Natural Awakenings New Haven & Middlesex CT FEB 2019

EE R F

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

2019

NATURAL

LIVING DIRECTORY

New Haven-Middlesex | NaturalNewHaven.com 2019 Natural Living Directory

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HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

NEW HAVEN/ MIDDLESEX EDITION Brenda Tate Photography

PUBLISHER Gail Heard EDITOR Ariana Rawls Fine DESIGN & PRODUCTION Gail Heard CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ariana Rawls Fine

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Every New Year is an opportunity to make a fresh start and create the life you really want to have. What do you want to create for yourself in 2019? Better health, vitality and balance?

A new career that brings more fulfillment? More serenity and greater clarity? Satisfying relationships? This special edition: our 11th Annual Natural Living Directory, offers a wealth of resources that can help make it possible.

Our Directory includes a glossary of tools for wellness, plus local and accessible practitioners and businesses offering a rich array of holistic options—all here to support you on your exciting journey to enhanced wellness, self-discovery and empowerment.

I am feeling very optimistic and excited this year about the continued growth of the holistic community here in Connecticut, as evidenced by the new holistic centers and practices that have recently opened up throughout New Haven and Middlesex counties.

Several of them are advertising in this Directory.

I am also delighted to introduce my new Marketing and Advertising Manager, Melissa Pytlak, who joined our Natural Awakenings family in December! Melissa has a wealth of experience as an educator and is also a practicing yoga instructor and Ayurveda wellness counselor (check out her Profile and directory listing). Her energy and enthusiasm is a breath of fresh air and I am moved by her eagerness to support the growth of our magazine. She is beautiful inside and out and we are truly blessed to have her on our team!

Melissa Pytlak This edition includes articles offering new scientific inquiries, research and ideas about heart health, a topic very close to my heart (pardon the pun) since I have a family history of heart disease and stroke. My mother suffered a serious heart attack at the age of 41. My father and his father both died suddenly from massive heart attacks and my paternal grandmother died from complications of a stroke. Our feature articles discuss risk factors for heart disease, including the role of inflammation and sugar, and offer a plethora of holistic modalities (ie. meditation, music, yoga, Pu’er Tea, heart-healthy recipes, Ayurveda and home remedies) to help improve and maintain cardiovascular health.

The role of cholesterol in cardiovascular disease has come under close scrutiny, based on a careful review of earlier studies showing “inconsistencies and contradictions in the data,” according to local Naturopath, Dr. Lisa Singley, author of “Busting the Cholesterol Myth: Sugar and Inflammation More Harmful than Dietary Fat.” Last year, I made the decision to reduce my daily sugar intake to 25-30 grams a day. Not only did I lose 13 pounds within 3 months, but I have more energy and feel so much better overall. I don’t get sugar cravings anymore either. It’s good to learn that I am supporting my heart health too.

In addition to our great reads, we hope you enjoy exploring the abundance of events, classes, workshops, services and products in this treasure trove of possibilities and create your most healthful, balanced and abundantly prosperous year yet!

And finally, thanks so much to all of you wonderful writers and advertisers for co-creating this year’s Directory and making it such a special issue.

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

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The future is not something we enter. The future is something we create. ~ Leonard I. Sweet

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

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Contents 12 GET THE GIGGLES! Laughter Has Awesome Power

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13 HEART OF A WOMAN The Right Choices Keep It Strong

16 TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEART

A Comprehensive Approach to Cardiovascular Care

19 A COMMON

52

HEART SONG

Whales Point the Way

20 COMPOSE A HEALTHY HEARTBEAT EVERY DAY

22 BEYOND THE LIPID PANEL

Understanding Cardiovascular Disease

48 BUSTING THE

CHOLESTEROL MYTH Sugar and Inflammation More Harmful than Dietary Fat

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact Melissa Pytlak at 203-305-5531 or email PytlakMelissa@gmail.com.com. Deadline for ads: the 12th of the month.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Gail@naturalnewhaven.com. Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Submit Calendar Events online at: NaturalNewHaven.com.

Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month.

REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets!

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets, call 239-434-9392. For franchising opportunities, call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakenings.com.

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50 LOWERING THE PRESSURE

A TCM Approach for a Common Cardiovascular Issue

DEPARTMENTS 6 health briefs 9 film brief 9 eco tip 10 global briefs 16 healing ways 19 inspiration 24 natural living

52 green living 54 conscious eating 57 calendar 62 classifieds

directory

2019 Natural Living Directory

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health briefs

Zinc Combo Fights Aging Diseases When zinc, a trace mineral, is combined with tea, coffee, chocolate and other foods that contain specific antioxidant compounds, it boosts protection against the oxidative stress linked to aging and diseases such as dementia, cancer and heart disease, report researchers from Auburn University, in Alabama, and the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, in Germany.

Zinc activates a plant compound known as hydroquinone, which boosts foods’ antioxidant properties. Hydroquinone alone cannot break down harmful free radicals, but when combined with zinc, a type of enzyme is created that helps prevent damage to organs and tissues.

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Harmful bacteria from the genus Mycobacterium have been shown to linger in showerheads and lead to lung infections through inhalation of steam. University of Colorado researchers analyzed 656 biofilms coating the inside of showerheads sent to them by volunteers throughout the U.S. and Europe, and found twice as much mycobacterium in showerheads from households receiving municipal water than in those receiving well water.

Chlorine disinfection

methods were suspected by the researchers. Plastic showerheads had levels that were, on average, two times lower than showerheads made of metal or metal and plastic components. “Hot spots” with high levels of mycobacteria—such as Hawaii, southern California, Florida, the upper Midwest and the mid-Atlantic states—generally overlapped regions where mycobacteriumrelated lung diseases are most prevalent.

Maxal anatTamor/Shutterstock.com chant/Shutterstock.com

Harmful Bacteria Linked to Certain Showerheads

Immigration to U.S. Lowers Healthy Gut Bacteria People in developing nations have much greater diversity in gut bacteria than Americans, but a University of Minnesota study of U.S. immigrants has found that six to nine months after moving to the U.S. and eating a Western diet, the gut bacteria of those from countries with predominantly non-Western diets changed to match gut bacteria typical of a Western diet, while their gut bacteria became less diverse and less healthy.

These effects increased with the duration of U.S. residence and were compounded across generations. The more “Westernized” a woman’s microbiome, the greater her risk of obesity.

Shamaan/Shutterstock.com

Bitter melon (Momordica charantia), a spiky, cucumbershaped fruit, has traditionally been used in Asian countries to lower blood sugar. Now, researchers at Universiti Sains Malaysia report that it can significantly improve symptoms and reduce the pain of knee osteoarthritis. Half of 75 patients were given a placebo and the other half 1,500 milligrams three times a day of a bitter melon supplement.

After three months, the bitter melon group had significantly fewer symptoms and less knee pain and analgesic use, as well as lowered body weight, body mass index and fasting blood glucose levels.

Dmitry Bruskov/Shutterstock.com

Bitter Melon Eases Knee Pain

Eskymaks/Shutterstock.com TukkataMoji/Shutterstock.com Peter Hermes Furian/Shutterstock.com Eric Isselee/Shutterstock.com

Ashwagandha Normalizes Hypothyroid Levels Ashwagandha, a traditional ayurvedic herb, can significantly improve symptoms of subclinical hypothyroidism, a condition that affects many women, a new double-blind clinical study shows. Researchers from India’s Sudbhawana Hospital tested 50 patients that had high circulating thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. For eight weeks, half were given 600 milligrams a day of ashwagandha; the other half were given a placebo. In the treatment group, TSH levels fell by more than 17 percent, T4 levels increased by nearly 20 percent and T3 levels increased by more than 40 percent. “Ashwagandha treatment effectively normalized the serum thyroid indices during the eight-week treatment period in a significant manner,” the report concluded.

The Power of Thank-You Notes Practicing gratitude is a healthy habit, yet people often hesitate to write heartfelt thank-you notes to people that have touched their lives. Researchers at the University of Chicago and the University of Texas, in Austin, report that writers underestimate how much people receiving those notes are surprised, happy and appreciative.

The researchers also found that the letter writers were unduly concerned about their ability to express their gratitude skillfully. While the writers worried about choosing the right words, the recipients felt happiness simply through the warmth of the gesture.

Walnut Leaves Improve Diabetic Health In a double-blind study of 40 Type-2 diabetes patients, Iranian researchers gave half of them 200 milligrams of an extract of walnut leaf (Juglans regia) for eight weeks and the other half a placebo. Although the walnut leaf extract had no significant effect on their blood glucose levels or insulin resistance, it significantly lowered systolic blood pressure and body weight in the patients.

Sniffing Dogs Can Detect Malaria After years of worldwide decline, malaria is on a worrisome upswing, but researchers from Durham University, in the UK, have found a quick, non-invasive,

low-cost detection method: dogs. Trained to sniff out malaria parasites in socks that West African children wore for one night, the canines correctly identified 70 percent among the infected and 90 percent among the uninfected children.

2019 Natural Living Directory

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New Haven/Middlesex

Children and teens that spend more than seven hours a day on screens have twice the risk of being diagnosed with anxiety or depression compared to those that spend one hour a day similarly engaged, concluded a San Diego State University study of more than 40,000 youngsters.

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Munching on almonds and walnuts significantly increases blood vessel dilation and reduces artery plaque, say West Virginia University scientists. In a two-day study, 27 overweight volunteers ate 77 grams of almonds (about 2.5 handfuls) along with their lunch one day; on another day, they ate 60 grams of walnuts (about two handfuls) with lunch. Measurements taken four hours after each meal found that both diets significantly increased blood vessel dilation and lowered markers of artery plaque. Both types of nuts also reduced heart rate and systolic blood pressure among the volunteers.

Holy Basil Fights Tooth Infection Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), an Indian herb also known as holy basil, has been proven effective in studies in reducing stress, lowering blood sugar and healing wounds.

Now, research from India’s Rishiraj College of Dental Sciences has found that tulsi essential oil, used as a disinfectant, significantly reduced infection levels following root canals of primary molars in a study of 40 children. Although a triple antibiotic cream had better antibiotic properties, the researchers recommended tulsi for longstanding infections and to avoid antibiotic reactions and overuse.

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eco tips

Tips for a Tree-Free Home Many Ways to Pare Down Paper Use

If one in five households switched to electronic bills, statements and payments, the collective impact would save 151 million pounds of paper annually, eliminating 8.6 million full garbage bags and 2 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the PayItGreen Alliance.

While computers continue to offer significant environmental benefits, there are other “tree-mendous” things we can do to conserve forest resources. n Paper bags can be substituted for plastic bags as trash can liners and serve as compost-ready receptacles for fruit and vegetable scraps. ChasingGreen.org describes many ways to reuse paper bags after cutting them along the seams; use them to wrap gifts and shipping boxes or let the kids paint or draw on them. n Use the blank side of sales receipts, envelopes, shopping lists and other paper scraps to jot down to-do lists, notes and more. The family can keep a small pile that everyone can tap into.

Michael Bloomberg at the special advance screening of Paris to Pittsburgh.

Changing Landscapes

violetkaipa/Shutterstock.com

Climate Change Documentary Seeks Consensus

National Geographic Documentary Films, in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies and RadicalMedia, has released the new film Paris to Pittsburgh (free at NatGeoTV. com), a tribute to the impassioned efforts of individuals battling the most severe threats of climate change in their own backyards. Set against the national debate over the United States’ energy future and the Trump administration’s decision to exit the Paris Climate Agreement, the film captures what’s at stake for communities around the country and the inspiring ways Americans are responding.

The film, which premiered in December in 172 countries in 43 languages, is directed and produced by Emmy Award winner Sidney Beaumont and Emmy-nominated filmmaker Michael Bonfiglio.

It features local leaders and everyday citizens telling the stories behind climate-related recovery and resiliency. The documentary illustrates the tireless innovative efforts to reduce carbon emissions, including those in former coal boomtowns such as Pittsburgh, where Mayor Bill Peduto says, “There are now more jobs in renewable energy in the state of Pennsylvania than coal, natural gas and oil combined.”

n Replace paper napkins and towels with cloth napkins or portions of old T-shirts that can be washed and reused. n Choose paper products that are gentle on the Earth in how they are made. TreeZero Inc. (TreeZero. com) markets, supplies and distributes 100 percent carbonneutral paper made from recycled sugarcane waste fiber. n Consider “branching out” and help protect trees that are being threatened by overharvesting, development and the effects of climate change by supporting the Alliance for Community Trees (ACTrees.org), a national nonprofit that plants trees in communities across the nation.

Get the shovels ready to pitch in when the Arbor Day Foundation (ArborDay.org) celebrates its 148th annual tree-planting events on April 26—especially important this year due to the destruction of many trees from recent hurricanes and fires.

2019 Natural Living Directory

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Fish Revival

Insects around the world are in a crisis, and a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that the problem is even more widespread than scientists first believed. In a pristine rain forest in Puerto Rico, the number of invertebrates—including moths, butterflies, spiders and grasshoppers—dropped 60-fold between 1977 and 2013, probably due to a fourdegree rise in average temperature. The lizards, birds and frogs that fed on them also seriously declined. In 2014, an international team of biologists estimated that globally in the past 35 years, the numbers of invertebrates such as beetles and bees had decreased by 45 percent.

Another recent study showed a 76 percent decrease in flying insects in the past few decades in German nature preserves. The food web may be being obliterated from the bottom: Insects pollinate three-quarters of our food crops, feed the birds and fish that are also consumed by larger species and are vital to the decomposition that keeps soil healthy and ecosystems running. “Nature’s resilient, but we’re pushing her to such extremes that eventually it will cause a collapse of the system,” Brad Lister, a co-author of the Puerto Rican study, told the New York Times.

Following the removal two years ago of an obsolete dam in Manville, New Jersey, American shad are successfully spawning in the lower section of the Millstone River.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently observed juvenile fish there for the first time since 1845. American shad (Alosa sapidissima) are the largest member of the herring family and are anadromous, as they spend most of their lives in saltwater, but return to freshwater rivers each spring to spawn. They played an important role in American history and economics.

New Jersey Department of Emvironmental Protection Commissioner Catherine McCabe says, “This species has an inherent tendency to recolonize once obstacles are removed from its migratory path.” During the Industrial Revolution, rivers were dammed for electric power and lakes, but during the last decade, dam removal has become a new call to action. Besides preventing fish migrations, dams also harm water quality in rivers by blocking water flow, trapping sediment and changing habitats.

Horse Sense

Wild Horses Ride Out the Storm North Carolina’s freeroaming wild horse herds on the Outer Banks have “ridden out” their share of storms. When Hurricane Florence struck the area in 2018, the Corolla Wild Horse Fund of Currituck County, where the herd lives, announced on Facebook, “The horses have lived on this barrier island for 500 years, and they are well-equipped to deal with

rough weather. They know where to go to stay high and dry, and are probably in better shape right now than most of us humans, who are scrambling with final preparations.” Historians believe the herds, which number about 100 horses, descend from those brought to the New World

by European explorers.

Instincts dating back five centuries compel the

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Hein Nouwens/Shutterstock.com

Sharp Decline Threatens Ecosystem

Shad Return After 174-Year Absence

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Bug Apocalypse

Patricia Camerota/Shutterstock.com

global briefs

feral mustangs to either huddle on high ground, butts to the wind, or seek refuge in the maritime forest during storms, say experts. But news has come of a Shackleford Banks horse named Merlin that was fenced in an inundated quarantine site

during the storm, according to the Foundation for Shackleford Horses.

Merlin somehow survived, and it “may have involved swimming,” says Margaret Poindexter, president of the foundation that co-manages the herd on National Park Service land.

Bat Cave Rescue

Mind Meld

A cold-loving fungus known as white-nose syndrome (Pseudogymnoascus destructans) originating in Eurasia, where bats evolved to develop immunity to it, began infecting 15 species of hibernating bats in North America in 2006. As the fungus grows over bats’ noses and wings, it disrupts their winter sleep, causing them to expend too much energy and burn up fat they need for winter survival. More than 6 million bats have succumbed to the disease so far. Some species are experiencing near total collapse: Little brown bat populations have been decimated by about 90 percent, while tricolored and northern long-eared bats are suffering losses of around 97 percent. Ecologists thought the fungus might halt at the Rockies, but by 2016 it had made its way to Washington State.

A collaboration between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, biologists, ecologists, mycologists, biochemists and other scientists at universities, NGOs and state, federal and tribal agencies have made significant progress in combating the fungus using genomics: Sequencing its genes has allowed them to determine its origin. Plans include treating the caves and mines in which the bats hibernate. It also appears that some species are developing resistance to the fungus or developing coping strategies, like waking up together every night to generate extra group warmth.

Scientists are trying to translate speech-paralyzed patients’ thoughts into speech using brain implants. The technique will potentially provide a brain/computer interface (BCI) to enable people with a spinal cord injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, stroke or other paralyzing conditions to “talk” again. Experts think a system that decodes whether a person is silently saying yes, no, hungry, pain or water is now within reach, thanks to parallel advances in neuroscience, engineering and machine learning. “We think we’re getting enough of an understanding of the brain signals that encode silent speech that we could soon make something practical,” says Brian Pasley, of the University of California, Berkeley.

The first BCI read electrical signals in the motor cortex corresponding to the intention to move, and used software to translate the signals into instructions to operate a computer cursor or robotic arm. In 2016, scientists at the University of Pittsburgh went a step further, adding sensors to a mind-controlled robotic arm so it produced sensations of touch.

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Get the Giggles!

Laughter Has Awesome Power

W

by Dr. Lori Monaco

hen was the last time you had a really good belly laugh? The kind of laugh that is so hardy you felt like you just did about 50 sit-ups? How about laughing so hard that you snorted or shot milk out of your nose? How about no sound coming out at all, and you looked like you were in pain? There are so many different ways to laugh; what’s the same is how fantastic it makes us feel.

Found across the world, laughter is used as a form of expression by all humans; it is universal. We’ve all come across that individual who seems to never even crack a smile, let alone laugh, but given the right circumstance, will burst out in laughter.

“Laughter is a mechanism everyone has; laughter is part of the universal human vocabulary. There are thousands of languages, hundreds of thousands of dialects, but everyone speaks laughter in pretty much the same way,” says Robert R. Provine, PhD. “It is not a learned group reaction but an instinctive behavior programmed by our genes.”

This is why babies will laugh long before they begin to speak, and children born deaf and blind are able to laugh.

Laughter, although possible when alone, is more commonly seen when in the company of other people. In fact, group laughter can induce a more joyful experience and deeper laughs than would be possible alone. So laughter brings people together and 12

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it can be contagious.

Studies have been done on why we laugh, how we laugh, what part of the brain is activated when we laugh, and how laughing differs throughout the world. Does it have health benefits?

Laughter itself can be quite physical. Repetitive hard laughing can feel like exercise, increasing body temperature and leaving us gasping for breath. That’s because laughing activates the sympathetic nervous system, which increases blood pressure and heart rate.

While it sounds stressful, most would agree laughing feels good. In fact, some studies have shown that laughter can decrease stress levels. In addition to decreasing pain, anxiety and depression, it can help improve anger management and our overall outlook on life. Even though laughter has been shown to be a spontaneous emotional release, fake laughter can easily turn into real laughter, which helps explain the effectiveness of laughter therapies such as Laughter Yoga and Laughter Coaching.

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We have all this sophisticated equipment and all these medications, but when it comes down to it, the vast majority of cardiovascular disease can be prevented. ~Christina Adams, M.D.

Heart of a Woman The Right Choices Keep It Strong

viphotos/Shutterstock.com

by Lisa Marshall

S

ometime between the salad and the main course at her grandson’s bar mitzvah, Joyce Lenard, then 69, felt a crushing pressure deep within her chest.

A tireless go-getter who had worked in Hillary Clinton’s district office when she was a U.S. senator, raised two daughters and recently donated a kidney to one of them, Lenard had spent months painstakingly planning the 100-guest gala, so when the pain came, she ignored it and got on with the party. She even drove herself to her Long Island home that night. “I just assumed I was having indigestion and it would pass,” Lenard recalls.

Hours later, her husband rushed her to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with a rare, often-fatal form of heart attack, takotsubo cardiomyopathy, in which intense stress literally changes the shape of the heart. Thankful to be alive, she has since taken up meditation, cleaned up her diet and now leads a support group for female heart patients of all ages. Like her, many of them never saw it coming.

“Women tend to be the caregivers,” says Lenard. “We take care of our husbands, our families, our friends, our careers, and we often forget about our own health. Then look what happens.” Lenard is among the 44 million U.S. women with cardiovascular disease, an insidious illness that until recently has been erroneously framed as a “man’s disease”. In reality, it is the number one killer of women, responsible for one in three deaths each year, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). By comparison, one in 26 women die of breast cancer.

While awareness has risen since 2004, when AHA launched its Go Red for Women campaign, surveys show only 17 percent of women view cardiovascular disease as something that should concern them.

It should, experts say, because 80 to 90 percent of cases are avoidable with lifestyle and dietary changes. In some cases, natural remedies can even reverse it. “We have all this sophisticated equipment and all these medications, but when it comes down

to it, the vast majority of cardiovascular disease can be prevented,” says integrative cardiologist Christina Adams, M.D., of the Scripps Women’s Heart Center, in La Jolla, California.

Know Risks and Address Them Early

In the late 1990s, researchers discovered women were about as likely as men to be diagnosed with the disease, and far more likely to die from it. “They didn’t have the classic signs and symptoms, so they often went undiagnosed and untreated,” explains Jennifer Mieres, M.D., a cardiology professor at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, in New York.

Along with chest pain, women often suffer fatigue, shortness of breath, indigestion, pain in the neck, back or jaw, nausea or anxiety in the months leading up to a heart attack. In more than half of the cases, according to one recent study in the journal Circulation, doctors fail to recognize these symptoms.

Then there is the “not now” factor. “I used to see women all the time who said, ‘I have had these symptoms for months, but I just didn’t have time to take care of it,’” says Mieres, co-author of Heart Smart for Women: Six S.T.E.P.S. in Six Weeks to Heart-Healthy Living.

Recent research has also shown that women are uniquely vulnerable to developing heart disease in ways that men don’t share. Taking birth control pills (especially while smoking) can boost risk. Complications during pregnancy such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes can be hard on the heart, increasing vulnerability for years to come. Because estrogen is believed to be cardio-protective, when it wanes during perimenopause and menopause, risk goes up again.

“As soon as we hit menopause, our biological milieu starts to change,” says Mieres, noting that “good” cholesterol tends to decrease and “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides tend to increase.

Yet, arterial plaque—which can ultimately build up, break loose and cause a heart attack or stroke—starts accumulating as early as age 20, so the earlier women start paying attention, the better.

2019 Natural Living Directory

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Food Not Meds

Thirty years after the first cholesterol-lowering medication hit the market, so-called statin drugs have become the largest class of medications in the world, with U.S. sales doubling between 2000 and 2010 to reach $20 billion, according to the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. While drugs can be appropriate for those already diagnosed with heart disease and at high risk of heart attack or stroke, they are not without serious side effects. Statins can cause chronic muscle pain, memory loss and increased blood sugar, while hypertension drugs can precipitate fainting and kidney damage.

For many patients, there’s another way, integrative cardiologists say. Unfortunately, most of the talk about prevention focuses on prescription medications, says Stephen Devries, M.D., executive director of the Chicago-based Gaples Institute for Integrative Cardiology. “What often gets lost in the discussion are the dietary changes, which can be equally important.”

Devries recommends a plant-based Mediterranean diet—low in the saturated fat found in beef, processed meats and cheese—and high in leafy greens, whole grains and the “good” fats found in fatty fish, olive oil and avocados. Specific foods have also been shown to lower cholesterol and blood pressure.

Nuts, including walnuts, peanuts and almonds, have been shown to lower LDL. One 2017 study of 77,000 female nurses, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, found those that ate peanuts or tree nuts (including almonds and cashews) two or more times per week had a 19 percent lower risk of developing heart disease. Those that ate walnuts once a week cut their risk by 23 percent.

Dark purple and red fruits contain compounds called anthocyanins that boost production of nitric oxide, and in turn expand blood vessels, improving circulation. Another recent study, published in the journal Circulation, followed 94,000 women for 18 years and found those that ate four servings or more per week of blueberries and strawberries were a third less likely to have a heart attack.

Pomegranates are also key for heart health, with recent research published in the journal Clinical Nutrition showing a daily serving of juice can make platelets less sticky, lower blood pressure and reduce plaque formation.

Dark leafy greens like kale and broccoli—which are rich in vitamin K—play an important role in fostering a healthy heart structure, with each serving per week cutting the risk of heart disease by 23 percent, according to the Gaples Institute.

Nurturing the Emotional Heart

No discussion of heart health would be complete without an emphasis on social and emotional health, a critical risk factor which until recently has been largely absent, says Sandeep Jauhar, M.D., director of the Heart Failure Program at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center, and author of the new book, Heart: A History.

But research shows the emotional heart can break, too, as in Lenard’s case.

With as many as 90 percent of incidents occurring in women, the condition that landed her in the emergency room often shows up in patients with no signs of obstructed blood vessels or high cholesterol.

Rather, factors like financial worries, work stress or the death of or break-up with a loved one can flood the heart with stress hormones, changing its shape to one that resembles a Japanese pot called a takotsubo and weakening it profoundly. “Remarkably, in many cases, once the emotional state returns to normal, so does the heart,” says Jauhar.

Longer-term, emotional stress has been shown to lead to platelet aggregation, or stickiness in the blood, which can impact blood flow. Also, constant bombardment by stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol can damage the inner walls of blood vessels, boosting accumulation of plaque.

Supplements for a Healthy Heart Roman Samborskyi/Shutterstock.com

ª Red yeast rice extract: This overthe-counter (OTC) extract, commonly used in Chinese medicine, has been shown to significantly lower both total cholesterol and LDL, or “bad” cholesterol levels, much like a statin does. Studies show 1.2 to 2.4 grams per day can reduce cholesterol by 26 percent in 12 weeks. ª Omega-3 fatty acids: Eating fatty fish or taking fish oil supplements (one to four grams daily of EPA/DHA) has been shown to reduce risk of heart disease in healthy people and lower triglyceride levels and risk of heart attack in those already diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. Walnuts, chia, hemp and flax seeds are excellent vegan sources of Omega-3s.

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ª Coenzyme Q10: Found in small

amounts in organ meats, sardines, cauliflower and asparagus, this powerful antioxidant—also available in OTC supplements—can lower blood pressure and help combat the side effects of statins.

ª Nicotinomide riboside: Fairly

new on the supplement scene, this compound, known as NR, has been shown to mimic the beneficial impacts of calorie restriction, improving blood pressure and arterial health in those with mild hypertension.

ª Garlic: Some studies suggest that garlic, either fresh or in supplements, can lower cholesterol and blood pressure.

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To nurture the metaphorical heart, integrative cardiologists recommend taking time to maintain healthy personal relationships and minimize work stress. As well, exercising five to six days per week for at least 30 minutes and practicing activities like mindfulness meditation or yoga have been shown to lower heart rate. A recent study published in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes looked at 201 people with coronary heart disease. It found those that practiced meditation were 50 percent less likely to die or have a heart attack or stroke in the span of five years.

Finding quiet spaces to retreat to can also be important. A study published in November by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, in Boston, found that living and working in chronically noisy environments can boost the risk for heart problems. It is also wise to prioritize sleep (at least seven hours per night), because the lack of it can inflame arteries.

The bottom line is that a holistic approach is best, says Jauhar. “If you want to live a long life, don’t smoke, eat well and exercise, but also pay attention to the quality of your relationships and your ability to withstand stress and transcend distress. Those are also a matter of life and death.”

Lisa Marshall is a freelance health writer in Boulder, CO. Connect at LisaAnnMarshall.com.

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Take Care of Your Heart A Comprehensive Approach to Cardiovascular Care

O

by Dr. Craig T. Fasullo

ptimal wellness necessitates optimum function of all the systems and components of the human body. Breakdown in any one area can lead to illness and disease so it is difficult to call any single body part more important than any other. If pressed, however, most would agree that your heart and overall cardiovascular system are a pretty vital piece of the puzzle.

Maintaining a healthy heart means having vessels clear of obstruction that allow the body to carry vital oxygen and nutrient rich blood to each and every cell.

Dysfunction can quickly lead to devastating effects and cardiovascular damage can come in many forms. Indeed, cardiovascular disease is a broad category, encompassing a wide array of heart and vessel conditions, including coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), 16

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arteriosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries), hyperlipidemia (elevated cholesterol), high blood pressure, arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, heart attack and stroke.

Although there has been some improvement in recent years, cardiovascular disease is still the leading cause of death in the U.S., claiming more lives than all forms of cancer combined. About 630,000 Americans die from heart disease each year—that’s one in every four deaths. Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease, killing about 366,000 people in 2015. In the U.S., someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds, and each minute, more than one person dies from a heart disease-related event.

Direct and indirect costs of heart disease total more than $300 billion—including health expenditures and lost productivity. The miracle of modern medicine has

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been the vast reduction of infectious disease but as people are able to live longer, what is taking its place is cardiovascular disease. Clearly, this is something worthy of attention.

It’s also important to note that cardiovascular disease is not just a concern for men. While the classic stereotype of a severe heart attack is often portrayed as suffered by an overweight, overstressed man, women are equally at risk. One out of 31 female deaths in the U.S. is from breast cancer, as compared to one out of eight from heart disease. Approximately one woman dies from heart disease every minute, and the American Heart Association reports that 50 percent of men and 64 percent of women who died suddenly of coronary artery heart disease had no previous symptoms.

Direct and indirect costs of heart disease total more than $300 billion—including health expenditures and lost productivity.

Cardiovascular Risk Factors

High blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol levels (not just high cholesterol) and smoking are key risk factors for heart disease.

About half of Americans have at least one of these three. Several other medical conditions and lifestyle choices can also put people at a higher risk for heart disease, including diabetes, obesity, hypertension, poor diet, physical inactivity and excessive alcohol use. It’s quite easy to lead a relatively sedentary life, make poor dietary choices and get overwhelmed with the stresses of everyday life. These, plus some unlucky genetics, are a recipe for progressive heart disease.

Cholesterol

Although it gets all the attention, cholesterol is not the only, or even the best predictor of heart disease. In fact, our total cholesterol is an especially weak predictor—yet it seems to have become the be-all and end-all number in determining treatment. Further, the common explanation of “good” versus “bad” cholesterol misses the mark in a more comprehensive view of cardiovascular risk.

This is because 50 percent of individuals who suffer heart attacks have normal “bad cholesterol” (low density lipoprotein, or LDL). Far more important than total LDL are the particular sub-particle levels that are present. A higher total LDL level that is made up of mostly larger LDL particles is of less concern, while smaller, dense LDL particles have the capacity to do more damage within the vessels.

Size matters in terms of HDL (high density lipoprotein) as well, where larger particles are able to carry more cholesterol out of the vessels to be recycled within the liver, and thus are more protective. Particle size is not considered in a basic cholesterol panel, the standard that is drawn in most doctor offices. By not looking at these markers, vital information is missed in the assessment of an individual’s overall cardiovascular risk.

There is some important data to be derived from a basic panel, though. Elevated triglyceride levels are an independent predictor of heart disease, and higher triglycerides in the blood also increase the amount of the small dense LDL particles that are present. An important ratio to consider is the amount of triglyceride compared to HDL. A 2:1 ratio is optimal, where there is no more than twice the amount of triglyceride than HDL. Unfortunately, a standard American diet combined with a sedentary lifestyle tends to send triglyceride levels up and HDL down—a double hit that increases heart disease risk.

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Blood sugar dysregulation is another important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In fact, 68 percent of people over age 65 with diabetes will die not directly from that condition, but due to some form of heart disease. Sustained levels of elevated blood sugar cause significant damage within the vascular system due to its inflammatory effect. High blood sugar causes elevated levels of fasting insulin, which causes the body to store more fat, as well as creating additional inflammation.

Elevated blood sugar is also commonly associated with hypertension and excessive weight gain, which also increase cardiovascular risk. The take-home message here is that intake of sugar is far more damaging than fat in the diet—a fact that was lost and falsely turned on its head for the past half century, but is finally starting to gain traction and is being correctly conveyed today.

Chronic inflammation is getting more attention as an underlying cause of many common diseases, and for good reason. In the case of cardiovascular disease, inflammation is the main driver of the wrong kind of cholesterol ending up in the wrong place. This is the body’s way of trying to repair the damage, but over time these plaque accumulations within the vessels can lead to even more trouble, including heart attack or stroke.

One particular cholesterol particle is especially responsible for inflammatory changes within the blood vessel: a kind of especially small dense LDL molecule known as lipoprotein A, or LpA. Having an LpA level above 75 doubles our risk of cardiovascular disease, regardless of any other factors. This is one of the strongest predictors available. Unfortunately, LpA is a mostly hereditary trait, which is why it is high in individuals with very strong family histories of cardiovascular disease. It can be a hard number to budge (and it is not affected by statin medications), but there are some interventions that may reduce the level, or more importantly, mitigate that elevated risk. Again, it is vital to have this information so we can make the

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The take-home message here is that intake of sugar is far more damaging than fat in the diet. best-informed decisions in the quest for optimal health.

The Power of Prevention

The trouble with cardiovascular disease is that too often there are no noticeable signs at all until the sudden appearance of life-threatening symptoms. That’s why it so important to screen and assess for risk prior to a significant cardiovascular event. In no aspect of medicine is prevention as important as with heart health.

Testing is readily available for assessing all the advanced cardiovascular risk markers mentioned here. Whether dealing with current cardiovascular issues or interested in prevention, obtaining this information is vital to our health. Based on these lab tests, naturopathic medicine has much to offer when it comes to keeping hearts healthy.

It should come as no surprise that the foundational basics of health are vital for a healthy cardiovascular system. A low carbohydrate, plant-based Mediterranean diet and regular cardiovascular exercise are crucial. Additionally, sufficient quality sleep, adequate stress management tools and plenty of emotional love and support cannot be underestimated. Add to that additional individualized naturopathic interventions to lower inflammation, strengthen cardiac function and improve lipid profiles, and there can be a comprehensive holistic plan to help keep our hearts healthy for years to come.

Dr. Craig T. Fasullo sees patients in both Stonington and Manchester at Collaborative Natural Health Partners.

He is an in-network provider for most insurance companies and is accepting new patients. Connect at 860-533-0179 or CTNaturalHealth.com.

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A COMMON HEART SONG

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Whales Point the Way

by Mark Nepo

Carol Joy 203.307.0323

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ust as whales are born with an instinct for the deep, we are born with an impulse toward creating a quality of life. No matter the type of work that leads us there, following that impulse is the destiny of each soul, so we search to find our medium through which aliveness can express itself. Following our instinct for the deep, we find each other.

In areas of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, whales sing basically the same song, and when a new verse is added, they all incorporate it. As humans, we have a greater capacity to communicate, yet we resist adding to our common song.

Whales occupying the same geographical areas that may include large oceans tend to sing similar songs with local variations, but whales from other regions of the world will sing entirely different songs. Once united, though, they find a common pitch. The songs are constantly evolving over time, and old patterns are not repeated.

In essence, whales stay current, freshly updating their communications with each other. It’s a noble task for us all to emulate.

Most whales, especially humpbacks, compose patterns of sound that are strikingly resonant with human musical traditions.

What helps whales be such good communicators is that sound travels about four times faster in water than on land. Thus, it is profoundly easier to hear in the deep. Dwelling there, we have a better chance of staying current and hearing our common song.

When we follow our instinct for the deep, we discover our common song, which brings us alive. Through this unfolding, we make our contribution to the common good. From generation to generation, all that we learn and create adds to this living work of art we call a quality of life.

K

Adapted excerpt from More Together than Alone, by Mark Nepo.

Connect at MarkNepo.com and ThreeIntentions.com.

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Compose a Healthy Heartbeat Every Day

by Himanshu Bharadwaj

H

eart problems—such as blood pressure, cholesterol, angina pains, blockages, stroke and heart attacks—are leading causes of death.

Cardiovascular diseases can be prevented through simple lifestyle changes.

Love and Compassion

Hatred, jealousy, greed, anger, pride, depression and other toxic emotions damage our cardiovascular and immune system. When we forgive, have compassion for others or lower our ego, stress hormones settle down and the body starts healing itself. We should be nonviolent with others and ourselves, even at a subtle mental level. Hurting others or thinking about hurting others emotionally is mental violence. We can change our life by simply changing our heart.

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Lungs and Heart

A child’s heart beats faster while breathing in, and slower heart rate variability (HRV) while breathing out. This is also called sinus arrhythmia. With age, HRV decreases in adults. Being happy, like a child, helps improve HRV; a child loves the whole world and has no toxic emotions. The best thing we can do to look after our heart is having a jolly good laugh when we laugh.

We can also smile like a child at every small joyful opportunity we find in life.

There are specific meditations and breathing exercises that can help improve HRV.

Music and Therapy

Music can improve happiness, peace, health and concentration. Heartbeat, pulse rate, blood pressure and respiration can be affected by music. When the heart

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Yogasanas and Meditation

Both physical exercises (asanas) and breathing exercises (pranayama) in yoga help the body and mind to relax. Tendons release opioids every time muscles are stretched. The state of ease and tranquility achieved while doing yoga poses is good for the heart. The following asanas are useful for heart health: hridhay stambhan (heart post), pavana mukta (wind-relieving), bhujang (cobra), nauka (boat) and shavasana (corpse). Sitting with hands in the heart mudra and chanting of “om”, a primordial sound helps bring calm in our inner self.

Patients with a recent surgical procedure should avoid pranayama breathing exercises for 6-12 months depending on the complexity of the surgery. Start any

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rate is increased, immunity is known to decrease. Too much loud aggressive music can increase heart rate, stress and anxiety; it can put arteries at risk and contract the endothelium. Joyful, calming, ambienttype music helps expand the diameter of the endothelium. It is believed that music stimulates the pituitary gland, whose secretions affect the nervous system and the flow of blood. It vibrates the cells of our body to help heal, relax and refresh the body. Listening to light music improves work efficiency, and cures tension, bias and anger. Music therapy helps in improving emotional health, blood pressure, digestion, endurance and productivity as well as restoring the functioning of the liver. Indian classical music ragas can help with heart health, insomnia, schizophrenia and epilepsy. Listening to repetitive chanting sounds, mantras or patterned sounds affect us at the cellular level, removing unhealthy or negative patterns in the body so it can heal. If these sounds can lead to meditation where our mind can be attuned to various rhythms or their subtle vibrations, we can greatly benefit from the healing power of music. Mantras, in particular, go all the way to awaken memory and the deep knowledge encoded in our DNA and cells. They optimize the performance of energy vortexes or chakras to influence our emotional, psychic and spiritual states of consciousness.

yoga and breathing exercises under expert supervision. Ujjayi pranayama, surya chandra bhastrika pranayama, anulom vilom, bhramari and kapalbhati pranayama breathing exercises help with heart health.

Heart patients should avoid any breathing exercises where they have to hold their breath or breathe fast.

Meditation that involves effortless deep breathing and long exhales is good for the heart. During this process, feel the sensation of the breath pattern and listen to the sound of the breath. After some time, the practitioner will be lost in the rhythm and will surrender to the inner rhythm.

Ayurveda and Home Remedies

Regular exercises, good sleep, vegetarian diet, eating in moderation, avoiding fried foods and junk foods, avoiding alcohol and tobacco, and meditation are all healthy habits.

Green leafy vegetables, carrots, radish, beets, peanuts and other root-based plants are great for the heart. Wheatgrass juice helps fight both heart problems and cancer. It improves iron content and immunity, purifies the blood, and is good for digestion. Use cow’s ghee instead of cooking oil or butter; it helps improve good cholesterol HDL and reduces bad cholesterol LDL. Do not take more than 2 teaspoons a day.

Drink about 200 ml juice of a vegetable called “Indian Lauki”, or bottle gourd, every day. The bottled juice is available online. Add seven leaves of basil, seven mint leaves and three-five black peppers to it. (Asthma or arthritis patients can add a little dried ginger or warm it a bit).

This is a “miracle” remedy for all kinds of heart issues. Adding ajwain seeds powder (carom seeds) will help improve digestion.

To make it tasty, natural salt can be added, but do not use processed iodized salt. This juice is also helpful for tachycardia patients. Eat bottle gourd regularly as a salad, or through another recipe you find. Bottle gourd should be available in local Indian grocery stores.

Fenugreek seeds are very helpful for patients with high cholesterol. Take one teaspoon in a cup of warm water and soak it overnight. In the morning, drink the

water and eat the seeds. This needs to be done regularly for about 90 days to see its results.

Eat one to three small pieces of garlic in the morning with water as the very first food of the morning. This will help control cholesterol and triglycerides, and clear heart blockages.

Susane Grasso REIKI MASTER

Note: These are Ayurveda medicinal options. Don’t try to use all at once.

Get expert advice before trying.

Add a half teaspoon of powder made from the bark of an arjun tree (arjuna bark powder/arjun kwath) in one cup of water and one cup of milk. Boil and drink it like tea once a day. It will show amazing health benefits within several months. Ashwagandha powder can be mixed with this to give more strength to the heart. Adding rose petals in it or eating rose jam (gulkand) is also good for the heart.

Chrysanthemum, or guldaudi flower, is good for heart health. Dry the flowers and store them for long-term use. Warm one cup of water and put one to two dried flowers in it and drink it like tea.

For all types of cardiovascular diseases, two hridyamrit tablets in the morning and in the evening can help. Two teaspoons of arjunarishta after dinner can be taken as a heart tonic. It is a syrup beneficial for people with high cholesterol and heart blockage. To increase platelets, two tablets a day of giloy ghanvati can help. Mulktavati, with two tablets taken once a day, is helpful for blood pressure patients.

Aconite 200 is a homeopathic medicine that is very helpful for angina patients.

Take it in liquid form only. Put one drop on the tongue when there is a pain.

Have a maximum of thre drops every 5-7 minutes; that should be enough to stop the pain.

Himanshu Bharadwaj, a designer by profession, teaches yoga, meditation and holistic cure. He also conducts meditation sessions for stress relief and creativity enhancement. Connect at YourCommunityYoga.com/Himanshu or Meetup.com/Yoga-Meditation-CT.

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Beyond the Lipid Panel

Understanding Cardiovascular Disease

by Dr. Stacey Munro

C

ardiovascular disease (CVD) causes one in four deaths in the U.S. At least one half of Americans have one or more of the major risk factors of developing CVD, which are high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking.

The term CVD encompasses a wide range of diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels, including those in the brain and other parts of the body, such as:

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Narrowing or blockage of the heart’s major blood supply, the coronary arteries. This is the most common type of CVD, usually resulting in chest pain (angina) or a heart attack.

High blood pressure: Condition where elevated pressure causes damage to the inside wall of the arteries.

Congestive heart failure: Condition where the heart can’t pump blood efficiently because of weakness and loss 22

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of function of the heart muscle and valves.

Arrhythmia: Dysfunction of the electrical system of the heart. Not all arrhythmias are dangerous, but they can increase the risk of a stroke.

Stroke: Loss of blood flow from a blood clot or piece of atherosclerotic plaque that results in brain damage. Strokes can also be caused by a brain bleed, such as a ruptured aneurysm.

Peripheral artery disease: Blood vessels that are narrowed by plaque cause poor circulation in the extremities. It results in slow wound healing, discoloration of the skin, loss of hair and feeling of coldness.

Medical assessment of CVD risk includes total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), screening for high blood pressure and diabetes, family history of early CVD and smoking status.

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The Role of Inflammation in CVD An acute (short-lived) inflammatory response is a normal, natural process. The cells of the immune system go to a damaged area to promote healing. Once the problem is contained, the immune system returns to normal. Chronic inflammation occurs when this process doesn’t shut off.

It can be low-grade inflammation which affects the cardiovascular system, or generalized inflammation affecting the joints and other parts of the body. Chronic inflammation promotes atherosclerosis and high blood pressure by causing changes inside the wall of the blood vessels. High sensitivity C-reactive protein (HS-CRP) is a test that measures cardiovascular inflammation.

“Good” and “Bad” Cholesterol

Most people have heard of LDL and HDL because they are part of the standard lipid profile. What they don’t realize is that LDL and HDL are just two of several lipoproteins that shuttle cholesterol and other fats

throughout the body. Cholesterol is a necessary precursor to all of the body’s hormones and cell membranes. A standard lipid profile includes LDL, HDL, triglycerides and non-HDL. The non-HDL category encompasses all atherogenic or plaque-causing particles.

These are not direct measurements, but rather are calculations which estimate the amount in the blood. LDL-P and apolipoprotein B are direct measurements of the total number of atherogenic particles. Studies have shown LDL-P to be more accurate for predicting heart disease risk than LDL. LDL and HDL vary in size and composition, which is something that the standard lipid profile doesn’t address.

Lipoprotein fractionation is a test that breaks down LDL and HDL into small, medium and large particles. It is important because small, but not large, LDL can enter into the wall of the blood vessels and form plaque. Large HDL are better at cleaning up cholesterol and storing it away than small HDL. Advanced cardiovascular testing can give insight as to whether your cholesterol numbers pose a significant health risk.

Oxidation of LDL and Atherosclerosis

The formation of plaque inside the blood vessels can narrow or even block them. This is also known as “hardening of the arteries” because the arteries literally become filled with calcium-containing plaque, which makes them hard. Plaque develops when LDL becomes oxidized (oxLDL). Oxidation is degradation of the protein and fats due to reactive oxygen species or “free radicals.” It is a similar process to what happens when meat is left out and it turns brown.

Free radicals occur naturally in the body, but also are a byproduct of smoking and toxin exposure. They are increased when the diet is high in processed foods and low in vegetables and fruit which contain antioxidants. The body can also produce antioxidants when it has the necessary precursors. Oxidative stress and inflammation affect the health of the blood vessels, starting a cascade of pro-inflammatory changes. CVD development is a cycle that promotes itself once instigated.

Heart disease is the cause of over 600,000 deaths each year.

The development of CVD is multifactorial, not simply the amount of LDL and HDL. The particle number and size of LDL and HDL, along with other factors like cardiovascular inflammation, are better predictors of risk. Advanced cardiovascular testing goes beyond the lipid panel and is available through the reference laboratory.

Dr. Stacey Munro is a Naturopathic Physician who specializes in prevention and treatment of chronic health conditions. Following Naturopathic philosophy, she looks for the root cause, rather than just treating symptoms. Munro prescribes dietary and lifestyle changes, nutritional supplements, herbs and other natural therapies at Nature’s Helper Medical Clinic, 178 Mountain Rd, in Suffield.

Connect at 860-758-7808 or NaturesHelperMedical.com.

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Corsello Chiropractic Clinic

CT Experiential Learning Center Middle School (CELC)

Edward C. Corsello, DC, BCAO 2021 Main Street, Stratford, CT 203-381-1800 Contact@CorselloClinic.com CorselloClinic.com Practice/business summary of primary services offered: Our mission is to build healthy families for a lifetime of wellness in a loving and compassionate setting. We offer specialized techniques, including Atlas Orthogonal (AO), EPIC, integrative brain therapies and spinal correction, as well as nutrition, cellular detoxification and weight loss.

What first drew you to this profession?

I was first drawn to chiropractic while searching for answers for my own health. I suffered with ulcerative colitis for many years before learning that by doing the AO correction in conjunction with spinal correction, I could become symptom-free without drugs or surgery. Now I use these powerful techniques to provide permanent relief to patients suffering with neck and back pain, headaches, and many severe and chronic health conditions.

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

I am a board-certified AO doctor trained in advanced spinal correction and integrative brain therapies. I am one of only two AO doctors in the state of Connecticut.

What should a patient expect from working with you?

At your initial consultation, you will receive a comprehensive examination using computerized technology that can detect the hidden causes of your health problem and, if medically necessary, advanced biostructural digital X-rays. Treatment consists of specific, gentle techniques to remove nerve pressure.

How is your practice evolving in 2019?

We are excited to offer the SprintSet energizing weight loss and detoxification system, which is for the person who has hormonal imbalances, stubborn weight gain, or is not getting the health and weight loss results they desire. SprintSet provides customized nutrition, expert health coaching and lasting results.

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

Call us and mention Natural Awakenings to receive a discounted consultation with X-rays (usually $150 but $45 with this profile).

We take health insurance and are currently accepting new patients. See inside front cover ad.

28 School Street, Branford, CT 203-433-4658 mandm@CTExperiential.org CTExperiential.org

Summary of education offered: CT Experiential Learning Center (CELC) Middle School is Connecticut’s only experientially-based middle school, serving 5th – 8th students. CELC is small by design. Each student is valued, seen, heard, and integral to the whole. Students come from a variety of towns throughout Connecticut, from families looking for a program that engages and deepens learning.

What is different about the education you offer?

CELC’s curriculum offers innovative opportunities both in and out of the classroom. This includes engaging academics, a wide range of weekly outdoor education experiences, guest speakers, and multi-media art classes with professionals in their field.

Presenting young people with the chance to interact through genuine experience prompts thoughtfulness and common sense.

There is room for discussion, logic, imagination, and experimentation. Uncertainty and shyness move towards confidence and accomplishment. Authentic new learning is supported each day, serving as a bridge to give the academic and developmental needs a place to emerge, grow, and flourish.

Are you planning any enhancements or changes in your curriculum or new courses/programs in 2019-20?

A new addition for CELC is an internship program that is open to students in high school and beyond who are interested in learning to work within an experientially-based academic setting. Interns will take on a leadership role, both in and out of the classroom.

Our first group of interns begins Winter 2019 / Spring 2019, which includes two CELC alumni who are utilizing this opportunity to fulfill high school credit hours.

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

We would love to have people come visit and see us in action, as this is the best way to really understand CELC’s educational philosophy and practice. A real success story, CELC builds resilient and competent students who are ready and eager to take on the challenges of high school and beyond, as inquisitive learners and compassionate citizens of the world. See ad on page 8.

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glossary

ART THERAPY

ACUPRESSURE Based on the same system as Acupuncture, but fingers and hands are used, instead of stimulation with needles, in order to restore the balanced flow of the body’s life energy (qi or chi, pronounced “chee”). This force moves through the body along 12 energy pathways, or meridians, which practitioners unblock and strengthen. Common styles of Acupressure include Jin Shin, which gently holds at least two points at once for a minute or more, and Shiatsu, which applies firm pressure to each point for three to five seconds.

ACUPUNCTURE Acupuncture is an ancient Oriental technique which stimulates the body’s ability to sustain and balance itself. It is based on the theory that an electromagnetic life-force is channeled in a continuous flow throughout the body in a network of “meridians.” Disease is understood as an imbalance in the meridian system. Needles are inserted at specific points along the meridians to stimulate or disperse the flow of life-force, in order to correct the imbalance. The systems of diagnosis used read the pulse, face, tongue and body energy. Acupuncture principles include the yin and yang polarities and the five elements’ associations with bodily organs.

AKASHIC RECORDS The Akashic Records are an energetic imprint of every thought, action, emotion and experience that has ever occurred in time and space. The Akashic Records can also be understood as the imprint of all experiences of all lifetime in all realities. They are an etheric, holographic, repository of information for human consciousness for the past, present and potentials for the future.

The knowledge contained in the Akashic Records is imprinted upon a subtle substance called the Akasha, which describes the energy of Love that permeates and creates everything in the Universe.

ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE A system of re-educating the body and mind to support and facilitate proper posture and ease of movement. Through gentle manual guidance, accompanied by verbal directions, the Alexander teacher coaches the student to become aware of unnecessary tension and to unlearn longstanding patterns of movement. The Alexander Technique is an established method for helping to improve chronic conditions such as back, shoulder or neck pain, nervous tension, poor coordination, breathing problems and vocal strain. It is frequently used by athletes and performing artists to improve performance level.

A R O M AT H E R A P Y Aromatherapy is an ancient healing art utilizing the essential oils of herbs and flowers to treat emotional disorders such as stress and anxiety, as well as a wide range of other ailments.

Oils are massaged into the skin, inhaled, or placed in baths.

Aromatherapy is often used in conjunction with Massage Therapy, Acupuncture, Reflexology, Herbology, Chiropractic, and other holistic treatments.

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New Haven/Middlesex

NaturalNewHaven.com

Uses the creative process of making art to improve and enhance physical, mental and emotional well-being and to deepen selfawareness. The therapist works with clients and encourages them to express their feelings and unconscious thoughts through the nonverbal creative process and by observing the forms and content created.

ASTROLOGY A system of traditions and beliefs which holds that the relative positions of celestial bodies either directly influence life on Earth or correspond to events experienced on a human scale.

Modern astrologers define Astrology as a symbolic language, art form and type of divination that can provide information about personality and human affairs, aid in the interpretation of past and present events, and predict the future.

AY U R V E D A Practiced in India for thousands of years, Ayurveda is an ancient medical system combining physical, psychological and spiritual therapies. It focuses on disease prevention and natural maintenance/protection of the whole person (mind, body and soul), achievable through the balancing of five elements (space, air, fire, water and earth). Various combinations of these elements form three energies known as Doshas: Vatha; Pitta; and, Kapha. Every body is some amalgamation of the Doshas, an imbalance of which disrupts health or causes illness.

Depending on the individual, treatments may include Herbal Medicine, Aromatherapy, Detoxification, Massage, Nutritional Counseling, stress reduction, exercise, behavioral modification, and more.

BIOENERGETICS Bioenergetics is a psychotherapy that works through the body to engage the emotions. Specific postures and exercises create a condition where the body cannot continue both the exercise and the chronic muscular tension and defensiveness (known as body armoring). Continuing the exercise causes the release of layers of body armor. As feelings are unlocked, this creates the opportunity for understanding and integrating those feelings.

BIOFEEDBACK Biofeedback is a relaxation technique that involves careful monitoring of internal body states. Used especially for stressrelated conditions such as asthma, migraines, insomnia, and high blood pressure, Biofeedback is a way of monitoring minute metabolic changes in one’s own body (e.g., temperature changes, heart rate, and muscle tension) with the aid of sensitive machines. By consciously thinking, visualizing, moving, relaxing, etc. one learns which actions produce desirable changes in the internal processes being monitored.

education – sustainable nutrition

flower essences / aromatherapy

The Institute of Sustainable Nutrition (TIOSN)

BIOLUMENESSENCE

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

Flower Essences, Energy Healing & Aromatherapy 33 N. Main Street, Wallingford, CT 203-514-8787 Julie@biolumenessence.com BiolumenEssence.com

Summary of education offered: We have a unique education program blending the science of nutrition with the hands-on components of sustainable gardening practices; using food and herbs to make kitchen medicine; culinary skills; and foraging for and using nutrientrich wild food.

What first drew you to this profession?

We wanted to fill a void by creating a food and health education program people had been asking us for. The vision was to create a program that incorporated all aspects of teaching about food and health with the gold standard of experiential, hands-on teaching.

How is your education program different from others in your profession?

We give hands-on experience and connect students to the outdoors in order to give a truly meaningful educational experience. It is a practical and embodied experience rather than theoretical.

We also bring in experts from the food world to teach sections of the curriculum for a more well-rounded perspective.

What should students expect from working with you and your program?

We hear again and again that what they learn rocks our students’ worlds. They tell us that their life is never the same and they are grateful.

How is your program evolving in 2019?

We are integrating more of our graduated students into our programming and offering more educational workshops to the public.

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

We provide life-altering perspectives and experiences to our students that change how they live their life while building a life-long community. See ad on page 11.

Business summary. Services and products offered: Flower Essences and Organic Essential oils, Aromatherapy blends and sprays, Energy Healing, consultations and classes.

How is your holistic business different from that of others in your field?

Our products and services activate one’s BiolumenEssence: the conscious, life affirming inner luminosity that authentically expresses the deeply aligned truth and essence of who you are, often expressed as you awaken to your highest destiny through deepening your connection to the Wild Benevolence of Nature.

What benefits should customers/clients expect from your services and/or products?

Flower essences support your inner transformational process as they elevate your frequency, bring you into alignment, increase your vibrancy, elation and vitality. Our products are handcrafted and hand poured with Sacred Intent for the Purposeful Unfoldment of your Highest Destiny.

How is your business evolving in 2019?

BiolumenEssence now has a home at Hidden Gem On Main in Wallingford, CT. We have a blending apothecary, to mix up your own essences and aromatic blends, a space for healing work, classes and retreats.

What do you most want Natural Awakenings’ readers to know about you and your services and products?

Flower Essences are Nature’s Liquid Light-Workers—catalysts for transformation, growth and conscious evolution.

They are an amazing adjunct to energetic healing work and meditation-assisting with clearing imprints, patterns and stuck energy as they illuminate and activate our light body.

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glossary

COLON THERAPY

B O DY WO R K A general term referring to therapeutic techniques involved with manipulation and realignment of the body in order to improve its function. Massage and Yoga are perhaps the best known types of Bodywork, both having proven success in relieving tension/stress, promoting blood flow, loosening stiff muscles and stimulating the organs. There are countless Bodywork techniques within Massage (e.g.: Swedish, Shiatsu, Rolfing), Yoga (e.g.: Hatha, Iyengar, Kundalini), and otherwise (e.g.: Aikido, Alexander Technique, Bowen, Feldenkrais, Pilates, Rosen Method, T’ai Chi Chuan, and Trager). Finding Bodywork that improves mental and physical health is a very individual process and several can be combined for the greatest benefit.

C H E L AT I O N T H E R A P Y Chelation Therapy is a non-surgical medical procedure that improves metabolic and circulatory function by removing undesirable heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, copper and others from the body. Typically administered in an osteopathic or medical doctor’s office, Chelation Therapy is a series of intravenous injections of the synthetic amino acid EDTA. Once in the bloodstream, EDTA blocks excess free radical production, protecting the tissues and organs from further damage. Over time, injections aim to halt the progress of the underlying condition that triggers the development of many degenerative diseases. More recently, Chelation Therapy has also been used to help reverse symptoms of atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) by removing the obstructive plaque that has built up in the circulatory system.

CHINESE MEDICINE Traditional Chinese Medicine is one of the world’s oldest complete systems of holistic health care. It combines the use of medicinal herbs, Acupuncture, Food Therapy, Massage, and therapeutic exercise, along with the recognition that wellness in mind, body and emotions depends on the harmonious flow of life force energy known as qi.

CHIROPRACTIC Chiropractic is based on the premise that proper structural alignment will permit free flow of nerve activity in the body.

Since the spine is literally the backbone of human health, when spinal vertebrae are out of alignment, they put pressure on the spinal cord (and nerves extending from the spinal cord), resulting in diminished function and illness. Misalignment can occur in a variety of ways including physical trauma, poor posture and stress. The chiropractor seeks to analyze and correct these misalignments through spinal manipulation or adjustment.

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New Haven/Middlesex

NaturalNewHaven.com

Colon Therapy is an internal bath that washes away old toxic waste accumulated along the walls of the colon. It is given with pressurized water by a professional using special equipment. One colonic irrigation is the equivalent of approximately four to six enemas. Colonic irrigations reach every part of the intestinal tract, cleaning out matter that collects and remains for years in the pockets and kinks of the colon. The treatment is used as a corrective process, and for prevention of disease. Colonics are recommended for ailments such as constipation, psoriasis, acne, allergies, headaches and the common cold, to name a few.

COLOR THERAPY and COLORPUNCTURE The impact of color on mood is widely recognized. Color Therapists believe that different hues can treat illness and improve physical, emotional, and spiritual health. According to the theory, the vibrations of color waves can directly affect body cells and organs. Many practitioners also claim that the body emits its own “aura,” or energy field, the colors of which reflect a person’s state of health. Color Therapists apply color through lights or mental suggestion to restore both the body’s physical and psychic levels. Colorpuncture is a system that combines the insights of light physics with the knowledge of the meridian points emphasized in Acupuncture. This non-invasive technique is used to clear blockages and restore healthy energy flow in the meridians. Kirlian photographs track improvements. Another sensory healing technique is light therapy, which attempts to restore well-being and can be successful in treating the depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

CORE ENERGETICS A path of personal growth employing physically expressive techniques for emotional release and psychological process work. Developed by John Pierrakos, MD, Core Energetics is a marriage of Body Psychotherapy and Spiritual Development.

The work brings consciousness to places of blocked energy in the body/mind, and recreates the defense patterns learned in childhood that keep people limited and disempowered.

Those who experience Core Energetics can be awakened to the fullness of their life-force, feel their hearts open, and become grounded in the integrity of who they really are.

C O U N S E L I N G / P S YC H O T H E R A P Y Counseling and Psychotherapy encompass a broad range of practitioners, from career counselors who offer advice and information to psychotherapists who treat depression, stress, addiction, and emotional issues. Formats can vary from individual counseling to group therapy. In addition to verbal counseling techniques, some holistic therapists may use bodywork, ritual, energy healing, and other alternative modalities as part of their practice.

holistic therapies / arts center

hypnosis / EFT tapping

The Red Barn in Durham New Earth Holistic Therapies and Arts Center

Hypnosis & EFT in Connecticut

Janice Juliano, MSW, LCSW – Founder / Director 352 Main Street, Durham, CT 860-559-6151 TheRedBarnInDurham.com Visit us on Facebook at: The Red Barn in Durham

Practice/business summary of primary services offered: We are a collaborative of practitioners who have created a safe haven for holistic care, healing arts and creativity.

We have licensed, insured and seasoned practitioners for many modalities of healing—mind, body, spirit.

How is your holistic therapies and arts center different from others in your field and what benefits should customers/clients expect from your services/products?

We offer monthly Fairs for many themes, Holistic Wellness Therapies, Psychic Fairs, Pet Expos, Bridal Fairs. We have space for gallery readings, workshops, conferences, bridal showers, baby showers, and even weddings. In our Barn we offer The Borrowed Time Emporium owned and run by Jennifer Gaylord , psychic and intuitive—crystals, sage, books, divination cards, spiritual gifts as well as readings by Jennifer.

How is your practice evolving in 2019?

We plan to expand in 2019 with more licensed practitioners while acquiring more space for classes and events and to plant and enjoy a medicine wheel garden in the spring for meditation and ceremony. Opening in February in our Barn is a new salt cave, owned and run by Lisa Radzunas LMT RMT. Visit our Website: TheRedBarninDurham.com for weekly/monthly listing of classes and events. See ad on page 47.

Therese Baumgart Certified Hypnotist & EFT Tapping Coach 3074 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT 203-710-7438 HypnosisAndEFTct.com

Practice/business summary of primary services offered: I meet you where you are to achieve your goals in an atmosphere of safety, respect and collaboration. Weight, smoking, pain, relationships, stress, and career are areas that respond well to the powerful and gentle methods of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT Tapping) and Hypnosis.

What first drew you to this profession?

For me it was a natural evolution over the years from my own meditation practice to learning new skills to work on a deep level with the thoughts and emotions of others.

How is your work different from that of others in your profession and what should a client expect from working with you?

The focus of my work is a non-judgmental attitude and the right tools to assist the client to accomplish their goals. The methods that I use are creative and fun. The client should expect a great experience!

How is your practice evolving in 2019?

I am expanding office consults, groups and remote sessions by Skype and Zoom.

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

My methods include subconscious mind tools to guide you in accomplishing your goals free from inner conflicts, objections and self-sabotage. I’ve been in practice since 2005 and I feel privileged to do this work. See ad on page 47.

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glossary

D E T O X I F I C AT I O N

CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY ( CST ) A manual therapeutic procedure to remedy distortions in the structure and function of the craniosacral mechanism — the brain and spinal cord, the bones of the skull, the sacrum and interconnected membranes. Craniosacral work is based upon two major premises: that the bones of the skull can be manipulated, because they never completely fuse; and that the pulse of the cerebrospinal fluid can be balanced by a practitioner trained to detect variations in that pulse.

CST is used to treat chronic pain, migraine headaches, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), ear and eye problems, balance problems, learning difficulties, dyslexia and hyperactivity.

The practice of resting, cleansing and nourishing the body from the inside out. According to some holistic practitioners, accumulated toxins can block or drain the body of energy and make it more susceptible to disease. Detoxification techniques may include fasts, special diets, sauna sweats and colon cleansing.

DOULA A person who supports an expectant mother through pregnancy, labor, birth and the postpartum period. Studies indicate that support in labor has profound benefits, including shorter labor, less desire for pain medication, lower rate of Caesarian delivery and more ease in initiation of breast feeding. Fathers have reported that they were more relaxed with a Doula present because they felt reassured, and therefore freer to support their mates. (Also see Midwife).

C R YS TA L A N D G E M T H E R A P Y

EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUE ( EFT )

Crystal and Gem Therapy involves the use of quartz crystals and gemstones for therapeutic and healing purposes. Crystals have their own unique energy frequencies. They have the capacity to amplify other frequencies which may assist with healing. They also absorb and store frequencies and can be programmed to carry healing intention. In the ancient art of “laying-on of stones,” practitioners place crystals and gemstones on various parts of the body, corresponding to chakra points, to balance energy flow.

A self-help procedure founded by Gary Craig that combines fingertip tapping of key Acupuncture meridian points while focusing on an emotional issue or health challenge and repeating key phrases. Unresolved, or ‘stuck,’ negative emotions, caused by a disruption in the body’s energy system, are seen as major contributors to most physical pains and diseases. These can remain stagnant and trapped until released.

EFT enables that release, is easy to memorize, free and can be done anywhere.

DA N C E M OV E M E N T T H E RA PY

ENERGY FIELD WORK

A method of expressing thoughts and feelings through movement, Dance Movement Therapy as practiced today was developed in the United States in the 1940s. Participants attend sessions given by trained therapists in which they are encouraged to move freely, sometimes to music. Dance Movement Therapy can be used by people of all ages to promote self-esteem and gain insight into emotional problems, and it is also practiced to help those with serious mental and physical disabilities. As such, it is widely used in the United States, and is becoming established around the world.

Energy Field Work is the art and practice of realigning and reattuning the body between the physical and the etheric and auric fields to assist the body’s natural healing processes.

Working directly with the energy field in and around the body, energy is channeled through the practitioner and directed into the cells, tissues, and organs of the body. In this way, healing occurs on physical and non-physical levels at the same time.

Sessions may or may not involve the physical laying-on of hands.

DECLUTTERING

The term refers to psychological methods that change the human vibrational matrix (meridians/acupoints, chakras, biofields) by stimulating specific Acupuncture points. This is often done by tapping these points in a set protocol. Energy Psychology (EP) is frequently used to treat trauma, anxiety, depression, limiting beliefs, sports and work performance, addictions/compulsions, phobias and stress. It is particularly gentle with trauma, eliminating the risk of flooding, or being overwhelmed by traumatic memories. Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is perhaps the most well-known of the EP methods.

Based on the theory that clutter drains both physical and mental energy. Decluttering involves two components. The first focuses on releasing things (clothing, papers, furniture, objects and ideas) that no longer serve a good purpose in one’s life.

The second focuses on creating a simple system of personal organization that is easy to maintain and guards against accumulating things that are neither necessary or nourishing.

DENTISTRY ( HOLISTIC ) Dentistry from a holistic approach regards the mouth as a microcosm of the whole body. The oral structures and the body are seen as a unit. Holistic dentists often incorporate such methods as Homeopathy, biocompatibility testing and nutritional counseling. Most emphasize wellness and preventive care while avoiding (and often recommending the removal of) silver-mercury fillings.

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New Haven/Middlesex

NaturalNewHaven.com

E N E R G Y P S YC H O L O G Y

massage / holistic healing

naturopathic/integrative medicine

Dandelion Wellness, LLC

Restoration Health, PLLC

silvionka/Bigstock.com

Anna Meglin, LMT #009655, CRP Massage Therapy, Reiki & Energy Medicine 187 Montowese Street, Branford, CT 203-871-9367 DandelionWellnessCT@gmail.com DandelionWellnessCT.com Practice/business summary of primary services offered: I offer massage therapy and energy work in customized sessions and provide clients with various modalities to find comfort and peace in a safe nurturing space. My bodywork techniques combine both Eastern and Western modalities with an intuitive approach including Swedish, Deep Tissue, Trigger Point style and Sports massage as well as Acupressure & aromatherapy, based on my client’s needs.

Dr. Shannon Homkovics, NMD Dr. Robert E. Lee, ND, MS, MA 12 Village Street, Ste 3, North Haven, CT 203-239-3400 Info@restorationhealthpllc.com RestorationHealthpllc.com Practice/business summary of primary services offered: Dr. Shannnon Homkovics, a naturopathic physician and certified acupuncturist, specializes in weight loss, women’s health and hormonal imbalance, thyroid, adrenal health and many other common ailments.

Dr. Robert Lee, a naturopathic physician and former Yale University-affiliated researcher of integrative medicine, is head of the pain program and specializes in mind-body medicine, digestive disorders, cardiovascular conditions and brain health.

What first drew you to this profession?

As a healer, I have always been drawn to healing others and helping them along their journey. Massage Therapy has given me relief personally in many ways and it is truly a passion of mine to combine these two and be able to heal others.

What can a client expect from working with you?

If you are seeking an alternative to conventional medicine, we offer a medical approach combined with complementary, natural modalities that are safer and, in many cases, more effective than drugs and surgery.

How is your work different from others in your profession?

I believe in the body’s innate ability to heal itself. As a Licensed Massage Therapist and Certified Advanced Reiki Practitioner, my work combines both of these Healing techniques to treat the entire body as a whole and assist my clients with healing on a deeper level.

How is your practice evolving in 2019?

We will continue to offer the following services/treatments: Award winning weight loss program • World-leading integrative medicine-based pain relief program • Nutritional counseling • Lifestyle/preventative medicines • Acupuncture/Cupping • Paradigm-shifting approaches to prevent and treat heart disease • Autoimmune conditions and dementia treatment • Mind-body medicine • Nutritional supplements • Plant medicine • Massage therapy • Trigger point therapy • Detox programs • Natural hormone replacment therapy.

What should a client expect from working with you?

Compassion, competence and nurturing in a safe space to heal with a holistic approach to long term healing on a deeper level.

How is your practice evolving in 2019?

As a Massage Therapist and Advanced Reiki Practitioner, I plan to Promote Wellness in my practice for Mind, Body and Soul on a larger scale, incorporating alternative healing opportunities such as CBD Massage, meditation classes for anxiety & stress relief, & Body balancing through Reiki and Energy Work, while holding space for other healing opportunities as well as the year moves on.

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

Are you tired of taking pill after pill and feel like you don’t have a voice when it comes to your own health? Naturopathic and integrative medicine holds the keys to restore the body-mind back to health through natural modalities. The body and mind have the innate ability be healed and naturopathic and integrative medicine can help to facilitate this process in remarkable ways. Call today What do you most want Natural Awakenings’ readers to book an appointment with board certified naturopathic doctors to know about you and your practice?

Whether it be relaxation, stress relief, soothing aches and pains, or and integrative medicine experts, Dr. Shannon Homkovics and/or energy balancing and healing, I look forward to giving my clients Dr. Robert Lee. We look forward to working with you to achieve all of your health goals this New Year! a safe, nurturing space to heal and the opportunity to assist them in reaching their full potential: Mind, Body and Soul.

2019 Natural Living Directory

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glossary E N V I R O N M E N TA L M E D I C I N E Environmental Medicine explores the role of dietary and environmental allergens in health and illness. Factors such as dust, mold, chemicals, and certain foods may cause allergic reactions that can dramatically influence diseases ranging from asthma and hay fever to headaches and depression.

ENZYME THERAPY Enzyme Therapy can be an important first step in restoring health and well-being by helping to remedy digestive problems.

Plant and pancreatic enzymes are used in a complementary way to improve digestion and absorption of essential nutrients.

Treatment includes enzyme supplements coupled with a healthy diet that features whole foods.

EXCEPTIONAL MARRIAGE MENTORING

inflammation, improving muscle and nerve function and preventing artery hardenings. The sulfates found in Epsom salt also assist with flushing out toxins and heavy metals. The use of essential oils in a soaking bath will intensify the cleansing effects for the body and its systems.

GUIDED IMAGERY C R E AT I V E V I S U A L I Z AT I O N Guided Imagery and Creative Visualization involve the effective use of images or symbols to focus the mind on the workings of the body in order to cause real physiological changes. In practice, Creative Imagery is the conscious creation of positive thoughts and images and the communication of them to the body to accomplish a desired outcome. It can be utilized for the relief of pain, the curing of disease, or to affect behavioral change. Imagery can take on many forms. It is a flow of thought involving all five senses. An important part of the visualization process, imagination is the ability to create a mental picture of what is desired and transform circumstances of life.

This experiential, energetic, and expressive approach to couples work was developed by Marcia and Brian Gleason. The goal is to assist couples in using their relationship as a vehicle for fulfilling each person’s potential. Exceptional Marriage Mentoring (EMM) helps couples move from self-protective feeling states to expansive, self-fulfilling emotions that allow each partner to become more fully human. The EMM model invites, in a very structured way, full expression of the passionate self, which includes anger, laughter, longing, fear, sexuality, grief, remorse, empathy, gratitude, compassion and love.

HEALING TOUCH

FELDENKRAIS METHOD

An herb is a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal, savory, or aromatic qualities. Herbal Medicine, by far the oldest form of medicine practiced by mankind, uses natural plants in a wide variety of forms for their therapeutic value. Herb plants produce and contain a variety of chemical substances that act upon the body to strengthen its natural functions without the negative side effects of synthetic drugs. Herbs are prepared for internal and external use in a variety of ways, including teas, tinctures, extracts, oils, ointments, compresses, and poultices.

The Feldenkrais Method is a form of somatic education aimed at achieving mental and physical coordination. It involves gentle movement sequences, focused attention, and awareness of entrenched patterns. Approaches include Awareness Through Movement lessons typically taught in groups, and Functional Integration hands-on personalized care given to an individual by a practitioner. Physics, biomechanics, creative learning, and human development are at the core of this method, which aims to increase ease and range of motion, improve flexibility and coordination, aid in rediscovery of the body’s natural capacity for pleasurable efficient movement, and expand self-awareness.

FENG SHUI Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese art and science of mindfully arranging objects in order to create or facilitate harmonious energy flow (qi) in environments (building placement, office, home, garden…). Energy is tempered or enhanced so as to positively affect one’s relationships, prosperity, and wellness.

F L O ATAT I O N C E N T E R S Floatation centers use up to 1,000 pounds of Epsom salt—a naturally occurring pure mineral compound of magnesium and sulfate—mixed with a warm solution of water in float tanks to produce a high buoyant effect. Soaking in a bath enriched with Epsom salt has been shown to increase magnesium and sulfate levels in the body. Magnesium can help with reducing 32

New Haven/Middlesex

NaturalNewHaven.com

A non-invasive, relaxing and nurturing energy therapy that helps to restore physical, emotional, mental and spiritual balance and support self-healing. A gentle touch is used on or near the fully-clothed client to influence the body’s inner energy centers and exterior energy fields. Healing Touch is used to ease acute and chronic conditions, assist with pain management, encourage deep relaxation and accelerate wound healing.

HERBAL MEDICINE

H O L O T R O P I C B R E AT H W O R K Holotropic Breathwork is a powerful technique of selfexploration that combines breathing, evocative music, and a specific form of bodywork. It includes and integrates the physical, psychological, and spiritual dimensions. Presented in a two-day workshop by certified facilitators, participants try to access the four “levels” of experience that are available during breathing; sensory, biographical, perinatal, and transpersonal.

By accessing buried memories, an individual can relive their own birth experience or traumatic life events, free up “stuck” emotional or viewpoints, or in some cases experience a mystical state of awareness.

physical therapy

Physical Therapy Services of Guilford, LLC

500 East Main Street, Suite 310, Branford, CT 203-315-7727 PTServicesGuilford@yahoo.com PhysicalTherapyGuilford.com

Practice/business summary of primary services offered: We offer advanced manual therapy and exercise that is effective for orthopedic/sports injuries, balance/mobility dysfunction, TMJ, osteoporosis, chronic fatigue, arthritis, incontinence, headaches, dizziness, concussions, and fibromyalgia.

What first drew you to this profession?

Practice owner, Phyllis Quinn, PT, was drawn to physical therapy through her mother, the first female in CT to have a private PT practice. At the start of Phyllis’ career, she practiced traditional techniques. Early on, she incorporated muscle energy, myofascial release, and craniosacral methods. She was amazed at the ofteninstantaneous results achieved. Phyllis finds it rewarding to give people pain relief they did not think was possible.

How is your work different from others in your profession?

Our biomechanical approach works to identify the true cause of pain, which may or may not coincide with where pain is experienced. Patients often do well attending once a week or twice a month if high copays or deductibles are problematic (progress may be a little slower at this frequency).

What should a patient expect from working with you?

Our patients can expect to meet with a therapist for individual, 40-minute sessions of highly skilled manual therapy in a friendly, family-like environment each and every session.

How is your practice evolving in 2019?

We are committed to remaining on the cutting edge of our profession by attending continuing education courses given by top educators in the country.

reiki / acupressure / sound healing

Susane Grasso, RMT

Reiki / Acupressure / Theta Healing®/Sound Healing 2489 Boston Post Road, Suite F, Guilford, CT 203-500-6950 Practice/business summary of primary services offered: Stress is the plague of the 21st century and the cause of physical and emotional woes. Because of this my sessions combine my ability to see auras with Reiki, Theta Healing®, Acupressure, and Sound/Vibrational Healing to provide deep relaxation and balance. “Tension out! Wellness in” is more than a phrase. For my clients it is a statement of fact.

What first drew you to this profession?

My chronic pain from Lyme Disease was alleviated by a Reiki Practitioner which made a believer out of me.

How is your work different from others in your profession and what should a client expect from working with you?

Each session is individually tailored to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of my client. During the session the chakras are balanced and the aura cleansed of blockages. The deep relaxation that follows provides focus and tranquility.

How is your practice evolving in 2019?

I have added the dimension of sound, sympathetic resonance, to my practice via Tibetan singing bowls. Theta Healing® has also been integrated to add another dimension to chakra maintenance and well-being. I will continue to explore other energy healing modalities.

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

It is an honor to provide relaxation therapy for my clients.

Working with them to maintain and strengthen their aura is my primary goal. I love watching an energy signature go from ragged and wispy to whole and vital. See ad on page 21.

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

Patients receive one-on-one sessions with a therapist. We use gentle, non-painful techniques to relieve your pain. Each of our 4 therapists have been working in the profession for 30+ years.

This year, our practice is celebrating 45 years of service. With the continued increase in insurance premiums and the reduction in reimbursement, we strive to continue delivering quality care.

See ad on page 49.

ur fan!

NewHavenPage

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glossary

I N T E G R AT I V E M E D I C I N E

H O M E O PAT H Y Homeopathy is a highly systematic therapy that uses small doses of specially prepared plants and minerals to stimulate the body’s defense mechanisms and healing processes in order to cure illness. The word “homeopathy” is taken from the Greek homeos meaning “similar” and pathos meaning “suffering.” Thus, Homeopathy means “to treat with something that produces an effect similar to the suffering.” This “law of similars,” the concept of “like cures like” is the basic principle of Homeopathy. A remedy is individually chosen based on its capacity to cause, if given in overdose, physical and psychological symptoms similar to those a patient is experiencing.

HYDROTHERAPY Hydrotherapy is the use of water, ice, steam, and hot and cold temperatures to maintain and restore health. Treatments include full body immersion, steam baths, saunas, sitz baths, colonic irrigation, and the application of hot and/or cold compresses.

Hydrotherapy is effective for treating a wide range of conditions and can easily be used in the home as part of a self-care program.

HYPNOTHERAPY Hypnotherapy refers to a range of hypnosis techniques that allow practitioners to bypass the conscious mind and access the subconscious. The altered state that occurs under hypnosis has been compared to a state of deep meditation or transcendence, in which the innate recuperative abilities of the psyche are allowed to flow more freely. The subject can achieve greater clarity regarding their own wants and needs, explore other events or periods of life requiring resolution, or generally develop a more positive attitude. It is often used to help people lose weight or stop smoking, and in the treatment of phobias, stress, and illness.

I N T E G R AT I V E M A N U A L T H E R A P Y ( I M T ) This comprehensive treatment approach views all of the body’s structures and systems in an interrelated manner, addressing anatomy, physiology, biomechanics and energetics to facilitate the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Through manual diagnostics, the practitioner perceives and interprets the body’s subtle rhythms and signals to identify the causes of pain, disease or disability. Interacting with these subtle energies and reflexes, the practitioner facilitates corrective responses from the body to bring about healing. IMT techniques include very gentle forms of deep tissue work, Myofascial Release, Craniosacral Therapy, joint mobilization, lymphatic drainage, and positional release, as well as Guided Imagery, deep relaxation, Biofeedback, Applied Psychosynthesis, Detoxification, energetic healing and functional recovery.

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This holistic approach combines conventional Western medicine with complementary alternative treatments in order to simultaneously treat mind, body and spirit. Geared to the promotion of health and the prevention of illness, it neither rejects conventional medicine nor accepts alternative therapies, without serious evaluation.

INTUITIVE ARTS Intuitive Arts is a general term for various methods of divination, such as numerology, psychic reading, and tarot reading.

Individuals may consult practitioners to seek information about the future or insights into personal concerns or the personality. Among the modalities: Numerology emphasizes the significance of numbers derived from the spelling of names, birth dates, and other significant references; psychics may claim various abilities, from finding lost objects and persons to communicating with the spirits of the dead; and tarot readers interpret a deck of cards containing archetypal symbols.

IRIDOLOGY Iridology is the art and science of analyzing the delicate structure of the colored portion of the eye, or the iris. Over 90 specific areas on each iris have been “mapped,” making a total of over 180 zones, which act as a readout gauge to reflect conditions in the corresponding area of the body. Physical weaknesses can be noticeable in the iris long before they would be discernible through blood work or laboratory analysis, thus making Iridology one of a number of tools for preventative selfcare.

KINESIOLOGY / APPLIED KINESIOLOGY Kinesiology is the study of muscles and their movement.

Applied Kinesiology uses the relative strength and weakness of selected muscles to indicate whether there is decreased function in any bodily organs or systems, or whether there is an imbalance or restriction in the energy flow. Much of Applied Kinesiology is based on the observed relationships between specific muscles and organs. Testing makes use of Acupuncture meridians and/or interrelationships among muscles, organs, the brain and the body’s energy field. Applied Kinesiology is also used to check the body’s response to a treatment that is being considered.

LIFE / BUSINESS COACH A professional who helps clients identify their personal and/or professional goals and design a plan or institute techniques for achieving them. The life/business coach works with clients to recognize and overcome any obstacles that may interfere with achievement of those goals.

reiki / life coaching

shamanic energy healing

Take Pause Wellness, LLC

Eagle Flight Healing LLC

Carla LaPrade, Reiki Master / Life Coach Grace Wellness Center 1131 West Street, Building 1, Suite 3, Southington, CT 203-214-4057 takepausewellnessllc@gmail.com TakePauseWellnessllc.com Practice/business summary of primary services offered: I offer in-person as well as distant Reiki sessions that may be combined with a series of life coaching sessions for optimal results. Animal Reiki sessions are also available at your location of choice.

What first drew you to this profession?

After experiencing the benefits of Reiki first hand as a recipient, I felt called to learn more about the practice and began my certifications in 2010.

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

In addition to Reiki Level III certification, I also hold a certificate in Transformational Life Coaching. Combining coaching with Reiki empowers clients with insights to achieve optimal wellbeing. I am also trained in Reiki for companion animals and offer sessions at your home or location of choice.

What should a client expect from working with you?

Clients are invited to use their session time as an escape from the hurried pace of their every day lives, to rest and rejuvenate on their path to self-discovery.

How is your practice evolving in 2019?

I will soon be offering the Complete Health Improvement Program through the Lifestyle Medicine Institute. This world class lifestyle education program enables you to take charge of your health by making safe, simple, painless, and deliberate lifestyle choices in a facilitated and supportive group setting.

Cathy Stubbs, RN, Reiki Master, Shaman Certified Light Body Healer 203-535-8849 Info@EagleFlightHealing.com EagleFlightHealing.com

Practice/business summary of primary services offered: Shamanic energy healing releases levels of pain, fear, shame, angers pushed into our physical body and into our energy fields. Our old unresolved emotions and old traumas stay with us and may affect our physical, mental and emotional health.

What first drew you to Shamanic Energy Healing?

In my previous Reiki practice, I was “seeing” the constricted emotions of clients in their livers and pancreas. I felt called to study and offer shamanic energy healing and am inspired by it’s efficacy.

How is your work different from that of others in your profession and what should a client expect from working with you?

Expect to feel lighter, freer, very grounded, stronger in self, more vitality, happier. One client reported feeling peaceful for the first time in his life.

How is your practice evolving in 2019?

In 2018, I added a brief visual imagery meditation to meet one’s higher consciousness. I have started adding crystal healing where appropriate for physical malady and will continue to work with that.

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

I establish a very safe, loving environment. Issues brought to sessions do not need to be identified with me, just held as intention. Sessions are via phone or in person.

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

I work with each individual to offer personalized sessions, including distant sessions if preferred. Reiki for companion animals is also available at your home or the location of your choice. Free phone consultations and online booking are available. See ad on page 8.

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glossary

MEDIUMSHIP

MACROBIOTICS Macrobiotics is an Eastern philosophy that is perhaps best known in the West through its dietary principles. Macrobiotic theory begins with the realization that there is a natural order to all things and we can achieve a fuller sense of balance, both within ourselves and with the world around us, by synchronizing our eating habits with the cycles of nature.

Low-fat and high-fiber foods, whole grains, vegetables, sea vegetables, and seeds cooked in accordance with macrobiotic principles are stressed.

MAGNETIC FIELD THERAPY Electromagnetic energy and the human body have a valid and important interrelationship. Magnetic Field Therapy can be used in both diagnosing and treating physical and emotional disorders. This process has been recognized to relieve symptoms and may, in some cases, retard the cycle of new disease. Magnets and electromagnetic therapy devices are now being used to eliminate pain, facilitate the healing of broken bones, and counter the effects of stress.

A Medium professes to sense and communicate with spiritual entities, conveying messages from those who are no longer incarnate to people in the physical world. Readings focus on those evidential messages, which are said to be delivered for one’s “highest good.”

MIDWIFE A birth attendant who assists a woman through the prenatal, labor, birth and postpartum stages of pregnancy. The mother is encouraged to be involved and to feel in control of her birthing experience. Midwives are knowledgeable about normal pregnancy, labor, birth and pain relief options. They respect the process of birth as an innate and familiar process.

Certified nurse-midwives are registered nurses who have received advanced training and passed a national certification exam. Nurse-midwives collaborate with physicians as needed, especially when problems arise during pregnancy. (Also see Doula).

M I N D / B O DY M E D I C I N E

A gentle, non-invasive, rhythmical whole-body massage aimed at stimulating the lymphatic system to carry away excess fluid in the loose connective tissue, which helps remove toxins.

Blockage or damage within the system may lead to conditions like edema, acne, inflammation, arthritis and sinusitis. The therapy stimulates one of the body’s natural cleansing systems to help bring tissues to a healthier state.

The field of behavioral medicine which recognizes the relationship between the mind and body, the body’s innate ability to heal and the partnership between the patient and healer in restoring health. It is strongly research-based and encompasses the field of Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI).

Mind/Body Medicine is used for those conditions, which may be exacerbated by the patient’s emotional stress, such as heart disease, cancer, preparation for medical procedures, autoimmune diseases, pain management, asthma, diabetes, gastrointestinal upsets (such as IBS), trauma and insomnia.

Treatment commonly includes a blend of Hypnosis, Guided Imagery, Biofeedback and other methods.

MASSAGE THERAPY

MONTESSORI SCHOOL

A general term for the manipulation of soft tissue for therapeutic purposes. Massage Therapy incorporates various disciplines and involves kneading, rubbing, brushing and/or tapping the skin, muscles and connective tissues. Its goal is to increase circulation and detoxification in order to reduce physical and emotional stress and increase overall wellness.

The Montessori method of early childhood education (age range 2.5 to 6 years) was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator, who served in special education. Montessori programs utilize a child-centered approach, based on scientific observations of children from birth to adulthood. The teacher, child and environment create a learning triangle where students are encouraged to learn at their own unique stages of development and cultivate their natural abilities through practical play. Children learn through discovery rather than traditional direct instruction. It is an approach that values the human spirit and the development of the whole child—physical, social, emotional and cognitive.

Components necessary for a program to be considered authentically Montessori include multiage groupings that foster peer learning, uninterrupted blocks of work time and guided choice of work activity.

M A N U A L LY M P H AT I C D R A I N A G E

M E D I TAT I O N Meditation is a practice of concentrated focus/contemplation used to increase awareness of the present moment, reduce stress, promote relaxation, and enhance personal and spiritual growth. There are many different types of Meditation practiced (e.g.: Buddhist, Mindfulness, Transcendental, Walking), which include a variety of techniques for achieving harmony such as imagery, mantras, observation/awareness and deep breathing.

Some meditators seek a mystical sense of oneness with a higher power or the universe, while others utilize it to gain serenity, alleviate anxiety or high blood pressure, or heighten focus, creativity and/or self-awareness. Research has shown that Meditation can contribute to an individual’s psychological and physiological well-being.

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visioning crystals

wellness center

Visioning Crystals

Walnut Beach Wellness Center

Lauri Ingram 203-435-5650 Lauri@visioningcrystals.com VisioningCrystals.com

Practice/business summary of primary services offered: Crystal Dreaming sessions, crystal grid and crystal healing workshops, spiritual services and ceremonies.

What first drew you to this profession?

My own journey of self discovery has led me to help others find their own divine light.

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

I have combined a unique set of offerings and services that combine crystals, energy and spirituality.

What should a client expect from working with you?

An experience that recognizes the divinity in each of us, and meets you wherever you may be on your journey.

How is your holistic business evolving in 2019?

I am adding many new workshops, and exploring artistic additions to my offerings including art journaling and creating mandalas for self-discovery.

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

My practices and offerings honor the divine light in each of us, and I am honored to accompany others on their journey.

41 Naugatuck Avenue, #3A, Milford, CT 203-306-7881 Info@WalnutBeachWellness.com WalnutBeachWellness.com

Business summary of primary services/products offered: An organic, holistic wellness center that puts you at our core.

We offer an integrative form of supportive and preventive care utilizing powerful techniques to identify, correct imbalances and resolve chronic pain to achieve a pain-free, healthy life naturally.

How is your wellness center different from that of others in your field?

Experience a true organic, integrated approach to health and healing. We make all products used for therapies on site using sustainably sourced, organic ingredients. Enjoy the healing element of the neighboring beach where we hold classes and events in the summer.

What benefits can customers/clients expect from your services/products?

We take you the extra mile to get your quality of life back after surgeries, injuries, pre/postnatal. Live your optimum though the in-depth manual and energy healing therapies, Naturopathic and Chinese medicine, feel support and connection through our incredible community.

How is your center evolving in 2019?

Discover our new yoga studio and expanded schedule offering therapeutic yoga classes, private lessons, yoga therapy. Enjoy educational workshops, monthly events, community offerings on a sliding scale, including our Star Goddess Woman’s Circle and Drum Speak For Spiritual awakening.

What do you most want Natural Awakenings’ readers to know about you and your services and/or products?

We are an independent, family run center that truly cares about you and your family. We have created a support network through our integrative therapies, classes, workshops and community circles so you may live naturally healthy, happy and pain-free.

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glossary

NEURO-LINGUISTIC PROGRAMMING ( NLP )

MUSIC THERAPY Music therapy is an established healthcare profession available for all ages in multiple settings. It is utilized by trained professionals who integrate music interventions in therapy sessions to help address, restore, and/or enhance physical, psychological and spiritual well-being. No musical ability is needed for clients to benefit.

M YO FA S C I A L R E L E A S E ( M F R ) This holistic form of bodywork is used for reducing pain, improving movement and function, and restoring emotional tranquility. MFR is labeled holistic because it involves treating the whole body as a connected organism, recognizing that symptoms in one place may be caused by tight connective tissue elsewhere. This tightness places pressure on pain sensitive structures like muscles, nerves, bones, joints, blood vessels or organs. Such ischemic pressure results in symptoms like pain, tingling, stiffness, and lethargy. MFR is most commonly practiced by licensed Physical Therapists and Massage Therapists who have taken specialized training in this technique. The goal of treatment is to restore balance and alignment to the human structure, and enhance optimum flow throughout the entire system.

N A M B U D R I PA D ’ S A L L E R G Y E L I M I N AT I O N T E C H N I Q U E S ( N A E T ) A non-invasive, drug free, natural modality that tests for and eliminates allergies. NAET uses a blend of selective energy balancing, testing and treatment procedures from Acupuncture, Acupressure, Allopathy, Chiropractic, Kinesiology and Nutritional Medicine. One allergen is treated at a time.

N AT U R O PAT H I C M E D I C I N E Naturopathy is a comprehensive and eclectic system that incorporates the use of a broad range of natural substances and natural means to promote health. Naturopathic Doctors work in harmony with the body’s natural healing abilities. Training may include the study of specific approaches such as Massage, Acupuncture, Acupressure, Counseling, Applied Nutrition, Herbal Medicine, Homeopathy, minor surgery and basic Obstetrics for assistance at natural childbirth.

NETWORK CHIROPRACTIC Network Chiropractic is a form of chiropractic that views the spine as a powerful “switchboard of consciousness.”

The method is based on the belief that spinal adjustment can serve to unify the physical, emotional, and mental body with a universal intelligence or consciousness.

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NLP is a systematic approach to changing limiting patterns of thought, behavior and language. In conversation, practitioners observe the client’s language, eye movements, posture, breathing, and gestures in order to detect and then help change unconscious patterns linked to the client’s emotional state.

NUTRITIONAL COUNSELING Embracing a wide range of approaches, nutrition-based complementary therapies seek to alleviate physical and psychological disorders through dietary modification and food supplements, and involving either macronutrients or micronutrients. Macronutrients are carbohydrates, fats, proteins and fiber. Micronutrients are vitamins, minerals, and trace elements that cannot be manufactured in the body. Nutritional therapy often uses dietary or food supplements, which may include tablets, capsules, powders or liquids.

ORTHOMOLECULAR MEDICINE Employing vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to create nutritional content and balance in the body, Orthomolecular Medicine targets a wide range of conditions, including depression, hypertension, schizophrenia, cancer, and other mental and physiological disorders.

O S T E O PAT H I C P H YS I C I A N S Osteopathic Physicians are trained to help the body stimulate and restore its own immune system naturally. Osteopathy utilizes generally accepted physical, pharmacological, and surgical methods of diagnosis and therapy, with strong emphasis on body mechanics and manipulative methods to detect and correct faulty structure and function. Doctors of Osteopathy (DO’s) offer a hands-on approach to the diagnosis and treatment of selected ailments involving bones, muscles, tendons, tissues, and the spinal column through the use of palpation, manipulation, and physical therapy.

O X YG E N T H E R A P I E S Oxygen Therapies alter the body’s chemistry to help overcome disease, promote repair, and improve overall function. These therapies are effective in treating a wide variety of conditions, including infections, circulatory problems, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, allergies, cancer, and multiple sclerosis.

The major types of Oxygen Therapy used to treat disease are Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Ozone Therapy, and Hydrogen Peroxide Therapy.

PA S T L I F E / R E G R E S S I O N T H E R A P I E S Past Life and Regression Therapies operate on the assumption that many physical, mental, and emotional problems are extensions of unresolved problems from the past — whether from childhood traumas or experiences in previous lifetimes. The practitioner uses Hypnosis (or altered states of consciousness) and relaxation techniques to access the source

wellness & woo

whole-body wellness

HIDDEN GEM ON MAIN

Elm City Wellness

33 N. Main Street, Wallingford, CT 203-626-9881 HiddenGemOnMain@gmail.com HiddenGemOnMain.com

Business summary. Services and products offered: We offer products and services to nourish your body, mind and spirit that support independent, local and eco-friendly businesses.

How is your holistic business different from that of others in your field?

We integrate both “Wellness & Woo” for a truly holistic approach.

We offer holistic healing services as well as products to support you on your wellness and spiritual journey.

What benefits should customers/clients expect from your services and/or products?

We offer a variety of holistic modalities, products and services to address the multi faceted nature of our clientele. We address the whole person, mind, body and spirit from personal one on one consultations, to products they can take home with them to continue their healing from home.

How is your business evolving in 2019?

We are a brand new business, so we are constantly growing and evolving. We are bringing in a variety of amazing teachers, practitioners, classes and products, and continue to be responsive to the needs of our clients and customers.

What do you most want Natural Awakenings’ readers to know about you and your services and products?

From nutrition and energy work, to crystals, essential oils, flower essences, herbs and supplements, we can customize a healing protocol that is energetically and therapeutically effective to support you in your journey to wellness.

774 Orange Street New Haven, CT 203-691-7653 elmcitywellness@gmail.com ElmCityWellness.com

Practice/business summary of primary services offered: Elm City Wellness focuses on whole-body wellness, providing custom bodywork, acupuncture and skin care all under one roof.

Our wellness store features locally made gifts, self-care supplies and a wide range of quality CBD oils, creams, gummies and more.

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

We place a heavy emphasis on self-care at Elm City Wellness, because practitioners who take care of themselves have the energy to care for others joyfully because that caregiving doesn’t come at their own expense.

What benefits should customers/clients expect from your services and/or products?

We are a one-stop shop for New Haven’s wellness seekers. Our skilled massage therapists, acupuncturists and estheticians offer sessions that are thoughtful, compassionate and client-centered.

How is your practice evolving in 2019?

We’ve added CBD Massage to our service menu and CBD products in our wellness store. We thoroughly research our CBD and sell only third-party tested, pharmaceutical grade products.

What do you most want Natural Awakenings’ readers to know about you and your services and/or products?

After a session at Elm City Wellness, many clients walk away with a deeper understanding of their bodies and new ways to care for them. Our intention is to make Elm City Wellness a place to relax and heal. See ad on page 15.

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glossary

R E B I R T H I N G B R E AT H W O R K

of this “unfinished business,” and helps clients to analyze, integrate, and release past traumas that are interfering with their current lives.

PERSONAL FITNESS TRAINER A Personal Fitness Trainer is a certified professional who designs fitness programs for individuals desiring one-on-one training.

Trainers offer their services in the privacy of ones home or at various locations (club, office, etc.).

P H YS I C A L T H E R A P Y Evaluates difficulties with mobility or function and focuses on rehabilitation through a restorative treatment program and instruction on how to make efficient use of the body in daily activities. Physical Therapists use massage, exercise, electrical stimulation, ultrasound and other means to help the patient regain functional movement.

P I L AT E S A structured system of small isolated movements that demands powerful focus on feeling every nuance of muscle action while working out on floor mats or machines. Emphasizes development of the torso’s abdominal power center, or core.

More gentle than conventional exercises, Pilates, like Yoga, yields long, lean, flexible muscles whose gracefully balanced movements readily translate into everyday activities like walking, sitting and bending. Can help in overcoming injuries.

POLARITY THERAPY Polarity Therapy asserts that energy fields exist everywhere in nature and that the free flow and balance of this universal energy in the human body is the underlying foundation of good health. Practitioners use gentle touch and guidance to help clients balance their energy flow, thus supporting a return to health. The practitioner’s hands do not impart energy, but redirect the flow of the receiver’s own energy in order to recharge and achieve balance.

PRANIC HEALING Pranic healing is an ancient science and art of healing that utilizes prana or ki or life energy to heal the whole physical body. It also involves the manipulation of ki and bioplasmic matter of the patient’s body. Prana is the Sanskrit word for “Life-force energy”— also referred to as Chi, Qi, Ki, or Ruach.

Q I G O N G A N D TA I C H I Qigong and Tai chi combine movement, meditation and breath regulation to enhance the flow of vital energy (qi or chi, pronounced “chee”) in the body , improve circulation and enhance immune function. Qigong traces its roots to traditional Chinese medicine. Tai chi was originally a self-defense martial art descended from Qigong and employed to promote inner peace and calm.

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Also known as Conscious Connected Breathing (or by some practitioners as Vivation), Rebirthing is a means to access and release unresolved emotions. The technique uses conscious, steady, rhythmic breathing without pausing between inhaling and exhaling. Guided by a professional Rebirther, clients re-experience past memories ­­— including birth — and let go of emotional tension long stored in the body.

RECONNECTIVE HEALING Utilizes light and dimensional frequencies to reduce stress, foster relaxation, and enable holistic healing. Practitioners use their hands to focus a flow of energy into the client’s aura/ energy field. This stimulates meridians and DNA strands, causing a shift that releases old patterns and reconnects clients to their essence and universal energy.

REFLEXOLOGY A natural healing art based upon the principle that there are reflexes in the feet and hands that correspond to different parts of the body. Correctly stimulating and applying pressure to the feet or hands increases circulation and promotes specifically designated bodily and muscular functions in those corresponding areas.

REIKI Reiki, meaning “universal life-force energy” is a method of activating and balancing the life-force present in all living things. Reiki practitioners use light hand placements to channel healing energies to organs and glands or to align the chakras (energy centers). There are techniques for emotional and mental distress, chronic and acute physical problems, and for achieving spiritual focus and clarity. Reiki is increasingly being integrated into the work of Chiropractors, Massage Therapists, Nurses, and others for whom the use of touch is essential or appropriate.

ROLFING Rolfing is a deep tissue massage technique. It re-organizes and improves alignment through connective tissue manipulation.

S A LT H E A L I N G T H E R A P Y Himalayan rock salt has been found to have anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties. Salt caves offer healing benefits of a rock salt rich in trace elements and minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, iodine, bromine, copper, selenium and iron. Salt caves combine speleotherapy—the use of salt cave and mine microclimates to treat diseases—and halotherapy, which utilizes a salt vaporizer to push dry aerosol salt vapor into the air to help with various respiratory and skin issues, allergies and other conditions.

SHAMANISM Shamanism is an ancient healing tradition that dates back 40,000 years or more. It is based on the belief that all healing includes the spiritual dimension. Shamanic healing usually

yoga / ayurveda

Balance by Melissa

Melissa Pytlak Yoga Instructor / Ayurvedic Wellness Counselor 203-305-5531 SeekLifeBalance@gmail.com BalanceByMelissa.com Practice/business summary of primary services offered: Private Yoga instruction and Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultations.

What first drew you to this profession?

Practicing Kundalini yoga during college drew me towards this path.

Yoga has healed and guided me ever since and I want to help connect others to their inner healer and teacher.

GROW YOUR BUSINESS Secure this ad spot!

Contact us for special ad rates.

203-305-5531

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

As a yoga instructor, and Ayurvedic Wellness Counselor, I offer a customized approach to private yoga instruction based on the uniqueness of the individual.

What should a client expect from working with you?

A client should expect to complete a detailed questionnaire to determine his/her unique constitution, according to the Ayurvedic system. From there, we will discuss the predominant traits and tendencies for that individual and customize wellness guidelines and yoga practices that honor the uniqueness of the individual.

How is your practice evolving in 2019?

I am offering Ayurvedic Wellness consultations as a service to clients, as well as educational workshops to teach the fundamentals of Ayurvedic wisdom and health care. My webpage is evolving is to support my new offerings and I will soon offer online consultations as well.

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

I am committed to helping heal others’ mind, body and spirit.

I want everyone to know that we each possess the wisdom and intelligence we need to heal ourselves and to make ourselves whole; we only need slow down, tune in, and connect with our highest selves in order to tap into this wisdom and create greater balance in our lives.

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glossary

TRADITIONAL THAI THERAPY

involves induction into an altered state of consciousness and journeying into the spirit world to regain personal power and access the guidance of nature and of teachers. This approach may be taken literally or employed symbolically.

SOUND HEALING Sound Healing involves the use of vocal and instrumental tones, generated internally or externally. When sounds are produced with healing intent they can create sympathetic resonance in the physical and energy bodies. Sound healing can bring discordant energy into balance and harmony.

SPIRITUAL HEALING / COUNSELING Spiritual Healing/Counseling comes in two forms. In one, the healer uses thought or touch to align their spiritual essence with the spirit of the client. The healer works to either balance the spiritual field or shift the perceptual base of the client to create harmony between mind and body and draw the client into the active presence of a Divine Healing Force. In the other, the healer transforms healing energy into a vibrational frequency that the client can receive and comfortably assimilate, gently reminding the person’s intuitive core of its inherent healing ability and imparting a vision of health. Spiritual Healers often work within a particular spiritual tradition, seek guidance from “spirit helpers,” and rely on some form of prayer or meditation.

TA N T R A Tantra has emerged as a modern spiritual path of embodied consciousness, with roots in ancient Hindu and Buddhist traditions. It views the “spiritual” as being directly present within the “physical” and respects sensory experience as a vehicle for accessing higher states of awareness. Tantra practices balance the chakras (energy centers) and can contribute to a sense of presence, intimacy and fulfillment in all aspects of living.

TA N T R A TA I C H I Tantra Tai Chi is a recently developed practice of Tai Chi/ Qigong-style body movements designed to be performed with a partner. It can enhance intimacy by sequentially and simultaneously focusing attention on the root or sexual center near the base of the spine, the heart or love center in the midchest region, and the upper spiritual center in the head. The cycling of energy through these chakra centers encourages a blended experience of intimate presence with one’s own internal being and one’s partner.

THERMAL IMAGING A diagnostic technique that uses an infrared camera to measure temperature variations on the surface of the body, producing images that reveal sites of inflammation and abnormal tissue growth. Inflammation is recognized as the earliest stage of nearly all major health challenges.

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Traditional Thai Therapy (also known as “Thai yoga massage”) is an ancient healing system that integrates reflexology, acupressure, conscious breathing and assisted yoga postures with Indian Ayurvedic principles—the combination of which relieves tension, relaxes the mind & body, and provides lasting benefits to the overall health & well-being of the receiver. It has been referred to by many as “yoga for lazy people” because rather than rubbing on muscles, the body is compressed and gently stretched. A traditional session typically lasts two hours in duration and includes rhythmic pressing and stretching of the entire body. Clients wear comfortable clothing while receiving on a floor mat during the session, and no oils or lotions are used.

TRAGERWORK Tragerwork uses passive movement to encourage progressive, generalized release of deep body tension. The client receives a blend of rhythmic, rocking movements, elongations, and gentle compressions so body and mind relax into new and freer movement patterns. Tragerwork helps with stress and specific pain, such as sciatica, back, neck and shoulder pain, and TMJ. It can improve results in Physical Therapy, Psychotherapy, athletic and artistic training, and treatment of disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, Post-polio Syndrome, and Multiple Sclerosis.

T R A N S C E N D E N TA L M E D I TAT I O N Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a simple, effortless technique of meditation practiced 20 minutes twice each day while sitting comfortably with the eyes closed. Through the use of a mantra, TM allows the mind to settle inward beyond thought to experience the source of thought-pure awareness, the most silent and peaceful level of consciousness. In this state of restful alertness, the brain functions with significantly greater coherence while the body gains deep rest.

YO G A Yoga is the practical application of the ancient Indian Vedic teachings. The word Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root yuj which means “union” or “to join,” and refers to the joining of man’s physical, mental, and spiritual elements. In Yoga, the goal of good health is accomplished through a combination of techniques including exercises called “asanas” or postures, controlled breathing, relaxation, meditation, and diet and nutrition. Although Yoga is not meant to cure specific diseases or ailments directly, it has been found effective in treating many problems.

Z E N S H I AT S U Zen Shiatsu, sometimes referred to as “Acupuncture without needles,” uses gentle but firm finger and palm pressure to activate the body’s energetic channels and acupoints to bring the body back into balance and harmony on the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual levels. Clients remain fully clothed and receive treatment in a relaxing, comfortable and supportive environment.

natural living directory APPLIED KINESIOLOGY KC CHIROPRACTIC & WELLNESS Kevin Healy, DC 17 Woodland Road, Madison, CT 203-245-9317 KevinHealy@sbcglobal.net DrHealMe.com

Applied Kinesiology is a neurological evaluation to find and treat dysfunction. Different because it addresses causes instead of chasing pains, Dr. Healy tests if a therapy alleviates dysfunction, finding immediate answers as to which provides the most improvement.

Chiropractic, craniosacral, myofascial and acupressure are among the therapies Dr. Healy uses. Generally, no single cure exists as disease and dysfunction typically involve multiple areas of the body. The goal of any therapy—physical, chemical, or emotional—is to improve function; a combination of therapies typically yields the best results. See ad on page 19.

CHIROPRACTIC CARE COASTAL CHIROPRACTIC & WELLNESS 15 Meigs Avenue, Madison, CT 203-245-8217 DrMirante@drmirante.com DrMirante.com

At Coastal Chiropractic & Wellness the patient experience is our primary focus. Our patients appreciate our approach of concentrating on the whole person, not just the symptoms.

The doctors’ practice advanced chiropractic techniques for a variety of conditions. We also offer onsite digital motion x-rays and individualized care in our rehabilitation suite.

CORSELLO CLINIC OF CHIROPRACTIC

2021 Main Street Stratford, CT 203-381-1800 Contact@CorselloClinic.com CorselloClinicLLC.com Our mission is to build healthy families for a lifetime of wellness in a loving and compassionate setting. We offer specialized techniques, including Atlas Orthogonal (AO), EPIC, integrative brain therapies and spinal correction, as well as nutrition, cellular detoxification and weight loss.

See Profile on page 25 and inside front cover ad.

COACHING: LIFE, RELATIONSHIPS & BUSINESS DREAM CATCHER LLC

Tanya Wallace Certified Professional Coach 203-947-0063 Tanya@DreamCatcherLLC.com DreamCatcherLLC.com As a Relationship & Business Coach, I help you gain clarity, set your intentions, overcome challenges and develop a plan to achieve success. I offer personal and business coaching services to help you create your next chapter. Awaken and connect with your authentic self. Anything is possible!

EDUCATION CONNECTICUT EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING CENTER (CELC) MIDDLE SCHOOL 28 School Street, Branford, CT 203-433-4658 mandm@CTExperiential.org http://CTEXperiential.org

CT Experiential Learning Center (CELC) Middle School provides experientially-based education with a personalized approach to learning, designed to empower young people to thrive. Our students come from a variety of towns throughout Connecticut, from families looking for a program that engages and deepens learning, where their children can flourish during these important and impactful 5th - 8th grade years. See Profile on page 25.

CRANIO-SACRAL THERAPY BETHANY BODY WORKS

Jennifer Kriz, LMT #004996 Craniosacral Therapist 203-393-1500 Visit BBW on Facebook BethanyBodyWorksCT.com Cranio Sacral Therapy is a powerful, yet gentle, non-invasive therapy that balances and realigns the body to relieve pain and dysfunction and improve wholebody health and performance.

Effective for all ages from newborns to elders; great for migraines, sciatica and more.

CRYSTAL SOUND HEALING CRYSTAL BED HEALING WITH CRYSTAL SOUND VIBRATION Priscilla Gale 978-897-8846 SacredSongReiki@yahoo.com CrystalsSoundHealing.com

Crystals, Light and Sound enter into the equation of healing from several directions: stimulates our organs, blood, bones, c e l l s a n d e n e rg y fields by altering cellular functions and structures, thus entraining biolofical systems to function more in sync. Effectively beneficial in assisting traditional treatments for cancer, lyme disease, acute or chronic disease, aches and pains, difficulty sleeping. Calms the Mind, Calms the Body. Gain clarity of thought, deep peace and a deeper spiritual understanding of self and life’s situations.

EDUCATION Continued THE GRADUATE INSTITUTE (TGI)

Accredited, Non-profit Graduate School offering holistic programs in contemporary & emerging fields 171 Amity Road, Bethany, CT 203-874-4252 Learn.edu The Graduate Institute offers holistic master’s degrees and certificate programs for adult learners. Programs include Integrative Health and Healing, Ecotherapy and Cultural Sustainability, Writing and Oral Tradition, Organizational Leadership, and more. Programs are just one weekend a month.

See ad on page 17.

FLOWER ESSENCES AROMATHERAPY BIOLUMENESSENCE

Flower Essences, Aromatherapy, Energy Healing, 33 N. Main Street, Wallingford, CT 203-514-8787 Julie@BiolumenEssence.com BiolumenEssence.com Offers flower essences and aromatherapy consultations, energy healing, custom blends, classes and retreats that connect clients and customers to the heart and soul of nature, while deepening their awareness and experience of their own inner luminosity. See Profile on page 27.

2019 Natural Living Directory

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natural living directory GREEN HOUSING

HYPNOSIS LIFE DESIGN HYPNOSIS, LLC

ROCKY CORNER COHOUSING 203-903-2646 Homes@RockyCorner.org RockyCorner.org

Are you looking for a sustainable, friendly, multigenerational neighborhood? Rocky Corner is an organic farm-centered community of 30 energy efficient homes on 33 acres. We care about community, conservation and cooperatively maintaining our neighborhood together. Construction has started in Bethany, just 5 miles north of New Haven. Affordable and market rate homes for sale now. Ready in Spring 2019.

For more info, visit RockyCorner.org.

Patricia Babey, BS Certified Hypnotist Certified Pain Management Specialist Certified Reiki II Practitioner Madison, CT 06443 203-980-0022 LifeDesignHypnosis.com A client centered practice created to assist you in improving every aspect of your life by tapping into the natural power of your brain.

Release weight, stop smoking, reduce stress, and manage pain.

You can change just about anything with hypnosis.

Each session is personal, customized and tailored for you. Don’t let your brain hold you back any longer from achieving the lifelong dreams you deserve. Free consultations. See ad on page 8 .

HOLISTIC DENTIST MARK A. BREINER, DDS, FIAOMT

501 Kings Highway East, Suite 108 Fairfield, CT 203-371-0300 WholeBodyDentistry.com Dr. Mark A. Breiner is a pioneer and recognized authority in the field of holistic dentistry. With over 30 years of experience, he is a sought after speaker and lecturer. His popular consumer book, Whole-Body Dentistry, has been sold worldwide. See ad on page 15.

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

MASSAGE THERAPY DANIELLE INGENITO, LMT

CT License #8008 Offices located in Branford, CT In Home Appointments Available Licensed in NY & CT 516-639-5917 deeshands4U@yahoo.com http://deeshands4u.wixsite.com/massage Facebook: Deeshands4U Offering: Swedish, Deep Tissue/ Trigger Point,Sports,Therapeutic/ Customized, Reiki Level l,ll and Acupressure. Ask about our “In Home” Spa/Wellness Parties and Essential Oils. Office CHAIR MASSAGE EVENTS Also Available by Appointment.

DANDELION WELLNESS, LLC

Anna K. Meglin, LMT #009655, CRP Massage Therapy, Reiki & Energy Medicine 187 Montowese Street, Branford, CT 203-871-9367 DandelionWellnessCT@gmail.com DandelionWellnessCT.com Offers customized bodywork sessions integrating Eastern and Western modalities of massage and energy work based on client needs. Specialties include Sports, Swedish, Deep Tissue, Trigger Point work, Myofascial, Acupressure, Reiki and Aromatherapy offered in a nurturing sacred space for optimal healing, relaxation and balance.

See Profile on page 31.

New Haven/Middlesex

ANNAHAVEN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, LLC

Anna Martin, BSW, MSW, LCSW 410 State St, North Haven, CT 30 Hazel Terrace, Woodbridge, CT 377 Main St, West Haven, CT 203-606-2071 CounselingWithAnnaMartin.com

YOU deserve to be happy.

AHBHS helps with depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, Obesity, agarophobia, domestic violence, ADD, ADHD and anger management. Phone,internet,skype and office sessions. Evening and weekend hours are available. Most insurance accepted, including Medicaid, Medicare and Husky.

NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS KARENMARIE LACONTE, ND Office Locations in Bridgeport, Shelton and Orange, CT 203-260-0078 AskDocLaConte@gmail.com TheNaturopathicApproach.com

Dr. LaConte, a Naturopathic Physician, is a UBCNM graduate. Her mission is to facilitate better mind body connections with patients, using only natural remedies, (herbals, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, natural supplements, Far Infrared Sauna). Areas of concentration: Endocrine (thyroid disorders, diabetes: type 1 and 2), GI conditions, allergy testing, stress and anxiety management.

MASSAGE THERAPY HOLISTIC HEALING

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.

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MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING

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People will stare.

Make it worth their while. ~Harry Winston

natural living directory NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS WHOLE-BODY MEDICINE, LLC

Adam Breiner, ND, Director Elena Sokolova, MD, ND David Brady, ND, CCN, DACBN 501 Kings Highway East, Suite 108 Fairfield, CT 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 abilityto heal itself. Treatment protocols or therapies include: Abdominal Manual Therapy, Acupuncture, Allergy Desensitization, Chinese Medicine, Colonics and other Detoxification Protocols, Electro-Dermal Screening, Energy Medicine, FDA-cleared Phototherapy, Functional Medicine, Herbal Medicine, Homeopathy, Hormonal Balancing, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Metabolic Typing, Nutritional Assessment, RealTime EEG Neurofeedback, and other therapies. See ad on page 15.

PHYSICAL THERAPY PHYSICAL THERAPY SERVICES OF GUILFORD 500 East Main Street, Suite 310, Branford, CT 203-315-7727 (Phone) 203-315-7757 (Fax) PhysicalTherapyGuilford.com

At Physical Therapy Services of Guilford, we specialize in manual therapy using hands-on techniques to help the body’s natural healing process. We also incorporate traditional programs and modalities to maximize health. 40-minute sessions are conducted one-on-one in private treatment rooms. See Profile on page 33.

REIKI SUSANE GRASSO, RMT 2489 Boston Post Road Guilford, CT 203-500-6950

Stress is the plague of the 21st century and the cause of physical and emotional woes. Because of this, my sessions combine my ability to see auras with Reiki, Theta Healing, acupressure and Sound Vibrational Healing to provide deep relaxation and balance. “Tension out! Wellness in” is more than a phrase. For my clients it is a statement of fact. See Profile on page 33.

REIKI / SOUND HEALING SOUND HEALING WITH REIKI SACRED SONG REIKI

Reiki, Sound Healing Sound Healing with Reiki Priscilla Gale, RMT 60 Church Street, Wallingford, CT 978-897-8846 SacredSongReiki@yahoo.com SacredSongReiki.com Experience Profound Healing Energies. Reduce stress and aches and pains, depression, anxiety, lower blood pressure, improve sleep, gain peace of mind and clarity of thought.

All Sessions Tailored to meet Individual Needs.

SALT HEALING THERAPY WELLNESS CENTER SALT OF THE EARTH THERAPEUTIC SPA

787 Main St, S Woodbury, CT 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 transformations, healing and grounding for Mind, Body and Spirit.

SHAMANIC ENERGY HEALING EAGLE FLIGHT HEALING, LLC Hamden, CT 203-535-8849 Info@EagleFlightHealing.com EagleFlightHealing.com

Eagle flight Healing offers energy work to expand our sense of self and presence, resulting in vitality, joy, confidence and well-being.

Constricting emotions and traumatic events result in suffering from low selfworth, poor beliefs and attitudes about ourself and self-imposed limitations. The gentle energy work provided releases these negativities and levels of pain, shame, fear and grief. See Profile on page 35.

SMOKING CESSATION LIFE DESIGN HYPNOSIS, LLC

Patricia Babey, BS Certified Hypnotist Certified Pain Management Specialist Certified Reiki II Practitioner Madison, CT 06443 203-980-0022 LifeDesignHypnosis.com A client centered practice created to assist you in improving every aspect of your life by tapping into the natural power of your brain.

Release weight, stop smoking, reduce stress, and manage pain.

You can change just about anything with hypnosis.

Each session is personal, customized and tailored for you. Don’t let your brain hold you back any longer from achieving the lifelong dreams you deserve. Free consultations. See ad on page 8..

SUSTAINABLE NUTRITION CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THE INSTITUTE OF SUSTAINABLE NUTRITION

113 Simsbury Road, West Granby, CT 860-764-9070 Joan@TIOSN.com TIOSN.com We offer a unique certification program blending the science of nutrition with the hands-on components of sustainable gardening practices. We use food and herbs to make kitchen medicine, teach basic culinary skills, and practice foraging for and using nutrient-rich wild food. Now enrolling for fall 2019. See Profile on, page 27.

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natural living directory TAIJIQUAN / QIGONG TRANQUIL MOUNTAIN INTERNAL ARTS

Robert Michael Taijiquan, Qigong and Baguazhang 860-301-6433 info@tmiarts.com tmiarts.com Discover the health aspects of the internal martial arts of Taijiquan and Baguazhang and the healing practice of Qigong. Increase vitality and improve overall physical and emotional health, balance and well-being using the relaxed movements of Taijiquan and Baguazhang and the comprehensive methods of Qigong.

WELLNESS CENTER MOUNTAIN VIEW WELLNESS

4193 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT 475-202-6155 Mountainviewwellnessct@gmail.com MVWct.com M o u n t a i n Vi e w Wellness is a wellness center offering weekly yoga classes, trainings and workshops, wellness and healing. Crystals, Boards, Energywork, Sound Healing, Meditation, Mindfulness, Reflexology, and Yoga for specific populations (Y12SR, yoga for anxiety, back pain, teachers, golfers, healthy aging). A perfect space to offer your own workshop and/or training. Email Julie for rental rates. For more information, visit our website: MVWct.com or call: 475-202-6155.

41-43 Naugatuck Avenue, Milford, CT 203-693-3893 Info@WalnutBeachWellness.com WalnutBeachWellness.com @WalnutBeachWellness

An organic, holistic wellness center for supportive, preventive care. Experience the highest quality care though massage, Ashiatsu, manual lymphatic drainage, cranial sacral therapy, Reiki, Thai bodywork, Chinese medicine including acupuncture, Tui na, cupping, Naturopathic medicine, yoga therapy and classes, and holistic skincare. Find your support network through our community circles. Gain knowledge and empowerment through our workshops and classes to gain control of your life, health and happiness. Our store is stocked with organic bulk herbs, supplements, essential oils, raw ingredients and more to support your journey to optimal health. See Profile on page 37.

New Haven/Middlesex

WOMEN’S WELLNESS

HIDDEN GEM ON MAIN

THE WELL FOR WOMEN

33 N. Main Street, Wallingford, CT 203-626-9881 HiddenGemOnMain@gmail.com HiddenGemOnMain.com

495 Blake Street Center New Haven, CT 203-390-5542 TheWellForWomenCT.com

Products and services to nourish your mind, body and spirit that support local, independent and eco-friendly businesses. Holistic Nutrition, Energy Healing, Aromatherapy, Flower Essences, Consultations and Classes. Yoga, Sound Healing, Tarot Readings and Blending Apothecary. See Profile on page 39.

The Well for Women is a sanctuary for women’s wellness offering massage therapy, wellness classes, and community. Located along the West River in Westville neighborhood of New Haven, our loft-style space with easy parking is filled with natural light and cozy nooks. Join us for yoga, pilates, breastfeeding support groups, workshops with experts in women’s self-care, and more!

WEIGHT LOSS LIFE DESIGN HYPNOSIS, LLC

Patricia Babey, BS Certified Hypnotist Certified Pain Management Specialist Certified Reiki II Practitioner Madison, CT 06443 203-980-0022 LifeDesignHypnosis.com A client centered practice created to assist you in improving every aspect of your life by tapping into the natural power of your brain.

Release weight, stop smoking, reduce stress, and manage pain.

You can change just about anything with hypnosis.

Each session is personal, customized and tailored for you. Don’t let your brain hold you back any longer from achieving the lifelong dreams you deserve. Free consultations. See ad on page 8.

WHOLE BODY WELLNESS CBD MASSAGE ELM CITY WELLNESS

WALNUT BEACH WELLNESS CENTER

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WELLNESS & WOO

774 Orange Street New Haven, CT 203-691-7653 ElmCityWellness.com

Elm City Wellness is an independent, womanowned wellness center with a focus on community healing. Services include a variety of skilled massage, CBD massage, community and private acupuncture, Reiki, craniosacral therapy and organic skin care, including signature, microderm and high frequency facials. Skilled therapists specifically tailor each and every session. Our wellness store features local products, candles, wellness supplies and books, smudge kits and a large range of third-party tested, pharmaceutical grade CBD products. See Profile on page 39.

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YOGA YOUR COMMUNITY YOGA CENTER Jennifer Brosious 39 Putnam Avenue, Hamden, CT 203-287-2277 YourCommunityYoga.com

Yoga is the connection between mind, body and spirit.

We offer classes in a wide range of levels and styles. As a varied group of dedicated teachers and practitioners who believe that Yoga should be accessible, fun, healing and ultimately transformative, we look forward to welcoming you. (And our app makes it easy!)

YOGA & AYURVEDA BALANCE BY MELISSA

Melissa Pytlak Yoga Instructor Ayurvedic Wellness Counselor 203-305-5531 SeekLifeBalance@gmail.com BalanceByMelissa.com Melissa invites you to come home to yourself and awaken the healer within. Offering private and group instruction in yoga and Ayurveda, Melissa guides you to connect with your True Self and to trust that you already possess all the wisdom you need to heal yourself in order to return to your innate state of harmony and health. Melissa enjoys teaching group classes but particularly loves the magic that unfolds in helping people one on one. If you need a little guidance on your path of wellness, please reach out for a free 10-minute consultation.

See Profie on page 41.

Holistic Community Professionals

HCP

Holistic Community Professionals (HCP) is a professional team of holistic, complementary, and alternative businesses providing community outreach and education.

We are committed to improving the health and wellness of body, mind, and spirit of the communities and public we serve.

EFT Tapping / Hypnosis

BEMER Therapy / HGH Gel Consultant

Holistic Events in New England

Therese Baumgart Certified Practitioner Emotional Freedom Technique Hypnosis & Past Lives Clear Stress, Lose weight, Release pain, Stop smoking Free 15 minute strategy session In-person, Skype, Phone 203-710-7438 HypnosisandEFTct.com

Earleen Wright BEMER Distributor Electro-magnetic Medical Device Sessions Homeopathic HGH Gel Distributor Andrews Healing Arts Clinic, Guilford 203-215-3222 EarleenWright@comcast.net

Shirley Bloethe YourHolisticEvents@gmail.com YourHolisticEvents.com 860-989-0033

Reiki Master / Teacher

Coaching / Worshops

Wellness Center

Stephanie Rosally-Kaplan Reiki Master / Teacher Universal White Time Gemstone Practitioner Level 2 Weddiing Officiant / Workshops Professional Photographer 914-330-1474 RosallyKaplan@gmail.com The Red Barn in Durham, 352 Main St, Durham

Torin Lee TL Coaching /Zen Events MyPathForward.net torin@zenevents.net 860-861-9038 torin@zenevents.net TorinLee.com

The Red Barn in Durham Janice Juliano, MSW, LCSW Holistic Psychotherapist Coordinator MassageTherapy Nutrition / Yoga / Reiki / Sound Healing Professional Photography / Art Classes 860-559-6151 352 Main St, Durham TheRedBarninDurham.com

STATEWIDE HOLISTIC EXPO Presented by the The Holistic Community Professionals Passport to Health & Wellness Expo SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2019 10am- 4pm Closing Event - Drumming on the Patio 4-5pm The DoubleTree by Hilton 42 Century Drive, Bristol, CT 06010 75 Vendors & Readers • Free Raffles • Drumming GRAND PRIZE A Hilton Overnight Stay for Two!

ADMISSION - Advance Early Bird $5 p/p $7 p/p at the door • Children under 5 are FREE TICKETS Facebook- Passport to Health and Wellness Expo Contact Shirley R Bloethe at 860-989-0033 Email: yourholisticevents@gmail.com Vendors apply at: www.yourholisticevents.com

We Welcome You! To join the Holistic Community Professionals, call: Shirley R. Bloethe at 860-989-0033

ShirleyBloethe.com

HCP

2019 Natural Living Directory

47

Busting the Cholesterol Myth Sugar and Inflammation More Harmful than Dietary Fat

by Dr. Lisa M. Singley

D

ietary cholesterol has long been vilified as one of the major causes of cardiovascular disease. This pervasive belief has profoundly shaped healthcare policy for more than 50 years.

However, we are now seeing that the association between dietary cholesterol and heart disease is not as clear or definitive as we have been led to believe. Careful review of the early studies has shown inconsistencies and contradictions in the data. Some of the studies do show a link between dietary cholesterol and heart disease, while others do not. This results in a confusing dilemma for both physicians and their patients.

Cholesterol was first isolated from gallstones in 1758 by French doctor Francois Poulletier de La Salle. In 1815, French chemist Michel Eugene Chevreu isolated and purified this sterol and name it 48

New Haven/Middlesex

cholesterol. John Gofman at University of California at Berkely developed the technique of ultracentrifugation to separate the lipoproteins. The more lipid the fraction had, the faster it would float. The fractions were named high density lipoproteins (HDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL) and very low density lipoproteins (VLDL). The high-density fractions correlated with the alpha lipoproteins, the low-density fractions correlated with the beta lipoproteins, and the very low density with the prebeta lipoproteins. That’s really how we got “Apo B” and “Apo A,” the proteins or apolipoproteins associated with each fraction.

Then Gofman observed that people who had higher levels of the beta lipoproteins, or the low-density lipoproteins, had more frequent coronary disease while ones with higher levels of the HDL had fewer coronary events.

NaturalNewHaven.com

1. The saturated fat in the study included hydrogenated trans fats. The data linking trans fats with heart disease did not come out until years later in the 1980s.

2. Discrepancies have been reported with the data analysis; suggesting that not all of the data were used in the final analysis, thus skewing the results.

3. It has been reported that the lead investigator looked back at the data years later and noticed sugar actually had a stronger association with heart disease versus saturated fat. If trans fats were then excluded, the association between dietary saturated fat and heart disease became even weaker.

It is important to note that scientific inquiry does not take place in a vacuum.

Tycson1/Bigstock.com

In 1852, Irish Physician Richard Quain observed fatty material deposition in the blood vessels. In 1854, Dr. Rudolf Virchow described atherosclerosis as a disease that was due to excess cholesterol deposition.

Cholesterol became associated with heart disease in 1913 when Nikolai Anitschkow discovered that feeding rabbits purified cholesterol led to atherosclerosis. This study had very little effect on research because the scientist did not see a connection between this work on rabbits and human health and disease. In 1973, Joe Goldstein genetically classified the types of cholesterol-carrying lipoproteins in the blood. Joseph Goldstein and Arno Motulsky found familial hyperlipidemia linked to premature heart disease. Michael Brown and Goldstein found genetics behind the inability to remove LDL. This research made him one of the founders of modern cholesterol research.

The Seven Countries Study by Ancel Keys began in 1956. It examined the connection between lifestyle, diet and heart disease in men from different countries; it was the first study of its kind. Keys measured the association between saturated fat and coronary heart disease controlling for total caloric intake and sugar. Saturated fat remained statistically significantly associated with heart disease in that model. Proponents argue this study had several flaws:

At the same time Keys was attempting to demonstrate saturated fat was dangerous, one of his contemporaries, John Yudkin, a diabetes expert, was convinced sugar was the real culprit with regard to heart disease.

He and Keys debated this issue; Keys won the popular opinion at the time and the American Heart Association declared that butter, eggs and beef increased coronary disease risk.

The Keys Study led to the Framingham Study, which has been ongoing since 1948. The purpose of this study was to identify common factors that contribute to cardiovascular disease by following its development over time in a large sample of participants free of heart disease. The data revealed that higher risk factors for heart disease include cigarette smoking, cholesterol level, obesity, blood pressure and EKG abnormalities. Lower Risk Factors included regular physical activity and higher HDL The study attributes heart disease to many factors other than dietary intake of saturated fat; it does not say that those with high cholesterol have higher mortality rates. In fact, according to Dr. David Diamond about the Framingham Heart Study, the study concludes: “If your cholesterol is below 300, there is no significant association between your cholesterol and heart disease.” William Castelli, MD, a former director of the Framingham Heart Study— the one that originally implicated cholesterol as a problem in cardiovascular disease (CVD) —noted that low serum cholesterol means that we have three times the chance of having a stroke. High cholesterol has been shown not to be significantly correlated with heart attacks since 40 percent of the people who have heart attacks have cholesterol that is lower than average.

One thing most people can agree upon is that inflammation is a significant component to virtually every degenerative condition; heart disease is no exception.

Studies have shown that patients who have had a heart attack tend to have higher levels of c-reactive protein (CRP), an important biomarker for inflammation.

Elevated levels of CRP are also associated with higher rates of atherosclerosis and stroke.

These studies bring us back to some

One thing most people can agree upon is that inflammation is a significant component to virtually every degenerative condition; heart disease is no exception. of the basic tenets of health that we have known for a long time. Our diets should consist of whole, unprocessed foods with high amounts of vegetables, fruits—supplying us with antioxidants and fiber.

Including anti-inflammatory foods, such as turmeric, ginger, rosemary, cayenne, blueberries and green tea, in your diet can help.

Fat is not the enemy as long as we have enough antioxidants to keep the LDL from being oxidized. Dr Sinatra and others have reported that the size of the atherogenic LDL particles are actually more important than the concentration. LDLs vary in size based on our genetics; the large neutral particles are less problematic than the small dense ones. They even suggest these parameters may be considered the “new good and bad” cholesterol, instead of the traditional HDL and LDL cholesterol.

Beyond the Basic Lipid Panel

Since the basic cholesterol test may be leading us down inaccurate or incomplete paths, here are some of the more specific recommended tests to consider when evaluating risk for heart disease. n Lipoprotein subclasses: Smaller LDL particles can cause plaque formation faster than larger LDL particles

n Apoliprotein B (apoB - LDL particle number): A higher ApoB number indicates an increased risk for heart disease n Lp(a): A lipoprotein associated with increased coagulation and increased risk for heart attacks and stroke n Lp (PLA2): A marker for inflammation in the arteries; elevated levels are risk factors for ischemic stroke and heart attack n HS-Cardio CRP: A high sensitive cardio c-reactive protein and a biomarker for inflammation n Fibrinogen: An inflammation biomarker and clotting factor n Insulin: associated with atherosclerosis n NT-proBNP: A hormone released from the heart muscle in response to ongoing stress or strain on the heart n Vitamin D: Low levels are associated with an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, hypertension and heart failure n Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids: Lower omega 3 and higher omega 6 have been associated with increased risk of heart disease n HEMOGLOBIN AIC: A marker for average blood sugar over a three-month period of time n Apo A1: The major component of HDL; higher levels tend to reduce risk of heart disease Lisa Singley, ND, is director of the Natural Health and Wellness Center in Stratford with a secondary location in Sandy Hook.

The center offers comprehensive natural solutions to prevent illness and maintain optimal health for body, mind and spirit.

Connect at 203-874-4333 or NHAWC.com.

2 IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

TO ASK WHEN SEEKING A PHYSICAL THERAPIST 1. Will my PT work ONLY with me during my treatment?

ABSOLUTELY! At Physical Therapy Services of Guilford, we are one of the few remaining practices that spend 40 minutes, one-on-one, with YOU and ONLY YOU.

2. Will I ONLY be doing exercises during my treatment?

No. Your physical therapist will be using hands-on techniques to relieve your pain and will provide you with exercises to do at home.

Physical Therapy Services of Guilford • 500 East Main Street • Branford

203-315 7727

•

PhysicalTherapyGuilford.com

2019 Natural Living Directory

49

Lowering the Pressure A TCM Approach for a Common Cardiovacular Issue

by Dr. Ming Wu

A

re antihypertensive medicines helping or harming our bodies?

Recently, the benefits of treating high blood pressure with antihypertensive medicines have been called into question.

Research published in JAMA Internal Medicine in October 2018 found that treating mild hypertension (untreated BP 140/90-159/99 mm Hg) in low-risk patients didn’t improve mortality or risk of cardiovascular disease compared with no treatment, in a cohort study involving nearly 40,000 patients. During a median 5.8 years of follow-up, mortality and cardiovascular disease rates were similar between groups, but those treated with antihypertensive medicines experienced higher rates of hypotension, syncope, electrolyte abnormalities and acute kidney injury.

Another article published in the British 50

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Medical Journal in the same month also reported disturbing results. The researchers found that angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), a type of blood pressure drug that millions worldwide are taking daily, are associated with a higher risk of lung cancer, compared with other types of drugs. It showed that patients on ACEIs were 14 percent more likely to develop lung cancer, and the risk went up the longer patients were on the medication.

Those taking them for five years were 22 percent more likely to get lung cancer, and the risk rose to 31 percent if they were on them for 10 years.

Scientists believe the drugs cause the accumulation of a chemical called bradykinin on the lungs, which in turn leads to cancer.

Although the risk to individual patients is modest, the absolute numbers of patients at risk for lung cancer is potentially large

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because ACEIs are widely prescribed, say the researchers.

High blood pressure is not a disease, but rather is often caused by blood that’s too thick and viscous to flow freely through the body’s small capillaries. In order to make sure good circulation is taking place, the heart has to pump harder, thereby raising blood pressure. This is the body’s way of making sure this thick blood reaches all the cells throughout the body, because cells that don’t receive blood will die sooner.

Healthy blood shouldn’t be so viscous.

It should flow more freely. When blood is properly hydrated and nourished with the right fatty acids (more omega-3s in particular), the heart does not need to work as hard to pump it throughout the body, so blood pressure automatically drops. It’s like the difference between sucking water and honey through a straw—the more sticky and thick the honey, the more pressure it takes to move it.

Western medicine diagnoses this situation by saying that high blood pressure is itself a disease, and high blood pressure is attacked with drugs that artificially lower blood pressure by forcing artery walls to relax. Unsurprisingly, the thick sludge blood is no longer reaching all the cells it needs to reach, so we end up with circulation problems.

Hypertension, in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is characterized as dizziness, excess liver yang, and liver and kidney yin deficiency. TCM believes that excess wood (liver) qi will damage the soil (stomach), therefore weakening the spleen and stomach, causing headaches, dizziness and even stroke.

Most hypertension cases are chronic, but there are also acute cases. The former is more common in the middle-aged and older population. The onset is slow. There are no obvious symptoms at the early stage, and even for those that have symptoms, the symptoms tend to vary from person to person. The acute cases are more common in young people, with rapid onset and rapid progress which can quickly lead to heart, kidney and cerebrovascular problems, and cause various complications.

Hypertension patients often experience headache, dizziness, tinnitus, insomnia,

numbness of the limbs, shortness of breath and irritability, among other symptoms. At the early stage, the patient’s blood pressure is elevated, but the level can fluctuate. At the later stage, blood pressure level rises continually, and hypertension starts to cause damage to the heart, kidney, brain and other organs, worsening the symptoms. Clinically, the specific stages are determined by the patient’s blood pressure levels.

TCM believes that the various symptoms of hypertension are mainly due to damage to the liver. Liver governs the dispersion and discharging function of the body, and therefore, stagnation and blockage are harmful to the liver. Strong mental stimulation, excessive thinking and being too nervous can cause stagnation in the liver. An unhealthy diet can also affect the functions of the organs, causing yin/ yang unbalance, and in turn harming the liver. Also, when the body lacks sufficient energy, which can damage the organs, the liver cannot get enough nutrients, thus leading to liver diseases.

In the progress of hypertension, most patients started with excess syndrome, such as excess liver fire, and gradually transformed into deficiency syndrome.

Excess yang can damage yin, and when yin is weak, the yang can seem to be even more in excess. At this stage, the patient’s condition is having deficient yin and excessive yang. As the condition progresses, the organs and yin and yang all suffer damage. Yang grows steadily weaker, and the patient’s condition becomes mainly yin deficiency. In the end, both yin and yang are deficient, and the patient’s condition becomes true deficiency.

With that being said, a doctor should still differentiate the symptoms, and choose the treatment based on the individual’s specific situation. They should change the medicines prescribed when the patient’s condition changes. For example, for patients with excess yang, some need reducing method, while others need reinforcing the yin to restrict excess yang. To achieve satisfying results, one needs to differentiate symptoms and root cause. However, whether the results are satisfactory cannot be simply based on the blood pressure

numbers, but comprehensive analysis.

Using TCM syndrome differentiation method, we can generally divide hypertension patients into two types: one with excess yang, and the other with deficient yang.

Deficient yin and excess yang. Symptoms include: dizziness, red face, tinnitus, palpitation, insomnia, irritability, loss of balance, sore and weak waist and knees. This is mainly due to insufficient kidney water, so the liver is malnourished. Therefore, the yang excessiveness in this situation is not true excessiveness, so the appropriate treatment should not aim to treat excess yang, but reinforce the yin. When the kidney yin is sufficient, excess yang will be balanced.

Deficient spleen and kidney yang. This type of patient is more likely to experience dizziness, tinnitus, weakness in the waist and knees, chills in the limbs, and even weak and swollen lower limbs, urinary hesitancy, nocturia and sometimes spermatorrhoea. It is commonly seen with late stage stroke patients with paralysis on one side of the body. For this type of situation, the treatment should be to reinforce spleen qi and strengthen kidney yang.

If hypertension has affected the heart, common symptoms include palpitation, chest tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness, tinnitus, weak waist and legs—with palpitation and irregular pulse being the main characteristics. The correct treatment is often adjusting the Ying Qi and Wei Qi, and strengthening the heart, spleen and kidney.

When treating hypertension, it is important to use the appropriate formula to adjust the body’s yin and yang, and to restore the functions of the organs. It is even more important to motivate patients to seek changes in lifestyle and lift their mental burden. Patients with hypertension should exercise regularly, balance work and rest, have a regular eating schedule, avoid milk and milk products, eat less meat and more vegetables, drink five to six cups of ancient tree Pu’er tea every day, avoid excessive thinking and adopt other healthy lifestyle habits.

Dr. Ming Wu is a master herbalist with decades of experience and thousands of years of wisdom. He uses herbs to help stimulate the body toward self-healing.

Wu Healing Center is located at 45 S. Main St, West Hartford.

PU’ER TEA FOR LOWERING BLOOD PRESSURE In the U.S., it is a common belief that to combat high blood pressure, we need to take drugs daily for the rest of our life. But Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers another solution.

Drink Pu’er tea, Huang Jing tea or herbal tea daily, eat chia seeds (13g daily), eat more living nutrients, reduce the consumption of animal products, cook with Chi daily and focus on enjoying life.

As for the all-important tea, the recommendation is King’s Pu’er Tea. To make it, put 1 teaspoon of the tea into a teapot, pour 4 ounces of water in the pot and steep for 15 seconds. Pour tea into a cup, sit calmly, breathe in the steam and sip slowly. Do this about 10 times a day with the same tea leaves.

Within 24 hours or less than 10 days after embracing such lifestyle changes, blood pressure normalizes, as the blood itself becomes more hydrated and free to flow throughout the circulatory system.

King’s Pu’er Tea is available through Dr. Wu at Wu Healing Center in West Hartford.

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green living

Growing Interest in Sustainable Living Ethics and Global Concerns Driving Change

by James N. Osborn Jr.

W

ith the rise of the conscientious consumer and growing awareness about global warming, it’s no wonder that companies are pivoting toward higher sustainability.

Aiming to increase sales by distinguishing their products to consumers, companies are finding sustainability an important factor. In fact, a majority of corporate executives now believe that a sustainable strategy is required to remain competitive.

But the push for corporate sustainability is not only coming from consumers; investors play an integral part. Investor activism has increased significantly. Shareholder proposals forcing corporate sustainability have more than doubled in the last two 52

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decades. In 2017, 85 percent of the S&P 500 Index companies published sustainability reports, compared to under 20 percent as recent as 2011. The combination of activism by both consumer and investor is growing the size of sustainability. By extension, sustainable investing has witnessed fast growth; it is making up a much larger percentage of investment strategy despite current perception.

What Does This Mean to Investors?

The increase of publicly traded companies’ use of sustainability practices opens the universe to identifying sustainable companies; this type has been labeled,

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“sustainable investing.” Those that do or don’t practice sustainability can be identified via a continuum. For example, using a sustainability scale of 0 to 10, companies with low sustainability will rank closer to 0 while those with higher sustainability will rank closer to 10. The value of all U.S. publicly traded securities is approximately $70 trillion, consisting of $30 trillion and $40 trillion in the stock and bond market, respectively. A sustainability ranking can be applied to each security in the $70 trillion market, with each security ranging from very low to very high.

Investors may seek investments with higher sustainability for the sake of personal ethics; however, there are additional

Shareholder proposals forcing corporate sustainability have more than doubled in the last two decades. In 2017, 85 percent of the S&P 500 Index companies published sustainability reports, compared to under 20 percent as recent as 2011. benefits to sustainable investing. Research has shown that companies with higher sustainability show higher return potential, profitability and dividend yield; they are valued at a premium when compared to their peers. Not to be outdone, there can be exceptional environmental benefits in addition to higher return potential. According to Nordea Bank, investing in sustainable companies can be 27 times more efficient in lowering a person’s carbon footprint.

Ways to Practice Sustainable Investing

Many investors look for professional investment managers rather than managing their own investments. Investors, through their 401k, 403b, IRA, pensions or other investment accounts, hire professional managers that identify investment opportunities.

Professionally managed accounts focused on sustainability are now valued at $12 trillion. That is up 38 percent in just two years; the number has grown nearly four times over since 2010. Based on a total of $46.6 trillion in assets that are professionally managed, $1 in every $4 is invested sustainably.

A portfolio can become much more sustainable with research.

Following are two popular methods of practicing sustainable investing using mutual funds or Exchange Traded Funds (ETF). n Sustainability indexing: pick funds that are more sustainable than their peer group n Ethical investing: choose funds based on investor’s ethics Sustainability indexing creates options in an investment class. For example, many investors may hold an “index fund” that follows the market, like SPY, a MorningStar categorized large blend ETF. That same investor could pivot to DSI, a sustainably mandated ETF with the same category as the SPY. This same strategy could work for many other investments in a portfolio.

Rather than using sustainability indexing, an investor may want to invest with more specificity using an ethical investment strategy. This practice involves an investor actively eliminating ETFs

based on their ethics. An investor may want to focus investments based on environment, health, human rights and other criteria.

This can be better explained through examples where the funds below represent certain ethics-based ETFs. n SHE - SPDR SSGA Gender Diversity: companies with high diversity/inclusion n ICLN - iShares Global Clean Energy: clean energy companies n CGW - Invesco S&P Global Water: water-conscious companies n VETS - Pacer Military Times Best Employers: companies that are known to hire military veterans n ESML - iShares MSCI USA Sml-Cp ESG Optmzd ETF: an ETF that is gun-free

Who’s Doing It?

The United Nations created the Principals of Responsible Investing (UNPRI) for investors to adopt by becoming signatories.

UNPRI distinguishes its over 2200 signatories into three types: asset owners, investment managers and service providers. Some asset owners who are signatories include The City of Chicago, Employees’ Retirement System of the State of Hawaii, Harvard University Endowment, and Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds, to name a few. These signatories promise to incorporate sustainability into their investment positions.

Have no fear, when thinking about an investment portfolio through a 401k, 403b, IRA or others, the investment managers that are listed in the UNPRI include household names. These investment managers manage numerous retirement accounts and have numerous sustainability products that may fit an investor’s portfolio. Here are some of the most recognizable investment managers: Fidelity, BlackRock, Vanguard, State Street and Nuveen (via TIAA). Investors may find products—mutual funds or ETFs—at these institutions that meet their sustainable investing needs.

Take Note

Investors should do their research. Pay attention to the holdings in diversified sustainable mutual funds and ETFs because it’s possible that some of the holdings within a sustainable fund may go against an investor’s personal ethics. Furthermore, investing comes with risks. When investing, consideration must be given to one’s budget, risk tolerances, return objectives, life changes, liquidity needs, investment horizon and many other factors.

Working with an advisor/planner can help. The right advisor will talk to the client, listen to the client’s needs, goals and wishes.

They will educate the client about investment products that may be appropriate for the client’s investment and sustainability goals.

James N. Osborn Jr. is the founder and principal of Envest Asset Management, LLC, a firm that provides financial planning and investment management to individuals, families, businesses and nonprofits focused on sustainable investments. Connect at James.

Osborn@EnvestAM.com and EnvestAM.com.

2019 Natural Living Directory

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conscious eating

RECIPES A HEART WILL LOVE

GREEN IS SEEN when you advertise with us Be Part of OUR APRIL

EARTH DAY ISSUE!

CALL US TODAY

203-305-5531

Tasty Ways to Boost Heart Health

A

by Avery Mack

s a special meal for Valentine’s Day or any other, many plant-based dishes are so tasty that no one will miss the meat. Low in fat and sugar and high in ingredients that promote heart health, the following recipes are courtesy of Carol D’Anca, a board-certified nutrition practitioner and author of Real Food for Healthy People: A Recipe & Resource Guide, in Highland Park, Illinois.

Start With Soup

Rich in dietary fiber and low in fat, butternut squash with low-salt vegetable broth and spices is an easy-to-make soup loaded with nutrients and flavor. Allow 40 to 45 minutes to roast the squash.

Butternut Squash Soup Yields: Four servings 1 butternut squash, 2-3 lbs, peeled and cut in cubes to equal 4 cups

3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth Dash red pepper flakes Freshly ground black pepper Pepitas or pumpkin seeds for garnish Preheat oven to 425° F. Line a heavy baking pan with parchment paper. Spread squash cubes in a single layer, using two lined pans if needed. Roast for about 40 minutes or until tender when pierced with a fork.

Alternate method: Wash the squash. Make several slits to allow for escaping steam.

Roast whole in the oven for about 45 minutes or until soft and easy to peel and cut.

Transfer the roasted squash to a food processor or heavy-duty blender. Add remaining ingredients and process until smooth. Add additional broth to reach desired consistency.

Natural Awakenings recommends using organic, fair trade, non-genetically modified ingredients, BPA-free canned goods and non-bromated flour whenever possible.

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Divide into four bowls. For texture and crunch, garnish with roasted pepita or pumpkin seeds.

Hearty Bread

This whole-grain, gluten-free, no-knead, no-mess bread contains flax, sunflower and chia seeds, hazelnuts, oats, coconut oil and maple syrup as a sweetener. Accompanying soup, it makes for a satisfying meal.

This recipe is adapted from “Change Your Life Bread” in D’Anca’s book My New Roots.

Let it sit on the counter for at least two hours, or all day or overnight. When the dough retains its shape, even when you pull the sides of the loaf pan or lift the parchment, it’s ready to bake.

Preheat oven to 350° F. Place loaf pan in the oven on the middle rack and bake for 20 minutes. Remove bread from loaf pan, place it upside down directly on the rack and bake for another 30 to 40 minutes.

Bread is done when it sounds hollow when tapped. Let cool completely before slicing.

Store bread in a tightly sealed container for up to five days. Freezes well. For a quick and easy toast, slice before freezing.

The Pleasures of Pasta

Change Your Life Bread

photo by Stephen Blancett

Yields: One loaf 2 cups shelled raw sunflower seeds 1 cup whole flax seeds 1 cup blanched hazelnuts 3 cups rolled oats (use certified gluten-free oats, if needed) 4 Tbsp chia seeds 6 Tbsp psyllium husks Pinch fresh ground coarse salt, preferably Himalayan 2 Tbsp maple syrup 6 Tbsp coconut oil, liquefied at low temperature in a small pan 3 cups water In a loaf pan lined with parchment, combine all dry ingredients, stirring well.

Whisk maple syrup and water together in a measuring cup.

Add to the dry ingredients and mix until everything is soaked and dough becomes thick. If it’s too thick to stir, add one or two teaspoons of water until it’s manageable.

Smooth the top with the back of a spoon.

Pasta is guilt-free when we use a whole wheat variety that digests more slowly than white flour pasta, avoiding blood sugar spikes, D’Anca says. Gluten-free, grainfree or vegetable pasta can be substituted for whole grain pasta. Fresh asparagus is recommended. If it’s not in season, consider red chard for its bright red and green colors and abundance of vitamins K, A and C. It’s a good source of magnesium, potassium, iron and dietary fiber.

Use red, orange, yellow or a mix of colors 1½ Tbsp fresh thyme leaves 1 lb fresh asparagus, pencil thin is best (if not available, substitute red chard) ¼ cup pitted Kalamata olives ½ cup fresh basil ¼ cup white wine or white wine vinegar Squeeze garlic from its skins into a large skillet. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Cook over medium heat until the mixture is reduced and thickened to a sauce (coulis), about 20 to 30 minutes. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente.

Drain the pasta well and place back in the pan. Add tomato coulis and olives. Toss well to infuse flavors. Let warm for 2 to 3 minutes.

Serve at once.

Savory Side Dish

Chickpeas are a great source of fiber. Bell peppers, also known as sweet peppers, are available in white, orange, green and purple. Lycopene gives red tomatoes their color, may reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol and lower blood pressure. Yellow tomatoes have twice as much iron and zinc and higher levels of vitamin B and folate to help red blood cells. Darker tomatoes ranging from purple to black produce higher levels of antioxidants for a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Don’t overlook green tomatoes, which are higher in vitamin K and calcium than reds or yellows.

Roasted Chickpeas with Grilled Vegetables Yields: Serves two, or four if dished over quinoa

Whole Grain Pasta with Asparagus and Tomato Coulis Yields: 6 servings for dinner or 8 as a smaller first course.

1 lb of your favorite whole grain pasta 3 large cloves garlic, roasted for about 25 minutes in their skins 3 pints cherry or grape tomatoes, halved

12 small mushrooms, sliced 2 ripe tomatoes, quartered 1 red bell pepper, cut in strips 1 yellow pepper, cut in strips 1 red onion, cut into wedges, or 1½ cups leeks, halved lengthwise, cleaned, and cut chiffonade-style About 6 cloves of garlic, peeled 2, 14-oz cans of chickpeas, rinsed and drained 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary Balsamic or white wine vinegar 2019 Natural Living Directory

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Put mushrooms, tomatoes, red and yellow peppers, onion and garlic in a large roasting pan. Roast for about 30 minutes or until the vegetables caramelize.

Eating healthy doesn’t mean all salads, all the time. From appetizer to dessert, healthy, easy-to-make, creative and colorful recipes can improve health and add flavor to life.

Almond Butter and Raw Cacao Chocolate Truffles Yields: 12 servings

Remove the pan and turn the vegetables over. Add the chickpeas and rosemary and return to the oven. Roast for another 30 to 45 minutes until the edges of the vegetables start to turn dark and the chickpeas are browning.

1 cup almond meal ½ cup almond butter ¼ cup raw cacao, organic 3 Tbsp grade B maple syrup 1 tsp organic vanilla ¼ cup raw almonds, ground ¼ cup raw cacao nibs, ground Finely ground nuts like walnuts or hazelnuts, shredded coconut or raw cacao for texture and added flavor

Sprinkle with balsamic vinegar, toss and serve warm as is or over quinoa.

Make a flax “egg” by mixing the ground flax seeds with the water. Let it sit for 3 to 5 minutes until it thickens to an egg consistency.

Place the bell pepper, onion and garlic in a food processor and process until smooth.

Remove the mixture and drain in a fine sieve. Too much liquid will make the burgers fall apart.

Burgers for Lunch

These burgers are good either oven baked or grilled, weather permitting. Offer toppings like baby spinach, salsa, nut cheese, pesto, fig jam, mango or slaw. Apple cider vinegar, dill, celery salt and agave nectar to taste makes a dressing for slaw. Thin slices of Granny Smith or Honey Crisp apples add a tang of tart or hint of sweetness.

Black Bean/Veggie Burger 1 16-oz can of black beans, drained, rinsed well and dried on a paper towel ½ red bell pepper, cut in large pieces 1 medium-size onion, cut in large pieces 1 Tbsp chili powder, mild or hot to taste 3 cloves of garlic, rough chopped 1 tsp black cumin 1 Tbsp ground flax seeds 3 Tbsp water Approximately 1 cup bread crumbs (glutenfree if needed) to act as a binder 4 buns or bread of choice 56

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Place black beans in the food processor and pulse to a thick, sticky consistency.

Add the drained red pepper mixture, flax “egg”, cumin and chili spice. Process until lightly mixed.

Remove the burger mixture to a bowl.

Add bread crumbs until the mix forms into patties.

Grill for 5 to 10 minutes, turning once, or bake in a 350° F oven on a parchment-lined baking sheet for about 5 to 10 minutes on each side.

Guilt-Free Chocolate Dessert

“Chocolate desserts usually include loads of sugar and butter, making them a highly processed and saturated-fat food,” says D’Anca. “These treats deliver the good fat of cacao nibs and the antioxidants of raw cacao.”

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Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and mix them to a smooth batter. Chill the batter for about 20 minutes.

Roll into either bite-sized or larger balls to serve as is or roll in nuts, coconut or cacao for texture and added taste.

For more recipes and information about nutrition and heart health provided by D’Anca, visit FoodNotMeds.com.

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

photo by Stephen Blancett

Preheat oven to 400° F.

calendar of events SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2 Grumpy Groundhogs – 1:30pm. You’d be grumpy too if someone forced you to wake up when you weren’t ready! Come learn all about the best winter nappers of all. For all ages. A short hike to discover a groundhog den, a craft and a story are planned. Free. Ansonia Nature Ctr, 10 Deerfield Rd, Ansonia. Preregister: 203-736-1053.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3 It’s All in the Bark: Winter Tree ID – 1pm. Tired of straining your eyes trying to discern leaves to determine what type of tree you are looking at? Never worry about leaves again! During this guided hike, Ranger Jess will show you how to identify at least 20 common woodland trees by their bark alone! For adults and children 9 and up. Dress for the weather and wear footwear appropriate for hiking. Free. Ansonia Nature Ctr, 10 Deerfield Rd, Ansonia. Preregister: 203-736-1053.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4 Monday Reiki Meditation – 6:30pm. (Mondays in February). Reiki Master and Teacher Thema Haida will take you on an inner journey through the Chakra systems. Explore the ancient energy centers of the body while receiving Reiki to deepen relaxation and connection to self. $5. Elm City We l l n e s s , 7 7 4 O r a n g e S t , N e w H a v e n .

203-691-7653. ElmCityWellness.com.

Group Past Life Regression – 6:30pm-8-30pm.

Discover reasons for current fears, recurring dreams or personality tendencies. Attendees explore past lives, learn reasons for repeat patterns or why they were born to a certain family. $20.

36 Cheshire Rd, Wallingford. Gayle 203-265-2927.

Return2love3@gmail.com. Return2Love.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5 Young Living Essential Oils – 6:30pm-8pm. Help align your mind, body, spirit. Learn to take control of you and your pet’s health with therapeutic grade oils. Free class. 36 Cheshire Rd, Wallingford.

203-265-2927, Return2love3@gmail.com or Return2Love.com.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6 Herbal Happy Hour: Heart & Blood Vessel Remedies – 6pm-7:30pm. Discover the powerful healing medicinal herbs with for healthy cholesterol, blood pressure, arteries, veins and blood clots.

Heart healthy mocktail recipes will be included just in time to include in your St. Valentines celebrations! $30 per person. New England Naturopathic Center, Cheshire. Pre-registration at Preregister: DrAnastasio.com/events.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7 New Haven Community Circle Dance – 7:30pm-9:30pm. Move in the footsteps of our ancestors as we enjoy traditional dances from many cultures, as well as contemporary pieces choreographed in the spirit of ancient folk dance. All dances are taught and no experience is necessary.

Suggested donation $8. Friends Meetinghouse, 225 East Grand Ave, New Haven. 203-467-1069, NHCircleDance.yolasite.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9 Soul Saturday – With Stephanie and Gina – 10am: Guided Meditation with energy healing ($15). 1pm: Self-Love, Self-Healing ($35). 4pm: Manifest Your Soulmate ($50). Red Barn in Durham Holistic Therapies and Art Center, 352 Main St, Durham. Register: email: RosallyKaplan@gmail.com, or visit: TheRedBarnInDurham.com.

Sweet Treats for Valentines – 1:30pm. Join Ranger Dawn and make a basket filled with chocolate dipped goodies that we will make for your favorite Valentine! Please pre-register. Fee: $5 for a small basket, $10 for a large basket. Ansonia Nature Ctr, 10 Deerfield Rd, Ansonia. Preregister: 203-736-1053.

Manifest Your Soul Mate – 4pm-7pm. Remove what is blocking you from finding love and Manifest your soul mate with reiki master Stephanie Rosally-Kaplan. We will be doing a manifesting Ritual to help you find a new love mate. It will start with a reiki healing attainment and end with a vision board. Stephanie will be working with your guides. Stephanie has helped many with this. invest $50 into Attaching your soul mate. Class size 6.

The Red Barn in Durham, 352 Main St, Durham.

Email: Rosallykaplan@gmail.com or visit: TheRedBarnInDurham.com.

Partner Yoga Workshop w/ Bill Banick and Deb Weber – 5pm-7pm. Full of laughter and light heartedness, this workshop is designed to create and nurture trust and strengthen communication. $50 per couple by Feb. 2. $60 per couple after Feb. 2. Your Community Yoga Center, 39 Putnam Ave, Hamden.

203-287-2277. YourCommunityYoga.com.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10 Couples Massage Class – 1pm & 4pm. Learn the gift of touch from the best massage therapists in New Haven. We’ll show you how to communicate with your partner through touch with personalized, hands on instruction. 2 couples per class. $249/ couple. Elm City Wellness, 774 Orange St, New Haven. 203-691-7653. Elmcitywellness@gmail. com. ElmCityWellness.com.

Family Yoga w/ Sherri Sosensky – 1pm-2pm.

Filled with Partner and Heart Opening poses, Family Fun Yoga! Faces light up, bodies are moving and grooving, children are singing, jumping, and striking poses, playing musical yoga games to incredible music. $20/per family up to 3 students. $25/for 4 or more. Your Community Yoga Center, 39 Putnam Ave, Hamden. 203-287-2277.

YourCommunityYoga.com.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11 Join CELC Middle School and Bushy Hill Nature Center for an exciting array of educational experiences, to be held at the Bushy Hill Nature Center, Ivoryton – 9am-12pm. Ages: 9 - 14, Classes: Kingian Nonviolence Youth Leadership, Current Events, Wilderness Wanders & Wonders $25. Register/Contact: 860-767-2148. bhylan@bushyhill.org.

markyourcalendar

Become a Reiki Practitioner

For healing of self and others

BEGINNING MARCH!

Eileen Anderson, RN, Reiki Master Teacher is offerring classes in:

Reiki Level 1

( self, chair and table treatments)

Reiki Level 2

( deepening practice & distant healing )

Locations: Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts Center, Middletown, CT Buttonwood.org & Wallingford Adult Education Wallingford, CT WallingfordAdultEd.org

Registration & details: Contact: EileenAnderson

203-314-5401

Email: eilande@comcast.net ReikiwithEileenAnderson.com

markyourcalendar Discover the 4 Pillars for

Sustaining a Happy and Healthy Life New Session begins:

March 8, 2019

6-week Program meeting 1 time/week

Topics include:

Nutrition, Sleep, Movement, and Stress Management Combination of Lecture, Open Discussion and Demonstrations

Class size limited to 10 women

Class location:

Integrative Physical Therapy Guilford CT

Learn More:

Integrative-pt.com 203-453-4321

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calendar of events TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12 The Graduate Institute Information Sessions!

– 6:30pm-7:30pm. Enrolling now! Master of Arts and Certificates in Integrative Health and Healing, Learning and Thinking (an ideal program for teachers), Organizational Leadership, Consciousness Studies and Transpersonal Psychology, and Writing and Oral Traditions, Ecotherapy, Coaching with Spirit. The Graduate Institute, 171 Amity Rd, Bethany. Register on website: Learn.edu.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15 Sacred Heart Labyrinth Journey at Mountain View Wellness Center, Hamden – 7pm-8:30pm.

This is a spiritual labyrinth walk as a celebration of love from the heart—Divine love—infinite love—Beginning with examination of heart centered issues, we enter the path of forgiveness from the heart, meeting the Sacred Heart center, and coming out renewed from acceptance of Divine universal love. Heart tea, aromatherapy and crystals included in this journey of healing and restoring the heart. $30 per person. $50 per couple. Preregister: DrAnastasio.com/events.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16 Free Breakfast Provided by Assumption Church Breakfast Club & Masters Table Community Meals – 9:30am-11am. Join us for a hot breakfast or a cup of coffee. All are welcome! Assumption Church Hall, 61 N Cliff St, Ansonia. In case of inclement weather, call for updates. The breakfast will not be rescheduled. For more information, call 203-732-7792.

Fundraiser: Creature Parade – 12pm-3:30pm.

This is a chance to get up close and learn about each animal individually, how they’ve adapted, and where they came from. The cost of their care is considerable; your contributions will help with their specialized diets, daily care, and creature comforts. You’ll get a chance to hold a dove, pet a snake and high-five a spider. Each animal will get a 20-minute spotlight during this fundraiser. A schedule of animal showings will be listed on our website. This program is for all ages. Donation: $6 per person / $15 per family. Ansonia Nature Ctr, 10 Deerfield Rd, Ansonia. Preregister: 203-736-1053.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17 Couples Massage Class – 10am & 4pm. Learn the gift of touch from the best massage therapists in New Haven. We’ll show you how to communicate with your partner through touch with personalized, hands on instruction. 2 couples per class. $249/couple. Elm City Wellness, 774 Orange St, New Haven. 203-691-7653.

Elmcitywellness@gmail.com. ElmCityWellness.com.

Holistic Bridal Fair – 12pm-5pm. Visit with our vendors in the Sanctuary. Cross off some of your wedding day to-do list in one place by meeting with local bridal professionals who are in the business of helping you get to “I do.” 352 Main St, Durham.

TheRedBarnInDurham.com.

58

New Haven/Middlesex

Snowshoe Sunday: Getting Ready for Bluebirds – 1pm. Need to get outside? Enjoy the winter with this guided hike through our woodlands and fields.

Join Ranger Dan and snowshoe around the Nature Center grounds to clean out the bluebird boxes.

Bluebirds will start nesting again in March and April. Great exercise and fun for adults and children ages 8 and up. We have snowshoes to borrow! Free.

Ansonia Nature Ctr, 10 Deerfield Rd, Ansonia.

Preregister: 203-736-1053.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19 Winter Break: Winter Wonderland Activities – 1pm-3pm. Come for fun outdoor activities on this day off from school. We’ll take the whole family to our awesome hill for sledding fun; toddlers should ride with a parent. Everyone should be well-bundled in layers to stay warm. After our adventure we’ll come inside for hot cocoa and a chance to meet one of the Nature Center’s animals. Free for families and all ages. Registration required. Families must bring their own sleds. Ansonia Nature Ctr, 10 Deerfield Rd, Ansonia. Preregister: 203-736-1053.

Crystal Bowls – 4:30pm-6:30pm. Meditation with Priscilla Estelle. The Red Barn in Durham, 352 main street Durham. For more information, go to TheRedBarnInDurham.com. Visit The Red Barn in Durham Facebook Page.

Full Moon Meditation w/Gayle Franceschetti – 6:30pm-8:30pm. Align w/new energies of Full Moon. Opportunities for allowing spiritual energies to reach human hearts and minds. Tap into this vast pool of energy. $20. 36 Cheshire Rd, Wallingford.

203-265-2927, Return2love3@gmail.com or Return2Love.com.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20 Rise & Shine Yoga – 6:30am-7:30am. Awaken the body with a slow, invigorating flow, centering breathwork and intention setting for your day.

Six week series. Melissa Pytlak. $90. The Well for Women, 495 Blake St Center, New Haven.

203-390-5542. TheWellForWomenCT.com.

In the Kitchen with Dr. Debra: Cooking “For” and “From” the Heart – 6pm-7:30pm. Heart healthy cooking with the secret ingredient of LOVE infused food preparation! Understand the energetic nature of preparing food for health, blessing food and expressing gratefulness before eating, and tasty heart healthy cuisine! Mediterranean flare for this one! $30 per person. New England Naturopathic Center, Cheshire. Preregister: DrAnastasio.com/events.

Spirit Guide Experience – 7pm-8:30pm. For those who know their Spirit Guide and those who don’t. Learn to develop your relationship with your Spirit Guide to enhance your life. Experience Great Bear’s wisdom about Spirit Guides; and gain information about and from your own Spirit Guide.

With Christie, a clear intuitive, and her Spirit Guide Great Bear. Limited to 6 people. $25. At Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Society, 297 Boston Post Rd, Madison. For more information or to secure your space call 203-481-8827.

NaturalNewHaven.com

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23 The Art of Animal Tracking w/ Andy Dobos – 10am. Naturalist and educator Andy Dobos will take you on a wildlife tracking walk through the Nature Center’s fields and forests. There are always clues left behind by the animals for us to decipher, telling a story of their habits and lives. Get to know our beloved wildlife that much better. Wear good boots and extra layers; there will be a lot of standing and time off trail. For ages 6 and up. Fee: $6 per person. Ansonia Nature Ctr, 10 Deerfield Rd, Ansonia. Preregister: 203-736-1053.

Essential Oils Workshop with Elena Brower – 5pm-6pm. Join Elena Brower for an oils workshop featuring the DoTERRA yoga collection, introducing you to the intelligence of essential oils and how to incorporate them into your daily practices. $20-25. Breathing Room Yoga Center, 216 Crown St, New Haven. 203-562-LOVE. BreathingRoomCT.com.

Midwinter Night’s Wellness – 6:30pm-8:30pm.

Join Elena Brower, acclaimed Musician-Composer Garth Stevenson & Breathing Room’s own Verred Hamenahem for an evening practice featuring strong asana, Yoga Nidra and meditation designed to nourish you as we focus on becoming grounded and centered through mid-winter’s journey. $75-$90.

Breathing Room Yoga Center, 216 Crown St, New Haven. 203-562-LOVE. BreathingRoomCT.com.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24 Free Community Meals Presented by Master’s Table Community Meals: Dinner – 3:30pm-5pm.

Free. Open to the public. No RSVP. Donations graciously accepted. Assumption Church Hall, 61 N. Cliff St, Ansonia. For more information and in case of inclement weather, call for updates.

Dinner will not be rescheduled. 203-732-7792.

MastersTableMeals.org.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25 Young Living Essential Oils – 6:30pm-8pm. Help align your mind, body, spirit. Learn to take control of your health with therapeutic grade oils. Free class. 36 Cheshire Rd, Wallingford. 203-265-2927, Return2love3@gmail.com or Return2Love.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26 Ecology and Outdoor Adventure with Common Ground Nature Center and CELC Middle School – Ages: 10 - 14 Location: Common Ground High School, New Haven. Cost: $7 per session. Have fun, get outside, and enjoy activities that build community and leadership. Register: 203-433-4658. mandm@CTEXperiential.org.

The Graduate Institute Information Sessions!

– 6:30pm-7:30pm. Enrolling now! Master of Arts and Certificates in Integrative Health and Healing, Learning and Thinking (an ideal program for teachers), Organizational Leadership, Consciousness Studies and Transpersonal Psychology, and Writing and Oral Traditions, Ecotherapy, Coaching with Spirit. The Graduate Institute, 171 Amity Rd, Bethany. Register on website: Learn.edu.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27 Nature Explorers – 10am. (Feb 27, March 6, 13 & 20). Join us for this 4 week pre-school/toddler program for children ages 2-5 and their adult explorer. Participants will have fun exploring nature every week in these outdoor classes. The classes are typically loosely structured and influenced by the seasons and the interests of the children. We will go outside for a short hike and to explore nature every class so please dress for the weather. Classes will end with a light snack (provided or bring your own) and conversation. Tuition: $40 for all 4 weeks, space permitting (cash or check payable to Ansonia Nature Center), due at first class. Class is limited to 10 children. Ansonia Nature Ctr, 10 Deerfield Rd, Ansonia. Preregister: 203-736-1053.

SATURDAY, MARCH 2 Maple Syrup Program for Families – 1pm. A very long time ago, the Native people of the northeastern part of our country shared their sweet tree knowhow with the newcomers from Europe. Join us as the Nature Center staff presents an introduction to making maple syrup the old-fashioned way, and help us to choose just the right tree for tapping into this sweet treat! Fee: $6 per person. Please call in advance to register. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Ansonia Nature Ctr, 10 Deerfield Rd, Ansonia. Preregister: 203-736-1053.

markyourcalendar

markyourcalendar

QI REVOLUTION

Costochondritis/Chest Pain Screenings

Experience More Energy!

Reverse Disease with Food!

Saturday, April 13 through

Monday, April 15

3-Days of Amazing Qigong Healing

for $199 Learn powerful Qigong exercises, breathing techniques, strength training and a proven system of food-healing.

Amber Room Colonnade • Danbury

QiRevolution.com 800-298-8970

SUNDAY, MARCH 3 Reiki 1 Training– 11am-5pm. Taught by Thema Haida, Reiki Master and teacher, Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It’s administered by laying on hands and can be easily learned by anyone. $175 space limited. Elm City Wellness, 774 Orange St, New Haven. 203-691-7653. Elmcitywellness@ gmail.com. ElmCityWellness.com.

THURSDAY, MARCH 7 S m a l l We l l n e s s B u s i n e s s N e t w o r k i n g Meeting – 6pm-8pm. Come learn more about effective advertising strategies, how to create impactful advertisements and campaigns to boost your business. $10 donation. Mountain View Wellness, 4193 Whitney Ave, Hamden, 475-202-6155. Email: MountainViewWellnessct@gmail.com or visit: MountainViewWellnessct.com.

markyourcalendar Passport to Health & Wellness EXPO STATEWIDE HOLISTIC EXPO

Sunday, May 5 2019 10am-4pm

Benefit Holistic EXPO Presented by

The Holistic Community Professionals Held at

The DoubleTree by Hilton, Bristol, CT 75 Vendors & Readers, Free Raffles, & GRAND PRIZE Closing EVENT (4pm-5pm) FREE SOUND HEALING & Drumming on the Patio

at

Physical Therapy Services of Guilford Costochondritis is an inflammation of the cartilage that connects the ribs to the sternum, which can be a result of lifting heavy objects or falling on an outstretched arm and may be experienced as non-cardiac chest pain.

Experiencing any of these symptoms?

Take advantage of our complimentary 10-minute screening by Phyllis L Quinn, PT to see if physical therapy can relieve your pain.

Thursday, February 21st - 4 pm to 5 pm Tuesday, February 26th - 4 pm to 5 pm

Call 203-315-7727

to reserve your spot today or to make an appointment.

Physical Therapy Services of Guilford 500 East Main St, Suite 310, Branford

Stop worrying about what you have to lose and start focusing on what you have to gain. ~Unknown

Door Proceeds will benefit The CT Children’s Medical Center and Hartford Hospitals’ Integrative Medicines’Angie’s Spa fund.

CONTACT: Shirley R Bloethe 860-989-0033 EMAIL: yourholisticevents@gmail.com

Exhibitors/Speakers Apply online.

YourHolisticEvents.com

2019 Natural Living Directory

59

ongoingevents

Alignment Yoga – 10am-11:30am. With Iyengar Teacher Training Graduate. Refine your yoga practice with optimal alignment practices that make you stronger, more flexible, and more emotionally stable.

Yoga in Middletown, 438 Main St, Middletown.

860-347-YOGA (9642). YogaInMiddletown.com.

sunday Mystical Market and Craft Fair – 11am4pm. (The 3rd Sunday of every month). Psychics, vendors, artisans, holistic practitioners & more. Free admission, vendor’s fees vary. The Ruby Tree, Sherman Village Shopping Center, 670 Main St South, Woodbury. 203-586-1655, Christina@therubytreect.com, TheRubyTreeCT.com.

Sunday Guided Hikes – 1pm. Join a Nature Center guide on Sunday afternoons for fun, exercise, and learning about our trails! See the above listings for hikes with a specific theme. Ansonia Nature Ctr, 10 Deerfield Rd, Ansonia. Information/registration: 203-736-1053.

Queer Dharma – 7:30pm-9pm. A forum for practice and discussion relating all dharma traditions and the experience and concerns of LGBTQI individuals and their friends. All are warmly welcome regardless of experience, spiritual tradition, age, sex, gender identity, or sexual/affectional orientation.

Each meeting will include meditation instruction, practice, readings and discussion. Free. The Shambhala Center of New Haven, 85 Willow Street, New Haven, Building B. NewHaven.Shambhala.org.

monday Community Acupuncture at Elm City Wellness – 9am-1pm. Community Acupuncture is done in a traditional Chinese-style group setting, amplifying the healing power of the work with the presence of others. See ElmCityWellness.com for Tues, Thurs, Fri and Sat times. Initial $50. Returns $30.

Elm City Wellness, 774 Orange St, New Haven.

203-691-7653. Elmcitywellness@gmail.com.

Pilates/Barre Community Class – 8am. This class is a mix between pilates moves to strengthen core muscles and the Barre technique to sculpt and lean our arms and legs. Discount price of $10.00 cash/ check or $12.00 credit card. Kneading Hands Yoga & Massage, 760 Main St S, Unit F, Southbury. 203267-4417. KneadingHands.net.

Find Out About CT Experiential Learning Center (CELC) Middle School of Branford – 9:45am-11am. Come See CELC in Action. Academically rich real-world learning, where students engage and soar! Apply now for 2019-20. 28 School St, Branford. RSVP mandm@CTExperiential.org or call 203-433-4658. CTExperiential.org.

Guided Meditation Circle – 10am-11am. A weekly meditation Circle in a very relaxed setting using mindfulness meditations, discussions about mindfulness and how to have a successful practice.

No experience necessary. $10 Investment. Healing Room, 10 Carina Rd, North Haven. Please call: 203-214-9486.

60

New Haven/Middlesex

Yoga with Marlene – 10:30am & 7:15pm. Yoga classes for all ages and problems in a serene atmosphere with emphasis on stress-management.

1221 Village Walk. Guilford. Info: 203-453-5360.

Reiki Share – 12:30pm with Gina Restorative Yoga with Lisa Parker 6pm-7pm. $20. Vinyasa Yoga with Meg Geyser 7pm-8pm. $10. The Red Barn In Durham, 352 Main St, Durham. Please visit our FB page for up to date information.

TheRedBarnInDurham.com.

Meditation – 1:30pm. Silent, sitting meditation for anyone to attend. For all levels. Beginners welcome!

Meditation begins and ends promptly on time.

Donation-based event; no set fees. New England Meditation Center, 455 Boston Rd, Old Saybrook.

For more information, visit: https://www.meetup. com/New-England-Meditation-Center/events/ Boutique Yoga Therapy, Kundalini and Meditation with Leesa Sklover Ph,D, LPC, C-IAYT – 5:30pm-6:30pm. Short Beach Union Church,14 Pentacost St., Branford. $18. By reservation or text 917-860-0488 by 4:30pm. Reservation for first and all classes/questions: Drsklover@gmail.com.

Kundalini Yoga Class at Guest House Retreat – 6pm-7:15pm. Through physical movement, breath work and meditative practice, Kundalini Yoga builds strength, stability, and balance. This practice gives us the tools to drastically change our physical, psychological, and spiritual condition. Consider it a full mind/body upgrade. By Donation, no set fees.

318 West Main St, Chester.

Monday Reiki Meditation – 6:30pm. (Mondays in February). Reiki Master and Teacher Thema Haida will take you on an inner journey through the Chakra systems. Explore the ancient energy centers of the body while receiving Reiki to deepen relaxation and connection to self. $5. Elm City Wellness, 774 Orange St, New Haven. 203-691-7653.

ElmCityWellness.com.

Qigong for Health – 7pm-8pm. Learn a practice that invigorates the internal energy, relieves stress, tones and stretches the muscles and connects the mind and body. $15/class. Tranquil Mountain Internal Arts. Location: Shoreline Center for Wholistic Health, 35 Boston St, Guilford. Info: 860-301-6433. tmiarts.com.

tuesday Yoga with Marlene – 9:30am & 6:30pm. Yoga classes for all ages and problems in a serene atmosphere with emphasis on stress-management.

1221 Village Walk. Guilford. Info: 203-453-5360.

NaturalNewHaven.com

Healthy-Steps, The Lebed Method w/Susan Sandel – 3:45pm-4:45pm. (Every Tuesday except if inclement weather). Gentle therapeutic exercise/ mvmnt prog. Helpful for breast cancer survivors/ chronic health conditions. Free. Sponsored by Middlesex Hospital Cancer Center of Integrative Medicine. Location: Madison House, 34 Wildwood Ave, Madison. Details: 203-457-1656.

Fiber Arts Group – 6pm. Get together with others to work on your fiber arts projects! Bring any kind of fiber work—knitting, felting, crocheting, etc. A great way to dedicate time to your handiwork and socialize too. Free. Ansonia Nature Ctr, 10 Deerfield Rd, Ansonia. Information/registration: 203-736-1053.

Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement 5 Week Class Series – 6pm-7pm. Learn to move easily with simple movements that help to relieve pain and restore your body to its natural ease. $50 for 5 weeks or $15 drop in. Carol Meade Holistic Therapies Classroom, 15 South Elm St, Wallingford.

203-415-8666 or info@massage2movement.com.

Free weekly Tuesday Meditation classes – 6pm7pm. (those who would like instruction can come at 5:45pm). Open to all and fully accessible. Instruction provided for beginners. No reservations necessary. Walk-ins welcome. Program offered in cooperation with New Haven Insight and the New Haven Zen Center. New Haven Free Public Library.

133 Elm St, New Haven. 203-946-8138.

Free Reiki Sessions: The Universal Reiki Plan – 7:30pm-8:30pm. (& 8:30pm-9:30pm Thurs).

Reiki teachers Jeannette and Jim of ReikiOvertones and students offer free Reiki sessions. Appt. only. Love offering appreciated. 95 Harris St, Fairfield. Details: Jim and Jeannette 203-254-3958. info@ReikiOvertones.com.

wednesday Be Uplifted by Unconditional Loving Spirit – Release what holds you back. Learn from Loving Spirit about who you are on a deeper level. Be supported and encouraged to grow. Christie, a clear intuitive, and her Spirit Guide Great Bear, can make this happen for you. For more information or an appointment call 203-481-8827.

Emei Wujigong Qigong Group Practice – 12pm1pm. Experience a qigong form for rebalancing and strengthening body, mind and spirit. For all abilities and levels of health. Schedule Available online. 1st class free (reg. $5). Holistic Therapies Classroom, 15 South Elm St, Wallingford. Info: EmeiQigongChan.com.

Meditation – 1:30pm. Silent, sitting meditation for anyone to attend. For all levels. Beginners welcome!

Meditation begins and ends promptly on time.

Donation-based event; no set fees. New England Meditation Center, 455 Boston Rd, Old Saybrook.

For more information, visit: https://www.meetup. com/New-England-Meditation-Center/events/

The Caring Network: Free Support Group for adults who have lost a loved one – 6pm-8pm. (2/6 & 2/20). Free support group for adults who have lost a loved one. Information about loss and grief with facilitated open discussion. Bridges Healthcare, 949 Bridgeport Avenue, Milford. Sponsored by Cody-White Funeral Home, 203-874-0268 or Bridges Healthcare, 203-878-6365.

Alignment Yoga – 6pm-7:30pm. With Iyengar Teacher Training Graduate. Refine your yoga practice with optimal alignment practices that make you stronger, more flexible, and more emotionally stable.

Yoga in Middletown, 438 Main St, Middletown.

860-347-YOGA (9642). YogaInMiddletown.com.

Yoga with Marlene – 6:30pm. Yoga classes for all ages and problems in a serene atmosphere with emphasis on stress-management. 1221 Village Walk.

Guilford. Info: 203-453-5360.

Meditation In the World at Guest House Retreat – 7pm-8pm. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced meditator, join us every week as we are led in the practice of focusing our awareness. Helping you find calm within everyday demands and stress.

Free. 318 West Main St, Chester. 860-322-5770.

thursday Boutique Yoga Therapy, Kundalini and Float Yoga and Gong Bath with Leesa Sklover Ph,D, LPC, C-IAYT – 8:30am-9:30am. By reservation. Text 917-860-0488 by 10pm the night before. Little Bay Annex- Branford. $18. Reservation required for first and all classes/questions: Drsklover@gmail.com.

The Milford Chamber’s ‘Health & Wellness Council’ – 8:30am-9:30am. (2nd Thurs. monthly).

Group is comprised of businesses in the health and wellness industry. 5 Broad St, Milford.

Milfordct.com.

Ropes Yoga – 8:50am-9:50am. With Iyengar Teacher Training Graduate. Experience yoga poses in new and liberating ways. Therapeutic and challenging. Great for scoliosis and back problems.

Expert instruction since 1991. Yoga in Middletown, 438 Main St, Middletown, 860-347-YOGA (9642).

YogaInMiddletown.com.

Are you looking for a place to gather with other spiritually minded people? – 6pm-7pm. Is your soul calling for you to step forward into your life’s purpose and you just don’t know what the next step is? If this sounds like you, come join us at the Red Barn in Durham, 352 Main St, Durham. $5. Visit our FB page for more information.

Yoga with Marlene – 10am & 6:30pm.Yoga classes for all ages and problems in a serene atmosphere with emphasis on stress-management. 1221 Village Walk. Guilford. Info: 203-453-5360.

Emei Wujigong Qigong Group Practice – 6:30pm-7:30pm. (Every Thurs. except the 1st Thurs. of month). Experience a qigong form for rebalancing and strengthening body, mind and spirit. For all abilities and levels of health. Schedule Available online. 1st class free (reg. $5). Holistic Therapies Classroom, 15 South Elm St, Wallingford.

Info: EmeiQigongChan.com.

Qigong Group Healing & Silent Meditation – 6:30pm-8pm. (1st Thurs. of the month). All levels of health addressed. No experience necessary. Fee: donation. Holistic Therapies Classroom, 15 South Elm St, Wallingford. Contact Pat for more information if this is 1st attendance: 203-500-6492.

Alignment Yoga with Iyengar Teacher Training Graduate – 9am-10:30am. Refine your yoga practice with optimal alignment practices that make you stronger, more flexible and more emotionally stable.

Yoga in Middletown, 438 Main St, Middletown.

860-347-YOGA (9642). YogaInMiddletown.com.

Women’s Guided Meditation and Healing Circle – 7pm-8pm. Come sit in a safe space, learn to breathe and set intentions to help focus and regroup.

All levels welcome. Meditations run 30-45 minutes in length. Thursdays/ $5. Location: Now n’ Then Therapeutic Massage, 187 Montowese St, Branford.

Contact Anna to register 203-871-9367 or register online at DandelionWellnessCT.com.

ReikiShare: The Universal Reiki Plan – 11am1:30pm. Pre-register to share Reiki and join in a FREE workshop to make it a Reiki day! The 3rd Sat. of every month. Free (“love offering”).

Bloodroot Rest. 85 Ferris St, Bridgeport. Reservation only. Jim or Jeannette: 203-254-3958. info@ReikiOvertones.com.

The Heart of Recovery – 7:30pm-9pm, a weekly meditation and recovery group for those recovering from addictions of all kinds. We will honor the traditions of anonymity, confidentiality and no cross-talk.

Meetings will include meditation instruction, practice, readings and discussion. Free. The Shambhala Center of New Haven, 85 Willow St, Building B, NewHaven.Shambhala.org.

friday C o m m u n i t y A c u p u n c t u re a t E l m C i t y Wellness – (Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Friday, and Saturdays). Community Acupuncture is done in a traditional Chinese-style group setting, which amplifies the healing power of the work with the presence of others. Initial $50. Returns $30.

Elm City Wellness- 774 Orange St New Haven. 203-691-7653. Elmcitywellness@gmail.com.

ElmCityWellness.com.

Yoga with Marlene – 9:30am. Yoga classes for all ages and problems in a serene atmosphere with emphasis on stress-management. 1221 Village Walk.

Guilford. Info: 203-453-5360.

Women’s Boutique Yoga Therapy, Kundalini, Float Yoga and Gong Bath with Leesa – 11:30am12:30pm. $18. By reservation. text 917-860-0488 by 9 am. Reservation for first and all classes/questions: Drsklover@gmail.com. At Annex. Register for address.

Creature Features – 12pm. Come to meet our furry, scaly, and feathery animal ambassadors. You’ll have the chance to touch and hold them in this Free family program for all ages. Ansonia Nature Ctr, 10 Deerfield Rd, Ansonia. Information/registration: 203-736-1053.

A 3-week kundalini series with Jennifer Greenwald – 1pm-3pm. (Feb 9, 16, & 23). $20 per class or $50 for series. Red Barn in Durham, 352 Main St, Durham. TheRedBarnInDurham.com.

Please Visit our FB page for more information.

Meditation – 1:30pm. Silent, sitting meditation for anyone to attend. For all levels. Beginners welcome!

Meditation begins and ends promptly on time.

Lecture every other Saturday. Donation-based event; no set fees. New England Meditation Center, 455 Boston Rd, Old Saybrook. For more information, visit: https://www.meetup.com/New-EnglandMeditation-Center/events.

Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement Class – 10:30am-11:30am. It only takes an hour to feel good again. Aren’t you worth it? $15 drop in or class cards. Carol Meade Holistic Therapies Classroom, 15 South Elm St, Wallingford. 203-4158666 or info@massage2movement.com.

Intuitive Readings w/Susane Grasso – 11am-3pm.

Usui and Karuna Reiki Master and Clairvoyant Susane sees auras/mirrors of soul/emotions and physical being. Now also a certified Doreen Virtue Angel Reader. $1/min. Enchanted, 1250 Boston Post Rd, Guilford. 203-453-4000. EnchantedGuilford.com.

saturday Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement 5 Week Class Series – 9am-10am. Learn to move easily with simple movements that help to relieve pain and restore your body to its natural ease. $50 for 5 weeks or $15 drop in. Carol Meade Holistic Therapies Classroom, 15 South Elm St, Wallingford.

203-415-8666 or info@massage2movement.com.

2019 Natural Living Directory

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classifieds ALS SUPPORT THE ALS ASSOCIATION CONNECTICUT CHAPTER – Leading the fight to treat and cure ALS through research & advocacy while empowering people w/Lou Gehrig’s Disease and their families to live fuller lives w/compassionate care & support. 4 Oxford Road, Unit D4. Milford. 203-874-5050. WebCT.alsa.org.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BHcare – A state-licensed, non-profit behavioral health care provider serving Lower Naugatuck Valley, Greater New Haven & Shoreline communities. It provides comprehensive behavioral health, prevention & domestic violence services to improve the lives & health of individuals, families & communities. 203-736-2601. bhcare.org.

CONNECTICUT WOMEN’S CONSORTIUM – Aim: ensure the behavioral health system responds to the needs of women & the people & organizations that affect them. Eliminate discrimination/promote excellence in care for women through educ., training, advocacy & policy dev. 203-909-6888, Womensconsortium.org.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

LYME DISEASE

START A CAREER YOU CAN BE PASSIONATE ABOUT – Publish your own Natural Awakenings magazine. Home based business complete with comprehensive training and support system. New franchises are available or purchase a magazine that is currently publishing. Call 239-530-1377 or apply now at: NaturalAwakeningsMag.com/Franchise.

AMERICAN LYME DISEASE FOUNDATION – Dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment, of Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections. Lyme, CT. Info: aldf.com.

DISTRIBUTORS 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. Thomas@ManInMotionLLC.com.

INTUITIVE READINGS AT ENCHANTED INTUITIVE READINGS AT ENCHANTED DAILY – 11am-3pm. Akashic, Angel, Aura, Clairvoyant, Goddess, Mediumship, Runes, Tarot, Tea Leaf Readings offered from eight world-class intuitives and masters. $1/minute. Enchanted 1250 Boston Post Rd ,Guilford. 203-453-4000. For more information and a schedule of who is available each day visit EnchantedGuilford.com.

CT LYME RIDERS, INC. – Founded in 2007 by motorcyclists Sandy Brule & Tony Gargano. A 501(c)(3) non profit public charity aiming to bring awareness to the public about Lyme Disease. Events & info. 860-537-0255, ctlymeriders.com.

MEDICAL/INTUITIVE HYPNOTIST HYPNOSIS THERAPY CENTER – There is a meaning behind every ailment and condition people have. It's your body speaking to you. If you are tired of being sick and are ready to help yourself heal, then consider having a Discovery Session so you can learn the cause and 'cure.' Madison. 203-245-6927.

PARKINSON’S SUPPORT PARKINSON DISEASE ASSOCIATION – Mission: “To Ease the Burden, To Find A Cure” for those w/Parkinson’s Disease and their caregivers in CT. Education, support and socialization.

860-248-9200, ctapda.org.

NATURAL FOOD ISSUE

Coming Next Month MARCH

Inflammation Overload plus: Herbal Wisdom

To advertise or participate in our next issue, call 203-305-5531 or email PytlakMelissa@gmail.com 62

New Haven/Middlesex

NaturalNewHaven.com

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2019 Natural Living Directory

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Copper device stops a cold naturally last holidays,” she said. “The kids had colds going around, but not me.”

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

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

Copper may even stop flu if used earNew research: Copper stops colds if used early. ly and for several days. Lab technicians ew research shows you can went away completely.” It worked again placed 25 million live flu viruses on a stop a cold in its tracks if you CopperZap. No viruses were found alive every time he felt a cold coming on and take one simple step with a soon after. he hasn’t had a cold since. new device when you first feel a cold People have used it on cold sores He asked relatives and friends to try coming on. and say it can completely prevent ugly it. They said it worked for them, too, so Colds start when cold viruses get in outbreaks. You can also rub it gently he patented CopperZap™ and put it on your nose. Viruses multiply fast. If you on wounds, cuts, or lesions to combat the market. don’t stop them early, they spread in infections.

Soon hundreds of people had tried it your airways and cause misery.

The handle is curved and finely texand given feedback. Nearly 100% said But scientists have found a quick tured to improve the copper stops way to kill a virus. Touch it with copper. colds if used withcontact. It kills in 3 hours after the Researchers at labs and universities germs picked up first sign. Even up agree, copper is “antimicrobial.” It kills on fingers and microbes, such as viruses and bacteria, to 2 days, if they hands to protect still get the cold it just by touch. you and your That’s why ancient Greeks and Egyp- is milder and they family. tians used copper to purify water and feel better.

Copper even heal wounds. They didn’t know about Users wrote kills deadly germs Sinus trouble, stuffiness, cold sores. that have become viruses and bacteria, but now we do. things like, “It Scientists say the high conductance stopped my cold right away,” and “Is it resistant to antibiotics. If you are near of copper disrupts the electrical balsupposed to work that fast?” sick people, a moment of handling it ance in a microbe cell, destroying it in Pat McAllister, age 70, received one may keep serious infection away. It may seconds. as a gift and called it “one of the best even save a life.

Tests by the Environmental Protecpresents ever. This little jewel really The EPA says copper still works tion Agency (EPA) show germs die fast works.” Now thousands of users have even when tarnished. It kills hundreds of on copper. Some hospitals tried copper stopped getting colds. different disease germs so it can prevent for surfaces like faucets and doorknobs.

People often use CopperZap preserious or even fatal illness. ventively. Frequent flier Karen Gauci This cut the spread of MRSA and other CopperZap is made in the U.S. of used to get colds after crowded flights. illnesses by over half, and saved lives. pure copper. It has a 90-day full money Though skeptical, she tried it several The strong scientific evidence gave back guarantee when used as directed times a day on travel days for 2 months. inventor Doug Cornell an idea. When to stop a cold. It is $69.95. Get $10 off he felt a cold coming on he fashioned “Sixteen flights and not a sniffle!” each CopperZap with code NATA8. a smooth copper probe and rubbed it Businesswoman Rosaleen says when Go to www.CopperZap.com or call people are sick around her she uses Cop- toll-free 1-888-411-6114. gently in his nose for 60 seconds.

“It worked!” he exclaimed. “The cold perZap morning and night. “It saved me Buy once, use forever.

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