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June 2012 Columbia Edition HealthyLivingColumbia.com

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Ive driven all the way to New England, and in doing so, drove through New Jersey. I took the turnpike, of course; and while it was efficient and smooth and loaded with a zillion cars, I felt a horrible sense of doom by the time I reached the last toll booth. The view from the turnpike, for most of the trip, is a vision of the wild and natural en-vironment long dead. The writing on the wall is in spray paint, apparently telling us mankind is headed toward its last gasp. Sooty smokestacks, dirty con-crete and gray asphalt seem to reach beyond the horizon.

Now, I do know a lot of people from New Jersey, and Ive been told that most of the state is actually very green and beautiful. But from the windows of your car, on the most heavily traveled highways, its hard to imagine.

So now here in South Carolina, there are a lot of people from New Jersey. No joking, they are very lovely people and many are good friends of mine. They love South Carolina, too, and several visiting on vacation plan to move here when they retire to play golf, tan and live better on what little money they have left, planning never to shovel snow again. You can recognize them right off by their very strange accent. Oddly, they think its us with the accent. Besides the peculiar way they think we sound, they tell me that from the highways and main routes, South Carolina is all billboards, neon and tackiness. They just dont seem to understand our sense of humor, and I have to keep reminding them that not all of South Carolina is like South of the Border.

I criss cross through the Palmetto State regularly, and visit farms and small towns. Ive seen the state explode into miles of flowers and change with the calendar through every shade of green. In fact, South Carolina has a lot of natural forests, rivers and swamps that if explored can provide an inspiring vision of Eden. But to do that, you need to get out of the car.

This year, examine the world starting right from your backyard and work outward into the natural parts of South Carolina. Spend your vacation time in healthy eco-adventure escapes right here at home and be amazed at what has been right un-der your nose all this time. Get out into the forests, mountains and wild beaches and test your endurance. Experience how nature can recharge you. Take some-one from New Jersey with you, too, so that he or she gets a real picture of what South Carolina is. And to be fair, well promise to get off the turnpike one day.

3June 2012HealthyLivingColumbia.com

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4 newsbriefs 7 healthbriefs 9 globalbriefs 12 ecotip 13 consciouseating 18 inspiration

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23 healingways 25 fitbody 28 calendar 29 resourceguide

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

contents

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27

15

18

23

13 on the road without weight gain How to Eat Healthy, Away from Home by Melinda Hemmelgarn

15 healthY escaPes Unplugged Getaways Rebalance Our Lives by Judith Fertig

18 born to eXPlore by Joe Robinson

19 dads golden storY hour Kids Listen with Their Entire Being by Clint Kelly

21 comFortable, drug-Free childbirth Possible with HypnoBirthing

23 hormone helP For guYs Natural Ways to Boost Vitality by James Occhiogrosso

25 do You Parkour? Using the World as a Fitness Playground by Randy Kambic

27 mild hYPerbaric oXYgen theraPY at About Your Health

4 Columbia Edition

newsbriefs

Mindfulness Meditation for Stress and Pain Management

Mindfulness means paying attention to the present mo-ment in a particular way: on purpose and without judgment. Much of our lives are spent thinking about the past or planning for the future; as such, we miss what is happening in the here and now. We live our lives on auto-matic pilotnot really being aware of what we are thinking, feeling or doing. Diminished awareness severely limits the ability to live to the fullest and to respond to situations with choices, rather than reacting automatically. Mindfulness is about living consciously, and can be cultivated through mind-body practices that access power-ful inner resources and create neuroplasticity. This rewires the brain to create the integrated nervous system. Through integrative functioning, we embody overall health, optimal living skills, and awaken to the present moment. The Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, developed by the University of Massachusetts School of Medicine (umassmed.edu/cfm/stress/index.aspx), is offered at prestigious medical and educational facilities worldwide. The Columbia SC Summer 2012 MBSR 26-hour pro-gram intensive is eight two-and-a-half-hour sessions and a six-hour silent retreat June 28 through Aug. 2. Maximum group size is 12 participants. Early registration until June 15 is $289; then $369 after. Fee includes instruction, book, three CD/MP3 practice sessions, and six-hour silent retreat. Diane Barnes, MEd, is the program facilitator. The location is Mindful Living Studio in West Columbia. For more info, call 803-739-8701 or visit MindfulLivingStu-dio.com.

Planet SolarCompletes Circumnavigation

PlanetSolar, the worlds largest solar-powered ship, suc-cessfully completed a world circumnavigation this past May. Following a course close to the equator, which led through the Panama Canal and the Suez Canal, the MS Tranor PlanetSolar has made many stopovers during its voyage, such as Tangier, Miami, Cancun, the Galpagos, the French Polynesia, Brisbane, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bombay, Abu Dhabi and Doha28 countries in total. These stopovers were unique opportunities to meet the local populations and to promote the use of solar energy. The ship, under Swiss flag, motored for 585 days without using a drop of fuel, depending only on sunshine and technology. The circumnavigation qualified for a number of Guinness World Record designations. The ship uses advanced technology from sources

around the world and operates under the Swiss company PlanetSolar SA, which will now be realigned to the ad-vancement, use and distribution of solar technologies, and will become a think tank for solar energy. The focus of the think tank lies on the practical enabling of concrete, realistic and profitable solar projects. At 35 meters in length, PlanetSolar is the largest solar-powered vessel and is cov-ered with 537 square meters of solar panels. For more info, visit PlanetSolar.org.

Canning Classes in NE Richland County

Nancy Harrison, Clemson Extension agent, will teach canning classes at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church on Sparkleberry Lane, across from Spring Valley High School, in Northeast Richland County on Wednesday, June 6, and Saturday, June 9, from 10 am to 2 pm. Cost is $30. Classes include an introduction to principles for safely preserving fruits and vegetables by pressure and by boiling water bath canning, and participation in a canning demon-stration. Also included is a copy of Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving and a jar of freshly canned food. For more info, contact Nancy Harrison, 803-874-2354 ext.113, or email [email protected]. To reserve your space, you can send a check for $30 to Clemson University, PO Box 161, St. Matthews, SC 29135.

Jin Shin Jyutsu Self-HelpGetting to Know (Help) Myself

Jin Shin Jyutsu is an ancient art of harmonizing the life energy in the body. Self-Help is the birth and core of Jin Shin Jyutsu. Through Self-Help, Jiro Murai first proved the efficiency of the art to himself and, from his self-healing, be-gan the journey of its rediscovery. In Self-Help, the student receives the empowering message, through the experience, that he or she can actually be self-sufficient. It was Mary Burmeister who, in years of study and dedication, further condensed the essence of the teachings of the art into three simple Self-Help books. In a Self-Help class, the student learns the use and understanding of these simple but profound books, and through them, the philosophy and the most practical tools of the art. These tools can be immediately used for oneself and family, while the philosophy presented may gently shift ones focus away from the attitudes that keep reproducing the same stresses. This two-day class, July 14 and 15, from 9 am to 5 pm, will be presented by Margaret Self, Jin Shin Jyutsu practitio-ner and Reiki master. The three textbooks are included in


the fee. Class time will include both instruction and practice so that students gain both the understanding as well as the practical application of the art. Preregistration is required. A nonrefundable deposit of $50 to reserve your place is due by June 15, and the remaining fee of $150 by the first day of class. Total fee is $200. Lunch each day is on your own. Local hotel informa-tion will be sent upon request. For more info or to request a registration form, email [email protected] or call 803-551-1191. Classes are held at Carolina Reiki Institute,112 Wexwood Ct, Columbia. See ad, page 27.

South Carolina WatersGet Cleaner

South Carolina finally joined the 16 other states that require dishwashing detergents to be phosphate-free. The law took effect in several other states last year, and takes ef-fect in South Carolina this July. Phosphates are a naturally occurring mineral form of phosphorous, mined and used in detergents as a cleaning agent, especially useful with hard water. The level of phos-phates in dishwasher detergent was equal, percentage wise, to household plant fertilizer products. The phosphates pass through water treatment equip-ment, because to remove it is a difficult and costly process. The phosphates flow into the lakes and rivers from mu-nicipal water treatment outflows where it encourages large algae blooms in rivers and lakes, upsetting the balance of underwater life. The algae overgrow, die and decay, causing a messy and deadly oxygen-deficit cycle that kills most of the marine life. Phosphates were removed from laundry detergent some time ago, and most manufacturers of dishwashing detergents already began removing phosphates from their formulas, anticipating the trend.

VC Summer Nuclear StationShares to Be Sold to Neighboring States

Only a few years ago, Santee Cooper touted the urgent need to build a new coal-fired power plant as well as additional nuclear capacity to serve a runaway electricity demand in eastern South Carolina. While battling conserva-tionists and environmentalists, Santee Cooper soon realized that demand was not as robust as it projected, and that environmentalists were correct: Conservation can reduce demand substantially, peak demand can be managed, and the rate of growth in power demand was not sustainable. Environmentalists concerns are the levels of mercury in South Carolina waters from local coal-fired plants and the costs and inherent risk in nuclear power generation. Santee Cooper is looking for partners to buy out por-tions of its share in the VC Summer Nuclear Station expan-

sion now underway, with South Mississippi Electric Power Association considering between a 2 to 7 percent stake. American Municipal Power Inc. is looking at another 2 to 5 percent ownership to distribute power to five other states. Santee Coopers total stake currently is 45 percent, with the rest owned by SCE&G. The two generating units are slated to come online in 2017 and 2018 under licenses approved by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission. South Carolina, therefore, becomes the location for power generating plants that serve neighboring states, and citizens shoulder the risk, waste and environmental impact. Japan, Germany and several other developed nations are currently reducing or eliminating nuclear power generation in favor of sustainable energy technology.

Natural Awakenings Family of Franchises Keeps Growing

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. (NAPC) recently welcomed a group of new publishers who completed a training program in May at the corporate headquarters in Naples, FL. The NAPC training staff spent several days with entrepreneurs from San Francisco, CA; Washington, DC; Lancaster, PA; and Western Massachusetts, as well as a new owner of the Bucks County, PA, franchise. Company CEO Sharon Bruckman launched the first edi-tion of Natural Awakenings in 1994 and began franchising it in 1999. The company currently publishes Natural Awaken-ings magazines in more than 85 markets throughout the United States and in Puerto Rico, with a collective reader-ship exceeding 3 million. For a list of locations where Natural Awakenings is publishing or to learn more about opportunities to buy your own franchise or existing magazine business, visit NaturalA-wakeningsMag.com or call 239-530-1377. See ad, page 6.

6 Columbia Edition


can canned bPa

Think twice before sipping soda or soup that comes in a can. A recent study by Harvard School of Public Health researchers discovered people who ate one serving of canned food daily for five days had significantly elevated levels of bisphenol-A (BPA), an endocrine disrupter sometimes found in plastic bottles that also lines most food and drink cans. Studies have linked high urine levels of BPA to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other health conditions. The spike in BPA levels recorded by the Harvard researchers was one of the highest seen in any study. Source: Journal of the American Medical Association.

Eggs Sunny UpsideOften considered one of na-tures most perfect foods, eggs are an excellent source of protein, lipids, vitamins and minerals. Now, researchers at the University of Al-berta, in Canada, have discovered that they also contain antioxidant properties that help in the preven-tion of cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Jianping Wu and his team of researchers at the universitys De-partment of Agricultural Food and Nutritional Science examined egg yolks produced by hens that were fed typical diets of either primarily

wheat or corn. They found the yolks contained two amino acids; tryptophan and tyrosine, which have high antioxidant properties. The researchers found that two raw egg yolks offer almost twice as many antioxidant properties as one apple and about the same as half a serving (25 grams) of cranberries. When the eggs were fried or boiled, however, the beneficial properties were reduced by about half. Its a big reduction, but it still leaves eggs equal to apples in their antioxidant value, says Wu.

In prior research, Wu found that egg proteins converted by digestive enzymes produced peptides that work in the same way as ACE inhibitors, prescription drugs used to reduce high blood pressure. That finding contradicted the notion that eggs increase high blood pressure because of their cholesterol content.

healthbriefs

8 Columbia Edition

Spuds Lower Blood PressureThe potatos rep as a fattening food is get-ting a much-deserved re-vision. In a recent report in the American Chemi-cal Societys Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, scientists note that two small servings of purple potatoes a day reduce blood pressure by about 4 percentnearly as much as oatmealwithout causing weight gain. The researchers say that decrease may poten-tially reduce the risk of some forms of heart disease.

In the study, 18 volunteers who were overweight or obese with high blood pressure ate six to eight golf ball-sized purple majesty potatoes, with skins, twice a day for a month. The researchers used purple potatoes because the pigment in darker fruits and vegetables is especially rich in beneficial phytochemicals. They monitored participants blood pressure, both systolic (the first number in a blood pressure reading, such as 120/80) and diastolic, and found that the average diastolic pressure dropped by 4.3 percent, while the systolic pressure decreased by 3.5 percent. None of the volunteers gained weight.

Although they arent yet certain, the researchers be-lieve that red- and white-skinned potatoes may offer similar benefits. Pass on the butter or sour cream, though, and dont even consider French friesthe studys potatoes were cooked without oil.

Build Muscles to Beat DiabetesIncreasing lean muscle massknown to be a key in fighting frailty associated with aging (a condition called sarcopenia)may also help protect against diabetes. A new study reports that every additional 10 percent of skeletal muscle mass is as-sociated with reductions of 11 percent in insulin resistance and 12 percent in prediabetes or diabetes.

Dr. Preethi Srikanthan, of the University of California, Los Angeles, and her colleagues recently evaluated the data on 13,644 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III, from 1988 to 1994, and discovered the connection. After adjusting for other contributing factors for diabetes, including generalized and abdominal obesity, they found that individuals with the greatest muscle mass were 63 percent less prone to the disease.

Our findings suggest that beyond focusing on losing weight to improve metabolic health, there may be a role for maintaining fitness and building muscle mass, says Srikan-than. This is a welcome message for overweight patients that experience difficulty in achieving weight loss, as any effort to get moving and keep fit should be seen as contribut-ing to metabolic change.

Source: Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter.

red meat raisesdiabetes risk

A study by the University of Glasgow, in Scotland, shows that men are at great-er risk than women for type 2 diabetes, because they tend to develop it at a lower body mass index. Further-more, red meat, a favorite food among many men, is a suspected risk agent.

Harvard School of Public Health researchers have found a strong association between the regular consumption of red meatparticularly processed options like bacon and hot dogsand a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Their study notes that replacing red meat with healthier proteins, such as low-fat dairy, nuts or whole grains, can significantly lower the risk.

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News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a

healthier, stronger society that benefits all.

globalbriefs

Auto ImmuneToxicity Report on New Car InteriorsThe consumer watchdog Ecol-ogy Centers HealthyStuff.org, a product test results website, points out that there is more to green vehicles than fuel economy. That new-car smell can include a toxic mix of chemicals carried over from the manufacturing of seats, steering wheels, dashboards and armrests. The groups fourth annual report on more than 200 model year 2011 and 2012 vehicles gave the Honda Civic and CR-Z and the Toyota Prius top marks for the least interior pol-lution, while the Kia Soul, Chrysler 200 SC and Mitsubishi Outlander ranked as the worst.

The researchers tested for toxic heavy metals such as lead and mercury, and cancer-causing chemicals like benzene and brominated flame retardants. Automo-biles function as chemical reactors, creating one of the most hazardous environ-ments we spend time in, says Jeff Gearhart, research director of the Ann Arbor, Michigan-based nonprofit.

No mandatory testing or regulation of the chemicals used in vehicle manu-facturing exists, so consumers face a lack of helpful information. The use of some chemicals has voluntarily declined since 2006, but many cars continue to contain chemical levels that consumer advocates consider unsafe. The biggest decrease has been in the use of plastics made with the highly toxic polyvinyl chloride (PVC), as well as bromine, chromium leather dyes and lead.

View the full list of cars in the report at Tinyurl.com/carsrated.

Social ServiceMeetup Celebrates 10th AnniversaryJune 12 marks 10 years of online social collaboration through the Meetup network, formed in the aftermath of the September 2001 (9/11) tragedy. Co-founder and CEO Scott Heiferman says, I was living a couple of miles from the Twin Towers, and was the kind of person who thought local community doesnt matter much if weve got the Internet and TV. The only time I thought about my neighbors was when I hoped they wouldnt bother me.

Then, suddenly, people started helping each other and meet-ing up with each other and the idea for Meetup was born. Each of more than 100,000 Meetup groups starts with people sim-ply saying hello to neighbors. Membership is 10 million and growing.

To join in, visit Meetup.com.

10 Columbia Edition

Bad AirSmog Pollution Threatens National ParksThe nonprofit Sierra Club is waging a fun-draising campaign to protect US national parks from the effects of power plants burn-ing dirty coal. Executive Director Michael Brune reports, Nearly one-third of all na-tional parks exceed pollution safety levels. To date, the club has been successful in stop-ping construction of 160 coal-fired plants.

Natural Resources Defense Council (nrdc.org) analyses show that not only cities, but seaside suburbs and rural areas as well, are reporting health-threatening bad air days during the summer due to smog pollution.

Some 250 communities and parks in nearly 40 states, led by California, rou-tinely experience one or more code orange dangerous air days, deemed unsafe for children, older adults and those with breathing problems to be outside. More than 2,000 air quality alerts occurred nationwide in the first seven months of 2011, with many areas having long periods of days marred by elevated smog levels.

The push for cleaner air comes amid ongoing Environmental Protection Agency de-lays in approving updated air pollution standards, which the council notes could annu-ally save thousands of American lives and eliminate tens of thousands of asthma attacks.

globalbriefs

SkyscrapersLiving Buildings Might Inhale Urban Carbon EmissionsDr. Rachel Armstrong, a senior TED fellow and co-director of Avatar, a re-search group exploring advanced technologies in architecture, is promoting the development of buildings with lungs that could absorb carbon emis-sions and convert them into something useful and skin that could control interior temperatures without radiators or air-conditioning. She projects that over the next 40 years, these living buildings, biologically programmed to extract carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, could fill our cities.

Its an application of synthetic biology, a new science devoted to the man-ufacture of lifelike matter from synthesized chemicals that engineers create to behave like organic microorganisms, with the added benefit that they can be manipulated to do things nature cant. Armstrong calls them protocells.

She explains: A protocell could be mixed with wall paint and programmed to produce limestone when exposed to carbon [emissions] on the surface of a build-ing. Then youve got a paint that can actually eat carbon and change it into a shell-like substance.

As an added feature, protocells could naturally heal micro-fractures in walls, channeling through tiny breaks and helping to extend the life of the structure. Plus, says Armstrong, The thickness of the limestone will grow over time, creating insulation and allowing the building to retain more heat or [else] sheltering it from heating up underneath the sun.

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Wheres Poppa?Dads Roles Changing with the TimesA Pew Research Center analysis of the National Survey of Family Growth confirms the continuation of a 50-year trend leading to more than one in four fathers of children 18 or younger living apart from their children; 11 percent live separately from some of their chil-dren and 16 percent from all of them. Logically, the study further shows that fathers living with their children be-come more intensely involved in their lives, spending more time with them and taking part in a greater variety of activities, such as sharing meals, helping with homework and playing.

Black fathers (44 percent) are more than twice as likely as white fathers (21 percent) to live apart from their children, while Hispanic fathers (35 percent) are in the middle. Among fathers who never completed high school, 40 percent live apart from their children, compared with only 7 percent of fathers who graduated from college.

Many absent fathers try to compensate by communicating via email, social media or phone. Almost half say they are in touch with their children several times a week, but nearly one-third communicate less than once a month. Twenty percent say they visit their children more than once a week, but 27 percent have not seen their children in the past year.

Source: PewForum.org.

Concerned CitizensPublic Demands GMO Food Labeling

A campaign by Just Label It (JustLabelIt.org), a national coalition of 500 diverse organizations dedicated to the mandatory labeling of genetical-ly engineered (GE) or modified organism (GMO) foods, has united 1 million Americans of all po-litical affiliations to demand that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) require the practice.

Pink slime, deadly melons, tainted turkeys and BPA in our soup have put us all on notice that what we eat and feed our families is criti-cally important, says Ken Cook, president of the Environmental Working Group. Americans overwhelmingly demand safety, transparency and labeling of genetically engineered foods. Its time for the FDA to come clean and restore public confidence in our food system.

According to a political opinion survey conducted by The Mellman Group, pollster Mark Mellman explains, Few topics other than motherhood and apple pie can muster over 90 percent support, but labeling of GE foods is one of those few views that are held almost unanimous-ly.

Colorado author Robyn OBrien, founder of the AllergyKids Foundation, remarks: Americans want more information for their families. Like allergen label-ing, GE food labels would provide essential and possibly life-saving information for anyone with a food allergy.

12 Columbia Edition

Mow, Mow, Mow Your Lawn Or Mow Less, Sustainably

by Paul tukey

For some, mowing is the bane of summer; a choking, chugging chore to abhor. For others, its an artistic ex-pressionthe chance to maintain and admire a propertys carefully crafted aesthetic look while logging some laps around the lawn. Whether we enjoy it or prefer leaving the task to someone else, several considerations can make the experience less laborious, less pol-luting and even lighter on the budget as fuel prices rise.

Start high and stay high. Re-sist the temptation to mow the family lawn to resemble a closely shaved golf green. Far better results are achieved by adjusting the machines blade to the top setting and leaving it there until after Labor Day. Taller grass in the spring shades the surface of the soil, so that crabgrass and other weed seeds cant sprout as much. High levels in the summer conserve moisture and en-courage deep root growth, so that the lawn becomes more drought-tolerant.

The fastest way to harm a lawn is by mowing too lowless than three inches for most grass species. Excep-tions are Bermuda grass or seashore paspalum in the South, or bent grass in the North, all of which do best when mowed at one to two inches high.

Fertilize naturally. Organic fertilizers derived from plant or animal byproducts work with the soils biology to feed the lawn slowly and evenly. Leave the grass clippings on the lawn, which quickly biodegrade to provide more free, natural lawn food.

The natural approach to nourishing a lawn requires less frequent mowing and makes it more adaptable to long dry spells. Synthetic chemical fertiliz-ers, which are formulated to stimulate

ecotip

a lot of growth quickly, are designed to demand more mowing and watering.

Get grass off of gas. If a lawn is a third of an acre (15,000 square feet) or less, consider this: Todays push or motorless mowers are not our grandfathers heavy wood and steel models. Manufactured from high-grade plastics, lightweight metals and preci-sion blades that rarely need sharpen-ing, the modern mowers cut grass cleanly and are a breeze to use. They are the healthiest choice for people, lawn and planet. For larger acreage, new models powered by propane burn cleaner than gasoline-run engines.

Paul Tukey is author of The Organic Lawn Care Manual and Tag, Toss & Run: 40 Classic Lawn Games. Find more tips at SafeLawns.org.

The US Environmental Protection Agency reports that a single hour of oper-ating a new gas-powered lawn mower emits the same volume of volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides as 11 new cars, each driven for one hour.


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consciouseating

On the Road Without Weight GainHow to Eat Healthy, Away from Home

by melinda hemmelgarnHealth-conscious and sustain-ably minded folks know how challenging it can be to eat well on the road. Most restaurants dotting interstates and airports offer supersized portions of soulless, processed foods, devoid of satisfying whole-food good-ness or regional flair. Theyre more like a drive-by shoot up of fat, sodium and sweeteners. Yet it is possible to find healthy foods while traveling, given a little pre-planning that can add fun and excite-ment to the adventure. Whatever the mode of transportation, follow these tips from seasoned registered dietitians to feel fit, trim and happy while out and about for business or pleasure.

Bring Food: Number One Rule of the RoadOnce we feel hunger pangs, were more likely to eat whatevers within arms reach, so for driving trips, take a cooler of healthy options that are kind to hips and waistlines. If flying, pack non-perishable snacks in a carry-on bag. Diana Dyer, an Ann Arbor, Michigan-based dietitian and organic farmer, has logged thousands of miles traveling and speaking about food as

medicine. Her secret: I carry dried organic fruits and vegetables, organic granola bars, organic nuts and organic peanut butter. Before arriving at her hotel, shell ask the cab driver to take her to a local food co-op to pick up organic fresh fruits, juice and yogurt. Dyer is adamant about organic food, no matter where she goes, because she doesnt want to consume hormones, antibiotics and agricultural chemical residues, many of which contribute to weight gain, especially in combination with typically high-fat Western diets. Dyer rejects hotel breakfast buffets, too, which typically offer low-fiber, highly processed fare. Instead, she packs her own organic rolled oats, dried fruits, nuts and green tea. Then, all she needs is the hotels hot water to stir up a fortifying, satisfying, health-protecting breakfast. Hotel rooms with mini-refrig-erators make it easy to store perishable items. If a fridge is unavailable, use the in-room ice bucket to keep milk, yogurt and cheese at a safe temperature. When road-tripping with children, a cooler will save money and time and provide a tasty and energizing on-the-spot picnic for road-weary, hungry

14 Columbia Edition

travelers. Remember to bring silverware, napkins, cups and a blanket or tablecloth. Roadside rest areas and community parks provide free access to picnic tables, clean restrooms and a place to romp and stretch (read: burn calories). Plus, Mother Na-tures entertainment surely beats a potentially dirty, plastic, fast-food play space. When its time to restock supplies, ask for directions to the closest supermarket, food co-op, natural foods grocery store or farmers market. Most are located close to major highways. Seek Out Farm-Fresh Foods and Regional, Ethnic CuisineTo find fresh fruits and vegetables while on the road, stop at state welcome centers for free maps and guides to farm stands and farmers markets to enjoy the taste of healthy lo-cal seasonal flavors. Before Lebanon, New Hampshire-based dietitian KC Wright goes on the road, she goes online to check department of agriculture websites for the states shell visit. She searches for both farmers markets and farm-to-restaurant programs. Also check a destination citys calendar of events for regional and ethnic food festivals. The food wont neces-sarily be low in calories, but will be high in the fun-factor. Simply share larger-than-life servings with traveling com-panions for the best of all worlds.

Reevaluate Restaurants and AccommodationsRaleigh, North Carolina dietitian Nicole Miller chooses vacation rentals over hotels when traveling so that she has ready access to a kitchen. Being able to prepare some of our own food saves money and slashes calories. Beware of all-you-can-eat buffets; they nearly guarantee overeating. Also be prepared to split entres at most restau-rants or order two items from the appetizer menu. Inquire about local menu items and ask how food is prepared. Request sauces, gravies and dressings on the side to control those extra calories. Having access to the Internet or a smart phone makes it even easier to locate healthy eating restaurants (as does asking folks at farmers markets). Dawn Brighid, project manager for Sustainable Table, notes, Free apps like Yelps Menupages can be very helpful. She recommends filtering searches with the word healthy.

Think Exercise and HydrationMany hotels have exercise rooms and swimming pools, but also ask for a walking map of the area to explore interest-ing sights on foot. State and national parks provide scenic and invigorating hiking trails. Bring a daypack for healthful snacks and water. Note that people often mistake hunger for thirst, and its easy to become dehydrated when travelling. Keep a refillable water bottle to refresh and reenergize.

Heres to fun, safe and healthy travels.

Melinda Hemmelgarn, aka the Food Sleuth, is a registered dietitian and award-winning writer and radio host at kopn.org, in Columbia, MO. She co-created F.A.R.M.: Food, Art, Revolution Media to support organic farmers (Enduring-Image.blogspot.com). Reach her at [email protected].

The time to relax is when you dont have

time for it.

~Sydney J. Harris


HEALTHY ESCAPESUnplugged Getaways Rebalance Our Lives

by Judith Fertig

When Jeanna Freeman vaca-tioned at Earthshine Moun-tain Lodge, in Lake Toxaway, NC, she wasnt sure what to expect. Touted as a techno-amenity-free prop-erty, it specializes in off-the-grid get-aways (EarthshineLodge.com), meaning no in-room TV and a chance to digitally detox. Guests are encouraged to ditch their cell phones and laptops in favor of a zip-line adventure through the Smoky Mountains forest canopy and laid-back log cabin informality. Honestly, it was exhilarating be-ing away from my cell phone, admits Freeman, an interior designer from Collierville, TN. I hadnt felt that good and connected in a long time. I didnt realize how much I needed that. Her experience highlights the new buzzwords and phrases in vacation travel: unplug, reconnect, digital detox and healthy escape. What is it about unplugging that seems so refreshing

and like an ideal vacation? Nicholas Carr, author of The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains, explains that using the Internet pushes us to a skimming and scanning form of thinking. He occa-sionally unplugs to recover his atten-tion span, noting, A lot of our deepest thoughts only emerge when were able to pay attention to one thing. For memoirist Pico Iyer, author of The Man Within My Head, The urgen-cy of slowing downto find the time and space to thinkis nothing new. What is new is figuring out workable definitions of stillness and movement when we spend a lot of our time physi-cally still, but mentally in motion. A noted travel writer for 20 years, Iyer likes to stay at monasteries around the world. He concludes, Wiser souls have always reminded us that the more attention we pay to the moment, the less time and energy we have to expend to place it in some larger con-

text. We can just simply be. Healthy vacation escapes help us do just that. We regenerate, recon-nect with ourselves and others and re-imagine our lives in a more satisfying context.

Personal Growth: The Mind MJ Goff was on a magazine writing assignment the first time she visited the Omega Institute, in Rhinebeck, NY (eOmega.org). As a student of New Age theories and a potential yoga teacher, Goff says she welcomed the opportunity to learn more. Once she attended the womens retreat she was researching, she was hooked. Every year since, I find myself being drawn to Omega for its promotion of meditation and overall encouragement of staying in the present, she says. All the pro-grams stem from one mission: to keep us on the right path. Talks by internationally known speakers such as Joan Borysenko, Eck-hart Tolle, Harville Hendrix and Daniel Amen are complemented by sessions in nurturing creativity, wholistic health, and yoga practice. People smile, but also keep to themselves, explains Goff. Its a place for quieting your mind. For shorter getaways, Hay House, headquartered in Carlsbad, CA, spon-sors weekend I Can Do It! seminars in various cities (HayHouse.com). Speakers such as Louise Hay, Gregg Braden, Wayne Dyer and Caroline Myss help attendees nudge closer to making milestone transformations, consciousness shifts and progress on their healing journeys. Sometimes, personal growth simply involves sufficient quiet time to walk, contemplate and reconnect with our muse. The real meaning of the word retreat in the spiritual sense, says Brother David Steindl-Rast, a Bene-dictine monk, is stepping back. When one steps back, one gets a better view of the world, others and our deepest self. Iyer finds solace at New Camaldo-li Heritage, a Benedictine community amidst the rugged terrain of Big Sur, CA

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(Contemplation.com). More than 2,000 monasteries and other spiritual com-munities throughout North America offer off-the-beaten-path retreats at rea-sonable prices and generally welcome guests of all religions and spiritual practices. The one requirement is that guests not disturb others. At Ghost Ranch, in the high desert of Abiquiu, NM, the scenery alone is spiritual and healing, relates Nancy Early, a New York film producer. Under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church, activities encourage individual and social transformation (NewMexico-GhostRanch.org). Early says the best part is theres one pay phone, and cell phones dont work here; no TV or radio. You walk away from everything that controls your life.

Optimal Wellness: Mind/Body Sometimes the healthy escape we seek can be found at a destination spa, which combines enough structure to slowly wean us from daily busyness with sufficient soothing, quiet spaces and physical nurturing. For Debbie Phillipswho spends part of the year in Marthas Vineyard, MA, and the other part in Naples, FLone visit to a spa was all it took. As an executive and life coach, Phillips founded Women on Fire in 2003 to connect her on fire clients with each

other via regional meetings and a free online newsletter, and discovered that the condition sometimes crosses the line into overwork. My first visit to a spa more than 20 years ago was when I first learned about the life-changing benefits of tak-ing better care of myself. In addition to the soothing amenities, the peace, calm and quiet usually found at a spaspace to think, nap, read a book or gaze into the skyoften results in less becoming more in your life, Phillips says. I have returned home feeling lighter and brighter and even more excited for what is next. The experience gave me just the boost I needed to keep going. Recently, Phillips discovered simple techniques to nurture herself all year long by attending a breath-ing and meditation class at the Lake Austin Spa, in Texas. Now I start each day with long, deep breaths before I even get out of bed, she says. It is so simple, so calming and establishes my day with peace. Virginia Nelson, a San Diego, CA, attorney, likewise revels in her twice-yearly visits to Canyon Ranch, in Tucson, AZ. The pace in southern California is like running a marathon every day. My visits serve as respites that have allowed me to keep up with it this long. I first went in 1991 and saw a place to go and cocoon, recounts Nelson, but I also discovered incred-ible fitness and education classes. The spa is essentially a reset button for her. Its rest, rejuvenation and reinven-tion. Canyon Ranch has several US locations (CanyonRanch.com). Some facilities feature niche mind/body experiences, such as the psychic massage or chakra balanc-ing at Mii Amo Spa, in Sedona,

Arizona (EnchantmentResort.com). Others specialize in wholistic well-ness. Tucsons Miraval Resort, in AZ, offers an integrative wellness program guided by Dr. Andrew Weil (Tinyurl.com/6p2l237). Chill-out spa services like a hot stone massage are often bal-anced by breath walking, qigong or desert tightrope walking.

Active Adventure: The BodyFinding a clear stillpoint of ones soul can also occur while moving and challenging our bodies. Exercise helps us break through not only physical boundaries, but emotional and spiri-tual barriers as well. Barbara Bartocci, a long-distance cycler and author of Meditation in Motion, maintains that moving keeps both our brains and bodies healthier. Research at the University of Arizona found that regular exercise appears to preserve key parts of the brain involved in attention and memory, she notes. It is well known that exercise helps to reduce anxiety, allay depression and generally improve mood by prompt-ing our bodies to release more endor-phins. Bartocci has experienced the power of these connections firsthand. Active vacations are truly transforma-tive, she says emphatically. When I bicycled across Iowa on RAGBRAI [The Des Moines Registers Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa], we cycled 76 miles one day on hills with a con-stant 20-mile-per-hour headwind. It was a tough day, but I made it! My di-vorce was becoming final that summer, and completing that day gave me the encouraging inner message: If I can cycle Iowa on the toughest day, I can re-cycle my life after divorce. Shes still moving along. Recently, she joined 500 other cyclists doing 60 miles a day for a week in Wisconsin. Bill Murphy, of Annapolis, MD, made his breakthrough at the Boulder Outdoor Survival School (boss-inc.com). While I wanted an adventure and to put myself out there, I also wanted to know that I was in good hands, he says about why he chose a guided trip. Murphy was already


in good shape, having competed in a local Ironman event. Following an initial fitness assessment that involved testing his heart rate after running at high altitude, he was deemed fit to take part in an outdoor survival experi-ence in Utahs desert country. With a knife, wool jacket, cap, gloves, long underwear and suitable shoesbut no tent, sleeping bag or foodhis group learned to live off the land with the assistance of three instructors in an initial phase of the program. After two days, we were given our backpack with the critical blan-ket, poncho and food rations. I have never been so happy to hear the words 1,500 calories in my life, and though I have eaten at some wonderful restau-rants, the soups we made with those rations tasted better than anything I have eaten in my life, he says. Murphy learned how to purify water, make a tent from his poncho, start a fire with minimal tools and bed down in the cold without a sleeping bag or blanket. A crucial part of the survival training was the need to go even further when the group thought their adventure had ended. We didnt know whether that would be in 10 miles or 30, he recalls. His ability to physically push past the mentally es-tablished timeframe led Murphy to see that he could also move beyond his either/or boundaries: either family or business; either business or adventure. I realized that I dont have to choose one over the other. I feel a better sense of balance now. In other parts of the country, Out-ward Bound Adult Renewal also offers new experiences that test physical lim-its and present breakthrough oppor-tunities (OutwardBound.org). Its also known for programs that help teens get a better handle on life. Participants often rock climb the Blue Ridge Moun-tains of Virginia or sea kayak along the Pacific Northwest or North Carolinas Outer Banks. Options for growth and renewal appear endless. Nearby or far away, for a few days or longer, a healthy escape can be truly restorative.

Judith Fertig regularly contributes to Natural Awakenings.

18 Columbia Edition

inspiration

BORN TO EXPLOREby Joe robinson

It happens to all of us. We wake up one day and realize that we have been here beforejust like yesterday and the day before that. Today is des-tined to be the same as all the others: safe, comfortable and boring. Often, we need to engage in new experiences to be more vital and happy. Research from psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr. Gregory Berns, PhD, author of Satisfaction, shows that our brains benefit from new experiences so much so that the process releases the feel-good chemical dopamine. Accord-ing to a study published in the journal Neuron, it is even triggered by the mere expectation of a new experience. Researchers call this the exploration bonus. We are born to explore. Dr. Nor-man Doidge, author of The Brain that Changes Itself, maintains that connec-

tions between brain neurons, called dendrites, develop in response to new experiences, and they shrink or vanish altogether if theyre not stimulated with new information. To keep our brains happy, we have to keep moving forward into the new. If novelty feels so good and does good things for us, why do we usually stick with what we know? The answer lies deep in the emotional center of the brain, called the amygdala, which perceives the unknown as potentially threatening. As a result, we often over-estimate the potential risk inherent in a new experience and underestimate the consequences of playing it safe. The good news is that we can over-ride this default. Here are some practi-cal ways to build the necessary life skillsour venture aptitudeto pursue new experiences and really start living.

Do it to do it. When you approach an experience with this attitude, there is no harm to your self-worth because your objective isnt the result, but the experience; the pursuit of knowledge, challenge or enjoymentand thats egoless. Advance into the fear. You inflame fear by running from it, and you reduce it with every step that you take facing straight at it. Make the unknown more know-able. Knowledge trumps irrational fears. Talk to others who have par-ticipated in experiences you wish to engage in. Do research. Dont look at the mountaintop. Break down big goals (running a race, acting in a neighborhood play) into small, incremental goals (running around the block, taking a beginners voice class) to build competence and confidence. Dabble. Sample the offerings. Try several different classes or events to see which ones excite you the most. Judge your life by how much you try, not by the results. That removes the fear and alibis, and puts you squarely in the center of the place where you are at your happiestab-sorbed in life-affirming experiences.

Joe Robinson is a work-life-balance trainer and coach, and author of Dont Miss Your Life. He shares motivational essays at DontMissYourLife.net.


healthykids

dads golden storY hourKids Listen with Their Entire Being

by clint kelly

Soon, the brave little tailor and the beautiful Princess Minnie were happily married. And to think it all began with seven dead flies. So ends The Brave Little Tailor, starring Mickey Mouse. Whenever I concluded reading with those words and attempted to close the well-worn book, I was inevitably hit with a cho-rus of, Aw, Dad, as they yearned for more. Why had my offspring narrowed the book selections to so few predict-able favorites? Although the kids loved it, the constant repetition got to me. I rather empathized with the darker side of the original Brothers Grimm version of the tale. Its not that I was opposed to pull-ing story duty. Children take comfort in the familiarity and lasting values of classic storylines. But at reading time, temptation whispered, What they want is your time. It doesnt matter what you read; just read A brief motor racing vignette in

Road & Track, perhaps, or the latest major league baseball trade analyses from Sports Illustrated? My mind would wander. Theyd scold me. Dad! You just said the little tailor caught seven flies in a row. Its, Seven flies at one blow, Dad. Busted. Sadly, it wasnt long before I was caught yet again. Dad! It was Chicken Little who thought the sky was falling and The Little Red Hen who worked to bake the bread her lazy friends wouldnt lift a fin-ger to make. You always get them mixed up. Verbal slips aside, the kids crowded closer. They jockeyed for position against my chest, listening to the whoosh of my heart, the cadence of the words and the conviction of my voice reverberating into their inner ears, down along their spinal columns and deep into their souls. Still, given the choice between Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle or the daily stock quotations, Im afraid that Wall Street

often muscled the good woman aside. My wife urged me to persist. The children have me all day. If only for a half-hour every night, youve got a solid grip on the children. Dont let them slip away. Okay, I thought. Just as Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle had her magical cures for never-want-to-go-to-bedders, surely I could find a cure for my reading ennui. In fact, taking a page from the Little Tailors playbook, I found seven. First, I sometimes invited a guest reader. A Grover hand puppet and a gravelly voice kept me alert, delighted the kids and gave those stories a fresh new lease. The second remedy was to turn off the TV, ignore the phone and read by a lone lamplight that ringed me and my audience in a cozy glow. Third, for variety, wed sometimes read in a secret place. Goldilocks acquires a new dimension when read under the kitchen table. My fourth remedy was to introduce dinner readings. For the first course, Id say, a heaping helping of Hansel and Gretel. Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches lend themselves nicely to this departure from standard fare. Fifth, Id occasionally take a break by playing a talking book episode. It made old standbys like Tom Sawyer fresh again. As a sixth solution, when I as-signed the kids parts in a story the plot took on a dimension that would often make us giggle. Even very young chil-dren who havent learned to read are able to memorize well-loved passages and recite lines verbatim. The seventh remedy was to spin original tales. When I was a boy, my mother created an entire forest world populated by clever animals: Fox, the sly one; Owl, the fusty Winston Churchill; and Beetle Boy, the ac-tion hero. I took what she began and created Further Adventures from the Deep, Dark Wood. While I didnt feel every inch the polished spinner of tales early on, neither did I abdicate the richly fulfill-ing role of chief reader for our little tribe. The more interest I showed their

20 Columbia Edition

beloved classics, the closer they snuggled. Remedies in hand, my attitude improved. I relaxed and became less attached to my other reading material. At story time, I soaked up the hugs, the laughter and the love. Truth be told, I came to like having the most luxuriousand requestedlap around.

Clint Kelly, a communications specialist for Seattle Pacific University, in Wash-ington, authors tales for children and adults on topics ranging from dinosaurs to child rearing. Connect at ClintKellyBooks.com.

dads booked as heroesby Jeremy adam smith

Fathers show up comparatively rarely in childrens books. Accord-ing to a review of 200 childrens books by David Anderson, PhD, and Mykol Hamilton, PhD, fathers ap-peared about half as often as mothers. Mothers were 10 times more likely to be depicted taking care of babies than fathers and twice as likely to be seen nurturing older children. Of course, moms are still most likely to be taking care of kids. But how does that help nontraditional families and other parents embrace broader caring role models? They can choose from this list of books that depict dads as co-parents and primary caregivers.

n Mamas Home!, by Paul Vos Ben-kowski, illustrated by Jennifer Herbert (Chronicle Books, ages 1-3)

n Kisses for Daddy, by Frances Watts and David Legge (Little Hare Books, ages 1-5)

n The Bunny Book (also published as When Bunny Grows Up), by Patricia M. and Richard Scarry (Golden Books, ages 1-5)

n The Complete Adventures of Curi-ous George, by Margret and H.A. Rey (Houghton Mifflin, ages 1-5)

n Daddys Lullaby, by Tony Bradman, illustrated by Jason Cockcroft (Margaret K. McElderry Books, ages 2-5)

n My Dad, by Anthony Browne (Mac-millan, ages 2-5)

n Daddys Home!, by Rosanne D. Parry, illustrated by David Leonard

(Candy Cane Press, ages 2-5)

n My Daddy and I, by P.K. Hallinan, author and illustrator (Candy Cane Press, ages 2-5)

n Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale (sequel is Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity), by Mo Willems (Hyperion, ages 2-6)

n Mamas Coming Home, by Kate Banks, pictures by Tomek Bogacki (Farrar Straus Giroux, ages 3-6)

n Daddy Calls Me Man, by Angela Johnson, paintings by Rhonda Mitchell (Orchard Books, ages 3-6)

n Papa, Do You Love Me? by Barbara M. Joosse, illustrated by Barbara Laval-lee (Chronicle Books, ages 3-6)

n Tell Me One Thing, Dad, by Tom Pow, illustrated by Ian Andrew (Can-dlewick Press, ages 3-7)

n Horton Hatches the Egg, by Dr. Seuss (Random House, ages 3-7)

n And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Par-nell and Justin Richardson, illustrated by Henry Cole (Simon & Schuster, ages 3-7)

n A Father Like That, by Charlotte Zolotow, illustrated by LeUyen Pham (HarperCollins, ages 3-7)

n Danny, Champion of the World, by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake (Knopf, ages 8-12)

Jeremy Adam Smith is the author of The Daddy Shift and co-editor of Rad Dad: Dispatches from the Frontiers of Fatherhood. Connect at JeremyAdamSmith.com.

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Imagine it. Childbirth with little or no pain and drug free. To many, this concept may still seem unheard of, but Hypno-Birthing, a relaxing and stress-free method of birthing, is taking the birthing world by calm.

The HypnoBirthing Institutean international organization committed to preparing birthing couples for calm and easier birthis pleased to announce that comfortable birthing, without resorting to the use of drugs, is now available in Columbia through childbirth education classes taught by certified HypnoBirthing practitioner and certified clinical hyp-notist Denby Beauchamp, a resident of Columbia. Marie Mongan developed the method, which shatters the myth that pain is a necessary accompaniment to a normal birthing. Mongan is a hypno-

therapist and hypnotherapy instructor with more than 30 years experience in education. She discovered that when a laboring mom is free of fear, the muscles in her body relax, thus facili-tating an easier, stress-free birthing. Beauchamp has been teaching expectant parents the techniques for a calm, safe, gentle and relaxed birth experience for more than eight years. HypnoBirthing classes are unique in that they teach expectant parents how to eliminate the fear-tension-pain syndrome, rather than teaching women how to cope with the pain of labor. Picture dim lights; soft, tranquil music; light touch massage; and lov-ing prompts from birth companions. Couples learn wonderful breathing and relaxation techniques that help shorten the duration of labor, how to achieve a natural start to labor as opposed to being artificially induced, as well as guidance in preparing their birth pref-erences to help avoid potentially un-necessary medical interventions such as Pitocin, Cesarean (C-section) and exactly what women fear mostlong, painful births.

Beauchamp wants women to know, There is a better way to birth our babies! She is extraordinarily pas-sionate about empowering her moms by helping them realize that this is their body, their baby and their experienceone they will never forget. She is committed to helping women become aware of their options, so they can make informed decisions, instead of walking away from their births with a heap of regrets. She is also dedicated to instilling calm and confidence in her couples, as they em-bark on what should be a very special journey for them and their familiesnot only in preparation for childbirth, but as new parents, as well, thanks to her certification as an instructor for Dr. Harvey Karps Happiest Baby on the Block program. HypnoBirthing classes are always forming at Expect-ing Well, Maternity Spa & Wellness Center, located at 514-A Gervais St in Columbia.

For more info, contact Denby Beau-champ at 803-667-1371, email [email protected] and visit Happiest-Birth.com. See ad, page 16.

Comfortable, Drug-Free Childbirth Possible withHypnoBirthing

22 Columbia Edition

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Hormone Help for GuysNatural Ways to Boost Vitalityby James occhiogrosso

healingways

Without hormones, the bodys chemical messengers affect-ing every human biologi-cal system, nothing works correctly. Testosterone, in particular, is critically important for male development, start-ing in the embryo, through puberty and into old age. After reaching peak levels in a man during his mid-to-late-20s, his testosterone level begins a slow decline. From the age of about 35, it drops by about 10 percent per decade for the rest of his life, accompanied by a slight increase in estrogen levels. While women experience physi-cal markers when they enter meno-pause, there is no specific point at which men typically enter andropause, the less extreme male version of the change of life due to low hormone production. Related changes usually cause minor problems at first and then tend to become more severe. Medical studies from Seattles Veterans Administration Puget Sound Health Care System, the University of Washington and Harvard Univer-sity show that testosterone deficiency contributes to reduced muscle and bone mass, male breast enlargement, depression, atherosclerosis, anemia and diabetes.

Test FirstHormones travel the bloodstream in bound and unbound (free) forms; only the free ones activate various body functions. When evaluating a man, a doctor will typically order a blood test for total testosterone, combining both forms.

Older men often can show a normal total testosterone level, but have a low level of free testosterone. A saliva test brings clarity, because saliva only contains free hormones. Fifty-plus-year-old men with low free testosterone who show signs of hormone imbalance should con-sider natural supplemen-tation, even when total testosterone is normal. Its best to test before starting a rebalancing program and to retest after a few months. Establishing a record over time allows a man to monitor and adjust progress.

Hormone Help Starts HereTaking supportive steps in nutrition and lifestyle choices can make a big difference. Diet. Proper nutri-tion, embracing a full complement of vitamins and minerals, is essen-tial. Eliminate red meat, cheese, fast food and processed snack foods, which can increase estrogen levels. Herbal supple-ments such as Tribulus (Tribulus terrestris), or puncture vine, ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), Korean red ginseng

(Panex ginseng) and maca (Lepidium meyenii or Lepidium peruvianum) can help by increasing testosterone levels, sexual libido or erectile function. Some influence testosterone levels directly; others help enhance function by indirectly providing nutrients to improve circulation and general sexual health. Weight control. Excess fat, par-ticularly around the abdomen, stores and produces estrogen. Reducing fat tissue can help both lower estrogen and enhance testosterone. Environmental exposure. Endo-crine disruptors, called xenoestrogens, from everyday exposure to toxic estro-genic industrial chemicals, can mimic the effects of estrogen in a mans body. These routinely appear in petrochemi-

cals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, dairy products, meats, canned

foods, personal care products and plastics. Bisphenol-A in the lining of metal food cans is particularly dangerous. Avoid microwaving foods in plastic containers, even when they are labeled as

microwave-safe. Research medications.

Dr. Eugene R.

24 Columbia Edition

Shippen, co-author of The Testosterone Syndrome, states, High-dose statin drugs used to lower cholesterol definite-ly lower testosterone levels and are high on the list of causes of erectile dysfunc-tion. Exercise. Physically inactive people lose up to 5 percent of their total muscle mass per decade. Exer-cise helps to lower estrogen levels and enhance testosterone levels.

Testosterone SupplementsPast incorrect beliefs that testosterone replacement therapy causes prostate cancer left many medical practitioners reluctant to prescribe it. The latest scientific research shows that a healthy man does not increase the risk by rais-ing his testosterone level to the normal biological range for his age. Renowned medical oncologist and prostate cancer researcher and survivor Dr. Charles Snuffy Myers has stated, There is absolutely no hint that testosterone at high levels correlates with prostate cancer. He founded the American In-stitute for Diseases of the Prostate, near Charlottesville, VA.

Natural bioidentical testosterone cream labeled USP, for United States Pharmacopeia standard, is available at compounding pharmacies. Bioidenti-cal means that a substance has the same chemical form as that produced by the human body. Other forms of testosterone therapy, including biweekly injec-tions, skin patches and pills, typically employ synthetic chemicals that are similar, but not identical, to natural testosterone. Thus, such products are not completely recognizable by the body. About 15 years ago, bestselling author and hormone balancing expert Dr. John R. Lee published his startling conclusion that synthetic hormones can cause serious side effects, in-cluding an increased risk of stroke, cancer and liver damage. His findings were subsequently confirmed by the Womens Health Initiative study. In-jections, skin patches and pills subject the body to unnatural fluctuations in testosterone and estrogen. In contrast, skin creams permit precise daily or periodic dosing as prescribed by a qualified health care practitioner.

As they age, some men strongly feel the effects of a cumulative decline in testosterone levels and experience significant symptoms, while others barely notice it. Restoring testosterone to its biological norm can be reward-ing. Remember that hormones are powerful and a little can go a long way. Beyond a prescribed amount, more is not better and can reverse benefits.

James Occhiogrosso, a natural health practitioner and master herbalist, spe-cializes in salivary hormone testing and natural hormone balancing for men and women. For a phone consultation, call 239-498-1547, email DrJim@ HealthNaturallyToday.com or visit HealthNaturallyToday.com.

To find a local compound-ing pharmacy for natural bioidentical testosterone skin cream, as prescribed by a medical practitioner, visit iacprx.org.

Nothing is impossible, the word itself says Im pos-sible!

~Audrey Hepburn


Do You Parkour?Using the World as a Fitness Playground

by randy kambic

fitbody

Athletes hunger for new ways to exercise, challenge and express themselves continually prompts the evolution of new sports, often rooted in earlier pursuits. Wind-surfing, snowboarding and mountain biking are examples. Now, a growing number of par-kour practitioners are springboarding and combining ingredients from mul-tiple sports and activities in an effort to defy gravity using nothing but sturdy shoes and props. First popularized in France, par-kour means of the course (specifi-cally, an obstacle course)a form of acrobatic freerunning, spiked with vaulting, somersaulting, jumping and climbing; even running up and over walls. Based on exacting train-ing, street athletes overcome or use a creative range of obstacles in their immediate environment. Such moves have been popular-ized by movie stars such as Jackie Chan and Daniel Craigs James Bond in the opening scenes of Quantum of Solace, as well as YouTube postings. First deemed an unconventional, strictly urban, under-the-radar training method, parkour is increas-

ingly viewed as a way for serious athletes in demanding sports to train and secure an edge. Adult men and women who competed in gymnastics, track and field or diving in their youth particularly enjoy reviving earlier skills.

Check it OutAmerican Parkour (APK), headquar-tered in Washington, DC, considers itself the leading such community in the world. Established in 2005 by Mark Toorock, its website now hosts 90,000-plus registered users and is visited monthly by 100,000 inquirers. It provides news, daily workout emails, training guides, advice for beginners, instructional tutorials, guidelines for local recreation, and photo and video galleries. Toorock, who played high

school soccer and was then a serious martial artist in oom yung doe, kung fu and capoeira (which bridges dancing and gymnastics),

was instantly hooked in 2003 when he saw a video of David Belle; the French

native and ac-knowledged founder of

parkour has appeared in 20-plus movies and com-

mercials since 2000. It was so different and authen-

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26 Columbia Edition

tic, what he was doing, he says. After opening the first parkour and freerunning gym at Primal Fitness, in DC, in 2006, APK expanded to loca-tions in Gainesville, FL, and San Antonio, TX. All offer an introductory session, full supervised parkour curriculum, boot camps, women-specific classes, summer camps and freerunning classes. Toorock co-created and co-produced Jump City: Seattle, eight, one-hour parkour action shows to introduce more people to the concept (G4TV.com). Other fitness centers that now focus on parkour include Base Fitness, in Noblesville, IN; Apex Movement, outside of Denver; Parkour Visions, in Seattle; Miami Freerunning, in FL; and Fight or Flight Academy, in Eden Prairie, MN. More clubs are getting up to speed nationwide, with the San Antonio parks and recreation department currently adding a parkour park.

Tap into the EnergyParkour allows adults to either continue or learn gymnas-tics for the first time in a new, creative context, Toorock says. Natalie Strasser, a competitive gymnast for 13 years, including at Kent State University, is a Los Angeles-based APK-sponsored athlete and conducts workshops. Travis Graves, head trainer for APK Academies, which trains teachers, says, One of the first priorities for beginners is instilling a respect for the forces and impact of landings, so we work on rolling, balance and footwork. He also emphasizes the importance of thorough warm-up and cool-down periods, as well as overall safety guidelines. Some women might feel intimidated, as most of what they see on YouTube are teenagers or young men doing their thing, comments Graves. But anyone can experi-ment and develop his or her own parkour style at their own comfort level. Lisa Peterson, of McLean, VA, was first attracted to parkours creative movements, which represented a personal next step after years as a teacher and performer in ballet, ballroom and Argentine tango dancing. As a victim of child abuse, I am always looking for ways to strengthen my confi-dence and self-esteem, she says. Parkour has done that for me. APK regularly holds community gathering jams around the country. We encourage everyone to follow our guide-lines, notes Toorock, although we cant say that other meth-ods are wrong. Everyone has a sphere of capabilities. We help individuals expand safely and in proper progression, he explains. Some beginners may wear protective gear like gloves or shin guards, but almost always relinquish them because they dont want to rely on them, but take full responsibility for themselves and gain full freedom of movement. The world is a playground, he concludes. Parkour just makes more use of more of it.

Learn more at AmericanParkour.com and DavidBelle.com.

Randy Kambic is a freelance editor and writer in Estero, FL, and a copyeditor for Natural Awakenings.

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Oxygen is the element most vital to sustaining human life. More essential than food or water, oxygen feeds the body and provides protection against a variety of harmful agents. Every cell in the body needs oxygen to complete the metabolic processes that give life and energy to every one of us. This essential element gives the athlete stamina, helps the injured heal, and helps to protect the body from damage due to environ-mental toxins. Oxygen provides the fuel needed by the brain to function properly, and it helps the body fight off infection by boosting the immune system.

Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (mHBOT) provides an effective way to increase the volume of oxygen in the blood and thus increase the many beneficial effects that oxygen has on the body. Professional athletes from a broad spectrum of sports have adopted mHBOT as a regular part of their training. mHBOT is believed to be completely safe, and many physi-cians now recommend this therapy for their surgical patients to speed healing and reduce scarring, and for treatment of other conditions. Celebrities and people from all walks of life use mH-BOT to take advantage of the host of

benefits that it provides, including:

Increased energy and endurance Improved concentration and cog-

nitive abilities Decreased stress and better sleep-

ing Effective treatment for digestive

disorders and headaches Fasterrecoveryfromfrequentfly-

ingorlongflights Reduced feelings of depression,

anger or sadness Relief from aching, swollen joints

and muscles An overall feeling of healthy reju-

venation Improveddetoxification

mHBOT has found its home as an

adjunct therapy for treatment protocols for:

Parkinsons Alzheimers MS Fibromyalgia Chronic fatigue Autism ADHD Cerebral palsy Traumatic brain injury Stroke Lyme treatment Anti-aging

About Your Health, Inc., in Columbia, has added mHBOT to its list of ser-vices. About Your Health purchased a large tent-shaped chamber designed to allow the user to stretch out and relax. This new chamber includes a cooling device to cool the air coming into the unit, as well as internal speakers to enjoy music during your dive, a term for a session in a hyperbaric chamber.

Once inside the chamber, clients are able to maintain full visual and verbal communication with staff. For added assurance, the hyperbaric chamber can be deflated from the inside. mHBOT operates with room air (21 percent oxygen) at slightly increased pressure (< 1.5 ATA). Some mild hyperbaric devices are FDA-cleared for the treat-ment of Acute Mountain Sickness, but none of the mHBOT units is cleared by the FDA to treat any other disease or condition.

For more info, contact About Your Health at 120 Kaminer Way Pkwy Ste J in Columbia or call 803-798-8687. Visit www.aboutyourhealthsc.com and see ad, page 7.

Mild HyperbaricOxygen Therapyat About Your Health

28 Columbia Edition

calendarofeventsnote: All calendar listings must be received by June 10 (for July issue) and adhere to our guidelines. Submit calendar

entries and check for calendar guidelines, updates and cancellations online at HealthyLivingColumbia.com

ALWAYS CALL AHEAD BEFORE ATTENDING EVENTS TO AVOID LATE CANCELLATIONS AND CHANGES

SATURDAY, JUNE 2SC Fresh Fest at the SC State Farmers Market7am-3pm. Charity event to raise money for health and wellness for youth and families. 5K & 10K races, Walk To Fight Diabetes, kids fun zone & splash zone, live music, food truck round up, cooking demos. Awards, bounce houses, balloon blowers, target games and more. 3483 Charleston Hwy, W Columbia. Info: SCfreshfest.com.

SUNDAY, JUNE 3Mens Spirituality Group at Unity9:30-10:30am. Discussion of The Twelve Powers of Man by Charles Filmore. Love offering. Unity of Columbia SEE Room, 1801 LeGrand Rd, Colum-bia, 803-736-5766 or email [email protected]. The Healing Circle at Unity12:30-2pm. Discus-sion & education, map, prayers, peace Letting Go of Fear. Love offering. Unity of Columbia, 1801 LeGrand Rd, Columbia. Info: 803-530-6199 or email [email protected].

JUNE 3-6Windpower 2012 Expo. Clemson, CCU, SC En-ergy Office, CCL and local manufacturers, install-ers and vendors of sustainable windpower systems meet at the American Wind Energy Associations national conference in Atlanta, Georgia World Congress Center, 285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW. Registration 8am. Info: Rita Kilpatrick, 404-373-5832, [email protected], Wind-powerexpo.org.

TUESDAY, JUNE 5 Reiki Clinic w/Margaret Self10:30am-12:30pm. Join us as we share Reiki treatments in a group. Open to all, no training necessary. Great intro to Reiki energy. $10, must preregister. Carolina Reiki Institute, 112 Wexwood Ct, Columbia. Info: 803-551-1191 or CarolinaReikiInstitute.com.

Green Drinks5:30-8pm. For all in green building, sales, conservation, recycling, nature & politics to gather for fun & shared enlightenment. Check Facebook: Green Drinks Columbia. For the June location or visit KeeptheMidlandsBeautiful.com.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6Natural Awakenings Discount at Rosewood8am-8pm. 20% off purchase price at Rosewood Market, Deli and other sale items not incl. 2803 Rosewood Dr in Columbia. RosewoodMarket.com, 803-530-3270.

Canning Classes w/Nancy Harrison, Clemson Extension Agent10am-2pm. Learn the basics of home canning and take home a jar you have canned. Spring Valley Presbyterian Church, Potts Fellowship Hall on Sparkleberry Ln, Columbia, near Spring Valley HS. $30. Seats limited. Tak-ing reservations at Sandhill Farmers Market 5/1 at 2pm, or call 803-874-2354 ext.113, or email [email protected].

THURSDAY JUNE 7Reiki Clinic w/Margaret Self5:30am-8pm. Join us as we share Reiki treatments in a group. Open to all, no training necessary. Great intro to Reiki energy. $10, must preregister. Carolina Reiki Institute, 112 Wexwood Ct, Columbia. Info: 803-551-1191 or CarolinaReikiInstitute.com.

SATURDAY, JUNE 9Canning Classes w/Nancy Harrison, Clemson Extension Agent10am-2pm. Learn the basics of home canning and take home a jar you have canned. Spring Valley Presbyterian Church, Potts Fellowship Hall on Sparkleberry Ln, Columbia, near Spring Valley HS. $30. Seats limited. Tak-ing reservations at Sandhill Farmers Market 5/1 at 2pm, or call 803-874-2354 ext.113, or email [email protected]. Spirit Connections w/Val Ryan7-9:30pm. Con-tact passed loved ones, spirit guides and past lives with psychic medium. Will discuss the process helping you to connect on your own. $20. For info, registration and directions 803-750-7117, RyanSpirit.com.

SUNDAY, JUNE 10Community HU Sing10am. HU (pronounced Hue) is a spiritual sound that connects us with the Holy Spirit (Gods Life Force). It is a love song to God and is very uplifting, especially in a group set-ting, sung for about 20 min. Refreshments follow. Free, all are welcome. 7 Oaks Park, 200 Leisure Lane. Info: Steve, 803-318-1887, ECK-SC.org, or Meetup.com/Columbia-spiritual-seekers/.

SUNDAY, JUNE 10Laughter Yoga for Health and Wellbeing w/Dr. Delores Pluto12:30-1:30pm. Laugh for no reason, without jokes, comedy, or humor. Laughter Yoga=laughter exercises+yoga breathing. Come as you are. No experience, special clothing, or equipment necessary. Donations accepted. Unity of Columbia, 1801 LeGrand Rd, Columbia, 803-530-6199. UnityColumbiaSC.org.

THURSDAY, JUNE 14Natural Awakenings Discount at Rosewood8am-8pm. 20% off purchase price at Rosewood

Market, Deli and other sale items not incl. 2803 Rosewood Dr in Columbia. RosewoodMarket.com, 803-530-3270.

JUNE 15-16Reiki Level I, Traditional Usui Reiki System w/Margaret Self, Reiki Master, NHD5pm-9pm Fri, 9am-1pm Sat. Entry-level class combines 4 attun-ements, instruction, discussion & practice time. Can be used in any situation to promote healing & wellness, on self & others. Manual included. Preregistration reqd. $250 before 6/5, $300 after, Carolina Reiki Institute, 112 Wexwood Ct, Cola. 803-551-1191 or CarolinaReikiInstitute.com.

SUNDAY, JUNE 17Drumming Circle at Unity12:30-1:30pm. We provide drumsjust bring great rhythm. Unity of Columbia, 1801 LeGrand Rd, 803-530-6199. UnityColumbiaSC.org.Columbia Eckankar Worship Service10am. Key to a Happier Life Free, all are welcome. 7 Oaks Park, 200 Leisure Lane. Info: Steve, 803-318-1887, ECK-SC.org, or Meetup.com/Columbia-spiritual-seekers/.

MONDAY, JUNE 18Gluten Free Meeting w/Central SC Celiac Support Group6:30pm. All welcome, including spouses & kids. No dues Lexington Medical Centers North Tower, Classroom # 1. Info: 803 463-2321 or email [email protected], sites.google.com/site/midlandsceliacs

FRIDAY, JUNE 22Natural Awakenings Discount at Rosewood8am-8pm. 20% off purchase price at Rosewood Market, Deli and other sale items not incl. 2803 Rosewood Dr in Columbia. RosewoodMarket.com, 803-530-3270.

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Mindfulness Meditation for Stress and Pain Management

w/ Diane Barnes, M.Ed. A proven practice for Awakening Summer 2012 Intensive class, developed by U of Mass School of Medicine, eight 2-1/2 hour sessions and a 6-hour silent

retreat 6/28 8/2. Limit 12 participants.

JUNE 28-AUGUST 2 Fee $289 until 6/15, $369 after, includes

instruction, book, 3 CD/MP3 practice sessions, 6-hour silent retreat. Location is Mindful

Living Studio, West Columbia. Info: 803 739-8701, MindfulLivingStudio.com.


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ongoingevents

SATURDAY, JUNE 30Natural Awakenings Discount at Rosewood8am-8pm. 20% off purchase price at Rosewood Market, Deli and other sale items not incl. 2803 Rosewood Dr in Columbia. RosewoodMarket.com, 803-530-3270.

lookingforwardTUESDAY, JULY 3Reiki Clinic w/Margaret Self10:30am-12:30pm. Join us as we share Reiki treatments in a group. Open to all, no training necessary. Great intro to Reiki energy. $10, must preregister. Carolina Reiki Institute, 112 Wexwood Ct, Columbia. Info: 803-551-1191 or CarolinaReikiInstitute.com.

THURSDAY, JULY 5Reiki Clinic w/Margaret Self5:30-8pm. Join us as we share Reiki treatments in a group. Open to all, no training necessary. Great intro to Reiki energy. $10, must preregister. Carolina Reiki Institute, 112 Wexwood Ct, Columbia. Info: 803-551-1191 or CarolinaReikiInstitute.com.

JULY 12-13Reiki Level I, Traditional Usui Reiki System w/Margaret Self, Reiki Master, NHD1-5pm. Entry-level class combines 4 attunements, instruction, discussion & practice time. Can be used in any situation to promote healing & wellness, on self & others. Manual included. Preregistration reqd. $250 before 7/2, $300 after, Carolina Reiki In-stitute, 112 Wexwood Ct, Cola. 803-551-1191 or CarolinaReikiInstitute.com.

SUNDAY, JULY 15Community HU Sing10am. HU (pronounced Hue) is a spiritual sound that connects us with the Holy Spirit (Gods Life Force). It is a love song to God and is very uplifting, especially in a group set-ting, sung for about 20 min. Refreshments follow. Free, all are welcome. 7 Oaks Park, 200 Leisure Lane. Info: Steve, 803-318-1887, ECK-SC.org, or Meetup.com/Columbia-spiritual-seekers/.

3rd Tasty Tomato Festival at City Roots Farm. Celebrating sustainable food, local agriculture and living green. 1005 Airport Blvd, Columbia. Info: TastyTomatoFest.org.

MONDAY, JULY 16Gluten Free Meeting w/Central SC Celiac Support Group6:30pm. All welcome, including spouses & kids. No dues Lexington Medical Centers North Tower, Classroom # 1. Info: 803 463-2321 or email [email protected], sites.google.com/site/midlandsceliacs

SUNDAY, JUNE 24Freindship Sunday at Unity11am. Celebration Service. Bring a friend to Unity at 11am and share a potluck dish after the service. Unity cookbooks available in the bookstore. Unity of Columbia, 1801 LeGrand Rd, Columbia. 803-530-6199, UnityColumbiaSC.org.

THURSDAY, JULY 26Reiki Level II, Traditional Usui Reiki System w/Margaret Self, Reiki Master, NHD5pm-9pm. Attunement connects student to a higher, more focused vibration of the Reiki energy. Techniques for distance healing. Healing of spiritual/emotional issues taught. Discussion, practice time & manual included. Preregistration req. $300 before 7/16, $350 if paid after. Carolina Reiki Institute, 112 Wexwood Ct, Cola. Info: 551-1191, CarolinaReiki-Institute.com.

Have You Had a Spiritual Experience? Meet in a comfortable and informal setting where all Spiritual points of view are appreciated, non-dogmatic ap-proach. Free, sponsored by Eckankar. Past discus-sion topics: Past Lives, God Realization, Dreams, Coincidences. an important forum for all who love God who are serious about their Spiritual growth. Dates and times vary, see contact info for update. Steve at 803-318-1887, ECK-SC.org, or meetup.com/columbia-spiritual-seekers/.Atom Smashing Power of Mind Book Study Class w/LaVoice Kallestad9:30-10:30am (Sun-days 5/6-6/24). In-depth book study by author Charles Filmore. Fillmore approaches the spiritual realm from the viewpoint of science, takes it apart, demystifies the holiness of our relationship to God and the universe and remystifies Jesus teachings as scientific theory. Love offering. Unity of Columbia, 1801 LeGrand Rd, 803-530-6199. UnityColumbiaSC.org.Christ Unity Celebration Service w/Rev Lisa Thorpe & guest speakers11am. Prayer, medita-tion, song, messages & family. Bookstore open 9-11

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