the garlic. Set aside.

When the water comes to a boil, add the green beans. Cover and cook for 5 to 10 minutes or just until the beans are bright green; do not overcook.

Pour the beans and hot water over the onions in the colander. Rinse under cold running water to cool down. Drain well for a few minutes.

Crowd-Pleasing Marinated Green Beans Yields: 8 servings This simple salad is easy to double or triple. Make it the day before the game and refrigerate. ½ large red onion, thinly sliced 1 /3 cup extra virgin olive oil ¼ cup herb-flavored white wine vinegar or regular white wine vinegar Kosher or sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 2 cloves garlic, crushed 2 lb fresh green beans, ends trimmed, but left long

Place the beans and onions in a large bowl or large re-sealable plastic bag.

Pour the dressing in and mix with the vegetables.

Chilled Red Bell Pepper Soup Yields: 4 small servings Quadruple this recipe to make soup for a larger gathering. Serve in small sipping cups—cold for games in hot weather or hot for games in cold weather.

1 red bell pepper, stemmed ½ cup low-fat Greek or dairy-free yogurt ¼ yellow onion 2 Tbsp tomato paste 1 small/mini-cucumber ¼ cup rice vinegar 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard 4 large garlic cloves 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil Garnish:

Refrigerate four hours or overnight, stirring or shaking occasionally.

Flat leaf (Italian) parsley (minced optional) Roasted and salted pumpkin seeds

Let come to room temperature before serving.

Blend all main ingredients, except garnish, in a high-speed blender into purée.

Courtesy of Debbie Moose, Fan Fare: A Playbook of Great Recipes for Tailgating or Watching the Game at Home.

Serve topped with the parsley and a sprinkle of pumpkin seeds.

Adapted from Daina Falk’s HungryFan.com.

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September 2017

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key. Fortunately, there are also many healing herbs which can be added to the diet as a supportive part of a cancerfree lifestyle: turmeric root; milk thistle; culinary herbs like oregano, thyme and rosemary; medicinal mushrooms (shitake, reishi, chaga, turkey tails, maitake); and dark red and blue-purple berries (blueberries, amla berry, autumn olive); they take center stage as antioxidantrich, anti-inflammatory superfoods.

In addition to a healthful diet and avoidance of toxins, a stress-free lifestyle that emphasizes time outdoors in nature with others, exercise, fresh air and sunshine is warranted. Gardening is one activity that satisfies these health requirements. Studies also show that cultures that place a high value on community and having a higher sense of purpose in life are healthier, live longer and suffer from less disease overall, including cancer.

Food and Gardening for Cancer Prevention

by Alison Birks

C

ancer is a frightening word. According to the National Institute of Health, cancer deaths worldwide are predicted to go from 8 million in 2012 to 13 million in 2030, an increase of 60 percent. Cancer itself is not one disease, but many with a multitude of causes. The good news is we can be proactive in our strategic approach to preventing cancer by reducing our risk factors. A plant-based, anti-inflammatory diet that combines the best of the Mediterranean and Asian diets is our best insurance policy. A diet rich in colorful, locally grown, organic produce, legumes, nuts, seeds, fruit and pastured animal products that are grown or raised in healthy soils—which are rich in trace minerals and beneficial microorganisms—is the key to 54

eating well. Fermented foods, including sauerkraut, kimchee and yogurt, provide beneficial microbes to the gut; they play a role in the transformation of toxins, support the immune system and increase our overall nutrition.

Avoidance of toxins, including those found in commercially raised animal-based foods and consumer products, will reduce the body burden of carcinogenic chemicals we are exposed to daily. By choosing only green cleaning and body care products free of harmful xenobiotics (man-made chemicals which disrupt the endocrine system), we can reduce the overall toxic load on our bodies. Herbs that support the innate detoxification systems of our elimination organs—such as the kidneys, liver, skin and bowels—are

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

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Avoidance of toxins, including those found in commercially raised animal-based foods and consumer products, will reduce the body burden of carcinogenic chemicals we are exposed to daily.

The stressors of our modern world are unavoidable; we can lessen the effects by using adaptogen (“stress-busting”) herbs, mindful eating, and practicing daily gratitude and meditation. We can choose to live a cancer-preventive lifestyle and greatly reduce our risk of ever needing the “big guns” of technology-based medicine and pharmaceuticals simply by turning to nature as our teacher.

Alison Burks, MS, AHG, CNS, is an instructor at The Institute of Sustainable Nutrition, which is located at Holcomb Farm, 113 Simsbury Rd, West Granby.

For more information on training programs beginning in September or for reservations for an open house on September 5, call 860-764-9070, email Joan@TIOSN.com or visit TIOSN.com.

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Imagine Your Way to Well-Being The Body Follows the Mind

by Dianne Frost

“I

magination is more powerful than knowledge,” is one of Albert Einstein’s most famous quotations. Coming from one of the most brilliant scientists of modern history, the statement lends major credibility to the roles imagination plays in our world. Einstein was inspired by a dream to develop his theory of relativity. The father of quantum mechanics, Niels Bohr, often spoke of the inspirational dream that led to his discovery of the structure of the atom. Aware physicians, like Deepak Chopra and Richard Kradin, tell us that the mind and body are connected, and that our imaginative

capacities have power in affecting the health of the body.

Robert Bosnak, a Jungian psychoanalyst, relays his journey to healing his body through creative imagination in his book, Embodiment: Creative Imagination in Medicine, Art and Travel.

International healer Denise Linn tells on Hay House Radio of her process of healing her breast cancer through creative visualization. Stephen Aizenstat, a clinical depth psychologist and educator, shares case studies during trainings that demonstrate the healing effects of dream tending on body, mind and soul.

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Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

natural awakenings

bone” is connected to the “mind bone”, and the “mind bone” is connected to the “soul bone”. We are in the frontier of explorations on the potent ways imagination can benefit our overall well-being.

Because body, mind and soul are connected, we can be active participants in influencing our state of being on every level. Imagination is a powerful tool for influencing our state. “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate,” said another depth psychologist, C. G. Jung. Depth psychology focuses on making “the unconscious conscious”. The majority of our consciousness is unconscious, so we certainly are not lacking material to discover.

We can and often do simply ignore what lies beneath the surface of our ego’s conscious awareness. Why bother with the hidden parts of our identity?

What do dreams and repressed memories have to do with our waking realities? The answer is everything. We can certainly live our lives directed by the unconscious as most do; but there is also the option to take a more intentional role in our lives. We can choose to discover the images of our unconscious and invoke the potent tool of imagination to guide our paths toward wholeness and well-being.

Active imagination is a process created by Jung for engaging with the images of the unconscious while conscious. The process can be effective in supporting us in transforming unconscious materials that have directed our lives in an undesirable manner, such as with anxiety, depression or ill health.

For instance, a dream-work process called dream tending, originated by Aizenstat, includes active imagination and may be used by anyone who desires to become more fully conscious and to engender a favorable impact on overall well-being. Most of us have room for widening our consciousness and using the potent tool of imagination to steer our way to wholeness.

The more aware and whole we become, the easier it is to maintain peace and joy amidst the many waves on the ocean of life. We are triggered less and more able to direct our lives with intention and the power of imagination.

We are discovering more about the mind-body connection; we know that a balanced, aware mind can enhance our physical state of being.

“A basic emotion such as fear can be described as an abstract feeling or a tangible molecule of the hormone adrenaline,” writes Deepak Chopra in Ageless Body, Timeless Mind. “Without feeling, there is no hormone; without the hormone, there is no feeling…The revolution we call mind-body medicine was based on this simple discovery: wherever thought goes, a chemical goes with it.”

Active imagination is a process created by Jung for engaging with the images of the unconscious while conscious. The process can be effective in supporting us in transforming unconscious materials that have directed our lives in an undesirable manner.

This truth applies equally to emotions of love, joy and a host of positive emotions. Our entire system is flooded with health-promoting hormones directed by our positive thoughts. The trick is to feel contentment truly, and down to the core of our being. Repressing unprocessed wounds and glossing over with a veneer of happiness may fool some people and feed our egos, but developing true awareness is an ongoing challenge and opportunity.

Playing in the field of dreams, imagination, consciousness and wellbeing makes life interesting and keeps us evolving.

Dianne Frost, PhD, has a doctorate in depth psychology and a master’s of education in counseling. In addition to leading dream groups, she practices integrative coaching and regression hypnotherapy. Connect at 858-6038596. Register at tinyurl.com/ UnityCenterDreams for her Dreaming Your Way to the Life of Your Dreams workshop on September 16 in Norwalk.

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healthykids ESB Professional/Shutterstock.com

Angeles. “It’s hard. None of us grew up with this level of technology, and it’s moving faster than any advice can.”

FAMILY SCREEN TIME How to Set Boundaries in the Digital Era

by April Thompson

M

inecraft. Pokemon. Snapchat.

Digital media dominates childhood. That time youngsters used to spend playing with friends, being with family or sleeping has been zapped. According to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 8-to-10-yearolds are daily exposed to nearly eight hours of on-screen media and heavy media users are twice as likely to report poor grades.

Conscientious and concerned parents are setting limits on screen time and reclaiming family time. Experts, too, are working to define a “new healthy” at a time when many activities, from homework to shopping, are moving online.

“How can you begin to limit kids’ screen time when teachers are increasingly using media?” queries Pediatrician Corinn Cross, who practices in Los

Nip It Early Cross co-authored the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) recently updated digital media guidelines, which shifted from strict time limits to greater flexibility for and within different age groups. For children under 18 months, the recommendation is to avoid media altogether outside of video chats with loved ones. In the older age ranges, the guidelines are less prescriptive and more about setting individual limits that ensure getting enough sleep and physical activity along with achieving other developmental needs.

Cross believes excessive screen time is particularly detrimental for younger kids that have fewer waking hours and more developing to do. “Toddlers don’t learn well from screens, so you will have limited return from using screens for education,” she observes.

Kathy Marrocco, an Oakland Township, Michigan, blogger with YourOrganicChild.com, initially worried about her kids’ potential adverse exposure to radiation from cell phone use. Her concern soon turned to other big impacts of digital media encroaching on their lives. She cites a study of 3,000 parents of grade-school-aged kids, which found that nearly two-thirds of the children are using their devices at night instead of sleeping, with a corresponding drop in concentration, memory and energy.

Marrocco maintains firm boundaries with her daughter, 13, and son,

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natural awakenings

18, prohibiting the use of electronics at the kitchen table and in their rooms at night, in line with AAP recommendations. “They can only have devices in their room at night if they are in offline ‘airplane mode’ so they won’t be tempted to check or respond to incoming messages,” she says.

Kids don’t sleep well next to their phones, agrees Cross, a mother of three, ages 4, 6 and 8. “They have trouble falling and staying asleep.” She also doesn’t let her children use e-readers instead of books.

Prevent Screen Addiction

Psychotherapist Nicholas Kardaras, Ph.D., an addiction expert and executive director of The Dunes, a rehab clinic in East Hampton, New York, is even firmer about screen time, having seen some kids go off the digital deep end. Delaying the onset of screen exposure is the most critical step a parent can take, suggests Kardaras. “There’s no evidence to suggest media exposure is beneficial to child development. Most

Media and screens are best used purposefully, to achieve a specified goal. ~Corinn Cross tech geniuses, including the founders of Google, Amazon and Apple, were not exposed to it until adolescence.

“Treating digital addiction is challenging because you can’t be digitally abstinent in this society,” he continues.

“Prevention is the key.”

Digital media abuse can have lasting developmental impacts, according to Kardaras, author of Glow Kids: How Screen Addiction is Hijacking our Kids and How to Break the Trance.

DrKardaras.com cites numerous studies on the effects of such intensive use, from increased prevalence of attention deficit disorder to higher rates of depression. Brain imaging studies from institutions such as the medical schools at Indiana University and University

of Utah have shown how heavy exposure to digital media has effects on the brain similar to substance addiction, reports Kardaras, affecting areas of the brain linked with functions like impulse control, brain connectivity and processing speed.

In his practice, red flags for potential digital addiction include strong reactions when devices are taken away, disinterest in “offline” activities, worsening of interpersonal relationships and dropping grades.

Modeling good practices is as important as monitoring kids’ behavior, suggests Cross. In her household, all electronic tablets and cell phones are kept in a drawer when not in use.

“If I have work to do or have to take a phone call, I’ll go to another room, then come back and be present with the kids,” she says. “Quality, face-toface time is important.”

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

Four Ways to Set Digital Limits Subbotina Anna/Shutterstock.com

tell them to put their devices away,” advises Pediatrician Corinn Cross.

HealthyChildren.org/MediaUsePlan offers a free interactive online tool to create a personalized family media use plan.

If kids don’t comply with rules, Kathy Marrocco suggests turning the Wi-Fi off at night or taking away devices altogether. But don’t leave a void, cautions Cross. Substitute fun, fulfilling activities.

K

eeping the family in sync about the amount of digital media use is challenging. Here are some expert tips on maintaining a healthy balance.

1

Decide the ground rules — “Determine rules that make sense for everyone, and it’ll be much easier to get your kids on board, as they won’t see it as arbitrary when you

2

Be wary of even “good” screen time — Test educational apps before approving them for kids to ensure their quality and so parents can help reinforce the learning, says Cross. She likes CommonSenseMedia. org for parental reviews and information to filter media of all kinds, from apps and games to TV shows.

Consider advocating for limiting screen time in local schools. “I asked

my boys’ elementary school not to give them portable devices until they were 10,” says Nicholas Kardaras, the father of 9-year-old twins.

3

Watch out for rewards — Some screen time is more mesmerizing for kids than others, according to Kardaras, who treats such addictions. Most video games are designed on a variable reward schedule, similar to slot machines, which intentionally stimulates players to chase future rewards. Consider stricter limits on such media.

4

Play first in the real world — Because it reduces overall exercise, screen overuse can contribute to obesity. Cross recommends prioritizing exercising before daily allotted screen time; after being online, it’s more difficult to engage kids in physical activity.

eNaturalAwakenings.com

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naturallyhealthypet Bringing the Dogs Out!

H

The Monthly Naturally Healthy Pet Section Starts Here!

osted by the Trap Falls Kennel Club, Inc., the Trap Falls K-9 Karnival will be held on September 23 from 10am to 4pm.

There will be demonstrations by police and carting dogs. Other events include Lucky Dogs Adventures lure coursing, CGC and CGCA testing, and meet the breeds. Food, dog-related vendors, raffles and contests will also be available. Bring a leashed dog to this AKC responsible dog ownership event and have fun.

Since 1968, Trap Falls Kennel Club has been an active nonprofit all-breed member club of the American Kennel Club. It is devoted to the betterment of the purebred dog and is an advocate for the purebred and mixed breed dog as a family companion. Additionally, Trap Falls strives to promote responsible dog ownership in the community through public education programs and events. Its members are interested dog lovers; pet owners; breeders; trainers, participants in therapy dog programs; and exhibitors in conformation, obedience, rally, agility and other competitive dog sports.

For more information, visit TrapFalls.org. Location: Shelton River Walk, 100 Canal St, Shelton.

Get Ready to Bark in the Park

B

lue Buffalo presents Bark in the Park in partnership with Link AKC and Stamford Veterinary Center and My Pet Lodge on September 10. At the 11am to 3pm event, enjoy activities to keep families and pets entertained, including K9 demonstrations, an agility course, an adoption area and vendor booths.

There will also be a photo booth sponsored by Bull’s Head Pet Hospital, a microchip clinic sponsored by High Ridge Animal Hospital, pet health and safety demonstrations, costume and trick contests, a hydration station/splash zone, door prize giveaways and more.

The first 150 attendees will receive a doggie goodie bag sponsored by Link AKC. All friendly, well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome.

News, articles, resources, events— all dedicated exclusively to happy, naturally healthy living for our furred, feathered and scaled animal companions

For more information, visit Stamford-Downtown.com/Events/Bark-in-the-Park-2.

For sponsorship and vendor information, call 203-348-5285 or email Kate@Stamford-Downtown.com. Location: Stamford Downtown, Stamford.

For information on how you can be a part of a future issue, call

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

60

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

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Supportive Therapies for Cancer in Pets

by Mary Oquendo

O

f the approximately 98 million dogs and cats in the U.S., the Animal Cancer Foundation estimates that 12 million new cases of cancer in pets are diagnosed every year. With one in every eight pets running the risk of cancer, the likelihood of any given pet family being affected by cancer is fairly high.

A pet’s cancer treatment doesn’t start with setting up chemotherapy, or completely abandoning conventional medicine to seek out only traditional methods as soon as the diagnosis is made. It begins with pet owner’s ability to make well-informed, sound decisions for the pet’s care.

A key element for a pet’s survival and quality of life is based on the pet guardian’s ability to deal with emotions.

Better decisions and the ability to determine which treatments may be beneficial are best made when the mind is clear.

Meditation, breathing exercises, yoga, massage or a simple walk in the park do as much for an owner as they do for the pet. We need to remember that a pet’s acute sense of smell can pick up on their owner’s state of mind. If we are stressed, they will sense that. Interacting with other pet owners dealing with the same situation can help. One suggestion is to join a Facebook support group, such as Fur Angels or Pet Cancer Support.

While a veterinary oncologist is the best person to discuss surgery, radiation and chemotherapy options, there are many avenues to pursue supportive or alternative care for a pet fighting cancer.

Botantical Apoptogens: Apoptosis is the process in which cells die. Cancer cells turn that feature off, which is why they continue to grow. The formulation should be left up to a professional. In addition to allowing cancer cells to

die, they can strengthen the immune system and reduce side effects of chemotherapy and radiation.

Diet: Any illness can impact the way a body absorbs nutrients; cancer is no different. Cancer cells love sugar. In order to starve cancer cells, the pet’s diet should avoid simple sugars— or anything ending in “ose” really. Instead, add complex carbohydrates, digestible proteins and fatty acids. Some resources for recipes include ThePetstaurant.com/Cancer-Recipe-Dogs and CanineCancerAwareness.org/Therapy-and-Support/Diet.

Energetics: Energy therapies such as reiki and crystal therapy can help with relieving the side effects of cancer and conventional treatments, as well as boost the immune system.

Herbal Supplements: Curcumin, zeolites and artemsisin, among other herbs, have shown cancer-fighting and immune-building properties. Formulations should be left up to professionals.

Homeopathy: It can help reduce the side effects of cancer and conventional treatments.

IV Antioxidant Therapy: Cancer, radiation and chemotherapy can boost the production of free radicals which, in turn, weaken the immune system. This therapy helps neutralize and reduce free radicals.

Ozone Therapy: Try introducing large amounts of oxygen into the bloodstream in the form of ozone. Medical ozone has been used to treat many chronic medical conditions including cancer.

Poly-MVA Therapy: It replaces nutrients lost during conventional therapies.

Other suggested resources can found at Vet.Cornell.edu/ Cancer/Supportive.cfm, NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov/pmc/Articles/ PMC3312702, HealthyPets.Mercola.com/Sites/Healthypets/ Archive/2010/11/23/Pet-Supplements-and-Pet-Therapy-forCancer-Prevention.aspx, MerckVetManual.com/Special-PetTopics/Cancer-and-Tumors/Caring-for-a-Pet-with-Cancer and ACFoundation.org/FAQs.

Both conventional and supportive cancer treatments have come a long way in helping pets survive cancer while also taking into consideration the quality of their life in the process. As treatments are increasingly studied and improve, the hope is that one day cancer will no longer be feared.

Mary Oquendo is a Reiki Master, advanced crystal master and certified master tech pet first aid instructor. She is the owner of Hands and Paws Reiki for All. She can be reached at HandsAndPawsReiki.com. See ad, page 62.

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naturalpet Monika Wisniewska/Shutterstock.com

excessive fluoride.”

Fluoride occurs naturally in rocks, soil and thus some food plants and water supplies. More enters food via use of fluoride-based pesticides and commercial processing facilities. The EWG advises that two-thirds of all Americans, along with pets and farm animals, are exposed to artificially fluoridated tap water.

Fluoride Dangers to Humans

Fluoride Alert Excess in Food and Tap Water Harms Pets

by Karen Becker

I

n 2009, an Environmental Working Group (EWG) study found that bone meal and animal byproducts in eight of 10 major national dog food brands contain fluoride in amounts between 1.6 and 2.5 times higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommended maximum dose in drink-

ing water. Some fluoride from tap water used in the manufacturing of pet food contributes to this.

Olga Naidenko, Ph.D., lead researcher of the study, remarks, “A failed regulatory system and suspect practices by some in the pet food industry puts countless dogs at risk of ingesting

While fluoride exposure hasn’t been studied in dogs or cats, according to Dr. Joseph Mercola, ample research points to the dangers of fluoride to human health, including: n Arthritis n Bone cancer (osteosarcoma) n Bone fractures n Brain damage and lowered IQ n Damaged sperm and increased infertility n Deactivation of 62 enzymes n Dementia n Disrupted immune system n Disrupted synthesis of collagen n Genetic damage and cell death n Hyperactivity and/or lethargy n Impaired sleep (inhibits melatonin produced by the pineal gland) n Increased lead absorption n Increased tumor and cancer rate n Inhibited formation of antibodies n Lowered thyroid function n Muscle disorders

Fluoride Dangers to Canines Dogs are at substantial long-term risk for exposure to unacceptably high levels of fluoride. They are, for example, at significantly higher probability for bone cancer than humans, with more than 8,000 cases diagnosed each year in the U.S., compared with about 900 human cases.

According to the EWG, a dog drinking normal amounts of tap water would be exposed to 0.05 to 0.1 milligram (mg) of fluoride per kilogram (kg) of body weight daily. A 10-pound puppy that daily eats about a cup of dog food would ingest approximately 0.25 mg fluoride per kg body weight a day, based on average fluoride content in the eight contaminated brands it tested. Altogether, the puppy could 62

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natural awakenings

be exposed to 3.5 times more fluoride than the EPA allows in drinking water.

Large breed puppies may be exposed to even more fluoride due to higher water intake.

Whatever the size and the appetite of a dog, combined fluoride exposure from food and water can easily become unsafe. Eating the same food every day, they may be constantly consuming more fluoride than is healthy for normal growth, leading to health problems and higher veterinary bills later in life.

Prevent High Ingestion of Fluoride

The EWG recommends owners purchase pet foods free of bone meal and other meals made from animal byproducts. It also suggests that government set fluoride limits in pet food that protect both puppies and large breeds most at risk for bone cancer.

Dr. Michael W. Fox, an internationally recognized veterinarian and former vice president of the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International, recommends providing pets with fluoride-free water; spring

water or reverse osmosis filtered water also works well.

In preparing homemade food for a pet, make sure any added bone meal is free of fluoride and lead. Ethical bone meal producers will test for these contaminants; verify with the source.

Fox suggests a good bone meal substitute might be fossilized oyster shell, dolomite or a synthesized or refined calcium supplement like calcium citrate, ascorbate, stearate or gluconate. Or, consider a pure tricalcium and dicalcium phosphate, blended with magnesium.

Fox attests that bones from longer-lived food animals such as dairy cows, laying hens and breeding stock likely contain higher levels of fluoride than shorter-lived animals like chickens, calves and lambs. In his article “Fluoride in Pet Food: A Serious Health Risk for Both Dogs and Cats?” he writes: “Fluorides accumulate in farmed animals over time from phosphate fertilizers, phosphate supplements, bone meal and fish meal supplements and pesticide and industrial-pollution-contaminated

pastures and animal feed. The bones, fins, gills and scales of fish are often high in fluoride.” He recommends raw food diets that avoid ground bone from older animals like beef cattle and adult sheep.

Dr. Karen Becker is a proactive and integrative veterinarian in the Chicago area, consults internationally and writes Mercola Healthy Pets (HealthyPets.Mercola.com).

Fluoride-Free Feeding Tips n In homemade food preparation, avoid Teflon-coated pans, which may increase the fluoride levels in food. n Avoid cooking with fluoridated water, which concentrates fluoride in the food. n Avoid toothpaste or oral rinses intended for humans, to brush canine teeth. Dental health products made for pets are fluoride-free.

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September 2017

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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 PO Box 953, New Canaan BBRCT@yahoo.com BullyBreedRescueInc.org

COMMUNITY CATS

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

ANIMAL COMMUNICATION/ PET SITTING GWEN GANGI

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

Fur to Feathers Pet Services Monroe • 203-610-2444 (call or text) FurToFeathersPets@gmail.com FurToFeathers.com

DANBURY ANIMAL WELFARE

Gwen Gangi has been an animal communicator all her life and has been doing consultations for the past 23 years. Practical for any situation, you enter into a 3-way conversation to get and give information needed.

Consultations done over the phone or in person, including home visits.Workshops on animal communication available.

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

FRIENDS OF FELINES INC PO Box 8147, Stamford 203-363-0220 Cats@AdoptAPet.org AdoptAPet.org

LOOKING GLASS ANIMAL RESCUE Ridgefield LGARinc.org On Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

NFSAW

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

HOLISTIC MOBILE GROOMING

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

The Nutmeg Spay/Neuter Clinic is a low-cost, high-volume facility for cats and dogs; the first such professional clinic in Fairfield County. The clinic offers other low-cost services during the spay/ neuter appointment. Nutmeg honors state spay/neuter vouchers at face value from adopted shelter pets and qualified low-income families and offers further lowcost incentives to nonprofit rescue groups. Pit bulls and mixes are welcome at an even more reduced rate, and the clinic offers spay/neuter and vaccine discounts for feral cats. See ad, page 63.

PET ASSISTANCE, INC

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

MARY OQUENDO

203-994-5308 Mary@PawsitivelyPretty.com MaryOquendo.com Pet grooming in a relaxed one-on-one environment in your driveway by a leader in the holistic grooming industry. Mary also offers Reiki and crystal therapy for your beloved pets.

See ad, page 62.

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 (ROAR)

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

STRAYS AND OTHERS

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

64

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Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

natural awakenings

calendarofevents Magazine calendar events must be received by September 12 (for October 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.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

Reiki Level 1 Workshop – 10am-5:30pm. With Gigi Benanti. Learn Western style from an experienced Reiki master (20 years). Includes latest info.

Learn how to use Reiki for self-healing and healing for others. 2 manuals and certificate. $125. Angelic Healing Center for Reiki, 7 Morgan Ave, Norwalk.

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

AngelHealReiki.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

Reiki 1st Degree Workshop – 9:30am-5:30pm.

With Gigi Benanti. Learn Western style from an experienced Reiki master (20 years). Includes latest info. Learn how to use Reiki for self-healing and healing for others. 2 manuals and certificate. $125.

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

markyourcalendar OPEN HOUSE The Institute of Sustainable Nutrition Tuesday, September 5 • 6:30-8:30pm Join to learn about our training program and sample delicious food made by our students, sip tasty tea, go on a foray, hear a garden talk and more.

Free Holcomb Farm 113 Simsbury Rd, West Granby RSVP: 860-764-9070 TIOSN.com

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

TLC Networking Breakfast – 8:30-10am. Are you a healthy living professional/entrepreneur looking for your tribe? The TLC Center is a vibrant, supportive and growing community celebrating 20 years in Norwalk. Bring a friend, your business cards and join us for a fun morning of connecting. Free. TLC Center, 152 East Ave, Norwalk. 203-560-9566.

TLCBethLeas@gmail.com. TLCCenter.com.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

Free Intro to A Course In Miracles Study Group – 1-3:30pm. Students commit to the daily lessons, then we discuss them in a setting with others following the Course. Supportive group, sharing the principles of forgiveness, unconditional love, learning to be in the world, but not of it. Meets every other week.

Free intro. Series of 4/$80. Free. Deanne Mincer’s, 16 Fulling Mill Ln, Ridgefield. DMinc100@aol. com. DeanneMincer.com.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

Sound Voyage: Drive 4 Change with DJ Karri Om – 6:30-9pm. Let’s go to a planet guided by the sounds of DJ Karri Om and the flow of Saeeda Quaisar. Sound Voyage combines ancient practice with modern technology by using noise-isolating, glowing headphone by Soundoff Experience.

Visit Khusihona.org for information. $25/early bird; $30/at door. Yogaspace, 78 Stony Hill Rd, Bethel. 203-730-9642. Info@YogaSpace-CT.com.

YogaSpace-CT.com/Events.

TLC Tarot Evening – 7-9pm. What’s in the cards for you? Find out during this playful event designed for everyone from novices to long-time tarot friends. Explore the tarot or develop a deeper relationship with the cards. Receive a reading from Beth Leas. Bring a deck or use one of ours. $40.

TLC Center, 152 East Ave, Norwalk. 203-856-9566.

TLCBethLeas@gmail.com. BethLeas.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

Reiki 1 Certification Training – 9am-1pm. With Beth Leas, Reiki Master, 25+years. Enlightening and experiential certification training in Usui_Reiki, Japanese healing art, facilitating stress reduction, relaxation and promoting physical and spiritual healing. Learn self-healing as well as protocol for working with others. $245. TLC Center, 152 East Ave, Norwalk. 203-856-9566. TLCBethLeas@ gmail.com. BethLeas.com.

Astrology Readings with Laura – Noon-4pm. We are thrilled to host the wonderful and wildly popular Laura Watkins, Astrological Counselor, in our apothecary for readings on the second Saturday of each month. $45/30 minutes. Twin Star Community Apothecary, 57 Bank St, New Milford. 860-3500077. TwinStarTina@gmail.com. TwinStarTribe. com/Events.

markyourcalendar DREAM PLAYSHOP September 16 • 10am- 5:30pm Leaders Dianne Frost, PhD, and Theresa Crisci, LMT, will facilitate and encourage attendees to play and nourish themselves in the field of dreams. Find soul medicine in sleeping dreams to enliven waking reality.

Bring lunch and a writing pad. $125 per person Unity Center 3 Main St, #1, Norwalk For more information and to register, visit tinyurl.com/UnityCenterDreams

markyourcalendar Albertson Memorial Church September Events Crystals and Spiritual Energy with Rev. Deborah Steen Ross Sunday, September 10 • 1-2:30pm • $40 Working Empathically with Spirit with Maria Reluzco Saturday, September 16 • 1- 3pm • $30 Membership Workshop with Rev. Leila Cutler Saturday, September 23 • 10am-Noon • Free Message Circle with Rev. Leila Cutler Sunday, September 24 • 1-3pm • $20 Evening of Spirit Communication with International Mediums - Simon James, Brian Robertson and Rev. Janet Nohavec Wednesday, September 27 • 7-9pm • $35 RSVP 203-556-9521 Albertson Memorial Church 293 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich Email: info@albertsonchurch.org Website: AlbertsonChurch.org Bagua Workshop – 1-4pm. Baguazhang is a sister art of Tai Chi noted for its health benefits and the development of a strong and supple spine.

Participants will learn qigong and circle-walking meditations that improve joint health, circulation, balance and concentration. $45. Aikido of Norwalk, 16 Commerce St, Norwalk. 203-852-0522. Tregan@ WaterWheelTaiChi.com. WaterWheelTaiChi.com.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

Plant Wisdom Wednesday: A Guy’s Guide to Herbs – 6:30-8:30pm. Monthly community herbal workshop open to everyone. Each month we pick a different topic and most months you’ll go home with an herbal remedy. $25/pre-registration; $30/at door. Twin Star Community Apothecary, 57 Bank St, New Milford. 860-350-0077. BekahTwinStar@ gmail.com. TwinStarTribe.com/Events.

Self-Help Workshop Series: Tap Into Your Strength – 7-8:30pm. The Tapping Practice/Tapping for Peace, will launch a new self-help workshop series. The series, Tap Into Your Strength, will include monthly workshops focused on the holistic health practice of tapping. $20/session. The Tapping Practice/Tapping For Peace, 107 Church Hill Rd, Sandy Hook. 203-313-1560. Tapping4PeaceCT@ gmail.com. TappingForPeaceCT.com.

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calendarofevents markyourcalendar September Events at the Liphe Balance Center Quality Programs for the Mind, Body and Soul

September 12 • 7pm “The Conversation” Inviting all to discuss the book, The Five Invitations by Frank Ostaseski September 23 • 7-10pm Workshop with renowned medical intuitive and healer, Kimberly Meredith.

September 27 • 7pm • $40 Tibetan Bowls, meditation and hands-on bowl therapy.

203-912-2791 • LipheBalance.com

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

Country Brunch for Lunch: Backyard Homesteading with Jeremy Picard – 2-4:30pm. People call it backyard homesteading, suburban homesteading, or backyard farming. The basics are all the same taking the space you have, and raising food on it by reclaiming vintage skills. $35/brunch, lecture, house tour included. 1770 Grounded Goodwife Farmhouse. Call for address. 203-942-0774. GroundedGoodWife@yahoo.com. GroundedGoodwife.com.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

Women’s Reflective Writing Series – 9:30-11 am.

With Beth Leas. Provocative and playful 3-session series, using the process of inquiry. Designed to reawaken your sense of wonder about yourself, your relationships and your life. No prior writing experience is necessary. $120/series of 3 classes.

TLC Center, 152 East Ave, Norwalk. 203-856-9566.

TLCBethLeas@gmail.com. BethLeas.com.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

Health Talks: Crohn’s and Colitis – 7-8pm. With Dr. Nina Manipon. Ingels Family Health monthly health talks. Discussion on Crohn’s and Colitis.

Please RSVP, seating is limited. Free. Ingels Family Health, 22 Fairfield Pl, Fairfield. 203-254-9957.

Info@DarinIngelsND.com. DarinIngelsND.com.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

Fall Equinox Guided Meditation – 7-8:30pm.

With Beth Leas. The fall equinox brings us the opportunity to balance the light of our consciousness with the darkness of our shadow. Powerful evening of reflection, meditation and healing. Great for everyone. $20. TLC Center, 152 East Ave, Norwalk. 203-856-9566. TLCBethLeas@gmail.com.

TLCCenter.com.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

Aromatherapy: An Introduction – 6-9pm. This is a hands-on intro aromatherapy class to learn how to work safely and joyously with essential oils. We will be working with many oils and you’ll learn how they affect your wellbeing and how to use them for healing and personal use. $63. Twin Star Herbal Education, 65 Bank St, New Milford. 860-3500077. TwinStarTina@gmail.com. TwinStarTribe. com/Events.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23

Tarot Readings with Leahjoy – Noon-4pm. Fourth Saturdays. Call ahead to schedule. You can schedule 1/2 hour or 1 hour sessions. $45/for 1/2 hour. Twin Star Community Apothecary, 57 Bank St, New Milford. 860-350-0077. TwinStarTina@gmail.com.

TwinStarTribe.com.

Yin/Yang Workshop: An Autumnal Equinox Gathering with Maria Tabaschek – 2-4pm. With Maria Tabaschek, holistic health coach, Reiki healer and yoga instructor. Enjoy deep relaxation to transition into fall. All levels welcome. $45/advance; $55/at door. Sama Yoga Center, 45 Grove St, New Canaan. 203-722-0440. KBSchwarz@mac.com.

SamaYogaCenter.com.

markyourcalendar NEW DATES: 13th Octave LA HO CHI Training

The Most Powerful Healing on the Planet with Eilis Philpott, Soul Healing Journey, LLC Friday, Sept 22 (evening), Saturday, Sept 23 and Sunday, Sept 24 This magnificent gift is the anchoring of our divinity in physicality, as we move from the ascension process to the creation process.

13th Octave LaHoChi is the next step in energy healing – a quantum leap available now to the healers and people of Nova Earth.

Inspired Soul Studio (private yoga barn), 11 Tory Ln, Newtown $350, including all materials $100 deposit required to register Registration Required • 203-767-5954 Eilis@SoulHealingJourney.com Register at 13th Octave LaHoChi Training

New Moon Celebration – 7:30-8:45pm. With Regina Snyder. Celebrate the New Moon with movement and meditation. The New Moon is the best time to manifest and bring in all things new, health, abundance and prosperity. $17 or class pack.

Naam Yoga Connecticut, 164 Greenwood Ave, Bethel. 203-730-2400. Info@NaamYogaCT.com.

NaamYogaCT.com.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

Special Needs Yoga Workshop – 1-2pm. With Deb Clelland, special educator and certified Naam Yoga Teacher. All ages and levels of children and parents welcome. Join this fun-filled yoga experience tailored for all special needs children to successfully access. $20. Naam Yoga Connecticut, 164 Greenwood Ave, Bethel. 203-730-2400. Info@ NaamYogaCT.com. NaamYogaCT.com.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

Free Introduction to Reiki – 7-8pm. With Beth Leas, Reiki instructor 25+ years. This is the place to start if you’re simply curious about Reiki or interested in learning more about how to heal yourself and others. Fun, explorative and interesting evening.

Free. TLC Center, 152 East Ave, Norwalk. 203-8569566. TLCBethLeas@gmail.com. BethLeas.com.

The traveler sees what

he sees; the tourist sees what he has come to see.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

Plant Partner of the Month: Elder – 6:30-8pm.

Like new friends, it’s much easier getting to know each plant partner one by one. September is Elder.

We discuss botany, parts used, actions, energies, traditional uses, essences, and more. Leave with handout and some dried herb to experiment with. $25. Twin Star Community Apothecary, 57 Bank St, New Milford. 860-350-0077. BekahTwinStar@ gmail.com. TwinStarTribe.com/Events.

~Gilbert K. Chesterton

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

Slimming Down and Loving It – 7-9pm. With Dr. Inessa, author of Slimming Down and Loving It!. Learn about this powerful proven method that will reprogram, restart and refresh your entire mindset regarding food and weight and leave you instantly refreshed and rejuvenated. $49. Call for location. 203-708-7777. InessaZaleski@gmail.com.

Bit.do/SlimMe.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

Reiki Second Degree – 10am–5:30pm. With Gigi Benanti, Reiki master/teacher (20 years). Learn to send distance Reiki healing, deepen use of Reiki for others and yourself. 2 powerful energy connections from my short Japanese/Usa Linage. Two manuals and certificate. $215. Angelic Healing Center, 7 Morgan Ave, Norwalk. 203-852-1150.

AngelHealReikiGigiB@snet.net. AngelHealReiki. com.

Gongs and Himalayan Singing Bowls Healing Meditation with Priscilla Gale – 7-9pm. Experience the soothing tranquil songs and relax blissfully into a deep meditative state where the tumultuous stresses of daily life are cleared, cleansed and washed away. $25/by 9/28; $30/at door. Yogaspace, 78 Stony Hill Rd, Bethel. 203-730-9642. Info@ YogaSpace-CT.com. YogaSpace-CT.com/Events.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

Reiki Second Degree Workshop – 10am-5:30pm.

With Gigi Benanti, Reiki master/teacher (20 years).

Learn to send distance Reiki healing, deepen use of Reiki for others and yourself. 2 powerful energy connections from my short Japanese/Usa Lineage.

Two manuals and certificate. $215. Angelic Healing Center, 7 Morgan Ave, Norwalk. 203-852-1150.

AngelHealReikiGigiB@snet.net. AngelHealReiki. com.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3

The Art of Touch Workshop – 7-10pm. Handson tools to become a better lover. Live feedback, supportive partners, safe environment. Fully clothed, singles or couples. $49. Call for location.

InessaZaleski@gmail.com. Calmness.com.

savethedate The Institute for Holistic Health Studies at Western Connecticut State University presents:

STRESSED IS DESSERTS SPELLED BACKWARDS Wednesday, October 18 • 7:30pm With internationally known author, film maker, motivational speaker, and holistic stress management expert, Brian Luke Seward, PhD Ives Concert Hall on the WCSU Midtown Campus, 181 White St, Danbury General admission $15.

Sponsorships are available.

ongoingcalendar sunday Satsang Meditation – 9:30-11am. Satsangs are spiritual and community gatherings of like-minded people. Music, mantra, meditation, spiritual instruction/discourse and spiritual blessings to help you reset, recharge and get ready for the week ahead. By donation. Muktinath Holistic Center, 755 Main St (Rte 25), Monroe. 203-518-5808. MuktinathHC@ gmail.com. MuktinathHolisticCenter.com.

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

NewBeginningsInCommunity.Weebly.com.

Family Meditation Program – 10-11:30am.

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

ReddingMeditation.org.

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

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

ReddingMeditation.org.

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

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

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

UnityCenterNorwalk.org.

Community Yoga Class – 11am-12:15pm. Open to all ages and levels. Families welcome. Light, energizing yogic exercises are followed by relaxation and meditation. It’s about sharing fun, laughter, breat, and joy so you leave feeling uplifted. Come connect with your love, your peace and your light. $5. Naam Yoga Connecticut, 164 Greenwood Ave, Bethel. 203-730-2400. Info@NaamYogaCT.com.

NaamYogaCT.com.

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

AlbertsonChurch.org.

Ignite your Spirit Healing Clinic – 11:45am2pm. Second Sunday. Healing clinics are a great way to try out or receive on-going assistance with anything life throws your way. Register in advance to participate. $20/suggested donation.

Muktinath Holistic Center, 755 Main St (Rte 25), Monroe. 203-518-5808. MuktinathHC@gmail.com.

MuktinathHolisticCenter.com.

Reiki Healing Circle – 4-5pm. Fourth Sunday. With Nina Antolino. Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. Based on the idea that an unseen life force energy flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. Please pre-register. $22 or All Access Pass.

LifePath Yoga & Wellness4, 430 Main Ave, 2nd Fl, Norwalk. 203-544-8551. Nina@LifePathYoga.net.

LifePathYoga.net.

Monthly Healing Circle – 4-5:30pm. First Sunday. Whether you are in need of healing or a healer wishing to share your gifts for the highest good of others, this group is for you. Group limited to 8, please RSVP. Free or $10/suggested donation. Acupuncture Works, 132A State Rt 37, New Fairfield.

845-494-0090. Reiki4Wellness@aol.com.

Bliss Out! Dance to Live Drumming – 7-8:30pm.

Dirst Sunday. With Jojo. Find your tribe. Open Sky Yoga Barn, 95 Cross Hwy, Redding. Keane.Jojo@ gmail.com.

monday Monday Morning Meditation – 11:30am12:30pm. With Beth Leas. Practical approach and individualized support. Great for those new to meditation and sage meditators. Explore different meditation techniques including breathwork, guided meditation, mantras (sound), yantra (sight) and slow motion movement. $30/drop-in. $100/5-classes.

TLC Center, 152 East Ave, Norwalk. 203-856-9566.

TLBethLeas@gmail.com. BethLeas.com.

Yoga on Candlewood Lake – Noon-1pm. With Michele Leigh, (RYT). Practice yoga on a floating dock on Candlewood Lake. A gentle, 60-minute practice. Space is limited. $30. Candlewood Lake, Brookfield. DarkMoonAstrology@gmail.com.

Meetup.com/Candlewood-Lake-Yoga.

Gentle Yoga – 5:45-6:45pm. With Nina Antolino.

Focusing on slow, purposeful stretching and basic postures, breathing and balance. All skill levels and ages. $22/drop-in. $10/new student, drop-in.

LifePath Yoga & Wellness, 430 Main Ave, 2nd Fl, Norwalk. 203-354-7070. Nina@LifePathYoga.net.

LifePathYoga.net.

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

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

ReddingMeditation.org.

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. 203-570-3868.

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

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ongoingcalendar tuesday Tai Chi Classes – 9:30-10:30am. With June Fagan, Tai Chi Instructor. A slow movement meditation for all levels of fitness. Known to reduce stress, increase focus, balance and improve self and well-being. $25/drop-in, $85/1-class per week $150/unlimited classes month. Kindred Spirits, 59 Ledgewood Rd, Redding. 203-938-3690.

Toastmasters – Noon. Interested in public speaking?

Monroe-Trumbull Toastmasters is a chartered club of Toastmasters International dedicated to improving members’ communication and leadership skills. Meets alternate Tuesdays. Body Smart, Crescent Village, 115 Main St, Unit 11, Monroe. 203-459-6773. Franny.

Hannigan@charter.com. ToastMastersClubs.org.

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

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

ReddingMeditation.org.

The Art of Meditation – 6-7pm. Whether you are new to meditation or seasoned, this class will help you access inner peace and experience more clarity, purpose and joy. Chairs available. $10/ suggested donation. Any offering, large or small accepted. YogaSpace, 78 Stony Hill Rd, (Rte 6), Bethel. 203-730-9642. Info@YogaSpace-CT.com.

YogaSpace-CT.com.

Meditating Holistically – 6:30-8pm. With Urgyan, a Western Buddhist lama sharing a rich practice of traditional meditation guidance directed toward holistic integration. Group meditation and discussion, devoted to our mutual innermost truths. $15. ah Yoga, 168 New Milford Tpke, New Preston. 860-868-6707 or Danbury Area Vajrayana Buddhist Meditation on Meetup.com.

13 Moon’s Healing Circle – 6:30-8:15pm. Fourth Tuesday. Each moon we will explore a variety of topics. The circle will be a private and sacred group, open to women or those who identify as woman. Drop-ins welcome. $25. Twin Star Herbal Education, 65 Bank St, New Milford. 860-3500077. BekahTwinStar@gmail.com. TwinStarTribe. com/Events.

Reiki Share – 7-8:30pm. First Tuesday of the month with June and Tracy. Come join our circle of practitioners for sharing and caring and healing.

All levels of practitioners are welcome Please RSVP. $20/drop-in. Kindred Spirits, 59 Ledgewood Rd, Redding. 203-938-3690.

Yoga Class or Yoga/Float – Yoga: 7-8pm. or Yoga/ Float package: 7-9pm. Enjoy the benefits of yoga in the beautiful PuREST relaxation room. $15/yoga only. $65/yoga and float package. PuREST Float Center, 35 Corporate Dr, Trumbull. PuRESTFloat.com.

Angelic Healing Group – 7-9pm. First Tuesday.

Experience the healing energy of the Angelic Realm. Your energy body will be infused with the love and light of the Divine through meditation and hands-on touch. $20. Stevens Memorial Church, 8 Shady Ln, South Salem, NY. 203-438-4893.

Reiki Share – 7-9pm. Second Tuesday. Practice and enhance your Reiki healing and grow your intuition.

All will receive healing time and practice time. You must have completed at minimum Reiki level I in order to fully participate. $15/suggested donation.

Muktinath Holistic Center, 755 Main St (Rte 25), Monroe. 203-518-5808. MuktinathHC@gmail.com.

MuktinathHolisticCenter.com.

Reiki Shares – 7:30-10:15pm. First and third Tuesdays. Gigi Benanti Usui/Karuna Reiki Master/ Teacher. For Reiki practitioners only. Exchange ongoing since 1996. Instructions included. $20.

Angelic Healing Center, 7 Morgan Ave, Norwalk.

Pre-register: 203-852-1150.

wednesday

The most important

pieces of equipment you need for doing yoga are your body and your mind. ~Rodney Yee

Apothecary Hours – 10am-1pm. Meet like-minded folks and learn about what we do at Twin Star Herbal and Energetic Studies. Free. Twin Star Herbal Education, 65 Bank St, New Milford. 203-313-7883.

Info@TwinStarTribe.com. TwinStarTribe.com.

Women’s Wisdom Group – 10:30am-12:30pm.

Women support each other through the process of recognizing and embracing one’s full, authentic beings and, in doing so, nurturing their highest potential. $30. SunRaven, 501 Guard Hill Rd, Bedford, NY. 914-218-3113. SlowMedicine.org.

Yoga on Candlewood Lake – Noon-1pm. With Michele Leigh, (RYT). Practice yoga on a floating dock on Candlewood Lake. A gentle, 60-minute practice. Space is limited. $30. Candlewood Lake, Brookfield. DarkMoonAstrology@gmail.com.

Meetup.com/Candlewood-Lake-Yoga.

Yogastrology – 4:30-5:45pm. Yogastrology is the fusion of a slow-flow, gentle yoga practice enriched by astrological wisdom. Join yogi and astrologer Michele Leigh to tap into the energy of the zodiac wheel and connect to the natural rhythms of the sun and the moon. Included in ah Yoga class package. ah Yoga, New Milford, 65 Bank St, New Milford.

203-948-9347. DarkMoonAstrology@gmail.com.

DarkMoonAstrology.com.

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Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

natural awakenings

High-Powered Healing – 7pm. First Wednesday.

Easy ways to well heal on all levels. Intuitive insight, easy methods for daily wellness, how to determine quality foods and abundance. $20. Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St, Newtown.

203-426-9448. Trinity@TrinityProduction.org.

TrinityProduction.org.

A Course In Miracles – 7-8:30pm. Study group where anyone can come without fear of being judged, a place where feelings can be shared in a loving, accepting atmosphere and above all, a place to enhance fun and inspire a sense of joy and laughter. $10/suggested donation. Soul Healing Journey, LLC, 40 Livingston St, Fairfield.

203-767-5954. Eilis@SoulHealingJourney.com.

SoulHealingJourney.com.

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

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

ReddingMeditation.org.

Meditation – 7-8:30pm. Experience bliss, peace, joy and deep healing. This is not your traditional silent or guided meditation class. This meditation will bring change into your life. By donation.

Muktinath Holistic Center, 755 Main St (Rte 25), Monroe. 203-518-5808. MuktinathHC@gmail.com.

MuktinathHolisticCenter.com.

Journey Group – 7-9pm. First Wednesday. With Cindy Miller. If you are looking to get unstuck, learn more about self-empowerment, becoming a healing facilitator, then this is the group for you. $20.

Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St, Newtown. 203-426-9448. Cindy@TrinityProduction.org.

TrinityProduction.org.

Sacred Spirit’s Reiki Shares — 7-9pm. Second and fourth Wednesday. With Valerie Tarangelo R.M. Mini healing sessions. In healing others, healers are also healed themselves. All welcome. $10.

Albertson Memorial Church, 293 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich. 203-344-9311.

Using Smart Body (Kinesiology) for Everyday Situations– 7-9pm. Third Wednesday. Learn how to sense the energy of foods, supplements, books, places and more. Learn how to change energy. Presentation and discussion. $20. Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St, Newtown. 203-377-6162.

Bruce.Zboray@yahoo.com. TrinityProduction.org.

Holistic Moms Network Fairfield County, CT Chapter – 7:30pm. Second Wednesday. Associates in Family Chiropractic and Natural Health Care, 156 East Ave, Norwalk. Home.Homewebs.com/ HMNFairfieldCtyCT. Learn to Love Yourself – 7:30-9:30pm. Second Wednesday. With Ginny Brown and Ellen Kratka. Little-known spiritual truths applied to everyday life. Let go of negative judgment and unconditionally accept yourself. $40. By phone or internet. 203-263-2643. E.Kratka@sbcglobal.net.

Results-BeyondBelief.com.

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

thursday Tai Chi Classes – 9:30-10:30am. With June Fagan, Tai Chi Instructor. A slow movement meditation for all levels of fitness. Known to reduce stress, increase focus, balance and improve self and well-being. $25/ drop-in, $85/1-class per week $150/unlimited classes month. Kindred Spirits, 59 Ledgewood Rd, Redding.

203-938-3690. JTKindredSpirit@gmail.com.

KindredSpiritsCenter.com.

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

Simple practice that can be easily incorporated into daily life. Discover the benefits of becoming more present. By donation. Redding Center for Meditation, 9 Picketts Ridge Rd, West Redding. 203-244-3130. Info@ReddingMeditation.org.

ReddingMeditation.org.

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.

Herbal Consultations – 11am-3pm. Every other Thursday. Ilana Sobo, herbalist, aromatherapist and Ayurvedic Practitioner will be in the apothecary for herbal consults. Call ahead for availability. $45/30 minutes. Twin Star Community Apothecary, 57 Bank St, New Milford. 860-350-0077.

TwinStarTina@gmail.com. TwinStarTribe.com/Events.

Meditating Holistically – 7-8:30pm. With Urgyan, a Western Buddhist lama sharing a rich practice of traditional meditation guidance directed toward holistic integration. Group meditation and discussion, devoted to our mutual innermost truths. $15. YogaSpace, 78 Stony Hill Rd, Bethel. 203-730-YOGA or Danbury Area Vajrayana Buddhist Meditation on Meetup.com.

Reiki Healing Circle – 7-9pm. Second Thursday. All welcome. Non-Reiki and Reiki practitioners share and experience Reiki. See details on Unity website. Hosted

by Gigi Benanti Reiki master/teacher. $20. Unity Center for Practical Spirituality, 3 Main St, Norwalk.

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

AngelHealReiki.com, UnityCenterNorwalk.org.

friday Reiki Share – 9:30-11:30am. First Friday. With JoAnn Inserra Duncan, MS, RMT. Practice Reiki in a small group setting. Share experiences and help each other develop in a safe, fun environment while providing a wonderful, relaxing, rejuvenating experience. $20.

Registration required. Turning Point Healing Arts and Education Center 100B Danbury Rd, Ste 101, Ridgefield. 203-438-3050. TurningPointReiki.com.

Free Mommy and Me Yoga – 10am. With Brooke de Weaver. We supply water and mats - just bring yourself and your kids. Free. Yogasmoga Townhouse, 68 Greenwich Ave, Greenwich.

Student Massage Therapy Clinic – 11am-noon.

Relax and enjoy a 50-minute, full-body massage for only $20 at our Danbury Campus public clinic. $20. 44 Shelter Rock Rd, Danbury. KMCCaffrey@ Ridley.edu. Ridley.edu.

Apothecary Hours – 11am-4pm. Meet like-minded folks and learn about what we do at Twin Star Herbal and Energetic Studies. Free. Twin Star Herbal Education, 65 Bank St, New Milford. 203-313-7883.

Info@TwinStarTribe.com. TwinStarTribe.com.

Yoga on Candlewood Lake – Noon-1pm. With Michele Leigh, (RYT). Practice yoga on a floating dock on Candlewood Lake. A gentle, 60-minute practice. Space is limited. $30. Candlewood Lake, Brookfield. DarkMoonAstrology@gmail.com.

Meetup.com/Candlewood-Lake-Yoga.

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.

Discussion with Spirit – 7:30-9:45pm. Last Friday.

An evening of messages from Spirit and loved ones.

Bring questions, receive channeled information specifically geared to you. Receive help in empowering yourself to navigate this lifetime. $40. Email for location. EarthAndHealing@hotmail.com.

saturday 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.

Love Yourself Fit Meetings – 8:30am. Support for your sacred journey of real weight loss. Meetings offer you a place to be accountable to your highest vision for your healthiest self. $15. Insights Wellness Center, 458 Monroe Tpke, Monroe. 203-260-9353.

ChrisGuerrera@me.com. InsightsWellnessCenter.com.

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

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

ReddingMeditation.org.

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

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

DrCummins@ShalvaClinic.org. ShalvaClinic.org.

Astrology with Laura – Noon. Second Saturday.

We are thrilled to host the wonderful and wildly popular Laura Watkins, Astrological Counselor in our apothecary for reading. Call for an appointment. $45 for 1/2 hour session. Twin Star Community Apothecary, 57 Bank St, New Milford. 860-350-0077.

TwinStarTina@gmail.com. TwinStarTribe.com/ Events..

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

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

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

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.

EXPERIENCED LMT WANTED FOR PART TIME/FLEXIBLE HOURS at The Recharging Station in Bethel. Must be a positive team player and self starter. We provide clients, you provide amazing service and heart-centered care. Please contact Miss Cravens at 203- 748-1941 or email TheRechargingStation@gmail.com.

HOLISTIC OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT WE ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR A LMT, ESTHETICIAN OR WELLNESS PRACTITIONER WITH A FOLLOWING – to rent space in an established massage therapy office in Milford, CT. Rent is $325 per month with shared utilities Please call 203-878-8123.

PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES TESTING SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS. Cognitive processing, gifted learning, personality. Thirty years experience, reasonable rates and completion time. Dr. Margolies 203-929-2093.

YOGA HIKING CLASSES HATHA AND VINYASA YOGA WITH HIKING in beautiful natural surroundings in Fairfield County. RYT500 instructor with 10 years experience! Register at YogaForHikers.com.

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communityresourceguide Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide (CRG) in print and online, email FFCAdvertising@ NaturalAwakeningsMag.com to request our advertising rates.

ACUPUNCTURE KURT BEIL, ND, LAC, MPH

72 North St, Ste 100A, Danbury 914-362-8315 DrKurt@earthlink.net HudsonValleyNaturalHealth.com Naturopathic and Chinese medicine for acute and chronic disease, including acupuncture, botanical medicine, cupping, moxa, homeopathy, nutritional and lifestyle counseling, mindbody medicine, ecotherapy and functional lab testing. Helpful for muscle/joint pain and headaches, autoimmune disease, digestive disorders, mental health; boosting immune function; balancing hormones; tobacco addiction; and stress reduction. See ad, page 41.

BEHAVIORAL THERAPY THE CENTER FOR COGNITIVE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (CCBH) 5 Sylvan Rd South, Westport 888-745-3372 • 203-307-5788 CCBHTherapy.com

The Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Health (CCBH) provides individualized mental health services in a warm, holistic environment. Our Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) teams offer individual, group, and family sessions, as well as skills coaching for all age groups. Our CCBH team offers these therapies along with yoga, mindfulness, meditation and naturopathic services.

See ad, page 19.

BIOFEEDBACK

INGRI BOE-WIEGAARD, LAc Fairfield, Wilton, Bethel 203-259-1660 CTAcupuncture.com 25-year full-time practice

Ingri treatments help alleviate pain, depression, neck and back, anxiety, headaches, stress, allergies, asthma, arthritis, digestive, menstrual, infertility and smoking and weight-loss issues. See ad, page 42.

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

Concierge care for those suffering from pain, internal disorders, menstrual issues and menopause, infertility, depression and anxiety, insomnia, addiction, fatigue, tuneups and more. Facial rejuvenation/ cosmetic acupuncture also offered.

See ad, page 19.

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

BREAST THERMOGRAPHY ALBA THERMAL IMAGING LLC Safe, painless early detection 71 East Ave, Ste D, Norwalk 203-856-1421 AlbaThermalImaging.com

Thermography can detect breast disease at its earliest stages and monitor and assess pain in any part of the body. Safe, painless, non invasive, FDA registered. See ad, page 24.

CANCER SUPPORT THERAPIES DORETTE LEWIS-SENIOR, ND, MSAC, BS-RN, LCM Yale New Haven Health, Integrative Medicine 5520 Park Ave, Trumbull 855-735-2533 • Drs2Health.com

Dr. Lewis-Senior has been a Naturopathic physician and healthcare provider for more than thirty years combined. Her focus is on womens’ health, especially cancer, diabetes, weight and pain.

She is experienced using multiple modalities to establish health and bring about healing. Some insurance accepted.

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

KERRY HARDY, RN, HNB-BC, RMT, CCH

Advanced Bio-Regulation (BRT) is a unique approach to health and wellness that uses Biofeedback and PEMF-based Electromagnetic Technology to help the body better self-regulate, adapt and heal naturally. It is used for chronic pain, depression, anxiety, hormonal issues, Lyme, etc. See ad, page 12.

As a holistic nurse, I understand the importance of balancing traditional medicine with alternative complementary therapies to heal the mind, body and spirit. Offering health and nutritional counseling as a Certified Holistic Cancer Educator, Reiki, pranic healing and crystal therapy, aromatherapy with dōTERRA essential oils. Specializing in working with patients experiencing chronic pain, chronic disease and cancer. See ad, page 41.

OPTIMAL MIND

Lawrence Edwards, PhD, BCN, LMHC 2 Byram Brook Pl, Armonk, NY 914-219-8600 OptimalMind.net Biofeedback/neurofeedback for ADHD, enhanced focus, peak performance, test stress, anxiety, chronic pain, headaches, insomnia, anger, meditation, mindfulness training and more. Dr. Edwards is board certified and NYS licensed.

Physician and self-referrals welcome.

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

natural awakenings

Holistic Heaven 203-895-5134 HolisticHeavenWellness.com MyDoterra.com/HolisticHeavenWellness

CHIROPRACTIC PETER BRAGLIA, DC

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

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

JILL M. CAPALBO, DC, CCSP Stamford 203-323-0522 CapalboChiropractic.com

With over 30 years experience in bodywork, Dr. Jill Capalbo is a certified chiropractic sports physician with additional certifications in Graston Technique, FAKTR and KinesioTaping as well as being a licensed massage therapist and Reiki Master.

RISA SLOVES, DC

Associates in Family Chiropractic and Natural Health Care 156 East Ave, Norwalk 203-838-1555 CTChiropractic.com Dr. Risa Sloves is one of 12 Chiropractic Physicians in Connecticut with Board Certification in Maternity and Pediatric Care including Webster and Bagnell Turning Techniques. Also provided: acupuncture, BioSET Allergy Elimination Technique and the DRX9000 Spinal Decompression. See ad, page 14.

COLONICS COLONICS

914-921-LIFE (5433) LifelineHygienics.com Experience and personalized service you can trust. The finest in colonic irrigation and personal care. Serving the tri-state area since 1993.

WHOLE-BODY MEDICINE LLC

501 Kings Hwy E, Ste 108, Fairfield 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.

ECOLOGICAL LANDSCAPES ECOSCAPES

Rick Bednar 18 Eleanor Rd, Seymour 203-414-4605 RickBednar@gmail.com Ecoscapes is an ecological landscape company that combines more structural design, such as Japanese-style spirit gardens, with wildlife habitats and native plantings. We construct functional landscapes that bring the human spirit closer to our beautiful, natural planet and create healthy environments for us, our children and pets.

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE

EDUCATION

MARK JOACHIM, DC, FIAMA

INSTITUTE FOR HOLISTIC HEALTH STUDIES

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

WESTBROOK NATURE SCHOOL 7 Long Ridge Rd, West Redding 203-664-1554 Info@WestbrookNatureSchool.org WestbrookNatureSchool.org

A nature-based education on six acres of trails, streams and meadows, with an organic garden and natural playscapes.

Our curriculum builds physical and emotional resilience, moral awareness and the foundation required for intellectual growth. See ad, page 40.

END OF LIFE CONSCIOUS DYING MATTERS

At the Liphe Balance Center of Weston 203-912-2791 AllianceFCT.com Our mission is opening the conversation and providing resources, programs and services, to support and embrace end-of-life transition. The Alliance was born out of a deep desire to honor, respect and meet the needs of individuals and their families at the end-of-life.

ENERGY HEALING BETH LEAS

Associates in Family Chiropractic and Natural Health Care 156 East Ave, Norwalk 203-838-1555 • CTNutritionCenter.com Dr. Joachim has been in private practice since 1990, specializing in nutrition, natural allergy elimination and functional medicine.

Through specialized testing, he identifies subtle changes in individual physiology which may be at the root of troubling symptoms. Addressing the underlying dysfunction can help you feel better, for good. See ad, page 13.

TAMARA SACHS, MD

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

HAIR LOSS AND TRICHOLOGY LISA PRIMPS, TRICHOLOGIST, HLP, AT The Primping Place Spa 999 Summer St, #401, Stamford 203-325-9565 • ThePrimpingPlace.com

Fairfield County’s first location offering the XTC Multi Theraputic Hair Growth System including non-invasive, low level laser therapy—clinically proven and shown to be safe and effective at regrowing hair and creating a healthy scalp. The Primping Place also offers electrolysis and clinical skin care since 1992.

HEALING CENTER

Transformative Healing • Tarot Offices in Norwalk and Ridgefield 203-856-9566 BethLeas.com TLCTarot.com

THE RUBY TREE

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. See ad, page 29.

Metaphysical Shop and Healing Space Sherman Village, 670 Main St S, Woodbury 203-585-1655 • TheRubyTreeCT.com Rocks and crystals, magical objects, singing bowls, herbal candles and more.

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

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HEALTH COACH MARY GILBERTSON, WELLNESS Mary Gilbertson, MS, BSN, CHHC Licensed RN, Nutritionist and Certified Health Coach 238 Monroe Tpke, Monroe 203-521-4733 MaryGilbertsonWellness@gmail.com MaryGilbertsonWellness.com

Using the concept of “Food as Medicine” to create your customized nutrition and lifestyle plan for whole living. Working one on one, in groups and in corporations to develop customized healthy lifestyle plans. Works with patients on metabolism and weight loss, detoxification, gut health, cancers, inflammatory conditions and stress management.

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE PHYSICIAN INTEGRATIVE MD

Tatiana Fleischman, MD 47 Oak St, Ste 110, Stamford 203-275-6666 Info@IntegrativeMDCenter.com IntegrativeMDCenter.com Experienced physician Tatiana Fleischman, MD combines internal and integrative medicine to achieve long-term wellness goals.

Full range of services: internal medicine, primary care, advanced testing, weight control, holistic assessment and more. Comprehensive approach. See ad, page 15.

MICHAEL FINKELSTEIN, MD, FACP, ABIHM

HOLISTIC DENTIST MARK A BREINER, DDS, FIAOMT 501 Kings Hwy East, Ste 108, Fairfield 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 soughtafter speaker and lecturer.

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

HYPNOSIS HEALING TREE WISDOM

SunRaven: The Home of Slow Medicine 501 Guard Hill Rd, Bedford, NY 914-218-3113 SlowMedicineDoctor.com

Insightful health evaluations with customized medical guidance.

Consultation and holistic-lifestyle teaching and coaching aimed at attaining enhanced health and wellness on every level.Uniquely qualified to offer a second opinion from a Holistic Perspective. See ad, page 20.

HENRY C. SOBO, MD

Optimal Health Medical LLC 111 High Ridge Rd, Stamford 203-348-8805 DrSobo.com Dr. Sobo provides Natural Hormone therapy, weight-reduction programs, IV vitamin/minerals treatments, allergy evaluation and treatment, fibromyalgia care and treatment for a wide variety of problems utilizing an Integrative Medicine approach.

Thea Litsios, CHy Locations in Norwalk and Stratford 203-693-1493 HealingTreeWisdom.com Use the power of your whole mind to transform your life: Hypnosis for weight loss, smoking cessation, stress relief, and past life review. Certified teacher of Active Dream work. Individual dream consultations available, as well as workshops and monthly Dream Groups. See ad, page 9.

MIND-BODY TRANSFORMATION

STAMFORD INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE Michael E. Doyle, MD Conventional and Alternative Medicine 22 5th St, Ste 201, Stamford 203-324-4747 StamfordIntegrativeMedicine.com

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

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

Certified Hypnotherapist, Thought Field Therapy, Time Line Therapy, NLP and Complementary Medical Hypnosis, since 1989. See ads, pages 15 and 57.

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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 10.

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INTEGRATIVE NATURAL MEDICINE SOPHIA NATURAL HEALTH CENTER

Ken Hoffman, DACM, LAc, Medical Director 31 Old Rte 7, Brookfield 203-740-9300 INM.Center Using naturopathic and Chinese medical principles, we get to the source of your health concerns.

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

INTEGRATIVE OPTOMETRY EYECARE ASSOCIATES, PC

Randy Schulman, MS, OD, FCOVD Stephen Carr, OD, Narvan Bakhtiari, OD Brian Rodrigues, OD Locations: 6515 Main St, Trumbull • 203-374-2020 444 Westport Ave, 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 9.

LEGAL SERVICES LAW OFFICES OF KIRSTEN E. BENNETT 27 Mill Plain Rd, Danbury 203-648-9883 50 Main St, White Plains, NY 914-246-2906

Advocacy, Representation, Communication. Kirsten Bennett is a solo practitioner with offices in Danbury and White Plains, NY. Her practice handles real estate, estate planning and probate, personal injury and criminal defense.

“My firm is committed to providing you with effective advocacy, quality representation and the highest level of personal service.”

LIFE COACHING DARLENE ALVAREZ MADDERN

Create With Your Thoughts Life Empowerment Coach, Teacher, Speaker and Mentor QSCA Certified Law of Attraction Coach, MA Sociology 860-488-2619 CreateWithYourThoughts.com I empower my clients to move beyond their limiting beliefs, strengthen their sense of self worth and confidence to create the happiness, abundance, home, health and relationships they have always wanted. Create the life you want!

See ad, page 11.

MASSAGE AND BODYWORK JIIVA YOGA, REIKI AND MASSAGE CENTER

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

At Jiiva Massage, our goal is to provide our clients with a variety of experienced therapists and modalities to choose from. Our hope is to provide you with an assortment of different techniques so you can find what works best for your individual needs. See ad, page 27.

ROBIN ORDAN, LMT, LCSW, CICMI Licensed Massage Therapist and Reiki Practitioner Old Greenwich/Stamford 203-561-8535 RobinOrdanLMT.com

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 21.

MEDITATION REDDING CENTER FOR MEDITATION 9 Picketts Ridge Rd, West Redding 203-244-3130 ReddingMeditation.org

We teach and practice Mahasati meditation. Mahasati meditation cultivates self-awareness through attention to the movement of the body and, at more advanced levels, to the movement of the mind. No prior meditating experience is necessary. Ongoing weekly meditation classes, retreats and events. Please check monthly event calendar or visit ReddingMeditation.org for updated information.

WHOLE-BODY MEDICINE LLC

VALLEY SPIRIT WELLNESS

6 Green Hill Rd, Washington Depot 860-619-2788 ValleySpiritCoop.com Meditation can be easier to master than you think. Taoist, Buddhist and generic meditation.

Beginners and experienced practitioners both welcome. See ad, page 19.

Adam Breiner, ND, Director Elena Sokolova, MD, ND David Brady, ND, CCN, DACBN 501 Kings Hwy E, Ste 108, Fairfield 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, Real-Time EEG Neurofeedback and other therapies. See ad, page 2.

NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIAN NATURAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER

Lisa Singley, ND, MS 2103 Main St, Ste 2, Stratford 203-874-4333 Info@NHAWC.com NHAWC.com We use advanced diagnostic testing with safe, effective, all-natural healing modalities and treatment options to treat acute and chronic conditions, restore balance and treat the mind, body and spirit.

Specialists in endocrine disorders, digestive issues, pain management and chronic fatigue. We offer comprehensive solutions to prevent illness and maintain optimal health for body, mind and spirit. See ad, page 5.

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

MARVIN P. SCHWEITZER, ND Wellness Institute 1 Westport Ave, Norwalk 203-847-2788 DrMarvinSchweitzer.com

Family Health Care using all natural therapies for 25 years. Acupuncture, bioidentical hormones, homeopathy, Chinese/ Western herbs, allergy/toxin testing, oxygen therapy, Meridian stress assessment, nutrition/ enzyme therapies. See ad, page 35.

SHALVA CLINIC LLC

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

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

We work with children, adolescents, teens, adults and families around a variety of issues with non-medication therapies. We provide brain-based treatments like Neurofeedback, Biofeedback, EFT, Hypnosis, Meditation, etc. Our staff provides non-judgmental support to help alleviate stress and promote wellness. See ad, page 12.

OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIAN

Dr. Lewis offers comprehensive holistic care for women including well-women exams, fertility, thyroid and menopause support.

She also has a special interest in pediatrics and utilizes a variety of natural modalities when working with patients with ADD/ADHD, autism, allergies, eczema and asthma. Treatments include herbal medicine, functional medicine, biotherapeutic drainage, homeopathy and more. See ad, back cover.

DAVID L. JOHNSTON, DO 158 Danbury Rd, Ridgefield 203-438-9915 OsteopathicWellness.net

Dr. Johnston has been providing gentle, holistic hands-on osteopathic manual treatment and nutrition for over 20 years. Excellent for newborns, birth trauma, concussions, headaches, sports injuries, neck and back pain, digestive issues, brain support, stress, fibromyalgia, detoxification and weight loss, specialized bloodwork. See ad, page 31.

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September 2017

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PSYCHO-SPIRITUAL COUNSELING ROBIN QUEEN-FINKELSTEIN

SunRaven: The Home of Slow Medicine 501 Guard Hill Rd, Bedford, NY 914-218-3113 SlowMedicineTherapist.com Offering a whole-being, integrative approach to wellness, nurturing clients into health on the emotional, spiritual, mental and physical levels. Following one’s heart to re-envision life in order to flourish. See ad, page 20.

.

PSYCHOTHERAPY

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

Our highly trained and experienced therapists utilize a variety of brainbased tools and techniques that allow the CNS to calm down so one can address their issues without heightened anxiety. We specialize in pediatrics, parenting, and supporting individuals with chronic issues. See ad, page 12.

OPTIMAL MIND

Lawrence Edwards, PhD, BCN, LMHC 2 Byram Brook Pl, Armonk, NY 914-219-8600 OptimalMind.net Integrative psychotherapy: depression, anxiety, addictions, relationships, and more. Dr. Edwards is a NY lic. psychotherapist with 40 years of experience compassionately working with adults to realize their goals.

Meditation and mindfulness training are also offered.

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

NANCY SCHERLONG, LCSW

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

REGULATION THERMOGRAPHY FAMILY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE 111 High Ridge Rd, Stamford 203-539-1149 GoThermography.com

Chronic illness develops over time.With Regulation Thermography you discover the disturbances that are important to address in order to restore and optimize your health. Healing begins by providing the information to diagnose, assess, and treat complex health conditions. FDA approved test and reports.

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

Gigi is an experienced Reiki Master/ Teacher. She offers all levels of Reiki training monthly. All classes and Reiki sessions include the latest techniques including Karuna, Angelic and Jikiden Reiki.

TURNING POINT REIKI LLC

JoAnn Inserra Duncan, MS, RMT 100B Danbury Rd, Ste 101, Ridgefield 203-438-3050 TurningPointReiki.com TurningPointShare.com

Robin has more than 18 years of experience working with families and children. Specializing in divorce, parent/child conflict, grief, attachment/ bonding, child development and parenting. See ad, page 11.

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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.

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JIIVA YOGA, REIKI AND MASSAGE CENTER

2900 Main St, Ste 1A, Stratford 203-345-7747 JiivaCenter.com Berta Prevosti is a Usui and Karuna Reiki Master and has been practicing Reiki for over 20 years.

We also have several experienced Reiki Masters and practitioners.

We offer private Reiki sessions for physical and emotional pain. We also have ongoing Reiki classes that are taught in the traditional Usui method by Berta. See ad, page 27.

SELF IMPROVEMENT LOVE, SEX, INTIMACY

Dr. Inessa Zaleski, DD, CMCH 203-708-7777 Dr.Inessa@Calmness.com Calmness.com/LSI SolveSexualIssues.com Dr. Inessa Zaleski is an author, self-improvement expert and a hypnotherapy instructor. She leads workshops and retreats in the field of Love, Sex and Intimacy. She is the creator of trainings that include among others: The Art of Touch for couples, Becoming a Better Lover, Women’s Self Mastery and more. Dr. Inessa offers practical guidance on utilizing our inherent sexuality to enrich our everyday lives. See ad, page 11.

SHAMANIC PRACTITIONER HUNTER HEALING HANDS

Jessica C. Hunter 203-916-8381 HunterHealingHands@hotmail.com HunterHealingHands.com Healing sessions in shamanic healing, Melody crystal healing, Reiki, shamanic intuitive readings. Accredited and certification training programs in Reiki, crystal healing and shamanic healing. See ad, page 17.

TAI CHI/QIGONG JAMPA STEWART, MSOM, LAc Board Certified Acupuncturist Valley Spirit Wellness 6 Green Hill Rd, Washington Depot 860-619-2788 ValleySpiritCoop.com

Develop physical and mental fitness and find a new harmony of the mind, body and spirit using ancient Chinese arts.

Starting with basic movements, warm-up techniques and breathing exercises, you will learn a set of flowing natural movements done slowly with calmness, balance and awareness. Weekly classes, weekend workshops and retreats. See ad, page 19.

WELLNESS CENTER

TRANSFORMATIVE HEALING

7eFIT SPA

1492 High Ridge Rd, Stamford • 203-356-5822 515 West Ave, Norwalk • 203-814-1355 7eFitSpaCT1@gmail.com 7eFitSpa.com

BETH LEAS

Transformative Healing • Tarot Offices in Norwalk and Ridgefield 203-856-9566 BethLeas.com • TLCTarot.com If not now, when? Inspire change on all levels—greater physical ease, emotional freedom, peace of mind and spiritual connection.

20 years of intuitive healing experience with adults and children of all ages. Reiki, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Tarot. See ad, page 29.

ESSENTIAL HOLISTIC HEALING, LLC Jackie Karabin- Reiki Master and LMT Wilton 203-984-1491 Info@EssentialHolisticHealing.com EssentialHolisticHealing.com

7eFit Spa offers a variety of aesthetic services and noninvasive techniques to support mind-body wellness. Services include antiaging and oxygen facials with aromatherapy, Torc Plus bioelectric stimulation for muscle activation and weight-loss, infrared sauna and the DietMaster weight-loss program. See ad, page 5.

JIIVA YOGA, REIKI AND MASSAGE CENTER

Berta Prevosti, Usui and Karuna Reiki Master 2900 Main St, Ste 1A, Stratford 203-345-7747 JiivaCenter.com

does the work.

590 Danbury Rd, Ridgefield Dermalogica Facials • Oxygen Facials 203-969-4327 Teeth Whitening SaltanaCave.com

RS Holistic Counseling, Coaching, and Healing offers Transformative Healing sessions in Brookfield.

The sessions can be from one hour for pure healing sessions using a variety of methods including Reiki, guided meditations, crystals, essential oils specific to your needs. There is also a 1 1/2 hour session that consists of 45 minutes of coaching, and 45 minutes of transformative healing. See ad, page 11.

SPIRITUAL ARTS LLC

Richard Wlodarski, RMT 2505 Main St, Ste 209B, Stratford 203-605-0773 Rich@SpiritualArts.info • SpritualArts.info Richard is a Reiki Master/Teacher and intuitive reader. He specializes in home and property cleansings.

Come and experience the healing attributes of Reiki and discover spiritual guidance and awareness, with over 30 years of experience.

A space of calm and beauty, healing and restoration of the body and spirit, Salt of the Earth Healing Arts Sanctuary offers a tranquil place to refresh and renew in a house charged with the energy of old. Beautiful Athena Hall, inside the Sanctuary, can be rented to like-minded people for classes, workshops, lectures and special events. Heart and Home is a unique store in the ™sanctuary; a cozy place to shop, have tea, scoop and bag salts, purchase a variety of artisan goods.

See ad, page 4.

A new way to looking and feeling good.

is in the business of building Relax whileJiiva our technology a community for yoga and healing.

246 Federal Rd, Ste C23-A Brookfield 203-826-2558 RsHolisticHealing@gmail.com RsHolisticServices.com

346 Main St S, Woodbury 203-405-2241 • 203-586-1172

Fit Spa

Find balance and enhance the We offer yoga classes, a school of health and well-being of your Reiki, private Reiki treatments, body, mind and spirit through No surgery or invasive procedures. traditional massage therapy, Thai Reiki and massage therapy. massage, meditation classes, Micro-dermabrasion Offering a holistic approach withInfrared Sauna • workshops and community events. tailored sessions to honor the See • ad,Body page 27.

Myolift • Torc Waxing specific needs and goals of the Diet Master • Oxygen Bar • Reiki client.

SALTANA CAVE

RS HOLISTIC COUNSELING, COACHING AND HEALING

SALT OF THE EARTH HEALING ARTS SANCTUARY/ATHENA HALL

Save NowFairfield withCounty’s first and only therapeutic HimalaIntroductoryyan Prices! salt cave provides relief from respiratory isCall 203-356-5822 sues such as allergies, asthma, and side effects of

SUNRAVEN: THE HOME OF SLOW MEDICINE

501 Guard Hill Rd, Bedford, NY 914-218-3113 SlowMedicine.org Promoting and supporting health and wellness; facilitating community-centered experiential and reflective learning for individuals, families, and groups, by offering educational programs, events, and resources designed to build integrative skills and understanding for those looking to holistically care for themselves, others, and the world in which we live.

Transformative programs, holistic medicine, psychospiritual counseling; women’s, men’s and couples groups, garden co-op, cleansing program; special 12-week “immersion”. See ad, page 20.

WELLNESS SUPPLEMENT MEDTECH HEALTHCARE

SOLUTIONS 1092 High Road Stamford, 06905 smoking and Ridge pollution.

Salt is| naturally anti- CT 284 Racebrook Rd, Ste 21, Orange inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal.

See ad, 203-298-0677 7efitspact1@gmail.com | www.7efitspa.com page 10.

Allison@MedTechHealthcare.com MedTechHealthcare.com

SALT OF THE EARTH THERAPEUTIC SPA

787 Main St S, Woodbury 203-586-1172 NaturalSaltHealing.com Combining an array of natural therapies that have been used since ancient times with today’s technology, Salt of the Earth Spa provides a sanctuary for deep transformation, healing and grounding for mind, body and spirit. See ad, page 4.

As a distributor of CW Hemp (Charlotte’s Web), we want to help everyone better their health and wellness by offering a full line of Premium Whole-Plant Cannabinoid Hemp Extracts. Charlotte’s Web (CW) is The World’s Most Trusted Hemp Extract™. “Be Calmer. Improve Focus. Just feel Better.” See ad, page 25.

Your ad could be featured here Reach over 60,000 Natural Awakenings readers by placing your ad here.

Call for more info. 203-885-4674 eNaturalAwakenings.com

September 2017

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COSMIC RHYTHMS Virgo Offers a Problem Solving Energy

by Michele Leigh

L

ast month ended in the fog of a Mercury retrograde while we were still reeling from the intensity of the eclipses.

This month, we have an abundance of grounding energy with Mars, Venus and the New Moon in the progressive sign of Virgo. Labor Day weekend is filled with planetary energy so pick social engagements wisely.

Mars begrudgingly enters Virgo on September 5. Our warrior planet takes a break from the battlefield and goes back to the drawing board. Virgo is a practical sign often reasoning with our instinct to do combat. Use this energy to strategize and pay attention to the details. Remember some things are worth fighting for and some things are simply not.

Meticulous Mars in Virgo can help us make this distinction.

Mercury goes direct on September 5, ending the retrograde period. Now is the time to clear up any miscommunications that occurred while Mercury was moving backwards.

On September 6, we have a Full Moon in mystical Pisces. This sensitive water sign encourages us to tap into the subconscious and pay attention to our dreams. Pisces is a very intuitive sign so heed that inner guide; follow your gut instincts.

Venus joins her lover Mars on September 19 in the pragmatic sign of Virgo. This boost of rational reasoning will help us sort through complicated relationship issues. For the next month or so, both male and female energies will be flavored with a sense of practical wisdom.

The New Moon on September 20 will boost all the functional Virgo energy so use it to start a new 28-day cycle.

Virgo is extremely competent and capable. Tap into this energy to set an intention for the autumn season.

The Sun enters Libra on September 22 and transitions us into a more balanced lifestyle. Now that the summer months are over, we are moving into a more structured schedule.

Utilize all the Virgo energy this month to get organized and plan for the transition from independent Virgo—where all possibilities are examined—to the scales of balance where things are very black and white. Moderation is key while diplomatic Libra is embodying the Sun. Michele Leigh is an astrologer, author and podcaster. A practitioner of ancient astrology and planetary magic, she is an active member of OPA, the Organization for Professional Astrology. Connect at DarkMoonAstrology.com.

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SPECIALTIES DR. ELLEN LEWIS: THYROID DISORDERS, ABNORMAL PAPS, WOMEN’S HEALTH DR. CARINE BONNIST: ANTI-AGING, LYME DR. ANDREW CUMMINS: ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS, CHRONIC PAIN DR. MARA DAVIDSON: INTEGRATIVE ONCOLOGY DR. NADIA NOORI: ADD/ADHD, AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS EACH PRACTITIONER TREATS THE WHOLE FAMILY INCLUDING HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, WEIGHT ISSUES, HEADACHES, FATIGUE, SLEEP DISTURBANCES, DIGESTIVE DISORDERS, COLDS/FLUS, ANXIETY/DEPRESSION, ALLERGIES, PEDIATRICS, AND MORE

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