Natural Awakenings Greater Pittsburgh

E R F

E

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

Pittsburgh Premiere Issue

BRAIN SAVERS

Strategies to Prevent Dementia

India Arie at Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival

HIKE & GARDEN for Health and Happiness

June 2019 | Pittsburgh, PA Edition | NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com June 2019

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NATURAL AWAKENINGS MAGAZINE

FRIENDLY-USER GUIDE

photo credit: Betty Moore

Welcome... ...to the premiere issue of Natural Awakenings Southwest Pennsylvania healthy living

magazine! From the photos selected for our eye-catching covers to the appealing editorial throughout, you’ve discovered the perfect guide to a healthier and more balanced life for you and your family. Each month, Natural Awakenings’ advertisers and authors provide a helping hand along your personal path to wellness and creative self-expression.

Let’s get started!

caretakers make wise decisions in protecting children‛s health and well-being.

Publisher‛s Letter – Each month, Publisher Michelle Dalnoky shares her thoughts on the featured monthly topic. She‛ll offer her entertaining and informative perspective with a nod to stories from her own experience.

Natural Pet – We love to see our family pets active and thriving. Surprising alternative therapies, nutrition ideas and resources open new possibilities.

News Briefs – Local and national news keeps you up-to-date on cutting-edge perspectives in the fields of natural health, alternative medicine, fitness and related fields. We welcome everyone‛s contributions of newsworthy information.

Health Briefs – Timely news items introduce and hook you up with the latest treatments and tools for specific health and wellness concerns. They include practical tips that you can use today to advance a healthy living lifestyle.

Global Briefs – The rainforest is half a world away, yet our health depends upon its health. This department keeps you wired with relevant current events and opportunities for action vital to our planet‛s well-being.

Community Spotlight – Articles packed with insight into local businesses and healing arts practitioners that show how they can be of service to you and your loved ones.

You‛ll be amazed by the level of knowledge and expertise to be found right here in Southwest Pennsylvania!

Healthy Kids – Our children‛s health is paramount. This column helps parents and

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Fit Body – We all know that exercise and physical fitness are essential. The trick is finding the right options for you. We will supply fresh windows of thought that can help get you moving.

Healing Ways – Turn here to learn about therapies and modalities both new and traditional, all focused on enhancing the bodymind-spirit connection for optimal well-being.

Inspiration – Spreading light and encouraging positive perspectives, this column is a beacon that spotlights our interconnections with nature, spirit and community.

Wise Words – Exclusive interviews with renowned national and international leaders, experts and authors offer lively dialogues on topics both current and timeless.

Feature Articles – Interesting, informative, often exclusive articles take advantage of Natural Awakenings‛ national scope and local interest in our community. You‛ll want to read them all.

Calendar of Events – There‛s so much to do in Southwest Pennsylvania. Check out the exciting classes, weekend workshops and special events that pop up each month.

Monmouth/Ocean www.awakemona.com Pittsburgh, PA NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com

Feel good

Live simply

Community Resource Guide – Here‛s a quick reference to the best health and wellness resources in Southwest Pennsylvania. It‛s a quick way to find gifts of health and fun for yourself or others.

Display Ads – Our advertisers are the absolute best! They not only make this magazine possible, but are the nicest people in town. Please patronize them and tell them you saw their ads in Natural Awakenings.

Distribution Locations – Please ask for Natural Awakenings at every business you visit, and support our distributors with purchases. Our distributors are just as important as our advertisers and readers.

All three are essential elements of the wider community we seek to cultivate for the benefit of all.

Thank you for reading, supporting and contributing to Natural Awakenings.

We’re glad you’ve joined us in rousing a real natural awakening of our Southwest Pennsylvania community.

Laugh more

June 2019

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HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

PITTSBURGH, PA EDITION PUBLISHER Michelle Dalnoky EDITORS Randy Kambic Martin Miron CALENDAR EDITOR Sara Peterson AD DESIGNER Zina Cochran DESIGN & PRODUCTION C. Michele Rose SALES & MARKETING Michelle Dalnoky Lisa Doyle

CONTACT US Natural Awakenings – Pittsburgh P.O. Box 390 Uledi, PA 15484 Phone: 724-271-8877 Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscribe online to receive your FREE monthly digital magazine at NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com.

NATIONAL TEAM CEO/FOUNDER COO/FRANCHISE SALES NATIONAL EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR NATIONAL ART DIRECTOR ART DIRECTOR NATIONAL ADVERTISING

Sharon Bruckman Joe Dunne Jan Hollingsworth Linda Sechrist Stephen Blancett Josh Pope Kara Cave

letter from publisher

Let the Adventure Begin

After living in Florida for many years, I’m really happy to be getting back to my Pennsylvania roots and the stunning natural and historical beauty of the greater Pittsburgh area.

After my move, the only thing I was missing was my Natural Awakenings magazine, which I’ve always relied on to connect with like-minded members of the community committed to healthy living and a healthy planet.

As a registered nurse, I know firsthand the vital role that connection can play in nourishing body, mind and spirit. Pittsburgh is a vibrant and progressive city and I’m so excited to bring a fresh, local edition of Natural Awakenings to my new neighbors, including all of southwestern Pennsylvania and Morgantown, West Virginia.

Natural Awakenings was founded 25 years ago as a local magazine in Naples, Florida.

It has grown into the largest publishing network in the natural health industry, now in more than 70 U.S. markets, anchored by a national editorial team that explores and anticipates the latest trends in health, wellness and integrative therapies.

The Pittsburgh edition also will focus on the local people and places in our community where the foundations of health and well-being are hiding in plain sight. Everywhere I turn there is the natural beauty of rivers, creeks, waterfalls, forests, mountains, wildlife—as well as the awe-inspiring churches, colonial architecture and historic sensibilities that anchor us all to this special place. There is so much abundance here; it is my mission to help connect those of us who desire to weave that abundance into our lives.

There are many in this area that possess, seek and share the knowledge of how to thrive and help us restore balance, health and peace to our world. It may be an integrative practitioner, a nutritionist, an herbalist, an indigenous healer, a spiritualist, a farmer, a botanist or even an artist.

Some may hold advanced degrees and some may retain knowledge passed down to them over generations of lay wisdom. Some may simply have a gift to share. This magazine is a wonderful instrument for us to connect and empower each other.

Let our adventure begin!

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 4933 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 203 Naples, FL 34103 Ph: 239-434-9392 • Fax: 239-434-9513 NaturalAwakeningsMag.com

©2019 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

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

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

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

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

Michelle Dalnoky, Publisher, Natural Awakenings Pittsburgh

~William Kent

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

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

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All gardening is landscape painting.

NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com

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 DOLLAR BANK THREE RIVERS ARTS FESTIVAL

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Free, Green and Sustainable

13 THE PATH TO WEALTH How to Make a Dream Come True

14 POTLUCK FOR

THE 21ST CENTURY Breaking Bread, Building Community

16 BRAIN-SAVERS

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Smart Strategies for Preventing Dementia

19 THE ART OF HEALING Creative Therapy Aids Recovery

20 SANJAY GUPTA on ‘Chasing Life’

21 PRE-WIRED FOR THE FUTURE

Transportation Drives Urban Planning

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22 INTO THE WOODS ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 724-271-8877 or email Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com.

Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Publisher@ NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com. Deadline: 10th of the month.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email Calendar Events to: Publisher@NaturalAwakenings SWPA.com or visit NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.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.

Hiking for Health and Happiness

24 GARDENING FOR KIDS The Fun of Growing Their Own

26 BRINGING UP KITTY Get Off on the Right Paw

DEPARTMENTS 6 news briefs 7 health briefs 10 global briefs 12 event spotlight 13 inspiration 14 conscious eating 19 healing ways

20 21 22 24 25 26 28 31 31

wise words green living fit body healthy kids community spotlight natural pet calendar resource guide classifieds June 2019

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news briefs

Thermography: An Effective, Mobile, Proactive, Health Screening Tool

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ll About Thermography, LLC, provides safe, non-invasive, half- or full-body digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI) diagnostic testing without harmful radiation or discomfort for breasts or other body regions seven days a week to a client’s office, including presentations, materials and a discussion of the benefits of providing these diagnostics to patients.

They also provide overall wellness screenings for patients that want to be proactive about their health. The benefit of thermal imaging is that it instantly provides an image of conditions, diseases or injuries.

Owner Barbara Calcagni, CCT II, says, “Being proactive is the best way to approach your own healthcare needs. We believe that knowledge is power which must be shared, so that all individuals can make educated decisions regarding harm-free medical testing alternatives.” All reports are interpreted by boardcertified thermologists in just a few days.

For more information, call 412-378-7506, email AllAbout Thermography@gmail.com or visit AllAboutThermography.com.

See ad, page 11.

Free Monthly Educational Weed Walks

J

en Dalke will conduct Weed Walks around the property of Bedner’s Farm & Greenhouses, in Cecil, Pennsylvania, through October. She says, “We’ll discuss proper and common names, some basic botany, such as names of plant parts, type of leaves, plant families, and so much Jen Dalke more!” Walks are a very leisurely pace, with minimal slopes. They’re great for people of most ages, but children under age 7 may become bored, depending on their interest in plants.

Dalke exaplins, “I began my journey as an herbalist using only plant medicine to heal myself since age 15 and working in herbal remedy stores helping other people to achieve the same.

I remain on this path at present and have been sharpening my focus on botany and plant/human sciences for several years via Tammi Sweet, at the Heartstone Center for Earth Essentials, and ethnobotanist Marc Williams, over at Botany Every Day.” Admission is free. To register (required), call 412-760-0801 or email BlueHeronNatureSkills@gmail.com. For more information, visit BlueHeronNatureSkills.com/classes/bedners-monthly. See the Community Calendar for further details.

kudos

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If you choose to return your Philip Stein goods, please do so within 60 days of receipt in perfect condition and in the original packaging.

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The Green Building Alliance of Pittsburgh (GBA), a coalition of forward-thinking regional professionals that were interested in green building, created the first nonprofit organization in the country to focus exclusively on the greening of a region’s commercial building sector.

Today, GBA staff and its partners maintain their passion with over 1,200 industry-leading members. Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) is an internationally recognized green building certification system and standard. Pittsburgh is home to many green firsts, including the first LEED foodbank (Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank); first LEED convention center (David L. Lawrence Convention Center, now double LEED certified); first LEED university dormitory (Carnegie Mellon University Stever House); first LEED public arts facility (Pittsburgh Glass Center); first LEED Smithsonian property (Senator John Heinz History Center); and first LEED radio station (WYEP).

See the Community Calendar for events or visit go-gba.org.

health briefs

Eating with SOUL for Better Health Summer is the perfect time to learn how to eat healthier foods intuitively through SOUL (seasonal, organic, unprocessed and local). Evelyn Trioble and Elsyse Resch, co-authors of Intuitive Eating, A revolutionary Program that Works, define intuitive eating as “positive and nurturing ideals surrounding choosing foods that please you—using all senses, honoring and respecting your hunger, body and health without guilt and diet.”

Once the process of learning how to eat for pleasure and nourishment begins, healthy foods can be viewed in a positive light. The first step is to learn how to reject the diet mentality and to become aware of the signs of hunger and fullness. By listening to the body’s signals, we can discover the hidden messages and feelings that send us into old patterns of eating. Honoring and respecting food in relationship to our body opens the door to eating consciously and healthy.

SOUL was created by Dr. Edward Bauman for his Eating for Health model. Choosing foods using this simple acronym make it easy to choose simple ingredients, less fast or processed foods, and foods that are close to home. Through exploring past beliefs, daily self-talk surrounding foods and judgment, individuals can discover how to eat intuitively and choose nourishing food through SOUL.

Resource: Sara Remington is a mind, body and wellness practitioner in Fayette County. Email SaraRemington13@ gmail.com and see the Community Calendar listing on Jun. 1: Self-Discovery through Intuitive Eating on page 28.

Improving Sleep in Three Easy Steps Americans are experiencing more sleepless nights than ever before. Our 24-hour lifestyle, screen addictions and too much stimulation in general make it difficult to “shut off” and allow for sleep.

Because we can’t force ourselves to sleep, many people turn to chemical aids for help, but most overthe-counter products only provide short-term relief. To improve sleep habits naturally for life, try implementing these simple steps for sleep success: Step 1: Create and stick to a sleep schedule. Go to bed and get up at the same time every day, even on weekends.

Step 2: Engage in a relaxing bedtime routine. Adults require a relaxing bedtime routine as much as kids do; maybe more so. Allow 15 to 30 minutes before bed to wind down. Turn off all screens and engage in a calming activity like reading a happy story or listening to a guided meditation. Sit in the dark for a few minutes before bed to stimulate natural sleep hormones Step 3: Manage stress throughout the day. Make sure to take breaks throughout the day. Go for a walk outside or meditate on a park bench. Get a massage or sing a favorite song at top volume while driving home from work.

At the end of day, focus on the things to be grateful for instead of a to-do list.

Resource: Rebekah Delling, from Hampton Holistic Center.

For more information on sleep issues, visit Sleep.org. See listing in the Community Resource Guide, page 31.

Coming Next Month JULY

Urban & Suburban Agriculture plus: Gut Health

To advertise or participate in our next issue, call 724-271-8877

LOCAL FOOD ISSUE June 2019

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Japanese researchers interviewed 1,003 Tokyo women over 70 years old about which of 16 types of exercise they did, including dancing, calisthenics, jogging, golf, ball games, hiking, yoga, bicycling and tai chi. In eight years of follow-up, those that danced were 73 percent less likely to be classified as impaired in any of the “activities of daily living” such as walking, cooking, dressing and bathing—a result not produced by the other physical activities. “Dancing requires not only balance, strength and endurance ability, but also cognitive ability: adaptability and concentration to move according to the music and partner; artistry for graceful and fluid motion; and memory for choreography,” writes lead author Yosuke Osuka, of the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology.

Forty-eight percent of American adults have some form of cardiovascular disease, reported the American Heart Association (AHA) in its annual update.

The increase is partly due to 2017 updated guidelines redefining high blood pressure as greater than 130/80 millimeters of mercury rather than 140/90, which raised the number of Americans with diagnosed Pittsburgh, PA

hypertension from 32 percent to 46 percent.

American heart disease deaths rose from 836,546 in 2015 to 840,678 in 2016. Studies show that about 80 percent of all cardiovascular disease can be prevented by controlling high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol, along with healthy practices like not smoking, says the AHA.

NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com

Women in menopause that are mindful and nonjudgmental of their thoughts are less irritable, anxious and depressed, reports a Mayo Clinic study recently published in Climacteric, the journal of the International Menopause Society.

Researchers gave questionnaires to 1,744 menopausal patients 40 to 65 years old and found that those with higher mindfulness scores struggled less with common menopausal symptoms. Mindfulness didn’t lower hot flash and night sweat symptoms, however.

rSnapshotPhotos/Shutterstock.com

Mindfulness May Ease Menopausal Symptoms

U.S. Heart Disease on the Rise

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Simply changing a diet to include more fruit and vegetables can boost mental well-being, say British researchers from Leeds and York universities. Examining health data of 40,000 people, they concluded those that eat more produce have a better psychological state, and that eating just one extra portion of fruits and vegetables a day could have a positive effect equivalent to around eight extra days of walking a month for at least 10 minutes at a time. A meta-analysis of 16 studies by the UK’s University of Manchester found the mood-boosting effect was particularly strong for women, and it worked with different types of diets, indicating a particular approach is not necessary.

When dietary changes were combined with exercise, even greater improvements resulted.

Monkeyoum/Shutterstock.com

Dancing Prevents Senior Decline

Fruits and Veggies Boost Moods

OSTILL is Franck Camhi/Shutterstock.com

health briefs

Stefan Schurr/Shutterstock.com

Exercise Improves Young Brains, Too

Chiropractic Balances the System

Walking, cycling, climbing stairs and other aerobic activities may improve brain function not only in older people, but also in younger folk, according to a Columbia University study published in Neurology. The study recruited 132 people between 20 and 67 years old that didn’t exercise and had below-average fitness levels. Half stretched and toned four times a week for six months and half exercised aerobically on a treadmill, stationary bike or elliptical machine. When they were evaluated for their executive function thinking skills—regulating behavior, paying attention and achieving goals—the aerobics group improved twice as much as the stretching group. “The people who exercised were testing as if they were about 10 years younger at age 40 and about 20 years younger at age 60,” says study author Yaakov Stern, Ph.D.

There is more to upper cervical chiropractic care than getting our neck or back “cracked”, and it isn’t only for relieving neck and back pain. Practitioners focus on finding and correcting the cause of the condition, not just treating the symptoms. For every effect or symptom, there must be a cause.

Upper cervical chiropractic is a specific form of health care focusing on the relationship between the top two bones in the neck (upper cervical spine) and a vital portion of the nervous system (brain stem) through which every nerve impulse between the brain and the body must pass.

Because the nervous system controls, coordinates and regulates every function (immune system, digestion, hormones, muscle tension, posture, emotions, senses, balance, breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, etc.) within the body, this communication pathway (brain-to-body and body-to-brain) must be working at an optimal level in order for the body to function properly and be healthy.

Irritation or pressure within the central nervous system can interrupt this communication pathway, creating a variety of health problems. Upper cervical chiropractic is focused on restoring balance and function to the spine and nervous system to bring about positive health changes throughout the musculosketal, immune, cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

Prenatal Yoga Reduces Caesareans and Labor Pain

LightField Studios/Shutterstock.com

First-time mothers that practiced yoga beginning in the 30th week of pregnancy had fewer caesareans, fewer low-weight newborns and milder and briefer labor pains.

They were also less likely to require painkillers or labor inducement. The Mangalore, India, hospital study, published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, included 150 women 20 to 35 years old that were pregnant for the first time and had no prior yoga experience. Half of the women did not do yoga, while the other half took 30-minute yoga classes once every week or two.

Women in the yoga group were also more comfortable after giving birth.

Resource: David Radziercz, DC, is a co-director and doctor of chiropractic at Pittsburgh Upper Cervical Chiropractic, PLLC, 8110 Ohio River Blvd., in Pittsburgh.

For more information, call 412-766-0321, email Info@ PittsburghUpperCervical.com or visit PittsburghUpperCervical.com. See ad in the Community Resource Guide, page 31.

If You Are Reading This, So Are Your Potential Customers.

Contact us today for ad rates.

724-271-8877 June 2019

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Aqua Breakthrough

Internet users can help fight global deforestation even while surfing. German online search engine Ecosia, now used in 183 countries, diverts its advertising revenue from click-throughs to planting trees worldwide to the tune of more than 52 million since 2009. With each search, the company says, it removes around two-anda-half pounds of carbon dioxide from the air. Christian Kroll, Ecosia’s founder, wrote, “Climate change is a very real threat, and if we’re to stop the world heating above the 1.5 degrees warned about in the IPCC [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change] report, we need to plant trees at scale.” Kroll suggests that if Ecosia were to get as big as Google, they could absorb 15 percent of all global carbon dioxide emissions.

Users can find it at Ecosia.org.

Baby Balking

Climate Change Discourages Childbearing

USA Today has reported that concerns about climate change are giving women pause about bearing children. The U.S. birthrate has been falling for years, and in 2017, it was 60.3 births per 1,000 women, the lowest fertility rate since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began keeping such records in 1909. Related causes such as women marrying later, worries about the economy and the difficulty of finding affordable child care have all been suggested. But prospective parents are also thinking about the increased frequency and intensity of storms and other natural disasters such as drought and wildfires. Further, geopolitical unrest and scarcity of water and other resources are convincing some to at least postpone their decision to increase the population.

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wk1003mike/Shutterstock.com

Search Engine Company Plants Trees

Far Out

Earth’s Atmosphere Extends Past Moon

The scientific boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and space is the Kármán line, 62 miles high.

But a team of astronomers have published evidence in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics that the geocorona, a tenuous cloud of neutral hydrogen in the outermost region of the Earth’s atmosphere that glows in far-ultraviolet light, extends much farther than the moon. The discovery means that telescopes positioned in the geocorona will need to have some of their settings adjusted for deep-space observations.

3-D Meat

Printer Produces Plant-Based Substitute

Researcher Giuseppe Scionti, owner of Nova Meat, in Barcelona, Spain, has developed a synthetic meat substitute using vegetable proteins that imitate protein complexes found in real meat.

Produced using a 3-D printer, it can mimic the texture of beef or chicken. The specialist in biomedicine and tissue engineering has been working for 10 years on bioprinting different synthetic tissues such as artificial corneas, skin and ears.

Romolo Tavani/Shutterstock.com

Green Surfing

Clean Water Solution in the Pipeline

With the world facing a future of climate change and water scarcity, finding an environmental way to cleanse drinking water is paramount. Researchers in China contend they are working on a method to remove bacteria from water that’s both highly efficient and environmentally sound. By shining ultraviolet light onto a two-dimensional sheet of graphitic carbon nitride, the team’s prototype can purify two-and-a-half gallons of water in one hour, killing virtually all the harmful bacteria present. This technique of photocatalytic disinfection is an alternative to current eco-unfriendly water filtration systems such as chlorination or ozone disinfection.

urfin/Shutterstock.com

global briefs

Own a Natural Awakenings Magazine Natural Awakenings is a family of more than 70 healthy living magazines celebrating 25 years.

This is a meaningful homebased business opportunity that provides training and ongoing support. No previous publishing experience is required.

Apply now at

NaturalAwakeningsMag.com/Franchise or call 239-530-1377

June 2019

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event spotlight

Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival photo by Duan Davis

Free, Green and Sustainable

by Anita Stewart

T

he 60th annual Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival will be held from June 7 through 16 at several locations around Pittsburgh with daily activities, vendors, large-scale art displays, concerts and so much more. This year’s musical lineup includes Grammy Award-winning India Arie, who will open the festival, indigenous and socially conscious music by Nahko and Medicine for the People, country star Marty Stuart and the Superlatives, Tiny Desk Award winners Tank and the Bangas and the Americana (Alt Country) husband-and-wife act Mandolin Orange. It also provides other music, showcasing of other art, drumming, creative spaces, children's activities, food and beverages—something for everyone.

From humble beginnings in the 1960s, the festival has become the gold standard for running a large-scale event.

In the past, many of its directors have been women, and that trend is continuing.

Barbara Widdoes, the former executive

director who passed in 2018, is one of the original organizers and board members, and now has a trust in her name.

Director Sarah Aziz notes that the festival highlights the downtown’s parks and green areas and is the focus of early summer in the Pittsburgh metro area. Three Rivers has been sustainable for many years, and in 2008 became a zero waste festival.

This takes a lot of coordination by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, which raises funds all year long to keep the festival free, local sponsors, vendors, the city of Pittsburgh, the parks and anyone participating or attending.

Some of the ways to create a zero waste festival include using composting and way stations throughout the festival areas that eliminate collection pickup, providing water so there are no plastic drink bottles being sold or disposed of and vendors trained on how to properly dispose of waste and recyclables. Any leftover food is collected by 412 Food

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Rescue and distributed to other food programs in the city that have a need, such as senior centers and summer school food programs.

Many of the artists use upcycled and recycled materials for their art, such as a woman that uses the broken glass from auto accidents. Ocean Sole Africa’s Flip the Flop is a great display for young and old alike. The creators are from Kenya and recycle flip-flops that wash up from the Indian Ocean, clean them and use them to make animal sculptures. An incredible visual display from France is Companie Furinkai’s Origami, a dancer on a high wire with a shipping container—just one of the amazing facets of this festival.

For more information, visit traf.trustarts. org. See ad, back cover.

Anita Stewart is an environmentalist, blogger and social media expert.

photo by Karine de Barbarin

photo by Abel Klainbaum

Los Trompos

India Arie

Origami

Education Center – workshops/classes

FCSCAFEINE /Shutterstock.com

inspiration

The Path to Wealth How to Make a Dream Come True

by May McCarthy

S

uccessful professional athletes, musicians and business men and women that have achieved their goals can often point to repetition as a key to their prosperity and success.

Undergoing both physical and mental training on a daily basis are keys for them to perform at their highest levels. Keeping their goals at the forefront of their thoughts, talking about the outcomes that they want to achieve and mentally seeing themselves achieving their goals are essential components of a repetitive practice that reaps great rewards.

Everyone can implement a similar success practice. Revisit goals daily to enable subconscious and spiritual intuition to illuminate possibilities in taking steps necessary to create the life that we love. This repetitive practice will shift our beliefs so that goals will be achieved sooner. Motivational speaker and author Earl Nightingale writes, “Whatever we plant in our subconscious mind and nourish with repetition and emotion will one day become a reality.”

To realize goals sooner, set aside 20 minutes and follow three simple steps each morning:

Write down your goals and be specific in describing the desired outcome.

For example, instead of saying, “I want to lose 10 pounds,” say, “I’m so grateful that I am physically fit in a pain-free body that easily moves through life.” By spending

time each day describing completed goals with gratitude, your beliefs will change and your subconscious can work with you to make those statements true.

Speak your goal statements aloud with emotion.

The practice of uttering your goal statements out loud anchors the meaning more fully internally. This practice helps to convince your subconscious that achieving your goals is possible. Ideas and thoughts that are in alignment with them will then become more noticeable.

Imagine yourself achieving your desired outcomes.

With eyes closed, create a clear picture of your realized goals in your mind each day.

As you begin to feel yourself completing goals, spiritual intuition that emerges as gut instincts, strong thoughts and ideas, and messages that are external to you will become obvious. Take action as led by your intuition to manifest your dreams.

Repeat these steps every day to create new beliefs and achieve all that you desire sooner. Now is the time to enjoy increased prosperity and success in all of your endeavors.

mission

statement To empower individuals to live a healthier lifestyle on a healthier planet.

To educate communities on the latest in natural health and sustainability.

To connect readers with local wellness resources and events, inspiring them to lead more balanced lives.

May McCarthy is the author of The Path to Wealth: Seven Spiritual Steps for Financial Abundance and The Gratitude Formula: A 7-Step Success System to Create a Life that You Love. Visit her at MayMcCarthy.com.

June 2019

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~Jared Gold, co-founder of MealTribes and mental health. A number of emerging ideas and platforms from around the block to across the globe are helping singles and families young and old connect over food.

Linking Diners Through Technology

POTLUCK FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

Breaking Bread, Building Community

by April Thompson

A

mericans are eating alone more than ever, with adults going solo for nearly half of all meals, according to consumer research consultants at the Hartman Group. Yet, fellowship-minded foodies are bucking the trend by finding new and unique ways to bring strangers,

colleagues and friends together for healthy, home-cooked meals.

Meal sharing not only builds community and camaraderie; it can also save time and money and minimize food waste.

Eating with others can also encourage mindful consumption, a boon to physical

KICK OFF SUMMER WITH A MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIP

“I wanted to find a place to create more meaningful conversations and meet new people than bars where people often meet up, and thought home is that place. Who doesn’t like dinner parties or potlucks?” says Jared Gold, co-founder of MealTribes, in Washington, D.C. Within two years, MealTribes has grown to more than 200 members that can host or join potlucks via a private Facebook group open to area residents in their 20s and 30s. To encourage participants to be fully present, the group encourages guests to leave their phones in their bags.

Instead of strict food do’s and don’ts, MealTribes encourages attendees to bring a contribution that makes them proud. However, guests are discouraged from bringing

The most worthwhile thing is to try to put happiness into the lives of others.

~Robert Baden-Powell Visit us at NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com

TRY FOR FREE! MEET YOUR CONSCIOUS PARTNER HERE! 14

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Photographee.eu/Shutterstock.com

Even skeptics have come away from events feeling like they got the best-case scenario: nice people, homey environment, with good food and conversation.

conscious eating

Cabeca de Marmore/Shutterstock.com

We even got an inquiry from a local fire department interested in hosting meals to get to know people in the community better. ~Jay Savsani, co-founder of Meal Sharing alcohol in lieu of a food dish to avoid it becoming the focus of the table.

“Lasting friendships and business opportunities have come from our potlucks,” says Gold. “Even skeptics have come away from events feeling like they got the best-case scenario; nice people, homey environment, with good food and conversation.”

Jay Savsani, co-founder of Meal Sharing, in Chicago, got the idea for the “Airbnb of meals” after seeking out a home-cooked

dinner while backpacking in Cambodia. He was invited to a farm feast in the countryside, connecting with local hosts over great conversation and delicious food. “I returned home wanting to find a way to use technology to recreate that serendipitous moment,” says Savsani.

Today, the platform uses technology to connect curious diners with affordable, home-cooked meals in 150 countries. “The concept is open; we encourage hosts to make whatever they believe in,” says Savsani. “That can be a top chef serving nine-course meals or a simple spaghetti someone offers for a few bucks or even free.”

Savsani says the meal becomes secondary to the deeper social interactions that can manifest through these gatherings. “We even got an inquiry from a local fire department interested in hosting meals to get to know people in the community better.”

Organically Grown Gatherings Lilia Fuquen, who directs the Food and Community project in Virginia, participates in several gatherings intended to nurture community through food. Fuquen’s project aims to bring people across the state together to document, celebrate and share traditional, contemporary and emerging foodways, initiating a deeper conversation about and the connections between food, place, culture and community.

Last fall, the project convened more

than 200 people around a feast celebrating indigenous foods, people and foodways in Virginia. The meal was prepared from locally farmed and foraged ingredients representative of the diverse native culinary traditions of the region, including greens, mushrooms, wild rice and fish sourced from fields, forests and streams.

On a more grassroots level, an intergenerational family potluck dinner “helps create community and a sense of family among people who often live far from blood relatives,” says Fuquen, who lives on a small farm outside Charlottesville, Virginia.

The workplace can also be a great place to break bread together, says Fuquen. Her office enjoys hosting the Souper Club, where co-workers each bring a key element like salad fixings, a loaf of bread or a pot of soup to enjoy together—away from their desks.

Rebecca Shaloff, a fundraising consultant in Washington, D.C., has participated in work lunch swaps, which she says promote camaraderie, new food discoveries and healthy eating. She also takes part in a closely knit monthly supper club of four young families in her neighborhood.

“We all value each other’s friendship and company, but there’s something about coming together for dinner that makes us feel more like family than friends,” Shaloff says.

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

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Brain-Savers Smart Strategies for Preventing Dementia

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by Melinda Hemmelgarn

ith 5.8 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease, there’s no shortage of advice on how to enhance, preserve and restore brain function. Judging from the assortment of brain training games and apps to the multitude of books promising ways to avoid or even reverse dementia, a growing number of aging Americans want to know the best strategies for preventing and treating cognitive decline and memory loss.

Prevention: A ‘No-Brainer’ As with any disease, prevention throughout the life cycle is key, but especially important for Alzheimer’s—the leading cause of dementia worldwide. According to the 16

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Alzheimer’s Association, the illness is considered a slowly progressive brain disease that begins well before symptoms emerge.

Despite predictions that the number of afflicted Americans will reach nearly 14 million by 2050, there are no drug cures.

David Perlmutter, M.D., a board-certified neurologist based in Naples, Florida, and an editorial board member of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, summarizes a recent study evaluating the effectiveness of currently available Alzheimer’s medications. “Not only were Alzheimer’s patients who were taking these drugs not gaining any benefit, but their rate of cognitive decline was worsened when they were on the Alzheimer’s medications,” thus making lifestyle risk reduction even more critical.

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Food as Medicine Martha Clare Morris, Sc.D., a nutritional epidemiologist at the Rush University Medical Center, in Chicago, and author of Diet for the MIND: The Latest Science on What to Eat to Prevent Alzheimer’s and Cognitive Decline, says, “Given that Alzheimer’s disease is known as an oxidative-inflammatory disease, there has to be a dietary influence.”

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Dale Bredesen, M.D., a professor in the UCLA Department of Neurology and author of The End of Alzheimer’s: The First Program to Prevent and Reverse Cognitive Decline, has studied the disease’s neurobiology for decades. He believes drug therapies have failed because scientists neglected to focus on why individuals develop the disease in the first place. He emphasizes, “Alzheimer’s is not a single disease,” even if the symptoms appear to be the same. Bredesen says it’s the result of the brain trying to protect itself from multiple metabolic and toxic threats.

Bredesen developed the ReCODE (reversal of cognitive decline) protocol, an ambitious, comprehensive and personalized therapeutic program that includes genetic, cognitive and blood testing, plus supplements and lifestyle improvements, including stress reduction, improved sleep, diet and exercise. With the goal of identifying and treating the individual’s pathway to disease, ReCODE addresses fixing five key areas he believes form the underlying origins and progression of Alzheimer’s disease: insulin resistance; inflammation/infections; hormone, nutrient and nerve growth factors; toxins; and dysfunctional nerve synapses.

The Lancet International Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention and Care also advocates multiple points of action. By addressing nine “potentially modifiable risk factors” throughout the lifespan, the commission says, “More than one-third of global dementia cases may be preventable.” These factors include maximizing education in early life; controlling hypertension, obesity and hearing loss in mid-life; and in later life, managing depression and diabetes, increasing physical activity and social contact, and not smoking.

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From two decades of research involving more than 10,000 people, Morris developed the MIND diet, which stands for “Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay”. It’s a hybrid of the Mediterranean and DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diets, modified to include specific components from each that offer the most protection against dementia. Morris identifies 10 brain-healthy dietary components: leafy greens, vegetables, berries, whole grains, nuts, seafood, poultry, beans and legumes, olive oil, and one glass of wine per day; plus five unhealthy components to limit: sweets and pastries, red meats, fried and fast foods, whole-fat cheese and butter or margarine containing trans fat.

Morris found those individuals that most closely followed the dietary recommendations lowered their risk for Alzheimer’s disease by as much as 53 percent, while those following the diet moderately well showed a reduction of about 35 percent.

Morris acknowledges a number of common aging-related, yet treatable, conditions that can cause “dementialike symptoms,” including low thyroid hormones and vitamin B12 deficiency. She also identifies specific brain-protective compounds including vitamins E, B12,

folate and niacin, plus lutein, omega-3 fatty acids, beta carotene and flavonoids found in colorful fruits and vegetables, tea and nuts.

She is currently testing the MIND diet, plus a mild calorie restriction on 600 individuals 65 to 84 years old living in Boston and Chicago; results are expected in 2021. The Alzheimer’s Association is also recruiting individuals for a new lifestyle intervention study.

Aarti Batavia, a registered dietitian based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and a certified practitioner of functional medicine trained in the ReCODE protocol, says, “Diets that are good for the heart are good for the brain.” But she also warns that many common medications such as statins, antihistamines, some antidepressants and proton pump inhibitors (that reduce stomach acid, which is required for absorbing vitamin B12) can increase the risk for dementia.

Smart Steps

As we continue to discover how genetics, environment and lifestyle factors intersect, take the following smart steps to promote longevity and vibrant brain health:

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Monitor and control blood sugar: Type 2 diabetes increases

Learn More

n The Alzheimer’s Association diet study: Tinyurl.com/AlzheimerAssociationDiet n Beyond Pesticides: BeyondPesticides.org n Blue Zones: BlueZones.com n Brain Health Education and Research Institute: BrainHealthEducation.org n ConsumerLab.com: assesses effectiveness and safety of supplements conducive to brain health. n Glycemic index and load: Tinyurl.com/GlycemicIndexAndLoad n Integrative Environmental Medicine, edited by Aly Cohen, M.D., and Frederick vom Saal, Ph.D. n Food Sleuth Radio interviews: Tinyurl.com/Food-Sleuth-Radio Aarti Batavia: to be posted on Food Sleuth site this month Brenda Davis: Tinyurl.com/BrendaDavisInterview, Tinyurl.com/BrendaDavisOnFoodSleuth Brenda Davy: Tinyurl.com/BrendaDavyInterview Teresa Martin: Tinyurl.com/TeresaMartinInterview, Tinyurl.com/TeresaMartinAudio Martha Clare Morris: Tinyurl.com/MarthaClareMorrisInterview David Perlmutter: to be posted on Food Sleuth site this month Dorothy Sears: Tinyurl.com/DorothySearsInterview

About Wheat and Other Grains When considering whether to restrict or include grain in one’s diet, consider the following: n Individuals with celiac or non-celiac gluten sensitivity should avoid wheat and other gluten-containing grains such as barley and rye. n According to nutritional epidemiologist Martha Clare Morris, diets rich in high-fiber whole grains, including wheat, decrease inflammation and oxidative stress, and improve cognition. She says, “Diets higher in fiber are linked to lower rates of diabetes and heart disease,” both of which increase risk of dementia. n Author Brenda Davis’ “grain hierarchy” promotes whole, intact grains as key in controlling blood sugar. n Whole grains are high in vitamins E and B, which protect against cognitive decline. n Dr. David Perlmutter, who supports high-fiber diets, but advocates avoiding gluten, warns against shopping in the gluten-free aisle. Foods there might not have gluten, he says, but they’re going to “powerfully raise your blood sugar.” n Choose organic grains to avoid exposure to pesticide residues.

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the risk for dementia. Brenda Davis, a registered dietitian in Vancouver, British Columbia, and author of The Kick Diabetes Cookbook: An Action Plan and Recipes for Defeating Diabetes, advises reducing the glycemic load of the diet by limiting refined carbohydrates and sugars, and eating a high-fiber, plant-based diet.

Dorothy Sears, Ph.D., a member of the executive committee of the Center for Circadian Biology at the University of California, San Diego, says it’s not just what we eat that matters, but when. She discovered multiple metabolic benefits, including reduced blood sugar, with prolonged nightly fasting—13 hours between the last meal at night and the first meal in the morning.

Brenda Davy, Ph.D., a registered dietitian and researcher at Virginia Tech, in Blacksburg, says hydration can influence blood sugar, weight and cognition, especially among middle-aged and older populations. She recommends drinking two cups of water prior to meals to moderate food intake.

2

Focus on ‘good’ fats: Olive oil,

nuts, avocados, and omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty, cold-water fish protect both the heart and brain. Michael Lewis, M.D., based in Potomac, Maryland, recommends an “omega-3 protocol” to help his patients recover from traumatic brain injury, which can increase risk for dementia.

3

Spice up your diet: Batavia recom-

mends cooking with brain-protecting herbs and spices such as turmeric, cinnamon, thyme and rosemary, which can help reduce inflammation and risk for dementia.

a hormone called brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which is responsible for stimulating neuron growth and protecting against cognitive decline.

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Mind your gut: Western medicine has historically separated the brain from the rest of the body. But research on the “gut-brain axis” shows there’s communication between our gut microbes and brain, plus direct links to neurodevelopmental disorders and dementia. “What goes on in the gut influences every manner of activity within the brain: the health of the brain, the functionality of the brain, the brain’s resistance to disease process and even mood,” says Perlmutter.

Both Perlmutter and Teresa Martin, a registered dietitian in Bend, Oregon, emphasize the importance of high-fiber plant foods that gut microbes need to produce beneficial, short-chain fatty acids to protect against inflammation, insulin resistance and “leaky gut”.

Prioritize sleep: All brain (and gut) experts recommend adequate sleep— seven to eight hours each night—to restore body and mind.

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Exercise: Both Morris and Perlmutter recommend aerobic activities in particular, like walking, swimming and cycling, to improve blood circulation to the brain and increase the production of

Avoid environmental toxins:

Exposure to pesticides, pollutants and heavy metals such as lead, mercury and arsenic can increase the risk of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Choosing organic food both reduces exposure to toxins and protects water quality and farmworker health.

Virginia Rauh, Ph.D., deputy director of the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health, in New York City, spoke at the National Pesticide Forum in Manhattan in April.

She explains that of the 5,000 new chemicals introduced each year, “at least 25 percent are neurotoxic,” and even very low-level exposure can harm children’s neurodevelopment.

Socialize: In studies of “Blue Zone”

populations that enjoy longevity with low rates of dementia, social engagement appears to be the secret sauce for quality of life.

Melinda Hemmelgarn, the “Food Sleuth”, is an award-winning registered dietitian, writer and nationally syndicated radio host based in Columbia, MO. Reach her at FoodSleuth@gmail.com.

Dietitian Teresa Martin suggests:

n Strive to eat a wide variety of plant species and at least 30 grams of fiber every day (some cooked and some raw). n Limit “microbial assassins”, including refined carbohydrates and added sugar (no more than 25 grams or six teaspoons of added sugar per day); sugar substitutes; food additives such as polysorbate-80 and carboxymethylcellulose; smoking and vaping; chronic stress; antimicrobial soaps and sanitizers; antibiotics; proton pump inhibitors; high-fat diets; and processed meats. n Move every day for at least 30 minutes; don’t sit for more than 30 minutes and get outside. n Relax with yoga, meditation or mindfulness. n Sleep seven to eight hours each night.

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Nerthuz/Shutterstock.com

Protecting and Nourishing Gut Microbiota

therapy to help reduce feelings of fear in clients diagnosed with anxiety and PTSD. A 2015 study at Butler University, in Indianapolis published in the Journal of Speech Pathology & Therapy shows the significant effects of theater arts on individuals with autism spectrum disorder. “Creative arts therapy can be successful in supporting children with autism, especially ways to practice social skills,” says Marshall.

“The drama therapist uses role play, improv and games in order to facilitate interpersonal communication.”

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healing ways

Dopamine and Creating Art

THE ART OF HEALING Creative Therapy Aids Recovery

F

by Marlaina Donato

or decades, creative expression has been a valuable tool in healing, and expressive arts therapy—the integrated application of two or more art forms—is now considered a life-changing modality for veterans and anyone else struggling with anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Also called creative arts therapy, this form of psychotherapy helps patients to process and express what is often beyond verbal language using music, art, dance, theater and writing as its primary modes of communication. “Individuals need no previous arts experience in order to benefit from working with a certified creative arts therapist,” explains Azizi Marshall, founder and CEO of the Center for Creative Arts Therapy, in Downers Grove, Illinois.

The National Intrepid Center of Excellence—an outpatient clinic specializing in traumatic brain injuries at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in Bethesda, Maryland—ranks creative arts therapy among the top five most effective approaches in helping veterans.

A study of combat veterans and creative arts therapy conducted at Concordia University, in Montreal, reported considerable

progress, especially in areas of expressing emotions resulting from trauma and gaining understanding of symptoms such as depression, thoughts of suicide and insomnia.

Psychotherapist Cathy Malchiodi, Ph.D., has authored several books, including The Art Therapy Sourcebook, and uses expressive arts therapy in her Louisville practice. “I’ve worked with soldiers for the past 10 years, and find that much of their healing comes about through telling their stories on stage or participating as an actor within a play or improvisation.” Malchiodi also incorporates mindfulness practices, visual arts, music and some simple forms of yoga in her sessions.

Creative Arts Therapy for Multiple Diagnoses

Expressive arts therapy is also making a positive impact on those suffering from panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, addictions, eating and attention disorders, dementia and chronic physical illness.

“Creative arts therapy can be used across life challenges; for example, dance or movement therapy has supported women with breast cancer and eating disorders,” says Marshall, who has also witnessed the power of drama

The multitasking neurotransmitter dopamine is one of the brain’s natural antidepressants and plays a key role in feeling pleasure and reinforcing habits. It reaches its highest levels during the initial stages of love, observing something of beauty or creating art.

A recent Drexel University study published in The Arts in Psychotherapy shows the neurological effects of drawing, coloring and simple doodling.

Increased circulation in the area of the brain correlating to pleasure and reward was evident, and this dopamine-dominant response is responsible for decreasing symptoms of anxiety and increasing feelings of joy and accomplishment.

Psychotherapist Doreen Meister, in Oakland, California, encourages her clients to focus on the process of creating, rather than the result. “Expressive therapies are an extension of the self-discovery continuum. I often hear, ‘I draw like a 2-year-old.’ To this I say, ‘Great! Draw like a 2-year-old!’ I believe that somewhere, many of us are told that creative expression must be a certain way.

Creativity is a natural state, a human quality that we are born with, and the product of creation is not as important as the process.”

Creativity from a clinical perspective allows for new emotional vantage points, distance from situations and viewing experiences through a different lens. “Bringing in creativity offers a wider palette of tools or access points, and gives us another way to understand ourselves,” says Meister. “Creativity as a life force is accessible to all of us.”

Marlaina Donato is an author and composer. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

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Sanjay Gupta on

‘CHASING LIFE’

by Jan Hollingsworth

D

uring nearly two decades with CNN, Dr. Sanjay Gupta has covered wars, natural disasters and the aftermath of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Along the way, the Westerntrained, practicing neurosurgeon has explored myriad health topics, including the science of alternative medicine and the benefits of medical cannabis, the subject of his CNN docuseries, Weed.

He’s written three books: Chasing Life: New Discoveries in the Search for Immortality to Help You Age Less Today, Cheating Death: The Doctors and Medical Miracles that Are Saving Lives Against All Odds and a novel-turned-TV series, Monday Mornings.

CNN’s chief medical correspondent recently found himself in Japan, soaking in a scalding bath—a form of stress relief practiced there—along with owl cafés and forest bathing. The visit was part of a sixcountry, immersive journey in some of the happiest and healthiest places on Earth— including India, Bolivia, Norway, Italy and Turkey—to explore ancient traditions and modern practices that lead to a healthy and meaningful life.

The result: Chasing Life, a new docuseries that aired in April and May, is now available on demand via cable/satellite systems, the CNNgo streaming platform and CNN mobile apps.

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What inspired your interest in exploring holistic and alternative healing?

On a very basic level, a lot of people are surprised to hear that U.S. life expectancy has dropped three years in a row and the cost of health care is more than $3.5 trillion a year. Yet there are places around the world where people are living happier, healthier lives for a lot less, and longer. They must be doing something that’s beneficial, and we wanted to find out what that might be: What do places around the world have to teach us?

To what do you attribute the reemergence of traditional Indian healing practices?

Ayurvedic medicine is widely practiced in India among the healthiest people in that part of the world. It’s stood the test of time, so it’s worth exploring. In the U.S., we have an amazing medical system for people who are sick, but they aren’t doing as well as expected [which is why] there’s an open-mindedness that’s happening about one of the oldest medical traditions.

What role might ancient traditions play in reshaping 21st-century health care?

If you look at chronic disease in the U.S.,

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one could make the argument that 70 to 80 percent of it is entirely preventable—most of it related to our food. When you look at the Ayurvedic diet, how does a culture come up with a way of eating going back thousands of years? In the U.S., most of our diet is based on palate. With Ayurveda, it is more about the function of food: Every morsel must have some function. The type of food, the timing and the temperature at which it is cooked is also important. If we really are a little more thoughtful about how we view the calories we’re consuming, it can make a big difference in our health. When we say food is our medicine, what does that really mean? In India, they’re showing us what it means. It’s not that taste is sacrificed; it’s just that Ayurveda was driven by function and palate came after.

What was the most surprising discovery you made on this journey?

There were a lot of surprises along the way. If you look at the U.S. and life expectancy, there are a lot of countries that are pretty similar in terms of economics, labor force and other things. But what is happening in the U.S. is pretty unique in a lot of ways. In the U.S., this notion of rugged individualism is a marker for success.

We’ve seen high rates of social isolation and loneliness—and the toxicity of that.

Italy is one of the healthiest places in the world, and a lot of that has to do with social fabric. That this social cohesion could be so protective, even without paying attention to things like diet and exercise—I think the power of that surprised me.

What is an important takeaway for you from this experience?

There is a long-held belief that wealth will buy health. In Bolivia, there is an indigenous tribe that has virtually no evidence of heart disease and they don’t even have a healthcare system. We shouldn’t automatically equate health to wealth. There are a lot of things we can do in our lives that can help—right now.

Jan Hollingsworth is the national editor for Natural Awakenings.

photo courtesy of CNN

wise words

It’s super-important to prewire for EVs. New buildings will last for 50 to 100 years, and in that time, EVs will become a much bigger slice of our transportation future than they are now.

buffaloboy/Shutterstock.com

green living

~Tom Saxton, Plug In America

Pre-Wired for the Future Transportation Drives Urban Planning

T

by Jim Motavalli

he Congress for the New Urbanism, a Washington, D.C.based advocacy nonprofit, has some decisive views about what makes a walkable community: “complete streets” that are designed for bicyclists, pedestrians and transit. What it doesn’t have is cars—at least not those with tailpipes.

City planners are increasingly designing green buildings without parking, and mandating—where it exists—that wiring for zero-emission electric vehicles (EV) is part of the plan. Oslo, Norway, for instance, has become known as the electric car capital of the world, yet it has also replaced considerable on-street parking with bike lanes and sidewalks. Its city center went mostly car-free this year, and according to Fast Company magazine, it’s a huge success: “Parking spots are now bike lanes, transit is fast and easy, and the streets (and local businesses) are full of people.”

Until recently, a new apartment building without parking was unthinkable, but architects are now contemplating—and building—just such new construction. A 13,000-square-foot, mixed-use development in Boston is being built with 16 rental units—and no onsite parking. Boston is a transit-friendly city and the complex is just a quarter mile from a Red Line subway stop. The city is a hub for what the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Institute, a project of the U.S. High Speed Rail Association, calls “the creation of compact, walkable, pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use communities centered around high-quality train systems.”

Also proposed in the city is a five-story, 56-unit apartment building that features a gym, media room, a rack for several dozen bicycles—but no parking. The structure is adjacent to the Red Line, and the plan aligns with efforts by the Boston Planning and Development Agency to reduce—to zero in some cases—the ratio of units to parking spaces.

The Boston Redevelopment Authority has expressed concern that the residents of buildings without parking will simply add to congestion on neighborhood streets, but a report by Atlantic Cities (now called CityLab) found that 45 percent of residents in five census tracts around one proposed car-free Boston building didn’t even own cars, so a possible “no cars” covenant could be part of a lease.

According to the Smart Growth America report Empty Spaces, most TOD developments build reduced parking lots, yet even those turned out to be too big; on average, its study of five such developments shows they were 58 to 84 percent occupied.

Wiring for EVs: It’s the Law

It can be expensive to retrofit buildings with wiring for electric cars, because “trenching” under existing pavement is usually required. A California Air Resources Board report in 2015 put these costs per building at between $3,750 and $6,975, and that’s just for the wiring. Costs are reduced 64 to 75 percent if the buildings are wired when they’re built, according to an Energy Solutions/Pacific Gas and Electric report.

California has become the leader in requiring EV prewiring in new construction of multifamily dwellings and nonresidential developments. The state began requiring wiring for Level 2 (240volt) EV charging in 2015.

Chelsea Sexton, a Los Angeles-based electric car advocate and advisor, backs the state law, with caveats. “Where there is parking included,” she says, “most buildings and public lots should be pre-wired for EV charging—while it is the most cost effective to do so and preserves the most flexibility for that property going forward.”

It’s not just California. Atlanta passed a city ordinance in 2017 that will require all new residential homes and public parking areas to accommodate EVs. Some 20 percent of the spaces have to be ready to be connected. In Washington state, 5 percent of parking spaces in new construction have to be wired for EVs. In Colorado, which has the goal of nearly a million EVs on state roads by 2030, the cities of Denver, Fort Collins, Boulder and Aspen all require new one- and two-family residential construction to be EV-ready. There are also EV-friendly laws in New York City, Hawaii, Oregon and Montgomery County, Maryland.

Tom Saxton, the chief science officer of the Plug In America advocacy group, based in Los Angeles, says, “It’s super-important to prewire for EVs. New buildings will last for 50 to 100 years, and in that time, EVs will become a much bigger slice of our transportation future than they are now.”

Jim Motavalli, of Fairfield, CT, is an author and freelance journalist.

Connect at JimMotavalli.com.

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~Dami Roelse

Into the Woods

Hiking for Health and Happiness

by Marlaina Donato

M

any of us equate fitness with going to the gym, but a good hike in a natural environment can foster unique benefits for both body and psyche.

Hiking or walking outdoors not only promotes heart health, helping to balance both blood sugar and blood pressure, it increases hip bone density to help reduce fractures, according to research on postmenopausal women from the ongoing Nurses’ Health Study.

Navigating uneven terrain also necessitates lateral movement, which can

strengthen core muscles and improve balance more significantly than working out on a treadmill or cycling.

Walk and Live Longer

Any kind of walking can be a great boon to health. Recent research by the American Cancer Society involving 140,000 older adults correlates a lower mortality rate with even short intervals of walking.

Individuals in the study that walked six hours a week lowered their risk of dying from cancer and cardiovascular and respiratory disease. It also shows that just two

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hours of walking per week could significantly improve health.

“Walking and hiking balance the body through natural movement, oxygenation of the cells and the use of our muscles as they were designed to be used,” says Dami Roelse, of Ashland, Oregon, author of Walking Gone Wild: How to Lose Your Age on the Trail. “Walking is in our genes; DNA molecules need to be stimulated regularly to express themselves, and walking does just that. It also improves mood and cognition.”

The beauty of hiking is that it offers a tailored experience according to ability and personal interests. Day hikes, whether in the countryside or in urban botanical gardens or parks, are uplifting and ideal for any fitness level.

Longer or overnight treks with a backpack of supplies offer healthy challenges and opportunities for total immersion in nature. Bringing the kids on a hike offers family fitness time and a healthy way to unplug from technology and sneak in a fun learning experience about local flora and fauna.

Trek for a Healthier Brain

Exercise stimulates feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, but getting a workout in a natural setting fortifies the whole nervous system. A 2015 study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science led by Stanford University researchers shows that walking in nature for 90 minutes decreases activity in the subgenual prefrontal cortex, the region of the brain most affected by depression. In contrast, individuals that walked in an urban environment did not reap the same results.

Another 2015 study published in the

Alexander Raths/Shutterstock.com

Walking and hiking balance the body through natural movement, oxygenation of the cells and the use of our muscles as they were designed to be used.

fit body

Journal of Environmental Psychology shows that nature walks improve memory and decrease anxiety in teens.

The Japanese philosophy of shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing”, woven into Japanese Shinto and Buddhist traditions, has become an important part of science-based health care in Japan. A significant 2009 study by Japanese researchers published in Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine shows that just 20 minutes of walking in the woods decreases stress hormones. Forest bathing has also been shown to speed postoperative healing, improve concentration in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and fortify immunity with an increased number of NK, or natural killer cells.

Naturalist Melanie Choukas-Bradley, in Washington, D.C., knows about Mother Nature’s therapeutic gifts firsthand.

“I participated in some of the health research both in the field and the lab during a forest bathing trip to Japan,” says the author of The Joy of Forest Bathing: Reconnect with Wild Places & Rejuvenate Your Life. “My vital signs were checked before and after shinrin-yoku walks, and in the lab my brainwaves were measured while viewing urban and forest scenes. My blood pressure was lower after every walk, and my brainwaves calmed while viewing forest scenes.” Choukas-Bradley emphasizes that forest bathing doesn’t require a forest setting, noting, “You can forest bathe in the desert, at the beach or even an urban park during a lunch break.”

Hitting the trails can also help us see life from another perspective. “Forests are living, breathing organisms. Mountains

Helpful Links and Inspiration National trail guide resource: AllTrails.com 13 best hiking apps: AtlasAndBoots.com/best-hiking-apps Hiking with the kids: Tinyurl.com/HealthyHikingWithKids Beginning with day hiking: SectionHiker.com/10-tips-forbeginner-day-hikers Backpacking tips for beginners: REI.com/learn/expert-advice/ backpacking-beginners Practical advice, inspiration and tips for women hikers: GirlsWhoHike.net Walking to stay fit: VeryWellFit.com/walking-4157093 Library of forest bathing articles: TheForestLibrary.com/forestbathing-online-articles transcend my humanness,” muses Roelse. “It’s both a humbling and uplifting experience.”

Marlaina Donato is the author of several books on spirituality and clinical aromatherapy. She is also a composer. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Neighborhood bookstores

Is God in That Bottle Cap? An inspirational guide to leading a life of spirituality

A true life story of the personal quest for spiritual enlightenment and the many benefits of meditation, based on the author’s 44 years of daily meditation, more than 40 years of yoga and tai chi, and more than 20 years of qigong

I would love to see this book in the hands of practitioners of all paths for self-realization.

- Vijayendra Pratap, Ph.D.

president of the Yoga Research Society, Author (Beginning Yoga, Yoga Vision, Secrets of Hatha Vidya)

… readers should certainly enjoy this absorbing book, A lively and intensely readable story of one man’s use of a variety of spiritual practices to reveal the nature of reality.

- Kirkus Reviews

A fun ride and informative read.

- Jeff Cox, retired president of

Snow Lion Publications

www.isgodinthatbottlecap.com

June 2019

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of Children”—and organic fertilizers containing fish, seaweed and other natural nutrients.

healthy kids

Choose the Spot

Get the Right Tools

For young kids with short attention spans, small plastic spades, rakes and hoes might work. But older kids need hardier tools. Get them properly fitted garden gloves, plus sunhats and sunscreen.

Plant the Seeds

Gardening for Kids

The Fun of Growing Their Own

by Ronica A. O’Hara

I

t’s May, and the temperature is rising, as is the sap and green shoots. It’s the perfect time to involve kids in growing their own garden that will get them outdoors, teach them planning and perseverance, and develop their motor, literacy and scientific skills.

A South Korean study found that gardening provides both highand moderate-intensity exercise for kids. It builds good eating habits, too: A British study of 46 9- and 10-year-olds found that they ate 26 percent more vegetables and fruit after growing a school garden, and a University of Florida study of 1,351 college students showed them more likely to eat veggies if they had gardened as children.

For the most gratifying results, give kids a sense of ownership.

“Let them make the decisions and be in charge of the care of the garden as much as developmentally possible,” advises Sarah Pounders, senior education specialist at KidsGardening.org, in Burlington, Vermont.

Getting Started

Order some seed catalogues, look online—or better yet, take a child to the local garden nursery. Let them decide what to grow. Their choices are as diverse as their interests.

Veggies, flowers and plants that draw butterflies each have their own appeal. Some, like sunflowers, radishes and lettuce, are fastgrowing, offering quick gratification. Or, they can choose a theme.

“If your child likes Italian food, plant tomatoes and basil. If they enjoy Mexican food, then peppers and cilantro. For flowers— zinnias and cosmos—let them make flower arrangements from early summer into the fall,” suggests Susan Brandt, of Bristow, Virginia, co-founder of the gardening site BloomingSecrets.com.

Visiting a plant nursery offers the perfect opportunity to put kids on the path to healthy living. Point out and discuss the differences between organic and nonorganic seeds and between chemical fertilizers containing Roundup—labeled “Keep Out of Reach 24

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Help them read and interpret the seed package directions, if necessary, and use a ruler to measure proper spacing. “I always try to have a mix of plants that start from seed and from transplants, so that kids can have both immediate and delayed gratification,” says Pounders.

Water, Weed and Mulch

Show them how to use the watering can or hose properly, usually watering only when the soil is dry to a depth of one inch. They can mix their own non-toxic pesticide out of vinegar and salt, and spread such organic mulches as straw, newspaper, grass clippings and leaves to discourage weeds.

Get Scientific

“They can look at the soil to see all the living creatures in it, which is especially fun through a microscope,” says Dixie Sandborn, an extension specialist at Michigan State University. “They can learn about vermiculture by making a worm bin and feeding the worms their table scraps.” With a ruler, they can measure the growth of various plants and create a chart comparing rates. By taking photos or drawing pictures on a daily or weekly basis, they can compile an album, along with their commentary on weather patterns.

Have Fun

“Let them add personal touches like stepping stones, signs and other decorations that let them express their personality in their garden space,” says Pounders. Help them build a scarecrow, bird feeder, toad house, bird bath, sundial or a tent. Make a teepee or small enclosure and cover it with flowers, vines or climbing beans.

Harvest the Crop

After picking ripe vegetables, kids can find recipes and prepare snacks or a dish; arrange plucked flowers in vases and take photos; do craft activities with seeds, plants and flowers, like making potpourri or framing dried flowers; or throw a garden-themed party with favors that include herbs or seed packets. “You could have a ‘pajam-a’ party. Kids could wear their pajamas, pick berries, and make jam to take home,” suggests Sandborn.

Ronica A. O’Hara is a Denver-based freelance health writer. Connect at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

Tatevosian Yana/Shutterstock.com

A three-foot-by-three-foot plot is an ideal size for a child’s garden, as long as it gets lots of sunshine. If living in an urban area, go with pots of soil in a sunny window.

community spotlight

Black Urban Gardeners and Farmers of Pittsburgh Cooperative

by Anita Stewart

T

wo remarkable and on fire women—Raqueeba Bey and Dana Harris-Yates—are unified by their work to turn their neighborhood of Homewood into a green and sustainable place. Bey is a mother, community activist, founder and senior project director for the Black Urban Gardeners and Farmers of Pittsburgh Cooperative (BUG-FPC), started in 2015, and founder and president of Mama Africa’s Green Scouts, that began in 2011. She is on a mission to teach young people and their families about green living, sustainability, urban homesteading, leadership skills and more.

Harris-Yates shares the mission as a management member of BUGFPC which has been recognized by the state of Pennsylvania and the African Diaspora Community of Pittsburgh for services provided to elder and youth communities regarding culturally based education. This includes the use of fresh organic food, spices and herbs for food and medicine, reiki, massage, acupuncture, yoga, doula and midwifery services, regular exercise and many more modalities. Her vision is to have an herbal therapy garden that will be the center for healing in her community and to reconnect and empower youth and their families with the indigenous and ancestral ways of plant-based living.

Their shared vision was born after the leaders of these communities realized that they were being left out of grants, funding and other opportunities and were not given seats at the table when it came to decision-making for their neighborhoods.

The needs are critical in Homewood and in almost any African-American community across the country—not being able to easily access good, healthy food in neighborhoods that suffer from high rates of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and diverse cancers. Burdening our youth are the stress-related physical illnesses, post-traumatic stress disorder and other emotional/mental conditions caused by the violence witnessed within their own homes and neighborhoods. This

is augmented by what they see on television and social media, and include the end results of police violence, persecution and killing of family members and friends without justice.

With no adequate place to shop for food within the Homewood community for example, many resort to food-like products at the local Dollar General store. With a lack of farmers’ markets and full-service grocery stores and a dependence on public transportation, many people that live in these communities simply do not have healthy choices for themselves and their families. Through their efforts, Bey and Harris-Yates envision a change in the physical, mental and emotional health of the youth and their families within the next five years.

The two existing lots were acquired in 2017 through the city of Pittsburgh’s Adopt a Lot program. The Homewood Farmers’ Market will start up again in July through November. There is also a hoop house (so food can be grown year-round), a tool shed, a pollinator garden and beehives complete with Maurice, a trained beekeeper.

Plans include another hoop house or two, a fruit orchard, aquaponics, chickens, benches, rain barrels, community plots, classes and a therapeutic meditation labyrinth shaped like an ankh (a life-giving symbol).

The biggest need right now is for volunteers. There has been a recent hold on the water from the city, which is essential for this year’s planting season. Many other local organizations are involved in making this project a success.

To volunteer on scheduled work days, classes and events, see the Community Calendar.

Anita Stewart is an environmentalist, blogger and social media expert.

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carpeted scratching surfaces, placed vertically and horizontally to meet all preferences. Keep the scratchers in areas where the kitten hangs out.

8

Train kitty to use the scratching post.

Initially, it might help to apply catnip or attach a feather toy to make the scratching area especially appealing. Discourage any feline from scratching on inappropriate surfaces by attaching double-sided tape or inflated balloons to rugs or furniture that are off limits.

BRINGING UP KITTY 9 Get Off on the Right Paw

by Karen Shaw Becker

T

here’s nothing as endearing as a bigeyed kitten hopping sideways across the floor or curled into a small ball of fluff on our lap. Getting a new kitten started off on the right foot will ensure they grow up to be a healthy and happy companion.

1

Prepare a sanctuary for the family’s new kitten.

When bringing a new kitten (or adult cat) into their new home, it’s best to separate the new addition in a little bed-andbreakfast-like setup of their own for at least a week. Put their litter box, bedding, food and toys in their space and keep noise, confusion and foot traffic to a minimum.

2

Provide warm, snuggly sleeping quarters.

Felines, especially tiny ones, like their environment warmer than what humans generally prefer. Look for bedding that hasn’t been treated with flame-retardant chemicals such as PBDE; Swedish scientists have linked the chemical, commonly found in foam, to hyperthyroidism in cats. The best choice is wool, which is naturally flame resistant.

3

Consider crate training.

Most cats fight being put into a carrier because it only happens when someone’s about to take them to a place they don’t want to go to. That’s why it’s a good idea to set up a carrier for a kitten on their first day 26

Pittsburgh, PA

home. Entice them to enter on their own using food treats, toys and comfy bedding.

4

Go slow with family introductions.

Introduce other members of the household to the new kitty one at a time. Ideally, introductions occur in a neutral location, like the living room, when the kitten ventures out to investigate.

5

Offer this tiny carnivore the nutrition they were born to eat.

To provide the very best start in life, feed the little one either a homemade or commercially available, nutritionally balanced, fresh food diet (preferably raw) designed for cats at all stages of life.

6

Help the kitten learn to love their personal litter box.

Most kittens can use a litter box at about four weeks. Just make sure its walls are low enough that they can hop in and out on their own. If a kitten or cat is avoiding the box, there’s likely a reason: location, type of litter or failure to clean it often enough.

7

Provide appropriate climbing and scratching surfaces.

Climbing and scratching are natural feline behaviors. Try burlap, cardboard and

NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com

Offer toys that bring out the feline hunter.

Think like a cat and buy or create toys that draw out their hunting instincts. A piece of string wrapped around the end of a stick dragged on the ground will bring out the stalker in almost any cat. So will ping-pong balls or small wads of paper flicked across the floor.

10

Indulge most kittens’ love of boxes.

When cats in the wild feel threatened, they head for trees, dens or caves for safety.

Domestic kitties don’t have that option, so their obsession with hiding in boxes may be an adaptation. Providing “hidey holes” may also help a kitten acclimate faster to their new home and family.

11

Provide easy, safe access to the outdoors.

Indoor cats need time outside. Consider building or buying a safe, secure, outdoor enclosure (catio) for them to hang out in when the weather is nice.

12

Consider adopting two kittens at the same time.

One of the best ways to avoid many common behavioral problems is to adopt a pair of kittens. Because they crave stimulation and interaction, adopting two provides instant playmates to occupy each other’s time.

Karen Becker is a proactive, integrative doctor of veterinary medicine who consults internationally and writes for Mercola Healthy Pets (HealthyPets.Mercola.com).

Olhastock/Shutterstock.com

natural pet

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June 2019

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Audubon Greenway, 160 Magee Rd, Sewickly.

AlleghenyLandTrust.org/events.

NOTE: All calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Review submissions guidelines at NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com or email Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com for more information.

Introduction to Herbal Medicine – 6:30pm.

With Cutting Root Farm and Apothecary. Plant identification and cultivation tips, harvesting and uses of medicinal plants. $10 donation.

Sterrett Middle School Medicinal Herb Garden, 7100 Reynolds St, Pittsburgh. Facebook.com/ CuttingRootFarm.

Belly Dance – 7-8pm. With Dréa Kremposky.

Low-impact, natural, body mechanics. Strengthen and tone your core. All ages and abilities welcome.

Dress comfortably for movement. $10/class or $35/four sessions. The Phoenix Arts Center, 13 Pittsburgh St, Uniontown. RSVP: 724-984-3926.

DremariHolisticWellness.net.

SATURDAY, JUNE 1 Morgantown Farmers’ Market – 8:30am-noon.

Every Saturday. All products sold are grown or produced within 50 miles. Their vendors bring fresh seasonal veggies and fruits, meats, eggs, baked foods, seedlings, herbs, flowers, dried beans, flours, maple syrup, cheese and more. 415 Spruce St, Morgantown, W Virginia. MorgantownFarmersMarket.org.

Garden Co-op Volunteer Opportunity – 9:3011:30am. Black Urban Gardeners and Farmers of Pittsburgh, 7013 Monticello St, Pittsburgh. Info: 413-639-8380 or Taylor.Celeste@gmail.com.

Green Building Alliance Bike Tour and Block Party – 9:30am-4pm. Geared Up and Grounded guided bike tour by Pittsburgh Major Taylor Cycling Club starts at 10am. $45 registration includes use of Healthy Ride PGH bikes (if needed), breakfast, snacks along the way, swag and drink cup for free drinks along the way. Afterparty outside of Grounded’s office at 1pm is free. Info@Groundedpgh.org.

Groundedpgh.org/event/gug-2019.

How to Care for Your Basil Workshop – 10am.

With Grow Pittsburgh. $18/nonmembers, members (use discount code). Frick Art & Historical Center, 7227 Reynolds St, Pittsburgh. Register/ discount code: 412-362-4796 ext 204, Denele@ GrowPittsburgh.org. Tickets: Facebook.com/pg/ GrowPittsburgh/events.

JULY

FRIDAY, JUNE 7 Self-Discovery through Intuitive Eating – 10am.

Hosted by Sara Remington, Mind, Body and Wellness practitioner. $15. Youghiogheny Holistic Living Center, 144 Third St, Connellsville. Tickets: Facebook.com/YHLRiverWell.

Holistic Skin Care From the Kitchen – Noon. $25.

Youghiogheny Holistic Living Center, 144 N Third St, Connellsville. 724-707-4338. Tickets: Facebook. com/YHLRiverWell.

Brew Your Own Kombucha – 6-7:30pm. Facilitated by Tia Johnson. Advanced tickets only. $20/ person include an instructional pamphlet, a live scoby and an organic tea bag of your choice. Mountain People’s Co-op Market & Café 131 Pleasant St, Morgantown, W Virginia. Purchase tickets in-store or call 304-291-6131.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5

Coming Next Month

Garden Co-op Volunteer Opportunity – 4:306:30pm. Black Urban Gardeners and Farmers of Pittsburgh, 7013 Monticello St. Info: 413-639-8380 or Taylor.Celeste@gmail.com.

Plus: Urban & Suburban Agriculture

Women’s Self-Care: Teas and Zzzzs – 5:308:30pm. Co-hosted by Hampton Holistic Center and Tupelo Honey Teas. VIP tickets $15/advance or $15/door includes 10-minute chair massage and a swag bag crammed with goodies. Hampton Holistic Center, 1019 Perry HWY, Ross Twp. 512-486-1829.

Rebekah@Hampton-Holistics.com.

Gut Health LOCAL FOOD ISSUE

Anatomy/Physiology for Herbalists Series Part IV: Liver Health and Maintenance – 6-7pm. Hosted by Jen Dalke of Blue Heron Nature Skills. Learn how the liver functions and how herbs can help keep it healthy. Free. Bridgeville Public Library, 505 McMillen St. BlueHeronNatureSkills.com/classes/bpl.

Air Quality: Sources, Symptoms and Solutions – 7-8pm. East End Food Co-Op Learn about pollutants and how to spot and report pollutants that pose a threat. GASP (nonprofit Group Against Smog and Pollution) will share how you can get involved in creating cleaner air for all of southwestern PA. Free.

East End Food Co-Op, 7516 Meade St, Pittsburgh.

RSVP: Eventbrite.com/e/air-quality-sources-symptoms-andsolutions-tickets-59706227935.

THURSDAY, JUNE 6 Botany for Beginners –5:30-6:30pm. With the Allegheny Land Trust, explore the Audubon Greenway and discuss what is blooming and growing in June and how to identify what we see. $5.

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Pittsburgh, PA

NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com

Three Rivers Arts Festival – Jun 7-16. Celebrating 60 years of free art and music in Pittsburgh with 10 days of amazing art and musical performances too numerous to list. Music, dance theater, literary art, visual art, exhibits, film and creative activities for young and old. Featured artist: India Arie, 7:309:30pm, Fri (6/7) at Dollar Bank Main Stage, Point State Park. Info/tickets: traf.TrustArts.org.

Monongahela Farmers’ Market – 3-6pm. Weekly thru Sept 27. Shop local and know where your food comes from. Near Chaney’s Natural and the DonoraMonongahela Lion’s Club, Chess Park, 721 Main St, Monongahela. Vendors/sponsors: 724-328-2834 or ChaneysAdmin@gmail.com. Facebook page: Monongahela Farmers Market.

Nova Luna Intention-Setting Workshop Series – 7-8:30pm. Learn steps to creating powerful intentions to manifest the dreams written within our hearts.

Understand cycles of the moon, and touch herbs, essential oils, mediation, crystals and spiritual helpers to become our best selves. Bring a journal. $25/intro session, $15/follow-up sessions. The Phoenix Arts Center, 13 Pittsburgh St, Uniontown. RSVP: 724984-3926 or DremariHolisticWellness.net/events.

SATURDAY, JUNE 8 Morgantown Farmers’ Market – 8:30am-noon.

Every Saturday. All products sold are grown or produced within 50 miles. Their vendors bring fresh seasonal veggies and fruits, meats, eggs, baked foods, seedlings, herbs, flowers, dried beans, flours, maple syrup, cheese and more. 415 Spruce St, Morgantown, W Virginia. MorgantownFarmersMarket.org.

Garden Co-op Volunteer Opportunity – 9:3011:30am. Black Urban Gardeners and Farmers of Pittsburgh, 7013 Monticello St. Info: 413-639-8380 or Taylor.Celeste@gmail.com.

Camping Candle Making Program – 1:30pm. Fun program with candlemaker family Ned and Hannah Kimmel. Make candles using recycled items from around the house. Expect to get messy. Yellow Creek State Park Environmental Learning Center, 2-216 Pond Ln, Penn Run. Preregistration required by 6/5. Info: Lisa Meadows: LiMeadows@pa.gov.

MONDAY, JUNE 10 Ayurvedic Summer Eight-Week Online Group Program – Jun 10-Aug 4. With Molly Culleton, Ayurvedic practitioner. Topic: Seasonal Diet and Lifestyle. Learn and implement Ayurveda. Weekly class, group coaching call and community support via private Facebook group. $179. Turiya Holistic Health, 1035 Jefferson Ave, Washington. Register: 412-667-8901 or Molly@TuriyaHolisticHealth.com.

photo by Betty Moore

calendar of events

of kombucha. $30. Limited Space. Millvale Community Library, 211 Grant Ave, Millvale. Tickets: Facebook.com/TupeloHoneyTeasPittsburgh.

TUESDAY, JUNE 11 All About the Birds and the Bees: Attracting Pollinators to Your Garden – 6-7:30pm. With Grow Pittsburgh. $15/non-members, members (discount code). Churchview Farm, 3897 Churchview Ave Ext, Pittsburgh. Info/code: 412-362-4769, ext 204 or Denele@GrowPittsburgh.org. Tickets: Facebook. com/pg/GrowPittsburgh/events.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12 Garden Co-op Volunteer Opportunity – 4:306:30pm. Black Urban Gardeners and Farmers of Pittsburgh, 7013 Monticello St. Info: 413-639-8380 or Taylor.Celeste@gmail.com.

THURSDAY, JUNE 13 Urban Chicken Keeping – 6-7:30pm. With Grow Pittsburgh. $10/nonmembers, free/members. Participants leave with the knowledge they need to raise their own flock. Shiloh Farm, 7211 Thomas Blvd, Pittsburgh. Tickets: Facebook.com/pg/ GrowPittsburgh/events.

Introduction to Herbal Medicine – 6:30pm.

With Cutting Root Farm and Apothecary. Learn plant identification and cultivation tips, harvesting and uses of medicinal plants. $10. Sterrett Middle School Medicinal Herb Garden, 7100 Reynolds St, Pittsburgh. Facebook.com/CuttingRootFarm.

Belly Dance – 7-8pm. With Dréa Kremposky.

Low-impact, natural, body mechanics. Strengthen and tone your core. All ages and abilities welcome.

Dress comfortably for movement. $10/class or $35/four sessions. The Phoenix Arts Center, 13 Pittsburgh St, Uniontown. RSVP: 724-984-3926.

DremariHolisticWellness.net.

Church off South Harmony Rd, Penn Run. Register by 6/13: Lisa Meadows: LiMeadows@pa.gov.

LGBT Holistic Health Workshop – Noon-3pm.

Learn stress management techniques to incorporate into your daily life. This workshop will include breath work, meditation, yoga and group coaching led by a holistic life coach. Free. The Mindbody Center, 2000 Coombs Farm Rd, Morgantown, W Virginia. Register: 304-702-3016 or Coaching@Chasehyson.com.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19 Garden Co-op Volunteer Opportunity – 4:306:30pm. Black Urban Gardeners and Farmers of Pittsburgh, 7013 Monticello St. Info: 413-639-8380 or Taylor.Celeste@gmail.com.

Botany 101 Series Part II: Learning Plants by Families – 6-7pm. Common plant families and what makes them alike or different. Free. Bridgeville Public Library, 505 McMillen St, Bridgeville.

BlueHeronNatureSkills.com/classes/bpl.

THURSDAY, JUNE 20 Basics of Kombucha – 6-8pm. Hosted by Tupelo Honey Teas. Basics of Kombucha by Buch Master Naomi with samples and cocktail recipes. Go home with a scoby and tea to start your own batch

Introduction to Herbal Medicine – 6:30pm.

With Cutting Root Farm and Apothecary. Learn plant identification and cultivation tips, harvesting, and uses of medicinal plants. $10 donation.

Sterrett Middle School Medicinal Herb Garden, 7100 Reynolds St, Pittsburgh. Facebook.com/ CuttingRootFarm.

Belly Dance – 7-8pm. With Dréa Kremposky.

Low-impact, natural, body mechanics. Strengthen and tone your core. All ages and abilities welcome.

Dress comfortably for movement. $10/class or $35/four sessions. The Phoenix Arts Center, 13 Pittsburgh St, Uniontown. RSVP: 724-984-3926.

DremariHolisticWellness.net.

FRIDAY, JUNE 21 Monongahela Farmers’ Market – 3-6pm. Weekly thru Sept 27. Shop local and know where your food comes from. Near Chaney’s Natural and the DonoraMonongahela Lion’s Club, Chess Park, 721 Main St, Monongahela. Vendors/sponsors: 724-328-2834 or ChaneysAdmin@gmail.com. Facebook page: Monongahela Farmers Market.

Women+ in Green Happy Hour – 5:30-7:30pm.

Hosted by Green Building Alliance. Celebrate the work of women and non-binary individuals in sustainability. Supportive community for networking and relationship-building. Requires registration; includes free appetizers, beer and wine. Free. Venue TBD. Info: Kara.Magoolaghan@gba.org. Go-gba. org/events/women-in-green-happy-hour-2.

Nova Luna Intention-Setting Workshop Series – 7-8:30pm. Learn steps to creating powerful inten-

FRIDAY, JUNE 14 Monongahela Farmers’ Market – 3-6pm. Weekly thru Sept 27. Shop local and know where your food comes from. Near Chaney’s Natural and the DonoraMonongahela Lion’s Club, Chess Park, 721 Main St, Monongahela. Vendors/sponsors: 724-328-2834 or ChaneysAdmin@gmail.com. Facebook page: Monongahela Farmers Market.

Nova Luna Intention-Setting Workshop Series – 7-8:30pm. Learn steps to creating powerful intentions to manifest the dreams written within our hearts.

Understand cycles of the moon, and touch herbs, essential oils, mediation, crystals and spiritual helpers to become our best selves. Bring a journal. $25/intro session, $15/follow-up sessions. The Phoenix Arts Center, 13 Pittsburgh St, Uniontown. RSVP: 724984-3926 or DremariHolisticWellness.net/events.

SATURDAY, JUNE 15 Morgantown Farmers’ Market – 8:30am-noon.

Every Saturday. All products sold are grown or produced within 50 miles. Their vendors bring fresh seasonal veggies and fruits, meats, eggs, baked foods, seedlings, herbs, flowers, dried beans, flours, maple syrup, cheese and more. 415 Spruce St, Morgantown, W Virginia. MorgantownFarmersMarket.org.

Garden Co-op Volunteer Opportunity – 9:3011:30am. Black Urban Gardeners and Farmers of Pittsburgh, 7013 Monticello St. Info: 413-639-8380 or Taylor.Celeste@gmail.com.

Colonial Herb Garden – 10am. Join Penn State Master Gardener Sue Weiland to learn how colonists grew herbs and how pollinators benefit from native herbs. Stake Church Herb Garden, across from Stake

June 2019

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tions to manifest the dreams written within our hearts.

Understand cycles of the moon, and touch herbs, essential oils, mediation, crystals and spiritual helpers to become our best selves. Bring a journal. $25/intro session, $15/follow-up sessions. The Phoenix Arts Center, 13 Pittsburgh St, Uniontown. RSVP: 724984-3926 or DremariHolisticWellness.net/events.

SATURDAY, JUNE 22 Morgantown Farmers’ Market – 8:30am-noon.

Every Saturday. All products sold are grown or produced within 50 miles. Their vendors bring fresh seasonal veggies and fruits, meats, eggs, baked foods, seedlings, herbs, flowers, dried beans, flours, maple syrup, cheese and more. 415 Spruce St, Morgantown, W Virginia. MorgantownFarmersMarket.org.

Garden Co-op Volunteer Opportunity – 9:3011:30am. Black Urban Gardeners and Farmers of Pittsburgh, 7013 Monticello St. Info: 413-639-8380 or Taylor.Celeste@gmail.com.

The Handcrafted Cooperative Summer Night Market – 4-10pm. The Handcrafted Cooperative offers a seasonal market dedicated to handmade items created by the most talented independent makers in our area. Live Music by Weary Space Wanderer. 413 Spruce St, Morgantown, W Virginia.

TheHandcraftedCooperative.com/marketschedule/ 2019/6/22/the-handcrafted-cooperative-night-market.

SUNDAY, JUNE 23 Bedner’s Monthly Weed Walks –2-3pm. With Jen D of Southwest PA Wild Edible and Medicinal Plant Group. No walk during extreme weather.

Donation. Meet at big round table in front of Bedner’s Farm and Greenhouse, 315 Coleman Rd, McDonald. RSVP 48 hours in advance: BlueHeronNatureSkills@gmail.com.

TUESDAY, JUNE 25 Book Tour: Grocery Story by Jon Steinman – 6:30-8pm. Steinman pulls back the curtain on grocery giants that maintain their grip on communities; makes a compelling case for transformation of grocery store aisles to the emerging frontier of the local food movement. East End Co-op, 7516 Meade St, Pittsburgh. RSVP: Facebook.com/pg/ EastEndCoOp/events.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26 Garden Co-op Volunteer Opportunity – 4:306:30pm. Black Urban Gardeners and Farmers of Pittsburgh, 7013 Monticello St. Info: 413-639-8380 or Taylor.Celeste@gmail.com.

THURSDAY, JUNE 27 Introduction to Herbal Medicine – 6:30pm. With Cutting Root Farm and Apothecary. Learn plant identification and cultivation tips, harvesting, and uses of medicinal plants. $10 donation. Sterrett Middle School Medicinal Herb Garden, 7100 Reynolds St, Pittsburgh.

Facebook.com/CuttingRootFarm.

Belly Dance – 7-8pm. With Dréa Kremposky.

Low-impact, natural, body mechanics. Strengthen and tone your core. All ages and abilities welcome.

Dress comfortably for movement. $10/class or $35/four sessions. The Phoenix Arts Center, 13 Pittsburgh St, Uniontown. RSVP: 724-984-3926.

DremariHolisticWellness.net.

FRIDAY, JUNE 28 Monongahela Farmers’ Market – 3-6pm. Weekly

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Pittsburgh, PA

seasonal veggies and fruits, meats, eggs, baked foods, seedlings, herbs, flowers, dried beans, flours, maple syrup, cheese and more. 415 Spruce St, Morgantown, W Virginia. MorgantownFarmersMarket.org.

Garden Co-op Volunteer Opportunity – 9:3011:30am. Black Urban Gardeners and Farmers of Pittsburgh, 7013 Monticello St. Info: 413-639-8380 or Taylor.Celeste@gmail.com. thru Sept 27. Shop local and know where your food comes from. Near Chaney’s Natural and the DonoraMonongahela Lion’s Club, Chess Park, 721 Main St, Monongahela. Vendors/sponsors: 724-328-2834 or ChaneysAdmin@gmail.com. Facebook page: Monongahela Farmers Market.

Healing After Loss with Yoga – 6-7:30pm. With Faith Sartori. Release emotions that may be stored in your body related to loss you have experienced. $18.

Youghiogheny Holistic Living Center, 144 N Third St, Connellsville. Tickets: Facebook.com/YHLRiverWell.

Nova Luna Intention-Setting Workshop Series – 7-8:30pm. Learn steps to creating powerful intentions to manifest the dreams written within our hearts.

Understand cycles of the moon, and touch herbs, essential oils, mediation, crystals and spiritual helpers to become our best selves. Bring a journal. $25/intro session, $15/follow-up sessions. The Phoenix Arts Center, 13 Pittsburgh St, Uniontown. RSVP: 724984-3926 or DremariHolisticWellness.net/events.

SATURDAY, JUNE 29 Morgantown Farmers’ Market – 8:30am-noon.

Every Saturday. All products sold are grown or produced within 50 miles. Their vendors bring fresh

Self-Discovery through Intuitive Eating –11:30am. With Sara Remington, Mind, Body and Wellness Practitioner. Dive deeper into the concept of intuitive eating. This class will focus on your individual food relationships and how you can begin to use your body’s own natural ability and intuition to make better food choices. $15. Youghiogheny Holistic Living Center, 144 Third St, Connellsville.

Tickets: Facebook.com/YHLRiverWell.

Crystals 101 – Noon-1:30pm. Certified Crystal Therapist-led workshop on qualities of crystals.

Learn meaning, qualities and why people carry them in their pockets. $20. Youghiogheny Holistic Living Center, 144 Third St, Connellsville. Tickets: Facebook.com/YHLRiverWell.

SUNDAY, JUNE 30 Tarot Throwdown in Uniontown – 1-3pm. Hosted

by Tarot and Stars, an informal get together of Tarot enthusiasts in Fayette County and surrounding areas to grab a bite to eat or drink. Discuss Tarot, share and review our decks and do readings for each other.

Bring your favorite Tarot decks. Donations accepted. Panera Bread, 105 Mathew Dr, Uniontown.

Info: 813-312-2292 or TarotAndStars@gmail.com.

Facebook.com/events/311660569509100.

ongoing events NOTE: All calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Review submissions guidelines at NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com or email Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com for more information.

wednesday Co-op Volunteer Opportunity – 4:30-6:30pm.

Black Urban Gardeners and Farmers of Pittsburgh, 7013 Monticello St. Info: 413-639-8380 or Taylor.

Celeste@gmail.com.

thursday Introduction to Herbal Medicine – 6:30pm. With Cutting Root Farm and Apothecary. Plant identification and cultivation tips, harvesting and uses of medicinal plants. $10 donation. Sterrett Middle School Medicinal Herb Garden, 7100 Reynolds St, Pittsburgh. Facebook.com/CuttingRootFarm.

Belly Dance – 7-8pm. With Dréa Kremposky.

Low-impact, natural, body mechanics. Strengthen and tone your core. All ages and abilities welcome.

Dress comfortably for movement. $10/class or $35/four sessions. The Phoenix Arts Center, 13 Pittsburgh St, Uniontown. RSVP: 724-984-3926.

DremariHolisticWellness.net.

friday Monongahela Farmers’ Market – Thru Sept 27. 3-6pm. Shop local and know where your food

NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com

comes from. Near Chaney’s Natural and the DonoraMonongahela Lion’s Club, Chess Park, 7th & Main sts, Monongahela. Vendors/sponsors: 724-328-2834 or ChaneysAdmin@gmail.com. Facebook page: Monongahela Farmers Market.

Nova Luna Intention-Setting Workshop Series – 7-8:30pm. Learn steps to creating powerful intentions to manifest the dreams written within our hearts. Understand cycles of the moon, and touch herbs, essential oils, mediation, crystals and spiritual helpers to become our best selves. $25/intro session, $15/follow-up sessions. The Phoenix Arts Center, 13 Pittsburgh St, Uniontown. Bring a journal. RSVP: 724-984-3926 or DremariHolisticWellness.net/events.

saturday Morgantown Farmers’ Market – 8:30am-noon.

All products sold are grown or produced within 50 miles; veggies and fruits, meats, eggs, baked foods, seedlings, herbs, flowers, dried beans, flours, maple syrup, cheese and more. 415 Spruce St, Morgantown, W Virginia. MorgantownFarmersMarket.org.

Co-op Volunteer Opportunity – 9:30-11:30am.

Black Urban Gardeners and Farmers of Pittsburgh, 7013 Monticello St. Info: 413-639-8380 or Taylor.

Celeste@gmail.com.

community resource guide

classifieds

Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our Pittsburgh community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com to request our media kit.

Fee for classifieds is a minimum charge of $20 for the first 20 words and $1 for each additional word. To place an ad, email Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com.

OPPORTUNITIES

BIOLOGIC DENTISTRY JANET LAZARUS – BIOLOGIC DENTIST Dr. Janet Lazarus, DMD, NMD Mail: 4313 Walnut St, Ste 178 Office: Olympia Shopping Ctr Arcade, McKeesport • 412-754-2020 Dr.Lazlo@hotmail.com

D r. L a z a r u s p r a c t i c e s compassionate biologic dentistry by looking at the whole body to offer preventative care and health maintenance. She offers compatibility testing on dental material, safe mercury removal, extraction and a host of other treatments including ozone therapy. She has been practicing for 28 years.

See ad, page 3.

CHIROPRACTIC PITTSBURGH UPPER CERVICAL CHIROPRACTIC

David Radziercz, DC, Co-Director 8110 Ohio River Blvd, Pittsburgh 412-766-0321 Info@PittsburghUpperCervical.com PittsburghUpperCervical.com Upper cervical chiropractic focuses on restoring balance and function to the spine and nervous system to bring about positive health changes. We help people just like you get out of pain and get back to actually living. Ask about our new patient starter package. See health brief, page 9.

HOLISTIC CENTER HAMPTON HOLISTIC CENTER

Rebekah Delling, LMT, MFA 1019 Perry Hwy, Ross Twp • 412-847-8361 4284 William Flynn Hwy, Ste 308, Hampton • 412-486-1829 Rebekah@Hampton-Holistics.com The Hampton Holistic Center has a welcoming, judgement-free philosophy. We specialize in holistic sleep and wellness options through therapeutic, Eastern and sleep massage. We also provide sleep consulting, reiki, Ayurveda and functional medicine at our Ross location. See ad, page 11.

METAPHYSICAL SERVICES ARIA SPARROWSONG’S TAROT AND STARS TarotAndStars.com 813-312-2292

Aria Sparrowsong has been reading tarot and casting astrological charts for more than 45 years. She is a tarot and astrology scholar and reads oracle cards, tea leaves, reads cast runes, and does house blessings. She is available for private readings, classes, parties, events, rites of passage and ceremonies.

NUTRITION LEARN AND GROW WITH SARA JO

ADVERTISE HERE – Are you: hiring, renting property/office space, selling products, offering services, or in need of volunteers? Advertise your personal/business needs in Natural Awakenings classified ad section. To place an ad, email Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com.

ADVERTISING SALES – Natural Awakenings magazine is looking for experienced advertising salespeople covering the Greater Pittsburgh area, SW Pennsylvania and Morgantown WV to help others grow their natural health & wellness and sustainable living or green businesses.

144 Third St, Connellsville 724-208-4977 LearnandGrowsjr.wixsite.com/website

Commission-based. Full or part-time. Up to

Nutrition and wellness coaching through mindfulness, holisticbased approaches, SOUL (seasonal, organic, unprocessed and local) and intuitive eating. By appointment only. Schedule a free, 30-minute consultation.

Empowering others to listen to their bodies and to create health in their lives according to their needs and lifestyle. See calendar for classes.

for full-time, $100 per month for part-time. Un-

URBAN FARMING GROW PITTSBURGH

Raqueeb Bey, Garden Resource Coordinator 6587 Hamilton Ave Ste 2W Pittsburgh 412-362-4769 ext 215 Raqueeb@GrowPittsburgh.org GrowPittsburgh.org Grow Pittsburgh is an urban, agriculture nonprofit that teaches people how to grow food. They envision the day when everyone grows and eats fresh, local and healthy food. Get involved. Take a tour, become a member, learn, volunteer! Visit their website for workshops and events. See calendar for workdays.

$200 per month gas reimbursement per month limited potential income. Be a part of something magical! Send resume to Michelle: Publisher@ NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com 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 239530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsmag.com/ MyMagazine.

GR W

Your Business Call for information:

724-271-8877

To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts. ~Henry David Thoreau June 2019

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