Natural Awakenings Charlotte - May/June 2020 Issue

E E FR

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

VIRUS FIGHTERS

Essential Oils for Challenging Times

Feeding

Happiness Lift Your Mood with Feel-Good Foods

Homebody Workouts Getting Fit Without a Gym Transformative Staycations

Finding Respite and Adventure Close to Home May/June 2020 | Charlotte Edition | AwakeningCharlotte.com

The Next Step in Spiritual Communities!

We are a Spirit-Guided, Heart-Centered, Christ-Conscious, Loving Family, transforming the world by allowing the Heart-light Presence of God to Shine Through US as US!

David Hulse, Spiritual Leader

Sundays:

10 am: Metaphysical Study Group 11:15 am: Celebration Service

Practitioner & Workshop Spaces Available to Rent!

7300 Mallard Creek Rd Charlotte NC 28262 704-599-1180 info@heartlightcharlotte.org www.heartlightcharlotte.org

Keeping Your Pets Healthy...

The Natural Way Well Wisdom Wednesdays!

Educating people in Animal Health

Integrating Conventional and HOLISTIC Modalities

Atrium Animal Hospital

Kim Hombs,DVM, CVH, CVA, FAAVA & Associates 6520 McMahon Drive, Charlotte (Hwy 51 & Carmel Road)

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Doing What We Do Best Since 1996

Schedule Your Appointment Today

704-542-2000

We Are GREEN With Passion For Protecting Our Mature Trees And Green Space

OPEN IN PHASE 2 Call for an appointment

May/June 2020

3

We Help You Reach Your Health Goals Naturally Have you tried EVERYTHING and STILL have unexplained health issues?

Dr. Haas has been in practice for 33 years.

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We offer: • Acupuncture • Aromatherapy • Massage therapy • Nutritional therapy • Osteopathy • Therapeutic touch

• Yoga • Preventative annual physicals • Treatment of chronic disease • Non-narcotic treatment of chronic pain • Healthy lifestyle changes

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Board certified – Family Medicine Fellow in Integrative Medicine

Sherry Bonds, LMBT

To schedule an appointment, call 704-403-7050.

Most insurance plans accepted.

Massage Therapy

NorthEast Internal & Integrative Medicine | 707 Memorial Blvd. | Concord, NC 28025 | 704-403-7050

4

Charlotte Edition

AwakeningCharlotte.com

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

Eliminate your allergies now!

CHARLOTTE EDITION PUBLISHER Shannon McKenzie DESIGN & PRODUCTION Patrick Floresca

AD DESIGN Helene Leininger EDITORIAL Allison Gorman

Randy Kambic Martin Miron Jeanette Watkins

CONTACT US P.O. Box 456 Cornelius, NC 28031 Ph: 704-499-3327 • Fax: 866-632-9118 AwakeningCharlotte.com Publisher@AwakeningCharlotte.com Ads@AwakeningCharlotte.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Free subscriptions are available for our digital issue by emailing Publisher@AwakeningCharlotte.com

NATIONAL TEAM

CEO/Founder Sharon Bruckman COO/Franchise Sales Joe Dunne

National Art Director Stephen Blancett

Art Director Josh Pope

Financial Manager Yolanda Shebert Asst. Director of Ops Heather Gibbs Digital Content Director Rachael Oppy

National Advertising Lisa Doyle-Mitchell Administrative Assistant Anne-Marie Ryan

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Dr. A. I. Cushing,

D.C., D.Ch., C.N.C., F.S.A.C.

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

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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.

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

Natural Awakenings is printed with soy-based ink.

May/June 2020

5

letter from publisher

Cards, Kids and Corona-Goals

T

he stay-at-home order has just been extended to May 8, and judging from the three-phase reopening plan, at least some of us will be staying at home

into June. I feel stir-crazy and yet I don’t want to go anywhere I usually would, like a grocery or home improvement store.

Instead my kids and I have really enjoyed walking, riding our bikes and playing games.

Light House is a center for personal healing work, spiritual self-care and sacred practices that nourish mind, body & spirit.

We’ve had several long walks where we analyze mail-

boxes: Does it have a nice design? Does it match the house?

Go with the landscaping? We have all agreed that most people don’t put a lot of thought into their mailbox, with a few outstanding exceptions. We’ve biked around the neighborhood, to pick up take-out, and to the park, and we even found a significant shortcut

Energy Work Intuitive Medium Readings Psychospiritual Healing

out of our subdivision, although it does require riding our bikes over a private yard that borders our neighborhood. We’re analyzing if we can bike through a wooded area instead, anticipating a time when the homeowner actually sees us and it does not go over

Massage / Bodywork

well. We’ve played card games, educational games that my parents mailed us as soon as

Meditation

learning physical school was out, and Monopoly. I resisted playing Monopoly at first,

Ayurvedic Nutrition

because as a kid, I always lost or I didn’t have the patience to play to the end. However,

Private Yoga

my son told me it was his favorite game—I wonder who he played it with?—so I agreed.

Women's Wellness

We just keep the board out and play when we feel like it over several days, and I kind of

Spiritual Ceremonies Property Readings / Clearings

like Monopoly now.

Support Groups

Holistic Practitioner Room Rental

son’s is to learn “Counting Stars” on the trombone, my daughter’s is to play “Ode to Joy”

Immersion Programs

on the piano, and mine is to complete the unfinished room in our house. From the way

Classes / Workshops

things are looking, I’m the one most at risk of not meeting a set goal.

Interfaith Sunday Fellowship

Luma Boutique - Gifts for the Soul

your household’s stay-at-home time? Email us at Publisher@AwakeningCharlotte.com

The Spiritual Charlotte Podcast

Kendall Heath Intuitive Healing Sharla Brook Poling Massage Therapy

Kelly Lyall Massage Therapy

&

Megan Hively Ayurveda & Yoga

How about you? What are some of the cherished activities that have come out of

and we’ll post your comments on our website.

Home Of

We even set corona-goals, something we’d like to accomplish in our time off. My

Due to the pandemic, the reduced number of distribution sites and readers’ hesi-

tancy to pick up print magazines, we have combined the May and June issues into one.

Please visit AwakeningCharlotte.com for immune-system support specials, COVID-19 and stay-at-home resources and all May and June articles.

At this time, there are roughly 12,000 reported COVID-19 cases in North Carolina

and approximately 450 deaths. Our thoughts are with all those directly affected by this

704-658-1442

645 Carpenter Ave. Mooresville, NC 28115

pandemic.

Wishing you a loving and kind May (and Mother’s Day) and June (and Father’s Day),

lighthousespiritualcenter.com 6

Charlotte Edition

AwakeningCharlotte.com

Shannon McKenzie

Contents

Natural Awakenings is a family of more than 70 healthy living magazines celebrating 26 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

14

13 VIRUS FIGHTERS

13

Essential Oils for Challenging Times

14 TRANSFORMATIVE STAYCATIONS

Finding Respite and Adventure Close to Home

20

17 DAVID HAMILTON

on Kindness in the Pandemic Age

18 HOMEBODY

WORKOUTS

Getting Fit Without a Gym

22

20 MANLISTENING

NC Based Stuart Watson R eveals How Women Inspired His New Podcast

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 704-499-3327 or email Ads@ AwakeningCharlotte.com. Deadline for ads: the 9th of the month.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Publisher@ AwakeningCharlotte.com. Deadline for editorial: the 9th of the month.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email Calendar Events to: Calendar@AwakeningCharlotte. com. $20/each daily $15/each ongoing.

Deadline for calendar: the 9th 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.

22 FEEDING HAPPINESS Lift Your Mood with Feel-Good Foods

25

24 FAMILY STORIES Help Kids Cope During Tough Times

25 FATHERS KNOW BEST DEPARTMENTS 8 news briefs 12 local health brief 13 eco tip 17 wise words 18 fit body 20 community spotlight

22 conscious eating 24 healthy kids 25 inspiration 27 classifieds 27 gaston county

natural guide 28 resource guide May/June 2020

7

news briefs

Correction: New Dates for Tai Chi Certification Program at Empower Life Center

C

amilo Sanchez, L. Ac, MAOM, of Empower Life Center, in Pineville, will lead a Tai Chi Mind-Body Wellness Certification program from 6:30 to 8 p.m. starting on May 21 and continuing weekly through October 29. See Brief in the April issue or online at AwakeningCharlotte.com for more information.

Location: 14136 Lancaster Hwy. For more information or to register, call 704-542-8088, email info@EmpowerLifeCenter.com, or visit EmpowerLifeCenter.com. See ad, page 28.

HC Wellness Center and Spa is Open

H

C Wellness Center and Spa, in Gastonia, being deemed an essential business in regard to state executive orders during this crisis, attests that people’s health is also essential and maintaining health and immunity now is especially vital.

To keep with the order and social-distancing rules, only their Wellness Service is open (for colon hydrotherapy and other services); they will only be accepting one client at a time (and lengthening time between sessions for more thorough disinfection); online appointments are temporarily closed (call the office to schedule appointments); and there is a 50 percent cancellation fee as they need to pay employees regardless if a client keeps an appointment.

The latter policy also allows them to maintain flexible hours; therefore, all customers are asked to have a credit card on file, but it will only be charged for a cancellation or no-show.

Also, Nature’s Sunshine supplements can be ordered at https://www.naturessunshine.com/us/?sponser=248807, or call and the order will be mailed. They also offer curbside pick-up.

Location: 1308 E. Garrison Blvd. For more information or to make an appointment, call 704-823-1577, email info@HCWellnessCenterAndSpa.com or visit HCWellnessCenterAndSpa.com. See ad, page 28.

Are You Reaching Your Audience?

“A true content strategist/creator knows what to say and how to say it effectively to motivate your readers to take action” -- Maitri Meyer, Professional Writer

Branding Content At Competitive Prices: • Websites, Blogs & Social Media Posts • Resumes & Online Profiles • Communications & Promotions Contact Maitri to discuss your writing project:

(704) 296-3435

Contact@ActuallyDONE.com ActuallyDONE.com 8

Charlotte Edition

AwakeningCharlotte.com

Virtual Classes at Kent Cook Institute at The Nook

I

n these times of social distancing, The KentCook Institute at The Nook has been working extensively in creating classes for people to attend while staying in their homes.

Each session is filled with information they regularly share at the brick-andmortar Nook and covers topics including the importance of essential oils, the brilliance of synchronicity, spending time in meditation and more.

All the instructors that teach at The Nook have vast professional and educational backgrounds, lending to the high quality that the institute has always maintained.

The institute believes that, as we exercise the freedom to stayat-home, safe and healthy in these trying times, it’s important as ever to maintain a high level of energy and to practice spirituality.

This is a solution for the interim and as soon as it is safe, they will re-open and the recorded classes will remain available.

Cost of the classes range from free to $12. To register, visit the classes section at KentCookInstitute.com. For more information, call 704896-3111 or email KentCookNook@gmail.com. See ad, page 13.

New Online Ordering for Mama Bessie's Place

Image by Rolanas Valionis from Pixabay

M

Priming Your Body for Healing Webinars on May 18 and June 8

A

mber Pederson, DC, CFMP, owner of Healing Platform, in Belmont, North Carolina, will host two free webinars at 6 p.m. on May 18 and June 8 to help participants prepare their bodies to experience proper healing and a stronger immune system. Expert advice will be provided in how to take control of one’s nervous system, create resilience to stress, transform one’s state from being stressed to calm and strategies to shift one’s body into a state in which it can heal.

“When you’re in a parasympathetic state, you’re often calm, relaxed and happy,” she says. “This is the state in which your body is able to heal. If you are in a state of stress or fear, you’ll never be able to completely heal. You may be doing a lot to strengthen your immune system, but to make your efforts as effective as possible, getting your body to a parasympathetic state is necessary.

“Where you send blood flow is where you send function; therefore, we want to shift blood flow away from the amygdala (the limbic brain that governs stress responses to emotions like worry, fear and anxiety) to the pre-frontal cortex. Activation of the pre-frontal cortex allows us to elevate our awareness, consciousness and think for ourselves. We can shift blood flow to our pre-frontal cortex by stimulating our parasympathetic nervous system.”

Webinar websites to register in advance: May 18: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/ register/WN_cCBVTf_cTiK_zn3eeEoF2w and June 8: https://us02web.zoom.us/ webinar/register/WN_s9WvkYQ9SA6wAzLHDNbo4w.

Location: 100 N. Main St., Ste. 220. For more information, call 704-755-4088 or visit HealingPlatform.com. See ad, page 27.

ama Bessie's Place plans to launch a new webstore on May 1. Customers will be able to obtain their essential metaphysical and spiritual supplies and more at MamaBessiesPlace.net.

The online shelves are well stocked with all of their bestsellers including sage bundles, candles, Florida Water and incense. A wide variety of herbs that make wonderful infusions for soothing, healing teas, spiritual baths and aromas are also available. Furthermore, those who order during May and June will receive a free gift with purchase.

For more information, visit MamaBessiesPlace.net, call 704-632-9911 or email MamaBessiesPlace@yahoo.com. See ad, page 21.

Online Programs Offered at Roper PT

E

xercise and its positive effect on our immune system have been strongly linked; working out causes a change in antibodies and white blood cells, and slows down the response of stress hormones.

Roper PT, in Charlotte, is providing an ultra-convenient way to tackle one’s exercise and wellness challenges during this stay-at-home time as they are now offering virtual Medical Therapeutic Yoga classes for all ages and even golfers.

Classes are being offered from 7 to 8 p.m. on Mondays (except on May 25 Memorial Day); noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; and 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Thursdays.

They are also offering one-on-one TeleHealth sessions to address the stress, anxiety and pain people may be feeling during these stressful times.

Cost for all-access, Medical Therapeutic Yoga monthly pass: $150, includes multiple classes per week. For more information or to register for pass or TeleHealth session, call 980-2986706 or email FrontDesk@RoperPT.com. Also visit RoperPT.com. Location: 301 E. Tremont Ave., Ste. B. See ad, page 30.

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May/June 2020

9

news briefs

Frequency Medicine Program Supports Immune System

E

nergetic Apothecary and Reiki for Wellness, both owned

by Tammy Schoolcraft, is now offering a cutting-edge digital frequency medicine program designed to be used on each person’s own devices to support their immune system. The program, which can be experienced for free for 15 days when booking a quantum biofeedback or energy healing session at the specially priced spring cost of $65, instantly analyzes one’s unique voice imprint and generates multi-faceted frequency waveforms and energetic signatures that are sent directly to one’s smartphone or tablet.

This customized “Frequency Prescription,” covering infections and viruses including COVID-19; immune resiliency; vitamins, minerals and nutrition; chronic pain and inflammation; weight loss; chakra balancing and releasing emotional chaos; brain balancing; success and abundance; releasing fear and anxiety, and more, can be done at home and helps to stimulate the bodies’ own innate healing ability supporting immune resiliency and balance.

“It’s much like refilling a prescription at your local pharmacy, only this prescription is dispensed as beneficial harmonizing supportive frequencies with none of the side effects of medications,” says Schoolcraft. “You can be in the comfort of your own home or halfway around the world and receive immediate help and relief from your practitioner.”

Choose free “15-Day Frequency Medicine Trial” while booking quantum biofeedback or energy healing session. For more information or to register, call 704-907-3380, email TSchoolcraft@windstream.net or visit EnergeticApothecary.com. See ad, page 28.

Thayer Offers Special Immune System Consultations

J

anis Thayer, a Traditional Naturopath, Integrative Energy Medicine Therapist and board-certified health coach, is offering special $99 Putting Your Immune System on the Offense phone consultations April through June to provide effective steps to enhance health and wellness regardless of one’s current state of health. She says that advice can include targeted vitamins, herbs, supplements, foods and even fasting that are being used now in the supportive treatment of COVID-19.

“There are excellent options to strengthen your immune system to be at its best,” she says. “We want a good defense to happen when our immune system is challenged, but I want to go a step further and help others with building a great ‘offense’ with immunity that encompasses action plans to take right now.

“No matter where you are today with your health, there are plenty of options you can add to your daily routine to give you the best offense against any virus. You will feel much stronger and more empowered if you have a plan and implement how to stay healthy no matter what is going on around you. Sitting back feeling helpless and just waiting to see if you will ‘catch’ this virus weakens your immune system. Fear is probably the biggest stress right now for the majority and that fear weakens us…. which is not a great offense or defense.”

For more information or to arrange a consultation, call 704-455-4710 or email JGThayer81@hotmail.com. See ad, page 29.

10

Charlotte Edition

AwakeningCharlotte.com

New Immunity Boost Package Available

L

idia Adkins, CFMP, DC, PKT, founder and CEO of the Carolinas Weight Loss Institute, in Gastonia, is Lidia Adkins providing an Immunity Boost ASAP Package at a 15 percent discount for Natural Awakenings’ readers that encompasses liposomal C, vitamin D, omega-3 and glutathione that can be shipped for greater convenience. She doesn’t claim that any supplement can destroy or even prevent coronavirus infection, as “Being a novel or new virus, the available research is very limited. But we can certainly use what we know and what science proves—that a healthy immune system protects and fights much better than a weak immune system.”

She advises that people do research and understand what they are spending money on; purchase supplements from trusted sources (ask if the labs that produce them operate as FDAregistered facilities); if unsure what to choose due to overwhelming amount of information, stick with the supplements that have the most science-based background; and ask one’s healthcare provider/holistic practitioner which ones benefit you the most.

“In addition, if you have a gut issue, mention that when you call,” she adds.

“About 70% of our immune system resides in our gut, specifically our microbiome. When our gut health is compromised, our immunity is compromised. Good gut health starts with a healthy diet and healing support.”

Location: 216 S. New Hope Rd. For more information or to make an appointment, call 704-271-9757 or visit CWLI. net. Mention Code “NaturalAwakening” when calling to qualify for the 15% special. See ad, page 30.

Natural Awakenings Charlotte Expands Website, Conducts Contest

W

ith Stay-At-Home directives extended until May 8 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the staged re-opening phases one through three, many may be staying at home into the summer. With the need for more athome information, Natural Awakenings Charlotte is expanding the resources of its website.

• To learn about some area practitioners that can help one to strengthen their immune system, especially important during this crisis, check out: Tinyurl. com/NACOVID-19Resources • To discover local stay-at-home offerings and how to treat yourself when stay-at-home is lifted: Tinyurl. com/Charlotte-Stay-At-Home • Many previously published Natural Awakenings articles on the immune system are available at: Tinyurl.com/ NACOVID-19Resources2 • Natural Awakenings ideas on how to make stay-at-home more enjoyable are posted at: Tinyurl.com/COVID19StayAtHomeTips • Plus, in honor of Earth Day, Natural Awakenings Charlotte, Claudia Josephine Design and Sustain Charlotte are sponsoring a Home Improvement contest for readers using repurposed products (at least 50% of the project needs to consist of repurposed products).

Items that have been collected from second-hand and thrift stores, neighbors and from your own garage, basement or closets can be put to good use in completing a home project now. The majority of the project must be completed from the time of the Stay-At-Home order (March 26 was earliest issued in our area) to the submission deadline of August 1. Send name, home address and before-and-after photos to Publisher@AwakeningCharlotte. com with a description of the repurposed materials that made up at least 50% of the overall project and where those materials came

from. Winners will be announced in the September edition.

Prizes include a Virtual Interior Paint Color Consultation valued at $225 complements of Claudia Josephine Design and two tickets to the 2020 Charlotte Sustainability Awards on September 9 valued at $210 complements of Sustain

Charlotte. For more information, visit ClaudiaJosephineDesign.com and SustainCharlotte.org.

Open to all residents in Charlotte and the Greater Charlotte area, the deadline to submit photos is August 1.

Please contact Publisher@Awakening Charlotte.com if interested in suggesting additional contest categories and contributing category prizes. Visit AwakeningCharlotte. com for contest details. See ad, page 19.

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Our pastured, All A2tested Jersey cows provide Grade A raw milk with 20% more calcium and protein than typical A1 breeds. It’s 100% pure and 100% delicious. Taste the difference All A2 makes.

Available at Bush-N-Vine Farm and The Peach Stand.

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May/June 2020

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Empowering People to Better Health Since 2005

Virtual Appointments Available 12

Charlotte Edition

AwakeningCharlotte.com

local health brief

Raw Cow’s Milk has Protective Effects on Allergies and Asthma

T

here is a significant body of epidemiological evidence that consumption of raw milk in childhood and adulthood can be one of the most effective protective substances against allergic diseases and asthma, even though milk is one of the most common food allergens in childhood. The role of raw milk ingredients such as proteins, fat and fatty acids and bacterial components has been studied and its influence on the immune function has been documented.

Cow’s milk is now processed on an industrial scale to avoid the risk of pathogenic bacteria infection from unpasteurized milk.

The consumption of raw milk is much less common than in the past, but a number of consumers, especially those living on farms, still drink milk directly from cows. For more than a decade, evidence has indicated that living on a farm can reduce the risk of allergen sensitization and allergic diseases in children.

The protective effect on allergies and asthma of raw milk is weaker with processed or commercial milk, as the processing changes its composition. Raw milk is subject to two basic processes: UHT homogenization and sterilization, which affect the content and functionality of fats, bacteria and proteins. Homogenization is the breaking of fat pellets into smaller ones to prevent the formation of cream on the milk surface. This process changes the physical structure of fats, casein and whey proteins. It also increases the total surface on which casein proteins are more easily adsorbed. The quality of fat in milk depends on the ingredients cows are fed. If it is grass without any industrial mixtures, the content of polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids is higher.

Heating is another processing procedure. It might be the pasteurization process (heating), which reduces the bacterial content and enzymes that allow such milk to be stored without refrigeration for several months. Scientific evidence confirms that heating raw milk influences its allergy protective properties. The presence and composition of bacteria is the clearest difference between unpasteurized and processed milk. The prevalence of pathogens in milk depends on numerous factors, but raw milk can be contaminated with pathogens even coming from healthy animals, as dairy farms may be the reservoir of various foodborne pathogens.

There is a debate about the role of raw cow’s milk in human health. Sceptics say that raw milk carries a significant risk of bacterial pathogen infection and there is no clear evidence that raw milk has any nutritional benefits compared to pasteurized milk. Enthusiasts see in milk the hope for effective prevention of allergic diseases and even respiratory tract infections. There is no doubt that the components of raw milk can influence the immune function, but the final proof based on controlled studies in infants is not possible due to ethical reasons. Undoubtedly, even if the final understanding of the role of raw cow’s milk seems to be a distant prospect, it is one of the most intriguing and promising paths to be studied in allergy prevention.

LD Peeler is owner of Milky Way Farm, located at 220 Hidden Hills Rd., in Starr, SC. For more information, call 864-617-5911 or visit SCMilkyWayFarm.com.

JPC-PROD/Shutterstock.com

eco tip

Thieves can be purchased in natural health stores or online. For a homemade blend, Jennifer Lane, an aromatherapist, registered nurse and founder of LovingEssential Oils.com, recommends combining these essential oils: 4 35 drops lemon 4 20 drops cinnamon leaf 4 15 drops clove bud 4 15 drops eucalyptus 4 10 drops rosemary

Virus Fighters

Essential Oils for Challenging Times In these coronavirus days, an essential oil mixture with legendary origins in the Bubonic Plague offers soothing scents for the homebound and might add some viral protection.

The mixture of five oils: eucalyptus, clove, cinnamon, lemon and rosemary, is known as Thieves. As the story goes, in the 1500s, as the Black Death decimated Europe, when four unemployed spice merchants that turned to robbing the bodies and homes of the dead were captured and threatened with being burned alive, they confessed to the judge their secret to avoiding infection—the spice blend that they rubbed on their hands, ears, feet and temples.

They were all hanged, but their formula survives as Thieves, and is today one of the most popular essential oil blends in the market, sold under that name and also as Five Guards, Health Shield and Fighting Five. Although shown to sharply reduce three kinds of airborne bacteria in 10 minutes, its antiviral properties have not been extensively studied. Its components, however, have proven antimicrobial, antiseptic and antiviral properties: n Eucalyptus, long used for respiratory infections, has been proven effective against a number of viruses, particularly the swine flu and herpes type 1 viruses. n Clove has exhibited strong antiviral activity against such viruses as the adenovirus type 3 respiratory virus, poliovirus and coxsackievirus. n Cinnamon leaf shows antiviral activity and can prevent pneumonia due to influenza. n Lemon oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties, and is often used in cleaning products. n Rosemary eases stress and has antiviral, antimicrobial and antidepressant qualities.

Adding five drops of the blend, along with water in a diffuser, can waft the scent throughout a room and diminish airborne odors and germs. For respiratory support, put a few drops into a cup of steaming, but not boiling, water, drape a towel around the cup and face, and breathe in the fumes. Add it to a carrier oil like jojoba oil or coconut oil at a 1:30 ratio (such as one-half ounce Thieves to 15 ounces jojoba) and rub it on pulse points in the wrist and neck. But do not ingest the blend. If a child under 10 is in the house, don’t diffuse it or use it topically on them, because rosemary and eucalyptus can be unsafe for a child, advises Christina Anthis, author of The Beginner’s Guide to Essential Oils: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started.

Create A Sense Of Calm In Your Life

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13

Transformative Staycations

Finding Respite and Adventure Close to Home

S

taycations—sticking close to home for new travel experiences—was a growing trend even before the COVID-19 pandemic turned it into a practical necessity for many of us. Staycations reduce costs, minimize travel time and also lower our carbon footprint by eliminating international travel. Happily, they don’t reduce the pure pleasure of finding new adventures, exploring untrammeled nature, seeing the familiar with fresh eyes and meeting people from all walks of life. All of that is close at hand, and especially when compared to foreign jaunts, the price is right.

A good place to start is by checking out state and regional parks, often overlooked gems offering scenic miles of trails for hiking, biking, birding, fishing, picnicking and other activities. “Whether mountains, prairies, rivers, forests in the country or heart of the city, there is always a state park waiting to welcome you, no matter what kind of recreation you enjoy,” says Jason Clay, spokesperson with Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

In Colorado parks, people can, for example, river raft in the Arkansas Headwaters Recre-

14

Charlotte Edition

ation Area; boat, fish and hammock camp in Jackson Lake State Park; and rock climb in Eldorado Canyon.

Parks can be discovered and trail maps downloaded by visiting TrailLink.com, run by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. It provides searches for nearby trails using parameters such as distance, types of activity and wheelchair accessibility. Its smartphone TrailLink app is free to download and $30 per year for unlimited customized use.

State, local and regional parks across the country offer rich educational opportunities for kids and adults alike, including naturalist-guided activities, bird and botany walks, lessons in local history, ecology and geography, and more. Several states offer free admission to all state-run parks, including Hawaii, Tennessee and Illinois. State-by-state listings of fees and policies can be found at Tinyurl.com/StateParkPasses.

Making a Quick Getaway

Weekend forays into natural and rustic settings can be ideal escape valves for people needing a simple, quick change of venue.

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Camping, of course, is always an option, but for those that want to be in nature in a more comfy fashion, using “cabin” as a search word works well in websites like Airbnb.com and TripAdvisor.com. The option of glamping—or glamorous camping—offers surprisingly luxurious stays outdoors in tents, pods and domes; check out Glamping.com.

Getaway.House offers woodsy outposts in 10 locations equipped with “tiny house” cabins around the country designed for quick escapes from cities. “If you were at your desk in need of an escape, you could cut out early and be there by 6 p.m.,” says Vice President of Marketing Rachel Mansfield. The private experience, with no check-in desk or communal areas, enables it to continue operating safely during the pandemic. The cabins, designed to blend in with their natural surroundings, are equipped with food for purchase, stove, books, radio, firewood, fire pit and Adirondack chairs, as well as a map for local hikes and adventures.

“I did a getaway at a point in my life where I wanted some time alone, away

PH888/Shutterstock.com

by April Thompson

Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock.com Iakov Filimonov/Shutterstock.com

from commitments, to figure out what my next chapter in life was going to be,” says Paige Conner Totaro, of Alexandria, Virginia, the founder of Unquote Travel, a web-based tour agency focusing on small group, off-the-beaten-track adventures. “You can change your environment without going very far, and that in turn can change the way you think about things. Little things like sleeping on the other side of the bed can help you shake up your brain.”

Local Attraction

Local-led excursions are another way to see our home turf through a new lens. Airbnb Experiences, offered virtually everywhere that Airbnb lists lodging, are one-of-a-kind tours and classes designed and hosted by locals with unique expertise. Experiences

run the gamut from neighborhood tours on foot or bikes with athletes to museum tours led by local artists or art historians. Many include a hands-on learning component, like how to make mosaics in a community art space or cook a local delicacy from a family recipe. Similar tours and experiences can be found on TripAdvisor’s Things To Do listings. WithLocals. com, whose mission is “to break down the barriers between travelers and locals worldwide,” also offers foodie fun and offbeat adventures.

Kelly Kniewel stumbled onto tour guiding after experiencing burnout in her previous career in the beverage industry. An Airbnb Experiences host, Kniewel now leads small group tours of Chicago, introducing locals and visitors alike to many of its little-known facets.

“I’ve fallen in love with my city all over again doing these tours,” says Kniewel, a self-proclaimed history geek.

She loves to take guests inside Art Deco and Beaux Arts buildings they may have passed before

without realizing the gorgeous art and architecture that exists inside, such as the library-turned-cultural center, Chicago Cultural Center, boasting two impressive glass domes, one designed by Tiffany Glass. Another favorite excursion is taking guests on a water taxi tour. “It’s a cheap and unique way to see Chicago. The water, both the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, is so much a part of who we are as a city.”

During the limitations imposed during the COVID-19 period, Airbnb and other websites began offering experiences online, allowing people from all over the world to connect and make pastries with a Swedish baker, draw with a Mexican cartoonist, learn about apartheid from a South African or experience a day in the life of an American Olympic bobsledder.

Traveling the World Without Leaving Home

Hosting travelers can bring new meaning to a staycation, offering a rich opportunity for cross-cultural exchange without any exchange of currency. The popular CouchSurfing.com connects travelers with locals offering free use of a couch,

May/June 2020

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Whether a staycation or weekend getaway, the Dillsboro Inn on the Tuckasegee River where the Blue Ridge Mountains meet the Smokies and only 3-hours from Charlotte, is a great option for families, couples and individuals. Deeply committed to fostering a connection with nature and self, owner TJ Walker is your ecotourism concierge to whitewater rafting, kayaking, tubing, fly-fishing, horseback riding, historical sites - including those little know and unique to North Carolina - as well as hiking in the Blue Ridge, Great Smokies and Shining Rock. Also offering Hatha Yoga for all levels to activate neural pathways and hard to reach connective tissue to enhance relaxation as well as campfires/ marshmallow toasting for those who wish to participate.

Special yoga offerings monthly on the full moon as well as Summer Solstice (June 20) and Winter Solstice (December 21). Call today to reserve a riverfront suite and mention “Natural Awakenings Charlotte” for a free gift.

Location: 146 N. River Rd., Dillsboro, NC. For more information, call 828507-3113, visit DillsboroInn.com or MoonSchoolYoga.com

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he says. “It’s restored my faith in humanity.

I’ve encountered nothing but wonderful people, all with such different personalities and backgrounds.”

Be a Weekend Farmer

Agrotourism, in which working farms open the barn doors to visitors for day or overnight trips, has the added advantage of supporting local agriculture. AgritourismWorld. com and FarmStayUS.com provide listings for farm stays worldwide searchable by type, such as Christmas tree farm, vineyard, orchard, dude ranch or alpaca farm.

The 40-acre Taos Goji Farm and Eco-Lodge Retreat, in Taos, New Mexico, is one such venue. “My husband and I returned to the land nine years ago after many years working as professionals in stuffy offices. The farm has been developed for our family and others who wish to be close to nature and to live off of the land,” says co-owner Elizabeth vom Dorp.

The farm is open for paid guests, as well as to the volunteers known as “Wwoofers” that come through Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms to help raise goji berries, fruits, vegetables and free-range chickens. All cabins date from the early 1900s, including an old dairy barn converted into a duplex and five sheep herder cabins. The farm is surrounded by a national forest, so many guests visit to enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, rafting and ballooning. “Families with children love to come and pick berries, collect eggs and pet the animals. We have rescue alpacas, sheep, goats, chickens and turkeys,” says vom Dorp.

While the world may still be at the mercy of unfortunate circumstances this summer, travel is ultimately a state of mind. By staying open, curious and present, there are always new encounters and discoveries underfoot very close to home.

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

Iakov Filimonov/Shutterstock.com

An NC Mountain Escape

air mattress or spare bedroom. Available in more than 200,000 cities worldwide, it has 14 million members and sponsors local language exchanges, dance classes, hikes and dinners, so there are opportunities to make new friends and have new experiences even without offering a place to sleep. (During COVID-19 restrictions, these activities were moved online.)

Similar organizations that offer opportunities for local hosting (including low- or no-cost lodging) include Servas.org, established in 1949, which stresses world peace and cultural exchange, and preinterviews potential guests and hosts to ensure safety; GlobalFreeloaders.com, a free registry for hosts and guests that do their own online screening and matching; and EvergreenClub.com, in which hosts provide a bed-and-breakfast homestay for travelers over age 50 for $20 a night. An exciting option for homeowners is HomeExchange. com, a $150-a-year service that allows people in far-flung places to switch homes, either directly or through a staggered point system so they can truly live like locals.

John Fackenthal, of Rockville, Maryland, has hosted more than 100 couchsurfers from 29 countries, and loved every experience. “I had a big apartment in the heart of Washington, D.C., when I first started hosting, but lived alone and felt a little isolated. I wanted to bring back the youth hostel feel from travels in my younger days, where you’d hang out with fellow travelers and go hiking, share a meal or play cards,” he says.

A web developer, he recalls such memorable guests as a carpenter in his 60s from the Pacific Northwest that helped him with fixer-upper projects, a pair of pro volleyball players from the Czech Republic and two young women from China that prepared him a massive traditional Chinese feast “with all four burners going,”

wise words

David Hamilton on Kindness in the Pandemic Age

by Sandra Yeyati

D

avid Hamilton has authored 10 books, including The Little Book of Kindness, How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body and The Five Side Effects of Kindness. He holds a doctorate in organic chemistry and spent four years in the pharmaceutical industry developing drugs for treating cardiovascular disease and cancer. During clinical research trials, he noticed that a significant number of people experienced health improvements while on fake, or placebo, drugs. This inspired a career change more than 20 years ago, when he became a writer and public speaker teaching people how to understand and harness the mind-body connection to improve health.

Have you noticed an increase in kindness during the current pandemic emergency?

I think so. In the past, you said things like, “Hello, how are you?” as a greeting. But now, when people say it, they really mean it. There’s a sense of genuine compassion that I think is coming out in everyone on a scale that I’ve never seen before. We’re feeling empathy for people that are suffering, but also feeling empathy for each other, because we realize that everyone is in a similar place.

How do you explain this upsurge in kindness during

social distancing and isolation?

We are genetically wired for kindness. The genes that produce the kindness hormone are some of the oldest in the human genome, like 500 million years old. So, our natural state is to care, to be kind and compassionate. But in life, we get caught up in everyday stresses and worries—financially, work-wise and in relationships—that often obscure that natural tendency to care. When a lot of that stuff is taken away, people’s natural sense of kindness and compassion come to the surface.

Do you see an opportunity for a shift in collective consciousness?

Absolutely. We’ve been called to unify, to recognize that we are part of the same human family. There’s a global outpouring of compassion. We’re transforming, becoming more aware of our own kindness and the needs of other people.

On another level, I saw a meme that said, “It feels like the universe has sent us home to our rooms to think about what we’ve done.” There’s research that correlates an increase in viruses and parasites over the last couple of years to a loss in biodiversity due to human action, like knocking down rain forests and humaninduced climate change. Species extinctions are 1,000 to 10,000 times greater today than they’ve ever been in recorded

history, except for 65 million years ago when an asteroid crashed into the Earth and wiped out the dinosaurs. Parasites, viruses and bacteria have nowhere else to go, so they’re jumping species, from bats to humans, for example. We’re being called spiritually not only to be more compassionate and kind to each other, but also to recognize the damage we’re doing to the planet and to be more respectful of nature, the environment and animals.

What are the positive physical effects of kindness?

Physiologically speaking, kindness is the opposite of stress. Where feeling stressed can increase blood pressure, tense the nervous system and suppress the immune system, feelings induced by kindness reduce blood pressure, calm the nervous system and elevate the immune system.

Are certain acts of kindness better than others?

It doesn’t matter what you do. What matters most is that you do it because you mean it; you genuinely have a sense of empathy and want to help someone. All of the physiological benefits of kindness come because the feelings induced by kindness generate what I call kindness hormones, the most important one being oxytocin, which is a female reproductive hormone that also plays a big role in cardiovascular health.

Can a small act of kindness really make a difference in the world?

Absolutely. It’s been charted scientifically that if you do something kind for somebody, that person will be kind or kinder to five other people over the next day or two because of how you made them feel. Those five people will be kind or kinder to five further people, which turns into 25 people, and each of those 25 will be kind to five people, which takes it to 125 people’s lives that can be changed and affected in small and large ways three social steps away from you simply because of one tiny little thing you did.

Sandra Yeyati is a freelance writer in Naples, Florida. Connect at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

May/June 2020

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distance exercise and step-ups on park benches or large rocks. “If a park is not available, similar things can be done in your backyard. Just have fun with it.”

fit body

Homebody Workouts Getting Fit Without a Gym

by Marlaina Donato

W

hen getting to the gym is not possible, there are plenty of options to explore for at-home workouts. From finding fun ways to stay fit to getting loved ones involved, figuring out what works and committing to a few simple goals is a good start.

Although it may be hard to pull ourselves up from the couch during periods of adversity, sticking to an exercise program can help boost immunity and emotional resilience. “Not feeling like exercising is common during stressful times, but try to remember how good you feel afterward and the sense of accomplishment. Remember the why,” says life coach Suzanne King, in Marlton, New Jersey.

Begin With the Basics Trainers agree it’s important to see working out and taking care of our health as an investment, and having a plan goes a long way. “You would never just brush off a business appointment if it was in your calendar and you knew you had to attend,” says personal trainer Chris Wong, in 18

Charlotte Edition

Oakville, Ontario. “The simple act of putting it in your schedule makes it real. Now you have a responsibility. Now you have structure.”

Stephanie Mansour, host of the PBS fitness and health show Step it up with Steph, concurs: “Once I started viewing workouts as my own personal confidenceboosting time, a lightbulb went off in my head and I became addicted to this time with myself.” The Chicago-based personal trainer recommends lightening up. “Find something fun. Do something goofy like dancing around. Schedule this in and instead of ‘workout’, call it ‘pump-up time for me’.”

Getting outside and hitting the trails or walking every evening after dinner is a great way to get oxygen-infused aerobic time. “Use outdoor space to your advantage,” says Wong. “I’ve taught boot camps at parks, and one game I like doing is Touch 20 Things. Run around and touch 20 things at least 15 to 20 feet apart, but don’t touch the same thing twice. He also suggests doing sprints or bear crawls for

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Working out with a different rule set offers an invitation to add a new twist to a usual favorite. “I personally practice martial arts every day, but that can be done in a variety of ways,” says Wong, pointing to gentle qigong, shadow boxing, breathing exercises, footwork drills and heavy bag training.

He recommends exercising every day, but limiting more intense workouts to three or four times a week. Cardio exercises such as walking and bicycling are a good daily choice, while high-intensity interval training workouts can be accomplished with minimal or no equipment. There are a variety of methods with timing elements that can be used to get a good workout.

For example, with the As Many Rounds As Possible regimen, three exercises are done back-to-back for as many rounds as possible in a 10-to12-minute period.

Exploring free online classes on YouTube and other platforms opens up even more options, including yoga, Pilates and dance classes. Many trainers offer virtual workouts over Zoom or Skype live in real time. There are also mobile apps with workouts available for download.

The Support Factor Partners or family members can help each other to stay on a workout schedule.

“You can set up a chart for you and your family members to put a star or checkmark once you’ve finished a workout.

Turn it into a competition, and whoever has the most stars at the end of a few weeks gets to pick the workout for the whole family to do,” suggests Mansour.

Partners can also make a pact to take care of the kids when it is the other’s turn to grab some fitness time.

Being motivated is easier with some self-love, King reminds us: “You can begin something new by fully appreciating yourself with daily gratitude.”

Marlaina Donato is an author and composer.

Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

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Exercising Outside the Box

S tay-At-Home

Home Improvement

Contest

Our Home Improvement contest is for you, our readers.

Enter to win by re-purposing products for a home project. (at least 50% of the project needs to be repurposed).

Items that have been collected from second-hand and thrift stores, neighbors and from your own garage, basement or closets are eligible!

The majority of the project must be completed from the time of the Stay-At-Home order (March 26 is earliest issued in our area) to the submission deadline of August 1.

Prizes include:

• Virtual Interior Paint Color Consultation (valued at $225) complements of Claudia Josephine Design • Two tickets to the 2020 Charlotte Stainability Awards on September 9 (valued at $210) complements of Sustain Charlotte.

Send name, home address and before-and-after photos to Publisher@AwakeningCharlotte.com. Include description of repurposed materials used and where those materials came from.

Winners will be announced in the September edition.

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community spotlight

ManListening

Award-winning reporter Stuart Watson reveals how the women in his life inspired his new podcast

S

tuart Watson is the creator and conversationalist of the podcast ManListening (the opposite of “mansplaining”). He’s written his first book which will come out later this year.

The working title What She Said & What I Heard: Journals Of Women Who Changed Me. ManListening evolved from Watson’s realization that he didn’t accord women the kind of respect he should have for years.

He says the podcast “is me kind of making amends, by trying to shift. By saying I was wrong.” Natural Awakenings caught up with Watson just in time for the Mother’s and Father’s Days issue.

NA: You said in a February 18 Charlotte Observer article (Tinyurl.com/ EmpathicListening) that your wife helped you learn that you weren’t the empathetic listener you thought you were, and that upon reflection, you realized you didn’t listen to women in particular. Why do you think this was the case?

SW: Actually my wife said I was dismis-

sive of women, which really stung! It’s bad enough that I did not listen well. But to be dismissive? Yikes!

I think that for a long time I was not very self-aware of how I dismissed or discounted women in conversation. It’s hard for this man to admit he was wrong. I have three daughters, and they have introduced me to a number of concepts beyond plain 20

Charlotte Edition

ole misogyny and toxic masculinity. One is the notion of the feminine value of collaborative decision making and hearing everyone out before you speak—not staking out a position and then doubling down without considering what everyone else has to say.

As my eldest daughter says to me, “The patriarchy oppresses us all, Dad.” The first fifty or so times she said that, I had no idea what the hell she was talking about. Then gradually it dawned on me: She’s saying that top-down, hierarchical decision making leads to a repressive, dictatorial process, that does not work well for men or women.

Put another way, as one of my (female) coaches told me, “We all do better when women are heard.”

NA: At this point you have interviewed more than 40 women for the ManListening podcast.

What do you see as your role in these conversations?

SW: I call them conver-

sations but I do start out with questions, so I guess “interview” is accurate. But I find that if the questions are open-ended and I abandon any agenda, then the conversation just naturally goes surprising places. So

AwakeningCharlotte.com

I don’t call myself a host, and the women who talk to me are not guests. I ask if I can come talk to them in their home—at the kitchen table or sitting on the couch. How am I the host? How are they the guests?

If anything, I am their guest. It’s just that we’re not talking about me! I want to know all about them.

On my business card I thought about putting my title as Media Mogul, but I was worried people would think I was serious.

So I replaced it not with CEO or Founder or Creator but simply Conversationalist. Whether you call conversation a lost art or a ministry or a therapeutic, healing practice, we all can sense the difference between controlled interviews and freewheeling conversations in which anyone can speak without fear or judgment or argument or anger or vitriol.

So what is my role? The opposite of angry-man talk radio host. Peaceful-manlistening-to-women podcaster!

NA: There are so many podcasts out there. What makes yours different?

SW: I think you’ll hear a distinct differ-

ence in the tone of ManListening. It’s much more real. It’s not like a contrived, show-biz talk show. No one is selling anything—not pitching a book or a film or a candidate or a product. No one is cutting away to go to break or commercial. There are no begathons to endlessly raise funds. And there’s not a hard out at the top or bottom of the hour.

Also, I take great pains to record every conversation in person.

This isn’t easy, and it isn’t cheap.

I’ve flown to Houston, Jersey City and Harlem and driven to Tampa, Birmingham, Atlanta, Nashville, Cary and Durham.

That’s not including driving all over and around

Charlotte to record on location! A lot of podcasts just dial it in on Skype or Zoom.

Not me. Even satellite interviews sacrifice the kind of intimacy I demand. (Sorry, Terry Gross—you know I love you.)

But I think there’s a huge difference in the quality of conversation when you’re meeting real people quite literally on their home turf and sitting down and chatting face-to-face. There’s research on this point as well—and a whole lot of new, frustrating experience with Zoom and other webcam meetings. We communicate an awful lot of information when there’s not a screen to filter us.

I’m betting my own money—thousands of dollars of it—that you will hear the difference when you listen. And there are a couple of ways to do that. You can listen to it streaming at ManListening.com, or you can find ManListening (one word, no spaces) wherever you get your podcasts—Apple, Spotify or Google Play.

NA: Based on your interactions and experiences

producing the ManListening podcast, do you have any final thoughts you’d like to convey to women and men?

SW: Any thoughts I have about listening

aren’t really different for one sex or another. There’s a good book out now called You’re Not Listening, by New York Times contributor Kate Murphy. Her book points to a lot of research that both men and women believe women are better listeners.

Now, there may be some dispute as to which sex is the better speaker. (My youngest daughter won a statewide speaking contest. Her brother did not. They still argue about who is the better speaker.) But there’s a pretty fair consensus that women pay closer attention to what’s being said.

Women listen to understand and establish relationship. Men may simply listen to get the facts. But we’ve already established that we hear the facts differently depending on who is stating them. So I’ve learned that I need to check my expectations. I need to scan myself for my own preconceptions.

I need to learn to listen differently. I ain’t woke. Don’t claim to be. But I guess you could say I’m waking!

Stuart Watson is our guest blogger for the month of May. Please visit AwakeningCharlotte.com to participate in this ongoing conversation.

Watson is a three-time Peabody Awardwinning investigative reporter, a Nieman Journalism Fellow at Harvard University and a past board member of Investigative Reporters and Editors. He’s a native of Albany, Georgia, and a graduate of Vanderbilt University. He has reported for more than 30 years in the South—at WKRN-TV, the ABC affiliate in Nashville; at WRAL-TV, then the CBS affiliate in Raleigh; and at WCNC-TV, the NBC affiliate in Charlotte—winning 10 Emmys. He and his wife, Lorraine, have four grown children and call North Carolina home. Connect with Watson through social media @ManListening on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, on LinkedIn or by email at Man@ManListening.com.

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Feeding Happiness

Lifting Moods with Feel-Good Foods

W

by Marlaina Donato

hether it’s a pandemic, a breakup or a busy day with the kids, heading to the kitchen for a carb fix or a pint of ice cream is a common knee-jerk response to stress. It’s easy to get caught in a whirlpool of poor eating when our bodies need nutritional support more than ever.

Sustained or chronic stress can reduce levels of dopamine and serotonin—neurotransmitters linked to feelings of both satiety and happiness. “When serotonin levels are normal, it leads to both emotional satisfaction and a sense of fullness after a meal,” says Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach Maria Marlowe, in New York City and Dubai. “Conversely, when serotonin levels are low, it can lead to depression and a tendency to reach for sweet and starchy foods.”

“Finding healthier substitutes that are less processed can make a huge impact.”

Experts agree that concentrating on weight loss or super-strict diets during times of adversity might do more harm than good. “Focusing on the need to lose weight during crisis will only do two things—make you feel guilty if you’re not eating what you think you’re supposed to and potentially make you eat more out of guilt,” says Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Jennifer Neily, in Dallas.

Opting for healthier versions of favorite comfort foods is a doable compromise that can prevent endorphins from plummeting after the usual temporary spike.

“With the right ingredients and recipes, we can satisfy our cravings for sweet, salt, creamy or crunchy with healthier upgrades of our favorite junk foods,” says Marlowe.

Avoiding Extremes

Friendly Fare

Stress-eating sparks only temporary physical and emotional fulfillment. “When your brain is in need of energy, it can mimic the symptoms of depression and anxiety,” notes Tara Waddle, holistic life coach at The Center of Balance, in Greeley, Colorado.

22

Charlotte Edition

Eating to stay healthy during hard times can tickle the taste buds without a lot of invested time. Marlowe’s go-to favorites like homemade banana ice cream or chocolate truffles not only take minutes to prepare, but fortify the brain. For must-have salty fa-

AwakeningCharlotte.com

vorites, she suggests opting for snack foods seasoned with unrefined or pink Himalayan salt, fresh guacamole, salsa, olives or pickles. Filling a seaweed sushi wrap with avocado can be a satisfying and easy snack.

For easy-exotic, Marlowe says, “I always keep coconut milk and unsweetened curry paste on hand to whip up a red Thai curry, my favorite 15-minute dinner.

Simply add fresh or frozen vegetables and protein of choice and you have a satisfying, flavorful meal that is faster than delivery.”

Waddle’s healthy comfort foods include nuts of different flavors, dried fruits and baked Brussels sprouts with nitritefree bacon, black pepper and a sprinkle of nutmeg. “The food you consider comfort food is comforting because it’s familiar,” she says. “When you start eating healthier food more often, it will become comfort food. Just keep trying new things.”

Keep it Simple

The kitchen can be our greatest ally during any life-storm, but having a stress-free strategy is key, especially paying attention to emotional states. “Ask yourself, ‘Is it head hunger or belly hunger? Above the neck or below the neck?’ If it’s the latter and that’s truly what is desired, don’t deny yourself, but choose with conscious understanding. Savor the flavor,” says Neily.

Marlowe recommends easy meal planning and maintaining an eating schedule. “This helps remove some of the stress and decision fatigue that comes with figuring out what to eat in the moment, especially with random ingredients in the fridge.” Food shopping can be an instant junk food trap. Waddle’s approach is a sure way to outsmart impulse buying based on habit. She says,“Start with the produce department first. This fills your cart with fresh foods and your cart will be full by the time you get to the snack aisle.”

Self-compassion can be one of the most important, yet overlooked considerations. “Regardless of what you choose to eat, be gentle with yourself,” notes Waddle.

“The guilt of eating poorly is more damaging than the food.”

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

Evgeny Atamanenko/Shutterstock.com

conscious eating

Deborah Lee Rossiter/Shutterstock.com

Sweet Recipes for Healthy Snacking Banana Ice Cream 2 overripe bananas ¼ tsp vanilla extract

photo courtesy of Maria Marlowe

Add-Ins: choose as many as desired 2-3 tsp cacao powder 1 Tbsp almond butter 2-3 tsp carob powder 3-4 pitted dates ¼ tsp cinnamon 1 cup frozen strawberries 6 mint leaves 1 Tbsp coconut flakes (or coconut butter or shredded coconut) 1 Tbsp ginger 1 Tbsp almond butter or almonds ½-inch peeled ginger piece

Five-Minute Chocolate Truffles Truffle

3 Tbsp cacao powder 1½ cups dates, pitted 3 Tbsp shredded coconut, unsweetened

sonchacha/Shutterstock.com

photo courtesy of Maria Marlowe

Toppings (choose a few) Cacao nibs Cacao powder Sesame seeds Shredded coconut Pistachios, crushed Walnuts, crushed Acai powder Goji powder Maqui powder Pomegranate powder

Peel bananas, break in half and put in a zip-top freezer bag. Freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight. Place all ingredients (banana base plus the add-in ingredients of choice) into a high-speed blender such as a Vitamix, and blend on high until soft-serve ice cream consistency is reached, which should be in about 30 to 60 seconds.

Taste to determine whether any more add-ins are needed and re-blend if desired.

Spoon out and serve.

Source: Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach Maria Marlowe

Add cacao powder, dates and coconut to a blender. (A bullet blender works well.)

Blend until a paste is formed, which should only take a few seconds. Roll about a tablespoon or so of paste into a ball. Repeat.

Choose a topping, sprinkle it onto parchment paper and roll date ball in it to coat.

Fast, Healthy Pasta Gluten-free bean and legume-based pastas provide more fiber and protein compared to traditional pasta, points out Marlowe. She suggests placing a steamer basket full of chopped veggies like broccoli, cauliflower and squash over boiling pasta water for a quick pasta primavera.

Add some garlic sautéed in olive oil and a little salt and pepper.

Feel-Good Foods Serotonin boosters for better mood and digestive harmony:

kiwi, bananas, pineapple, kiwi, plums, all types of berries, tomatoes, raw cacao nibs, 90 percent dark chocolate, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, butternuts (related to walnuts), almonds, eggs, beans, oats, protein-rich foods, sea vegetables, avocados, Swiss chard, beets, green tea and spices like turmeric.

Dopamine boosters for better mood and memory, and warding off neurodegenerative diseases: artichokes, ripe bananas, tahini, wheat germ, almond butter, leafy greens, lentils, chickpeas, black beans, papaya, red beets, apples, watermelon, blueberries and prunes.

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

May/June 2020

23

FAMILY STORIES Help Kids Cope

During Tough Times

I

by Ronica O’Hara

n these challenging times as our children struggle to cope with a swiftly changing world, one of the best things we can do is simply to let them know what strong stuff they come from.

Decades of research show that children that know their family’s stories—especially how their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and other forebears overcame adversity—have the ability to handle societal and personal trauma better.

“Family stories help children feel safe, secure and grounded,” says psychology professor Robyn Fivush, Ph.D., director of the Family Narratives Lab at Emory University, in Atlanta. “The stories provide a sense that they belong to something larger than

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themselves.” In the midst of unsettling events, she says it’s especially important for children to know that the family has been through hard times before and persevered.

Emory research shows that children, teens and young adults that know more of their family’s narratives have a greater sense of control over their lives, more self-esteem, better grades, higher social competence, less anxiety and depression, and fewer behavior problems. After 9/11, children that tested high in measures of family narratives proved to be more resilient and less stressed.

Family stories can be of loss—“Once we had it all”—or of triumph—“We came up from nowhere”—but the most powerful stories are those that show both the peaks and the valleys, the hilarious escapades and deep losses. “Even simply hearing what other people wish they could have done differently helps to offer children a broader perspective to current experiences,” says Carrie Krawiec, a family therapist at Birmingham Maple Clinic, in Troy, Michigan.

Accounts of the deepest trauma also prove formative: Knowing how their great-grandparents survived the Holocaust gave young adults a sense of gratitude, pride, courage and a greater religious commitment, a University of Pennsylvania study found.

Stories unfold easily at holiday dinners and during long car rides; even during an ordinary dinner, some kind of story— “Guess what happened today at the store?”—occurs about every five minutes, Fivush’s research shows. But summer vacation or days spent together inside a house provide a special opportunity for kids to dive deeper into their family background. For example, they can write an essay about a grandparent or aunt, write and direct a play with siblings, make a scrapbook, read history or novels to study events that took place during a specific time period, write a song or story from the ancestor’s point of view, research and draw a family tree or create a mini-documentary based on an interview with an older relative.

This is the quiz used in family narrative research, but Fivush cautions that the 20 questions are only a starting point, and many more can be created. Nor does getting the facts exactly right matter—those can easily be in dispute among family members. “It is the telling, the sharing and the listening that is more important than the story itself,” she says.

Do you know how your parents met?

Do you know where your mother grew up?

Do you know where your father grew up?

Do you know where some of your grandparents grew up?

Do you know where some of your grandparents met?

Do you know where your parents were married?

Do you know what went on when you were being born?

Do you know the source of your name?

Do you know some things about what happened when your brothers or sisters were being born?

jannoon028/Shutterstock.com

healthy kids

4 PM production/Shutterstock.com

Getting Started with Family Narratives

inspiration

Read more about family narratives at Robyn Fivush’s Psychology Today blog: PsychologyToday.com/intl/blog/thestories-our-lives Ideas for writing and craft projects: Tinyurl.com/ CreatingAFamilyNarrative Questions kids can ask family grownups: Tinyurl.com/ClassroomRoots

Do you know which person in your family you look most like?

Do you know which person in the family you act most like?

Do you know some of the illnesses and injuries that your parents experienced when they were younger?

Do you know some of the lessons that your parents learned from good or bad experiences?

Do you know some things that happened to your mom or dad when they were in school?

Do you know the national or ethnic background of your family?

Do you know some of the jobs that your parents had when they were young?

Do you know some awards that your parents received when they were young?

Do you know the names of the schools that your mom went to?

Do you know the names of the schools that your dad went to?

Do you know about a relative whose face “froze” in a grumpy position because he or she did not smile enough?

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

Fathers Know Best

D

by Neal Allen

ads, lighten up. Yes, all dads project their own fears and hopes on their children. If Dad dreamed of becoming a first baseman for the Yankees, he’ll push Johnny into baseball, ignoring his son’s preference for woodworking. If Dad harbored hopes of being the next Hemingway, he’ll praise Mary’s poetry, and maybe skip a few of her tedious soccer games.

Those are the facts, ma’am. Dads have a habit of imposing their own success goals on their kids. It’s not built into fatherhood to let kids willy-nilly develop their own talents and dreams. Does that ruin the kids? Who knows? It happens in just about every family, so good luck finding a control group for the experiment.

There may be no hope for the kids, but how about the dads? What might happen if they notice this odd behavior and how might that lighten their own loads?

Most of us dads, most of the time, initially take on the responsibility of fatherhood—income, protection, education—with drive and purpose. We make compromises with our pre-dad selves. The sports car gets traded in for a minivan. Playing guitar becomes a hobby, not a professional goal. We sign on at the warehouse. New dads around the country are making these changes every day, and mostly with alacrity.

It’s later, when the perfect infant becomes the complaining toddler or

rejecting teenager, that the vexing notion arises that another life could have been lived. This form of nostalgia—for what never came—is bitter. The word “nostalgia”, after all, comes from the Greek for “the pain of going home”.

But by seeing himself project his dreams on his children, a father can also see how he’s holding onto a suspect belief that another life would have been better. With maturity, a dad can revisit his adolescent dreams; not nostalgically, but with the wisdom that comes with age. Did I really have a chance at the Yankees? Be real. Weren’t there two guys in high school alone who had more talent?

Asking these questions, a father might even notice that no one in the family measures his worth in worldly achievements.

A dad is best remembered in his capacity for love, kindness, forgiveness, everyday strength and friendliness. Your child may know you’re a master carpenter. But what she remembers is that day when you gently showed her the right way to hold a hammer.

Neal Allen is a spiritual coach and author who shares seven children, step-children and grandchildren with his wife, writer Anne Lamott. His book on a new path to personal freedom will be released by Hierophant Publishers in spring 2021. For more information, visit ShapesOfTruth.com.

May/June 2020

25

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THE MATRIX OF LIFE

Boosting Collagen for Better Health

classifieds

gaston county natural guide

Fee for classifieds is a minimum charge of $25 for up to the first 20 words and $1 for each additional word. To place an ad, email Ads@ AwakeningCharlotte.com. Deadline is the 9th of the month.

Connecting Gaston County to leaders in natural health, wellness and green living. To find out how you can be included in the Gaston County Natural Guide, email Ads@AwakeningCharlotte.com.

FOR SALE 5 ACRES IN MARION NC. Heavily wooded, lightly developed subdivision. 30 minutes to Linville Falls, 40 minutes to Asheville. 704-778-6863.

SENIOR HOUSING HOLISTIC GAL SEEKS LIKE-MINDED NEIGHBORS. Nice, low-income, affordable senior housing community. Greenhouse, recycling, trees, porch, flowers. One level. 704-500-6828.

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE HEALING PLATFORM

Amber Pederson, DC, CFMP 100 N Main St, Ste 220, Belmont 704-755-4088 • HealingPlatform.com Info@HealingPlatform.com We empower people to take control of their health by educating and providing tools that enable clients to implement simple nutrition and lifestyle strategies. In person and virtual visits.

ORGANIC MARKET & SUPPLEMENTS ORGANIC MARKETPLACE 1012 S New Hope Rd, Gastonia 704-864-0605 OrganicMarketplaceNC.com

Natural Awakenings appreciates the generosity of its distributors throughout the area.

Please consider supporting these major distributors by shopping there and picking up the magazine each month from one of the racks.

Thank you!

9am -7pm M/F, 9am-6pm Sat. Reliable community partner, local source for education, organic foods, personal care, products, supplements, aromatherapy, organic wine/beer and pet products. See ad, page 19.

SPA HC WELLNESS CENTER & SPA 1308 E. Garrison Blvd, Gastonia 704-823-1577 HCWellnessCenterAndSpa.com

Offering traditional and alternative therapies seven days a week to help you achieve optimal health, wellness and balance. Colon hydrotherapy, massage, far-infrared sauna therapy, energizing foot spa and yoni or v-steam.

WEIGHT LOSS CAROLINAS WEIGHT LOSS INSTITUTE Lidia Adkins, CFMP, DC, PKT 216 S. New Hope Rd, Gastonia 704-271-9757 • CWLI.net

Developer of the “40 Day Transformation” system, a physician designed and administered functional approach with programming tailored to the unique metabolism needs of each individual, to provide safe and sustained weight loss. Call for a free consultation.

To place a listing call 704-499-3327 or email Ads@AwakeningCharlotte.com

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27

community resource guide

KEMPTER HOLISTIC DENTISTRY

Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide email Ads@AwakeningCharlotte.com to request our media kit.

ACUPUNCTURE EMPOWER LIFE CENTER

Camilo Sanchez, L. Ac, MAOM 704-542-8088 EmpowerLifeCenter.com 28 years of experience in acupuncture, Chinese medicine and integrated health. Specializing in identifying and correcting the root cause of your health concerns.

P ain c onditions, digestive disorders, stress, women’s health and chronic disorders. Classes in authentic Qigong, Tai Chi and Taoist yoga.

CHRONIC & DIFFICULT CASES HAAS WELLNESS CENTER 3315 Springbank Ln, Ste 102 704-837-2420 HaasWellnessCenters.com

Specializing in chronic and difficult cases and holistic and wellness care. We identify and treat the root cause of your health issues. Call today for a free 15-minute consultation. See ad, page 4.

BIOFIELD TUNING ENERGETIC APOTHECARY

Reiki for Wellness 325 Matthews Mint Hill Rd, Ste 106 704-907-3380 • EnergeticApothecary.com C e r t i f i e d B i o f i e l d Tu n i n g Practitioner using physics-based sound healing technique to help resolve pain, anxiety, depression, grief, overthinking-busy mind, adrenal fatigue PANDAS/PANS, and more. Also offering reiki, medical reiki, and resonance biofeedback/PEMF.

BUSINESS SERVICES ACTUALLY DONE

Are you a business owner Green Blue CMYK 55/20/100/2 90/70/30/30 with a long CMYK ‘To Do’ list?

RGB 128/162/62 RGB 37/67/103 # 80a23e # 254367 Relax, we’ll get your Pantone 296 Pantone 202 business projects actually Tan/Sepia Grey Virtual Professionals 18/36/72/0 CMYK 53/43/44/8 d CMYK o n e .

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Our principle service is Colon Hydrotherapy, but we also offer a wide variety of other services. We o ff e r b o t h t r a d i t i o n a l a n d alternative therapies to assist clients in achieving optimal health, wellness and balance.

COMPOUNDING PHARMACY STANLEY SPECIALTY PHARMACY

Charlotte’s most experienced & trusted compounding p h a r m a c y. S k i l l e d pharmacist can prepare custom medications to meet needs of the individual patient. Specializing in women’s & men’s health as well as veterinary medications. See ad, page 31.

DENTISTRY

Optional version, more horizontal

STANLEY SPECIALTY PHARMACY 3120 Latrobe Dr, Ste 200 704-370-6612 StanleyRx.com/CBD HOME

AB OUT

CONTACT

Charlotte’s CBD experts.

CBD consultations available with a licensed Pharmacist ($50 per ½ hour). Consultation fee applied to any CBD purchase. Professional grade CBD products available in store and online. See ad, page 31.

28

1308 E Garrison Blvd, Gastonia 704-823-1577 HCWellnessCenterAndSpa.com

CMYK 0/0/0/100 RGB 0/0/0 # 000000 Black

Font: Avenir

Virtual Professionals

V i r t u a l

HC WELLNESS CENTER & SPA

3120 Latrobe Dr, Ste 200 704-370-6612 StanleyRx.com

Maitri Meyer, Owner 704-296-3435 ActuallyDONE.com

ACTUALLY DONE

COLONICS

Charlotte Edition

HOLISTIC DENTAL CENTERS

Drs. Carl McMillan and Luis I. Crespo 20905 Torrence Chapel Rd, Ste 201, Cornelius 704-765-3150 • SmilesRaleigh.com Teeth and oral cavity affects the entire body and we make efforts besides biocompatible materials to help identify underlying causes to dental ailments. Myobrace, preorthodontic treatment, safe mercury filling removal, ceramic implants, nutrition and prevention. See ad, page 15.

AwakeningCharlotte.com

3111 Springbank Ln, Ste F1 1000 Copperfield Blvd, Ste 160, Concord 704-782-0797 KempterDentistry.com Biologically minded family dental office offering 3D digital dentistry, preventative dentistry, safe mercury removal and sleep apnea screenings. In a relaxed and caring environment, all patients are given devoted time. Call the office today to request a new patient consultation. See ad, back cover.

DIRECT PRIMARY CARE BLUE SKIES FAMILY MEDICINE Katherine Weeks, MD, FAAFP 363 Williamson Rd, Ste 103, Mooresville • 704-663-7819 BlueSkiesFamilyMedicine.com

Monthly fee model supports timely/higher quality appointments at lower overall costs as well as transparency and clear expectations. Ideal for small businesses and individuals with co-op or catastrophic plan coverage. Call for meet-thedoctor appointment.

ECO-FRIENDLY LIVING RECYCLED COMPOST & MULCH 140 Valleydale Rd · 980-314-3880 17131 Lancaster Hwy · 980-314-3845 MeckMulchMadness.com

Support a full 360° from your yard to our facility and back again. Mecklenburg County upcycles your yard waste to create high-quality STA approved compost and beautiful mulch at a very affordable price. See ad, page 31.

SUSTAINABLE INTERIOR DESIGN Claudia Josephine Design 860-796-3415 ClaudiaJosephineDesign.com

Proving that sustainable, ecofriendly design can still be stylish, Claudia creates classic, functional, and beautiful interiors. Specializes in hard finish selections for new builds. Maria Killam True Colour Expert.

NATURAL DOCTOR

EDUCATION

DARRYL ROBERTS, ND

GOLDEN QUEST MYSTERY SCHOOL

Haas Wellness Center 3315 Springbank Ln, Ste 102 704-802-2290 • DoctorDarrylND.com DrDarryl@HaasWellnessCenters.com

Rev Rebecca Nagy, Director 704-661-4957 Rebecca.GoldenQuest@gmail.com GoldenQuestMysterySchool.org

Transform life and take your soul journey to a deeper level. Access higher worlds through direct experience with esoteric meditation and study of the ageless wisdom, quantum physics, universal laws, white magic. Local and online.

CERTIFIED MEDIUM TRAINING

400 N Harbor Place Dr, Ste C, Davidson 704-896-3111 KentCookInstitute.com Fast Track exclusive, unprecedented certification in mediumship. Starting September 2019, this oneyear program will give you full accreditation as a Certified Medium. See ad, page 13.

HOMEOPATHY CAROLINAS NATURAL HEALTH CENTER

Dr Michael Smith 1114 Sam Newell Rd, Ste A 704-708-4404 • CarolinasNaturalHealth.com C h a r l o t t e ’s o n l y d o c t o r specializing in homeopathy – a power system of natural medicine that stimulates your body’s natural ability to heal, without side effects. Anxiety, depression, ADHD, behavioral issues, eczema, auto-immune disease, hormonal imbalance, and much more. See ad, page 12.

HYPNOSIS FOCUS ON PAST LIVES Heidi E. Kent, C.Ht. Marsha G. Cook, C.Ht. 704-896-3111

Change your belief systems and transcend your circumstances.

Spiritual support for all people; focus on past lives, Akashic records, spiritual healing.

Relief is an appointment away. Specializing in smoking cessation, weight loss and releasing fear.

See ad, page 13.

INTEGRATIVE HEALER KATIE SUTTON

Intuitive Channel, Guided Meditation Coach 828-246-3335 ZenWithinAcademy.com Katie synthesizes a unique blend of healing modalities with selfactivation techniques–from sound & vibrational therapy, to intuitive channeling, to guided meditation– in order to deliver healings tailored to each person's needs.

INTEGRATIVE NATURAL MEDICINE JANIS THAYER INTEGRATIVE NATURAL MEDICINE

University Area/Harrisburg 704-455-4710 • JGThayer81@hotmail.com Specializing in integrative energy medicine and traditional naturopathy. Board certified health coach offering holistic and wellness protocols; antiaging/stem cell regeneration, craniosacral; pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF), scaler waver cold laser therapies and classical Chinese medicine.

INTEGRATIVE PEDIATRICIAN INFINITE HEALTH, PLLC

Sheila Kilbane, MD 2201 Park Rd, Ste B 704-626-6771 • SheilaKilbane.com Dr. Kilbane is a board-certified integrative pediatrician who specializes in finding the root cause of illness including reflux, eczema, allergies, recurrent ear and sinus infections, asthma, constipation, abdominal pain and more.

LYMPHATIC CLEANSE JENNIFER DILLON, DC, CCN 421-B S. Sharon Amity Rd 704-333-9991 DillonNaturalHealth.com

The Light Beam Generator is a non-invasive oxygen based detoxification system helping to restore function and assist the lymphatic system. When this circulatory system is congested, the whole system becomes toxic causing chronic inflammation as well as many other issues. See ad, page 21.

Heal. Recover. Thrive. Modern wellness for a modern world.

Specializing in emotional and digestive disorders with children and adults using non-toxic treatments. Call today for a free consultation.

NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIAN CAROLINAS NATURAL HEALTH CENTER

Dr Michael Smith 1114 Sam Newell Rd, Ste A 704-708-4404 • CarolinasNaturalHealth.com Diabetes, Depression, Digestive Disorders, ​A llergies, Autoimmune disease, A ​ nxiety​,​ ADHD. C h a r l o t t e ’s o n l y d o c t o r specializing in homeopathy. We focus on treating YOU to uncover the cause of your health condition and empower you to better health!​ See ad, page 12.

CHARLOTTE NATURAL WELLNESS Dr Michelle Dillon 10722 Carmel Commons Blvd, Ste 450 704-543-5540 CharlotteNaturalWellness.com

Specializing in natural remedies for PMS, hot flashes, other hormonal issues, digestive issues, thyroid disorders, weight issues, fatigue, mood imbalances, insomnia and more. Effective individualized treatments using nutrition, botanicals, and supplements for the whole family.

PHYSICAL THERAPY ROPER PHYSICAL THERAPY

Myofascial Release & Medical Therapeutic Yoga 301 E. Tremont Ave, Ste B RoperPT.com 980-298-6706 Our mission is to increase function, restore motion and improve strength and stamina through myofascial release.

Roper PT is privately owned with highly skilled manual therapists who offer patient– centered care.

May/June 2020

29

LIGHT HOUSE SPIRITUAL CENTER

PSYCHIC PSYCHICS AND SENIOR TEACHERS 400 N Harbor Place Dr, Ste C, Davidson 704-896-3111 KentCookInstitute.com

First Saturday each month from 1-4pm. Professional Certified Tarot, Numerology, Palmistry, Medicine Cards, Spiritual Readings.

Fees begin at $60. Call today for an appointment. See ad, page 13.

SPIRITUAL PSYCHIC MEDIUM

Heidi E Kent, M.A. CM, C.Ht. 423-300-8618 • HeidisReadings.com Heidi E. Kent, co-director of The Kent-Cook Institute, is a certified psychic medium, master palmist, spiritual communicator, numerologist, relationship counselor, metaphysical teacher and certified hypnotherapist. Heidi guides you to the place of “what to do, what to do, what to do!” See ad, page 13.

SPIRITUAL CENTERS

Rev. Kendall Heath, Interfaith Minister 645 Carpenter Ave, Mooresville LightHouseSpiritualCenter.com 704-658-1442

Sunday Interfaith Spiritual Fellowship Services 11am12:30 pm. Weekly, heartcentered gatherings exploring the esoteric, mystical, wisdom teachings of many faiths and philosophies. Services include teachings, dialogue, and experiential group learning, music and coffee/tea. See ad, page 6.

UNITY OF CHARLOTTE

Marty Bacher, Spiritual Leader UnityofCharlotte.org 704-523-0062 Unity features a vibrant, joyous Sunday Celebration Service at 10:30am with terrific music, inspiring messages and a warm, welcoming spiritual community. Offering classes and workshops throughout the week with activities that support your health, wellness and spiritual journey.

SPIRITUAL COACH

CAROLINA CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL AWAKENING

REV. CHRISTY SNOW

Rev. Christy Snow, Founder & Spiritual Director AwakeningCarolina.org 980-292-1062

Charlotte & Lake Norman ChristySnow.com 704-516-7113 Christy@ChristySnow.com

Looking for a spiritual home?

Join us for live positive music, meditation, and a message to awaken your Divine Potential.

We welcome all people and all paths. Youth church, weekly classes and events. See ad, page 5.

HEARTLIGHT SPIRITUAL CENTER Rev. David Hulse, Spiritual Leader 7300 Mallard Creek Rd 704-599-1180 HeartLightCharlotte.org

We are a Spirit-Guided, HeartCentered, Christ-Conscious, Loving Family providing an empowering, universal, Christ-centered message grounded in the teachings of metaphysics. Sunday Service 11:15 am. Email Shine@HeartLightCharlotte.org.

See ad, page 2.

Sessions are customized for each individual or couple. Christy’s approach is rooted in her metaphysical education and experience. “There’s a spiritual solution to every problem.” Wayne Dyer.

See ad, page 5.

SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE INTERFAITH MINISTER, PSYCHIC MEDIUM PSYCHOSPIRITUAL HEALER 645 Carpenter Ave, Mooresville 704-658-1442 LightHouseSpiritualCenter.com

Kendall Heath combines psychospiritual modalities, holistic healing techniques, and detailed intuitive guidance for spiritual growth and personal transformation. Soul work, innerchild work, energy practices, grief work, soulful relationships, trauma healing. See ad, page 6.

SUSTAINABILITY SUSTAIN CHARLOTTE SustainCharlotte.org

A nonprofit organization working to inspire choices that lead to healthy, equitable and vibrant communities across the Charlotte metro region for generations to come.

Become a member today.

THERMOGRAPHY JENNIFER DILLON, DC, CCN 421-B S Sharon Amity Rd 704-333-9991 DillonNaturalHealth.com

Non-invasive way to visualize the health of a tissue. Identify inflammation anywhere in the body. Detect issues early to allow time to make a change before diagnosis occurs. See ad, page 21.

VETERINARIAN ATRIUM ANIMAL HOSPITAL

Kim Hombs, DVM, CVA, CVCH, CTui-Na 6520 McMahon Dr 704-542-2000 AtriumAnimalHospital.com Comprehensive holistic/ integrative animal medicine practice in the Charlotte region.

Alternative vaccine approaches, double certified acupuncturist and herbalist, cold and class 4 laser, TCM food therapy, Tuina, animal rehabilitation with underwater treadmill.

See ad, page 2.

WEIGHT LOSS CAROLINAS WEIGHT LOSS INSTITUTE Gastonia • 704-271-9757 Matthews/Ballantyne • 704-243-8560 CWLI.net

Developer of the "40 Day Transformation" system, a physician designed and administered functional approach with programming tailored to the unique metabolism needs of each individual, to provide safe and sustained weight loss. Call for a free consultation.

YOGA THERAPY ROPER PHYSICAL THERAPY 301 E Tremont Ave, Ste B RoperPT.com 980-298-6706

Physical therapists trained and certified in Professional Yoga Therapy qualifying them to teach clients with acute or chronic pain and beginner or seasoned yogis with injuries who desire a safe and effective yoga practice.

30

Charlotte Edition

AwakeningCharlotte.com

Hey Mecklenburg County, We Need Your Help To Clean Up Our Recyclables!

Please just recycle the basic materials listed here in your curbside bin. Nothing else!

Just because you wish it to be recycled, does not make it recyclable.

PLASTIC BOTTLES

CARDBOARD

CANS

CARTONS

PAPER

GLASS BOTTLES

PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT NOT EVERYTHING IS RECYCLABLE

Tips to Recycle Right at Home: • Never recycle plastic bags in your Curbside Bin/Cart • Never bag your recyclables in plastic bags • Never recycle complex items such as infant seats or luggage etc…

• Please rinse out food and contaminants — that stuff contaminates loads

NO PLASTIC BAGS

WHEN IN DOUBT — LEAVE IT OUT.

May/June 2020

31

Are You Looking For A HEALTHY NATURAL Smile?

We Care for More

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Kempter Holistic Dentistry • KempterDentistry.com 32