Natural Awakenings of the NY Capital District - May 2015

May 2015 | NY Capital District Edition | AlbanyAwakenings.com

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H E A L T H Y L I V I N G H E A L T H Y P L A N E T

feel good • live simply • laugh more

Breast HealthNatural Ways to Keep BreastsSmooth, Pain-Free and Firm

Rethinking CancerNatural Therapies Prevent and Heal

When Your Pet PassesA Guide to Mourning, Rememberingand Healing

Spring DetoxGentle Natural Cleansing Works Best

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Natural Awakenings of the NY Capital District

P.O. Box 38118, Albany, NY 12203PH: 518-729-0099 • FX: 877-741-4462

AlbanyAwakenings.com

PublisherCarolyn Coogan

National Editor S. Alison Chabonais

Editor Martin Miron

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letterfrompublisher

My introduction to what is now the widespread fear of cancer occurred at a young age when it claimed the life of my mother at age 40. Until recent years, it haunted me as a potential inevita-bility that could take me, too. I was so uninformed that I thought the disease could be caused by just about everything, that is was something you woke up to one day without warning, and so I had thrown up my hands, skeptical that taking any preventive steps was even realistic. During these past few years as publisher of our community’s healthy living magazine, I’ve

encountered information, professionals and resources that make it clear it’s time for us all to reconsider the conventional paradigm of cancer prevention and treat-ment. In honor of my mother and others that have or will face this disease, I am pleased to share this groundbreaking Rethinking Cancer issue with the hope that its thought-provoking approach might be life-changing (or life-saving) for you and your loved ones. Most citizens remain unaware of the extent of the harmful chemicals in main-stream food and personal products that we daily put into and onto our bodies. During the past year, I’ve made a concerted effort to change my own consumption habits and trust you will join in embracing this aspect of healthier living that brings greater peace of mind. I’m glad to have learned about thermography, for example, which now gently monitors my physical improvements. I am conscious of the vascular patterns and inflammation that could potentially lead to cancer formation if I’m not vigilant, and remain calm in the knowledge that there is time and opportunity to make gradual changes. I’m also learning more about strengthening the immune system, which appears to be key. I heard this fascinating perspective in Ty Bollinger’s docu-mentary Quest for the Cure Continues: “You can’t have cancer unless you have a compromised immune system.” From this moment on, we can all take steps toward longer and healthier lives. It starts with knowledge and the willingness to make changes, however inconve-nient or costly they may seem. I like this social media post I saw recently: “When I hear people complaining about the cost of organic food I think, ‘Have you priced out cancer lately?’” Exactly! For those passionate about the clean and safe food movement, consider joining the nationwide, grassroots March against Monsanto on May 23 at the State Capitol Building (see the Community Calendar for details). I’d also like to take a moment to salute Rocky, my sweet, furry companion of 18 years and our masthead “office cat” who crossed over the Rainbow Bridge during the production of this issue. While it has been a very sad time for me, I do take solace in picturing my mother welcoming him with open arms to the other side, both disease-free and happy. I’m gratefully blessed by the loving thoughts ex-pressed by so many of you. Thank you! This month’s Natural Pet department essay on pet loss addresses the issue, especially for those that can use a similar, comfort-ing boost. (FYI, Rocky’s housemate, Lily, has been in training and is assuming the role of “assistant office cat.”)

Be well and hug your pet today,

Carolyn Coogan, PublisherCarolyn Coogan, Publisher


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

6 newsbriefs 14 eventspotlight 15 healthbriefs 18 globalbriefs 19 ecotip 20 healingways

22 healthykids 24 community spotlight 27 creativespotlight 34 inspiration 35 wisewords 38 consciouseating 39 localfarms 40 greenliving 43 calendar 48 classifieds 49 naturaldirectory

20 SPRING DETOX Gentle Natural Cleansing Works Best by Linda Sechrist

22 TEEN DRAMA QUEENS

Keeping the Mother-Daughter Bond Strong

by Meredith Montgomery

25 SAY YES TO YOGA It Boosts Health, Peace, Community and Spirituality by Lynda Bassett

28 RETHINKING CANCER A Brave New World of Effective Natural Therapies by Linda Sechrist

31 RETHINKING BREAST HEALTH

Natural Ways to Keep Breasts Smooth, Pain-Free and Firm, while Reducing the Risk of Cancer by Lisa Marshall

37 INTEGRATING NEW MODALITIES INTO MAINSTREAM MEDICINE by Wesley Delanoy

38 THE CONNECTION BETWEEN FOODS AND CANCER by Susan Brown

40 RECYCLING EVERYDAY REFUSE

What Happens after the Blue Bin is Emptied by Avery Mack

42 WHEN YOUR PET PASSES A Guide to Mourning, Remembering and Healing by Julianne Hale

20

18

MAINSTREAM MEDICINE

38

27

RECYCLING EVERYDAY 42

28

15


newsbriefsBodywork Professionals Celebrates New Saratoga Springs’ Office

Bodywork Professionals is relocating their Saratoga Springs office to 11 Spring Street, right in the heart of

town. A Grand Opening event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., May 23. Advanced Rolf Structural Integration Practitioner Nick Pavoldi, the proprietor of Bodywork Professionals, says, “We’ll celebrate with free chair massage, healthy snacks and giveaways all day. Also, all those who come out to our Grand Opening will have a chance to win free, hour-long massages.” Founded in 2005, Bodywork Professionals is a team of sophisticated, New York state licensed and insured therapists, with an average of 11 years of experi-ence (Pavoldi has 18). Dedicated to offering the best in massage and bodywork techniques, they believe in the body’s powerful ability to heal and that massage and bodywork are both an art and a science.

Bodywork Professionals remains open at 578 New Loudon Rd., in Latham. For more information, visit BodyworkProfessionals.com. See ad, page 7.

Support Group for Sensory Integration-Troubled Families

Maria Mangini, holistic counselor and family advocate at A space To Grow, will lead a support group for parents of

children with sensory integration challenges from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., May 24. These monthly support groups are a place to share successes, ask questions without judgment, learn more about holistic approaches for healthy families and come together with

other parents to grow in knowledge, strategies and confidence. Mangini is an ex-perienced and empathic group facilitator who will provide the group with positive direction and guidance in holistic approaches for the whole family. May’s theme is Small Changes Make Big Differences. Mangini says, “Partici-pants will experience a mindful awareness practice that they can use in daily life and that will support their own well-being while helping to better understand each child’s unique needs. Parents can learn how to identify just one thing and discover the small change that will make a big difference in a child’s life.”

This a donation-based program. Location: 216 River St., Troy. To register, call 518-703-5665 or visit ASpaceToGrow.org.

Maria Mangini


Health & Fitness Expo and Freihofer’s Run

The CapitalCare Capital/District Physician’s Health Plan Health

& Fitness Expo will be held from noon to 7 p.m., May 29, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., May 30, in the Convention Hall at Empire Plaza, in Albany, in conjunction with the Freihofer’s Run for Women 5K at 9:30 a.m., May 30. The expo will offer free health screenings, fitness demonstra-tions, health and fitness seminars and clinics and a chance to meet visiting Olympic athletes. Vendors include national brand companies and offer participants discounts on fitness apparel and accessories, as well as many female-focused prod-ucts. This is the largest women’s event in the Capital District, where more than 10,000 people are ex-pected to attend. The race is one of the world’s most prestigious all-female 5K road races, voted number five on Competitor magazine’s 2015 list of 7 Must-Do 5Ks in the U.S. Event Director George Regan states, “The camaraderie of being with other like-minded females and the moti-vation derived from participating in an event with Olympic and world champions guarantees a wonderful experience.”

Look for Natural Awakenings of the NY Capital District at the expo. For more information and race registra-tion, visit FreihofersRun.com. See ad, back cover.

Unique Financial Assistance from Changing Times Planning

Laurie Bonser, a certified financial planner, certified public accountant and coach and owner of Changing Times

Planning, is introducing two new, unique financial planning phone consultation options beginning May 1. In three easy steps, customers will receive personal-ized suggestions, resources and feedback to get their overall financial health in better shape right away. No sensitive personal information is required—follow-up for additional planning time is available when need. The Fresh Start call focuses on practical, personal steps to take right away to restart financial health and get moving forward with new energy in new choices. For those unsure about how to work through a current life transition financially, this option will be most helpful. The Parachute call focuses on ways to refine current financial choices to reach our true goals more fully and flexibly with some professional input. For individu-als that prefer to do upfront research and then get a second opinion or additional strategies from an expert, this option is the best choice.

For more information, visit ChangingTimesPlanning.com and Facebook. See ad, page 22.


newsbriefs

Awaken Your Inner Goddess Retreat

Satprem, a therapist, meditation master and intuitive healer at

IKIERA Divine Holistic Healing Arts, in Clifton Park, will host a retreat, Awaken Your Inner Goddess, from 3 to 7 p.m., May 23, to reclaim female wisdom. Participants can share their stories of verbal and/or physical abuse and then let go by accepting, forgiving and forgetting, thereby releasing the pain and trauma. They will connect with their intuitive side, finding their true beauty and inner goddess and celebrate womanhood by dancing with other transformed females. Satprem says, “The retreat can help heal deeply stored pains from verbal, mental and physical abuse, bring forth the feminine spiritual aspect and reclaim lost womanhood, help individuals choose consciously between fear and love and make peace with all the loved and unloved men of the past and stop inner judgement.”

Cost: $99. Location: 34 Cemetery Rd., Clifton Park. For more information, call 518-788-7062, or visit IkieraHealing.com.

First Anniversary Open House at Yoga Bliss on the Blvd.

To observe the anniversary of Yoga Bliss on the Blvd., in

Schenectady, owner Mary Clare O’Connor welcomes the commu-nity to an open house celebration beginning at 3 p.m., May 1, that will finish with a healing sound celebration at 7 p.m.. Yoga Bliss offers an eclectic mix of kripalu, chair/adaptive, belly dance, vinyasa, kids’ yoga, ashtanga, yin, prenatal, yoga nidra, guided meditation, chakra yoga, chakra dance, qigong, reflexology and Reiki. In-dividual sessions, group classes and workshops are available on a monthly basis. The Restorative Workshop is especially popular. There is also gong music, drumming, meditation, kirtan and art openings. Class passes are available and stu-dents can drop in to any class. O’Connor says, “While being part of an emerging busi-ness is a lot of work, it has been a truly awesome experience to grow in community—for us, it’s all about the bliss!”

Location: 140 Erie Blvd. Schenectady. For more informa-tion, call 518-894-7086 or visit YogaBlissBlvd.com. See ad, page 35.

Satprem


Beautycounter Introduces New Products

Beautycounter has taken the guesswork out of both shade selection and application with their new Col-

or Cosmetics Collection: four eye shadow duos, three blush duos, three eye pencils, three brow pencils, two bronzers, five new brushes and two new lip shades. They are flattering, intuitive colors that work for all skin tones. Celebrities such as Kris Carr, Connie Britton and Gwyneth Paltrow are all fans of Beautycounter.

Beautycounter’s biggest challenge is to create products that meet, makeup artist to the stars and Head of Creative Design Christy Coleman’s high standards as a pro-fessional makeup artist while also maintaining extremely strict safety requirements. In developing the Color Cosmetics Collection, Beautycounter not only restricted, as usual, a list of more than 1,500 ingredients; they also created their own, industry-leading heavy metal contamination limits and testing protocols, resulting in unparal-leled safety and flawless formulas, as well as healthy, luminous colors.

There are four ways to join: purchase as a customer, host a social, become a Band of Beauty member or join as a consultant. For more information, call Jennifer Quinn, Consultant for Beautycounter, at 518-461-9318 or visit JQuinn.BeautyCounter.com.

Garden Plots Available Through Capital Roots

Capital Roots (formerly Capital District Community Gardens), is a regional food hub that enables the

distribution of 1 million pounds of fresh food to 300,000 residents each year, and there is still time to sign up for one of their organic community garden plots. Capital Roots makes nearly 1,000 plots avail-able in 50 community gardens throughout Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady and southern Saratoga counties. Anyone with an interest in growing their own food and flowers can sign up. Supporting its gardeners every step of the way, Capital Roots provides tilling, seeds, water, tools and dozens of free gardening and culinary classes each year.

Location: 594 River St., Troy. To reserve a spot at an upcoming gardener orienta-tion, call 518-274-8685 or visit CapitalRoots.org.

Reiki Special for Cancer Patients

Reiki master and instruc-

tor Gina Clem-ente is offering cancer patients 20 percent off Reiki sessions as a comple-

ment to chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Many people are seeking ways to not only treat the disease, but combat the stress and anxiety that goes along with the diagnosis. Celemente will offer Reiki I and II training classes from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., May 6, 13, 20 and 27. Private and semi-private classes are available to patients, caregivers and others in the healing field. Clemente states, “Reiki is gentle, non-invasive therapy that promotes relaxation and increases the body’s natural ability to heal. It is important to note that Reiki is a complement to their physician’s healthcare plan.” With more than 12 years of experi-ence, Clemente specializes in Reiki ses-sions that help patients improve sleep, restore energy after chemotherapy, promote feelings of peace and improve recovery time after surgery. Location: 229 Washington St., Saratoga Springs. For more information, call 518-791-6565 or visit ReikiHealingWithGina.com.


newsbriefs

Choose Your Summer Spiritual Adventure

Albany-Saratoga Spiritual Adven-tures, an outreach of the New

Thought New York Center for Spiri-tual Living, a Centers for Spiritual Living community that honors all faith traditions, is holding a series of standalone workshops, classes and spiritual cinema this summer. Li-censed Science of Mind practitioner Joanne McFadden is the teacher, and says, “Spending a few hours a week in spiritual study, in a group setting where there are community mem-bers to encourage and support you on the spiritual journey, is critical to the deep and sustained transforma-tion that so many say they want.” Topics include a Life Vision-ing Workshop on June 18, a Fear to Faith Workshop on June 25, An Evening of Forgiveness Inspiration: the Story of Rwandan Holocaust Survivor Immaculee Ilibagiza on July 1, a Forgiveness Workshop on July 8, Spiritual Cinema: Gregg Braden and the Science of Miracles on July 14, a Radical Self-Care Workshop on August 6, The Energy of Choice Workshop on August 11 and a Potluck Barbecue and Spiri-tual Cinema on August 19.

Location: 2 Imperial Lane, Charlton, NY. For more information, call Rev. Joanne McFadden at 518-423-3569 or visit NewThoughtNewYork.org and Meetup.com under Albany-Saratoga Spiritual Adventures. See ad, page 45.


New Go Green Market at the Tulip Festival

The 67th annual Tulip Festival, put on May 9 and 10 by the Albany

Department of General Services in Washington Park, will feature a new Go Green Market made up of vendors sharing energy-efficient resources, recycling tips from the Capital Region Recycling Partnership and information from Albany County Cornell Cooperative Extension and Albany County Soil and Water District.

Admission to the festival and market area is free. Go green by riding a bicycle and parking at the bike racks near Willett St. and Madison Ave. For more information, call 518-434-2032 or visit Albany.org/events/annual-events-and-festivals/tulip-fest.

Free Purification Series at Northeast Spine & Wellness

Dr. Joseph S. Gulyas, of North-east Spine & Wellness, is

hosting three events at 6:30 p.m., May 5, 12 and 19, featuring an introduction to the concept of purification. He states, “Everyone has had a difficult winter, and now that the May flowers are out, many people are suffering from allergies.

Even if you are feeling a springtime cold, it is important to understand how now is a great time to start a purification to get rid of the winter time and de-stress to be able to enjoy the warmer weather. Purification can help you feel better naturally!” One or all events may be attended.

Admission is free. Location: 1741 Rte. 9, Clifton Park (across from Residence Inn). To register (required) email [email protected]. For appointments and more information, call 518-371-4800 or visit DrGulyas.com. See ad, page 20.

Community Massage Adds New Services

Licensed Acupuncturist and Massage Therapist Justin Coletti is now of-

fering acupuncture treatments and tui na orthopedic massage at Community Massage & Holistic Therapies. His classic Chinese channel palpation and neuromuscular acupuncture provide preventa-tive and restorative care for chronic pain and injuries. Coletti returned to Troy after working at a community clinic and maintaining a private practice in Brooklyn. He also leads a weekly meditation class at 10 a.m. Saturdays to talk about the benefits of stillness while practicing with a group.

$10 donation requested for Sat. event. Location: 270 River St., Ste. 201, Troy. For more information, call 518-272-1400 or schedule online at Schedulicity.com/Scheduling/CMH-KNL. Also visit TroyCommunityMassage.com and Facebook. See ad, page 55.

Expert Assistance to Ensure the Right Fit

Her UnderThings features expert bra fittings, sportswear, swimwear, bridal corsets, lingerie, nursing bras and

post-mastectomy accessories in sizes from 32AAA to 56O. Owner Jackie Keto says, “You deserve to feel beautiful and comfortable in

your own body. Your bra doesn’t have to hurt! If you have a bra that

doesn’t fit you properly, you might not have the confidence you desire. At Her Underthings,

we are sure to have a quality bra that will fit your unique body type.” At this expert bra-fitting store, the professional staff works to ensure that every woman is wearing the right bra size. Customers can expect a personalized experience instead of getting lost in boxes of bras at most retail shops.

Location: 1704 Western Ave., Albany. For more information, call 518-836-5842 or visit Facebook.com/herunderthingsbras. See ad, page 32.


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newsbriefs

Jeannie Thomma Speaks About Inspired Living

Jeannie Thomma, a master teacher and entrepreneur mentor, will speak about

the importance of living a happy life by finding purpose and pursuing passion at 6:30 p.m., May 21, at the Troy Public Library. She has led workshops for more than a decade and is the author of several books, including Meditations for Artists. Thomma states, “Imagine saying yes to

the dreams that live in your heart and soul. How would your life be different if you knew exactly what your greatest gifts are and you could spend your time sharing them? What if you could find a way to do what you love?” At this talk, Happiness Is: Finding Your Purpose & Follow-ing Your Passion, Thomma will share the mindset, heart set and skillset required to create a personal and professional life that is infused with happiness and show participants how to con-nect with their own inspiration and develop a powerful vision to create meaningful and sustainable change in their lives.

Admission is free. Location: 100 2nd St., Troy. For more information, call 518-350-4712 or visit JeannieThomma.com for a list of other free talks. See ad, page 26.

2015 Girlfriends Getaway on Lake George

The sixth annual Bolton Landing

Chamber of Commerce Girlfriends Getaway will take place May 8 through 10 in Bolton Landing, New York, at the world-famous Saga-more Resort on Lake George. This weekend is ideal for women that would like to relax, refresh and reconnect, including moms, daughters, best friends and college alumni—some even come alone. Guests will be greeted with a welcome bag filled with special offers and giveaways, a reception with games, entertainment and complimentary hors d’oeuvres. More than 18 workshops, classes and activities allow participants to make up their own agenda for the weekend. Admission includes a gourmet lunch at The Sagamore, and nearby shops put on a lively fashion show. The resort offers discounted room rates and spa treatments throughout the weekend for all attendees. Local restaurants create special three-course menus for $20.15 and local retailers provide refreshments and shopping deals.

Location: 110 Sagamore Rd., Bolton Landing, NY. Tickets can be purchased at 518-644-3831 or GirlfriendsGetawayBolton.com.


Reinventing Wellness Accepting New Patients

Reinventing Wellness is a new ho-listic wellness partnership between

Naturopathic Physician and Certified Clinical Nutritionist Sarah Stout, CNHP, HHC, and husband, Mike Stout, CHNP, HHC. Sarah offers nutritional counsel-ing, naturopathic wellness, Biomerid-ian testing, cooking and raw food class-es, pharmaceutical-grade supplements and non-toxic personal care products in the Clifton Park/Ballston Lake area.

A native of Clifton Park who has returned here to prac-tice, Sarah took an active role in healing herself through proper nutrition, conscious eating and natural detoxifica-tion methods. She coaches individuals of all ages to maxi-mize their health and wellness, specializing in autoimmune disorders; diabetes; digestive disorders and diseases; food allergies; Candida; thyroid disorders; fertility and prenatal nutrition; and raw and vegetarian/vegan lifestyles. Sarah’s practice uses holistic medicine, including home-opathy, functional blood chemistry analysis and DNA testing, and offers customized meal plans. Her workshops, lectures and participation in wellness events promote health and wellness in the community. Sarah is committed to assisting individuals in restoring their wellness and health through proper nutrition that is customized to the individual.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 518-410-9401 or visit ReinventingWellness.com.

Free Gemstone Therapy Bonus with Massage

Erin Sikopoulos, LMT, owner of Turn a Lew Leaf Therapeutic Massage &

Energy Work, is offering 15 minutes of gemstone therapy added to a 60-min-ute or 90-minute massage session. She states, “This is an opportunity to experience a very unique form of en-ergy work that uses therapeutic-qual-ity gemstones to balance the body’s energy system. Specific therapies can be used to ease headaches and migraines, decrease back pain, lessen muscle tension and calm anxiety and depres-sion. Gemstone therapy leaves clients with a greater sense of inner peace and vitality.” Sikopoulos joined this field because of her strong belief that a holistic approach to health can be profound and transforma-tive for well-being. “Nothing brings me greater purpose and joy than to help people achieve their wellness goals through the art and heart of touch and energetic attention,” she says.

Location: 648 Maple Ave., Saratoga Springs. For more informa-tion, call 518-636-9588, email Info@ TurnANewLeafMassage.com or visit TurnANewLeafMassage.com. See ad, page 6.

Sarah Stout


eventspotlight

A worldwide grassroots group March Against Monsanto has inspired a broad coalition of

individuals and groups to gather in cities and towns all over the world as part of a global effort to raise public awareness and bring increasing politi-cal pressure to bear regarding Mon-santo’s corporate farming and business practices and to insist upon labeling of foods that contain genetically modified organisms (GMO). The Albany rally will take place from 1 to 3 p.m., May 23, on the steps of the New York State Capitol Building. An estimated 428 cities in 38 countries on six continents will be par-ticipating in the Global March Against Monsanto for a peaceful, non-violent, informational protest. GMOs have been banned by Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Lux-embourg, Madeira, New Zealand, Peru, Russia, France and Switzerland. Monsanto and other companies such as Dow and Syngenta genetically engineer food that poses scientifically established health risks that include organ damage, sterility, infant mortality, birth defects, immune reactions, aller-gies and increased cancer risk. Marcher’s demands include solidar-ity against Monsanto predatory business and agricultural practices, rejecting “substantial equivalence” of GMO and traditional crops, independent scien-

tific testing of GMO crops, promoting organic solutions, exposing the cronyism between big business and the govern-ment, addressing poverty, the real cause of global hunger, supporting food and seed sovereignty, supporting local farms, bees and biodiversity and labeling of all foods that contain GMOs. Long-time activist and member ofthe Gateway Greens, Daniel Romano warns, “Monsanto is bankrupting fam-ers and causing soil infertility, mono-cropping, loss of biodiversity and beehive collapse. Their practices pose a very real threat to organic farming and loss of native plants and are creat-ing dependency on a centralized food system. In aggregate, this is a recipe for global famine.” An Open Letter from World Sci-entists to All Governments Concerning Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) (see i-sis.org.uk/list.php), signed by 828 scientists from 84 countries, details their concern regarding GMOs and a call for immediate five-year suspension of GMO crops in order to conduct “a comprehen-sive public enquiry of agriculture and food security for all.”

For updates, visit March Against Mon-santo Albany on Facebook and Twitter. For more information, visit March-Against-Monsanto.com and Healthy-FoodNaturally.com/2012/02/07/GMO-health-risks. See ad, page 2.

March to Support GMO Labeling

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healthbriefs NEVER TOO OLD TO QUITEven smokers 60

and over can live longer if they quit, according to a 2012 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Three experts from the German Cancer Research Center, in Heidelberg, analyzed 17 studies from the United States, Australia, China, England, France, Japan and Spain that followed groups of between 863 and 877,243 people for periods ranging from three to 50 years. Findings showed that the longer a person had been classified as a former, rather than current, smoker, the more their risk of premature death decreased. The researchers also observed that cur-rent smokers showed the highest abso-lute mortality rates in all the studies. Dr. Tai Hing Lam, of the University of Hong Kong, observes that for people in their 60s, quitting was linked to a 21 percent decrease in the risk of prema-ture death. The risk was reduced by 27 percent for those in their 70s and by 24 percent for individuals in their 80s. Lam added that the World Health Organiza-tion’s statistic that one out of every two smokers will die from their habit should be printed on all cigarette packages, “…so that all smokers know they are betting their lives on the toss of a coin.”

ICED TEA HAS ISSUESIt is peak season for iced tea, but this warm-weather favorite

may not be the ideal choice to counter dehydration. Iced tea made from black tea contains high concentrations of oxalate, one of the key chemicals that lead to the formation of kidney stones, a common disorder of the urinary tract that affects about 10 percent of the U.S. population. “For people that have a tendency to form the most common type of kidney stones, iced tea is one of the worst things to drink,” reports Dr. John Milner, an assistant professor with the Depart-ment of Urology at Loyola University Chicago’s Stritch School of Medicine. While all black tea contains oxalate, dietitians note that people tend to imbibe more of it when it’s on ice than when it’s hot.

Hair to Dye ForThree-quarters of American women are interested in chang-

ing their hair color, particularly to cover gray, according to a Clairol study. But other studies show they should be wary of most traditional hair dyes and consider natural alternatives. A study from the University of Southern California published in the International Journal of Cancer, for example, identi-fied women using permanent hair dyes at least once a month to be at the highest risk for bladder cancer. As early as 2007, the European Union banned 22 potentially dangerous chemicals in cosmetic and body care products, including hair dyes. In the journal Materials last year, British researchers warned of the increased cancer risk from toxic chemicals called secondary amines, found in European- and U.S.-manufactured permanent hair dyes, because they remain on the hair for extended periods long after application and can penetrate skin. Meanwhile, increasing demand by consumers for safer products has expand-ed the market for natural hair dyes containing henna, oils and extracts from berries and other fruits, plus vegetables. Many are now available at pharmacies, organic salons and online, including do-it-yourself recipes.

Protein for Breakfast Curbs Food CravingsSkipping breakfast or eating sugary breakfast

breads and cereals sets us up for increased ap-petite all day long, while protein-rich food effec-tively satiates us, according to a recent University of Missouri-Columbia study. Subjects were 20 overweight young women, ages 18 to 20, divided into three groups: those that skipped breakfast, ate cereal, or enjoyed a 350-calorie, high-protein breakfast of eggs and lean meat. Researchers tracking brain function concluded that those eating the high-protein breakfast were better able to control their eating throughout the day and evening. For people that don’t currently eat breakfast, lead researcher Heather Leidy, Ph.D., an assistant professor of nutrition and exercise physiology, says it only takes about three days to acclimate the body. Leidy suggests first trying plain Greek yogurt, cottage cheese or egg or meat burritos. Aim for 35 grams of protein in the morning for all-day control of food cravings.


healthbriefs

To Get Healthy, Get a Healthy PartnerHaving a healthier partner may be one of the best things to

do for our own health. Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine finds that losing weight, stopping smoking or becoming more ac-tive is easier with a partner that has led the way in any or all healthy pursuits.

The study authors reviewed data collected by the UK Health Behavior Research Center at the University College London that followed 3,700 couples between 2002 and 2012—most of them ages 50 and older and married. Those that smoked at the beginning of the study were more likely to quit by the end of it if their partners quit smoking, and those that were physically inactive at the begin-ning of the study were more likely to become active if their partners did so first. About two-thirds of the men became newly active during the course of the study. Men with wives that had lost weight were more likely to also shed pounds during the study, and women with husbands that didn’t lose weight were less likely to do so through the study period.

WHY WE MIGHT NEED MORE VITAMIN CResearchers at the Linus Pauling In-

stitute at Oregon State University, a leading global authority on the role of vitamin C in optimum health, forward compelling evidence that the recom-mended dietary allowance (RDA) of vitamin C should be raised to 200 milligrams per day for U.S. adults, up from its current levels of 75 mg for women and 90 mg for men. The RDA of vitamin C is less than half of what it should be, scientists argue, because medical experts insist on evaluating this natural, but critical, nutrient in the same way they do for pharma-ceutical drugs, and consequently reach faulty conclusions. The researchers base their rec-ommendations on studies showing that higher levels of vitamin C could help reduce chronic health problems including heart disease, stroke and cancer, as well as underlying causal issues such as high blood pressure, chronic inflammation, poor immune response and atherosclerosis. Even at the current low RDA, U.S. and Cana-dian studies have found that a quarter to a third of the total population is marginally deficient in vitamin C and up to a fifth of those in such groups as students, smokers and older adults are severely deficient in it.


Weightlifting Lowers Heart Disease and Diabetes RisksFewer than 10 percent of Americans

regularly lift weights, but perhaps more of us should, according to a study in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. Scientists at the University of North Florida, in Jacksonville, found that weightlift-ers had a 37 percent reduced risk of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of risk factors linked to heart disease and diabetes. Previous research has linked having greater muscle strength and mass (results of weightlifting) to lower rates of metabolic syndrome. People with three out of five risk factors—a large waist (more than 40 inches for men, more than 35 inches for women), high triglyc-erides and low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, high blood pressure and high blood sugar—may be diag-nosed with metabolic syndrome. The researchers also analyzed data from the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Sur-vey, which showed that young men were most likely to do regular weight-lifting, while women, older people and Latinos were least likely. The sur-vey statistics support the conclusion that non-weightlifters are more likely to exhibit metabolic syndrome.

Bad Fats Are Brain-BustersNew research from Brigham and Women’s Hospital

(BWH), a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, has found that consumption of “bad” satu-rated fats may be associated with a decline in cog-nitive function and memory in older women. The research team analyzed the BWH Women’s Health Study, focusing on four years of data from a subset of 6,000 women older than 65. Those that consumed the highest amounts of saturated fat, like that found in red meat and butter, exhibited worse overall cognition and memory than peers that ate the lowest amounts. Women that consumed mainly monounsaturated fats, such as olive oil, demonstrated better patterns of cognitive scores over time.


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

Corporate ClimateCompanies Slowly Embrace Sustainability

The 2015 State of Green Business report (Tinyurl.com/2015GreenBusinessReport), which assesses the environmental performances of companies world-wide, along with the trends to watch, is produced by GreenBiz, in partnership with Trucost. Collectively, companies have been nibbling at the edges of challenges such as climate change, food security, ecosystems preservation and resource effi-ciency. One measure of corporate engagement going

forward will be proactive involvement on political issues that could accelerate the transition to a low-carbon and more sustainable economy. It remains to be seen whether companies can afford to sit on the sidelines, letting the political process unfold, or worse, play defense against changes that might roil their status quo. 2015 will be an interesting year on multiple fronts, especially with the launch of the new sustainable development goals at the United Nations (UN) in New York this fall, along with UN climate talks in Paris in December. Both will be tests of corporate engagement and resolve in driving the kinds of change many of their CEOs publicly call for. The reports’ findings of companies’ progress in greenhouse gas and emissions, air pollutants, water use and solid waste production are all leveling off or even declining.

Dirty DollarsStores Filled with Toxic ProductsHealthyStuff, a project of the Michigan-based Ecology Center, in collabora-tion with the Campaign for Healthier Solutions (CHS), has released a report, A Day Late and a Dollar Short: Dis-count Retailers are Falling Behind on Safer Chemicals, about toxic chemi-cals found in dollar store products. It includes test results for 164 dollar store products such as toys, jewelry, school supplies and household items and found that 81 percent contained at least one hazardous chemical above a level that generates concern. The campaign sent a letter to the CEOs of the four largest dollar store chains, including Family Dollar, Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and 99 Cents Only, urging them to stop the sale of these unsafe products, espe-cially to communities of low-income and ethnic families that already live in more polluted areas and food deserts, and adopt policies that will instead protect both customers and their own businesses. Combined, these discount chains have annual sales totaling more than $36 billion and operate more stores nationally than Walmart. The CHS is asking for a compre-hensive set of reforms; communities need to let dollar store chains know that they want safer products and join local and national efforts advocating for nontoxic products.

Scroll to Dollar Store Report at Healthy Stuff.org for the complete test results. Take action at NontoxicDollarStores.org.

Animal Genocide‘Lethal Control’ Trades Off SpeciesOver the next four years, the U. S. Army Corps of En-gineers will shoot 16,000 double-crested cormorants nesting near the Columbia River, in Oregon, at a cost of $1.5 million a year and eliminate almost 100 sea lions because both feed on endangered salmon and steelhead trout. “If people knew how many animals are killed at taxpayer expense, they’d be horrified,” says Camilla Fox, executive director of Project Coyote, a San Francisco Bay Area nonprofit. Termed “lethal control”, there’s a growing trend to kill one species to protect another, and not all methods used are humane. In 2012, Dennis Orthmeyer, acting director of California’s Wildlife Services, said, “We pride ourselves on our ability to get it done without many people knowing about it.” Climate change, reduced habitat and food supplies, and the introduction of non-native species are the result of human interference. “With society’s growing footprint, lethal control can only increase,” observes Michael Scott, a University of Idaho ecologist. A plan to poison 4,000 ravens will protect greater sage grouse. More moun-tain lions will be killed to save bighorn sheep. The human rampage goes on, and concerned citizens are advised to urge lawmakers to end lethal control and protect wildlife habitat sustainably.

Take action at Tinyurl.com/AnimalLiberationFrontCampaign.


ecotipRaised RightOrganic Flowers Honor Mom and Mother EarthThe Mother’s Day tradition of gifting mom with flowers, including such perennial favor-ites as lilies, orchids, tulips and roses, can be practiced in a sustainable manner. Buying organic varieties protects workers, families and the environment. Flowers grown with conventional tech-niques contribute to the contamination of groundwater and streams through fertilizer and pesticide runoff that can also threaten animal species. Many of the cut flowers are grown in South America, where farms contin-ue to use pesticides that are restricted in the U.S. and cited as highly toxic by the World Health Organization. GreenAmerica.org provides several helpful tips on bringing joy to mom on her special day in eco-friendly ways:

Grow Your Own. Buy organic bulbs or seeds in consumer seed catalogs and retail racks or online from reputable sources that include SeedsOfChange.com. Children can then grow their own flowers to make them mean even more. Tips for natural weed and pest control, environmentally friendly watering, making raised garden beds and more are posted at EarthEasy.com/yard-garden.

Buy Local and Organic. Support local communities and save shipping costs and energy by purchasing chemical-free organic flowers from a local farmers’ market or community supported agriculture. Online retailers like OrganicBouquet.com and LocalHarvest.org/organic-flowers.jsp offer U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified organic flowers.

Ask Local Florists to Go Organic. Find out if local florists purchase any or-ganic and local flowers, and if not, request that they do so. Also, eschew plastic wraps and vases for eco-friendly flowers to avoid toxic ingredients and the carbon manufacturing footprint. Fun options to hold and showcase the gift include old, recycled Mason and glass jars and bottles or an artistic vase from an estate sale or antique or thrift shop.

Pleasant Dreams™ contains a blend of safe, natural, sleep-inducing ingredients including chamomile, valerian root and melatonin which may help to:

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SPRING DETOXGentle Natural Cleansing Works Best

by Linda Sechrist

To secure optimum performance, maximize lifespan and maintain the warranty of vehicles, knowl-

edgeable drivers follow the regular maintenance needs recommended in the owner’s manual. Similarly, many health practitioners, integrative physi-cians and chiropractors suggest that periodically cleansing the body’s inside works—flushing toxins and enabling the digestive process and organs like the liver and kidney to rest and re-set—aids in maintaining, restoring and optimizing health. Whether seeking a dramatic cleanup and clearing out or a simple tune-up, a natural, detoxifying cleanse eliminates accumulations of unwanted substances. Doctor of Chiropractic and Nutritionist Linda Berry, of Albany, California, and Brenda Watson, ReNew Life founder and a certified nutritional consultant from Clearwater, Florida, are recognized authorities on the subject. Berry’s Internal Cleansing and Watson’s series of six books on diges-tive health that began with Renew Your Life stress that the process may be both

a missing link in Western nutrition and a key to returning Americans to health. They both believe that specific medical concerns—including allergies, arthritis, elevated cholesterol, high blood pres-sure, fatigue, gastrointestinal disorders and body pains—are directly related to toxicity, which responds well to gentle detoxification. Their suggestions for reducing the overload based on 60 years of com-bined experience include eliminating pro-inflammatory processed foods, alcohol, coffee, refined sugars and bad fats; increasing daily intake of healthy, organic, fiber-rich foods; and gently cleansing at least twice a year, using a natural approach.

How to BeginAccording to Traditional Chinese Medi-cine, the onset of spring and fall suggest appropriate times for internal cleans-ing. Although strictly protein drink fasts are not encouraged, a minimum of 20 grams of high-quality protein should be consumed daily. Read labels and pick a sugarless protein powder.

healingways


A simple one-day, weekend or seven-day cleanse for experienced or inexperienced in-dividuals begins every morning with a total body dry skin brushing prior to showering, and then drinking a minimum of 10, eight-ounce glasses of water throughout the day. This includes a tasty green juice drink, followed by an eight-ounce glass of water for breakfast, lunch and a healthy afternoon snack. Watson’s favorite green cleansing recipe consists of liquefying one-and-a-half cucumbers, two stalks of celery, half a Granny Smith apple, a handful of spinach or any other type of green vegetable, a few sprigs of parsley and a tiny piece of lemon. Then, an hour after breakfast and lunch, sip a cup of herbal tea, take two or three capsules of spirulina and two capsules of omega-3. For dinner, liquefy one teaspoon of red miso paste in eight ounces of hot water and add five sprigs of wakame seaweed. “To fight hunger during the day, drink more water with lemon or ginger, warm herbal tea or green juices,” ad-vises Watson. To increase fiber intake, Berry sug-gests placing ingredients in a VitaMix or the more affordable NutriBullet, which pulverizes everything added, even whole flax seeds. Juicers, which are harder to clean after using, separate the liquid from the fibrous pulp, which human intestines need to create at least two daily bowel movements. Add oat or rice bran, citrus pectin or other natural fibers as a bulk agent.

A natural, non-chlori-nated water enema using simple home apparatus available at local stores can also be incorporated into the regimen, as necessary, “An enema [initially] affects only the intestine’s lower third, so hold in the room-tem-perature water for five to 15 minutes, if possible,” suggests Berry.

What to AvoidSafe, over-the-counter solutions for co-lon cleansing generally promote colon health and can nicely supplement a fast. Avoid products that contain senna leaf and cascara sagrada, which are potent laxatives. Watson and Berry don’t recom-mend rigid “crash and burn” cleanses, such as those consisting solely of protein drinks or raw juices or lemon juice and water with maple syrup and cayenne pepper. “It’s better to cleanse gently with fresh green juices with meals consisting of brown rice and either raw, lightly steamed or roasted vegetables,” counsels Watson. “Any detox program, if followed by eating whatever you want, not only doesn’t work, it has consequences,” adds Berry, who strongly advises easing back into a sensible diet after a cleanse. She notes that one client became ill from breaking her detox with a meal of barbeque ribs and beer.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. She writes on why we are better together at ItsAllAboutWe.com.

“Eighty percent of cancer cases are caused by

environmental and food carcinogens.”

~ National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Environmental

Health Sciences

Umeboshi TeaUmeboshi plums, termed “the king of alkaline foods”, are a species of apricots from Japan. A pick-led fruit, they have a sour and salty flavor. Drinking umeboshi tea alkalizes the blood and works to relieve fatigue, nausea and indiges-tion while restoring energy.

Makes 1 cup. Drink one a day for one month.

1 umeboshi plum, rinse 1 cup purified water ½ tsp Japanese kuzu powder 2 or 3 drops tamari or gluten-free tamari

1. Remove seed from the plum. Cut remaining plum into small pieces or mash.

2. Place plum pieces, water and kuzu in a small sauce pan. Stir or whisk to dissolve the powder. It will look like milk with pink bumps.

3. Stir while heating at medium tem-perature for 3 to 5 minutes or until liquid turns clear and appears a little thicker. Turn off heat.

4. Add tamari drops and stir gently. Drink while hot.

Source: Recipe courtesy of Brenda Watson.


For many, the strong mother-daughter bond

seems to suddenly unravel when adoles-cence appears. “Par-enting is exasperating and wears you out,” sighs Heather Thomas, of Houston, Texas, a mother of three, including 16-year-old Mary Meghan. Mothers can gain some comfort in the biological reasons for the onset of emotionally charged argu-ments and repeated curfew violations. It begins with changes in the brain caused by an increase in the hormones that stimulate girls’ ovaries, and by age 10 or 11, the hormones become elevated to levels comparable to those of postmenopausal women. Dr. Christiane Northrup, author of Mother-Daughter Wisdom, points out that in addition to experiencing mood swings and temperature changes similar to those of menopausal women, girls’ rising estrogen, unbalanced by pro-gesterone, may likewise produce brain irritability. “It’s no wonder girls are both cuddling with and screaming at you in the same day,” she points out. Nurse Practitioner Sil Reynolds,

who co-authored Mothering & Daugh-tering with her daugh-ter Eliza, gently re-minds mothers, “The mother-adolescent daughter relation-ship is asymmetrical. Mothers are responsi-ble for being the adult in the relationship as their daughters grow up. Understanding this can be a relief to both of you.” Part of the respon-

sibility of being an adult is to provide a safe psychological and emotional environment for children without taking things personally. The frontal cortex responsible for making decisions is still developing in the adolescent brain. Weathering mood swings and reactive outbursts, mothers can learn to remain steady, understanding that teens are not capable of giving back equally because their minds have not yet fully matured. “That’s how teens learn to return to a calm place, by seeing our mom remain steady through our storms,” Eliza observes.

Powerful Role ModelsNorthrup believes that a daughter’s peers play a large role in her success-

healthykids

TEEN DRAMA QUEENSKeeping the Mother-Daughter Bond Strong

by Meredith Montgomery

Actively engaging with my mom has

enabled me to balance my independence with

a dependable bond, which helps me grow

into my true self. Plus, it allows my mom to

know the real me.

~ Eliza Reynolds


fully navigating the teen years, but emphasizes that, “A mother’s influence wins. Be consistent in your loving and clear about rules and boundaries, while encouraging a sense of their own worth and autonomy.” Teenagers are anxious to grow up and do their own thing, but until they have internalized safe and reasonable boundaries, they need someone else to establish them. Northrup reports how teen clients that were given too much freedom… “come in aching for boundaries and feel that their parents don’t care about them. It is the par-ents’ job to create healthy, though not rigid, boundaries.” What has worked for Heather is to casually join Mary Meghan in her room with an intention to be pres-ent and actively listen to her. “I say something simple like, ‘I have missed you,’ and then allow her to open up to me without being critical or judg-mental,” she explains. “Sometimes we listen to music or look at outfits in magazines together.” “Girls know when you’re paying attention, and your tone and body lan-

guage speak louder than words,” con-firms Eliza. She also notes that, “How was your day?” doesn’t work as well as the more specific, “How did your test go?” As with any relationship, there are occasional conflicts and misunderstand-ings, but there’s always potential for repair. Eliza and Sil encourage mothers and daughters to reconnect through the repair process; with heartfelt restoration, the bond grows stronger.

Helpful ActivitiesEveryone benefits from regularly scheduled quality time together. Sil advises, “For households with sib-lings, this can mean 10 one-on-one minutes a day for each kid. When both parents aren’t under the same roof, technology can help—face time is better than texting, whether it’s through a screen or not.” Some mother-daughter teams enjoy taking dance classes together, having movie dates or pairing up as vol-unteers. At their weekend workshops, the Reynolds engage in projects and conversations about what it means to invite spirituality and a sense of sacred-

ness into one’s life. Sil sees firsthand how many mothers and daughters are “hungry for spiritual depth.” Heather’s family makes dinners, school vacations and church activities a priority, including a youth program. She says, “Through our church, we are blessed to have caring, Christian adults we trust to help guide and raise our kids and help formulate their morals. It’s a place where it’s okay to question beliefs and share differing viewpoints.” Many moms seek better bonds with their daughters than what they experienced as teens. Heather notes, “I only see my mother a couple times a year, and when I do, I give her an extra hug and apologize [both jokingly and seriously] for my own teen years. Now, having teen girls of my own, I get how hard it is, and I tell her that every time I see her.”

For more information and tools, visit MotheringAndDaughtering.com.

Meredith Montgomery publishes Natural Awakenings of Mobile/Baldwin, AL (HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com).


communityspotlight

In Sanskrit, the word yana means a vehicle or method of getting

somewhere. Amber LaPointe, owner and founder of YANA Yoga & Wellness in Malta, be-lieves that yoga can be a powerful vehicle to physi-cal, spiritual, emotional or mental growth. “At YANA, we tend to cater to beginner to intermedi-ate students,” she says. “We play around with inversions and arm bal-ances in some of our classes, but we call it playtime.” “We want people to try new things and push their boundaries in a lighthearted, non-competitive, safe environment,” LaPointe adds. YANA offers a wide variety of yoga classes and services, including gentle/beginner, intermediate, prenatal, kids, family and specialty workshops. YANA also offers Pilates, personal training and Reiki/en-ergy healing classes. LaPointe is an experienced, reg-istered yoga teacher with more than 2,500 hours of teaching experience. She opened YANA five years ago after spending two years sharing space with a Pilates studio. “When people walk into my studio, I want them to feel their load lighten,” LaPointe says. “I want the at-mosphere and attitude of the studio and teachers to allow people to feel comfort-able and relaxed. We just couldn’t get that in the shared space.” Just like her studio, LaPointe says she likes to run her business in a comfort-able, laid back manner. Despite holding a business degree, LaPointe doesn’t waste energy on fancy computer systems. “I like to keep things simple and easy,” she says. “Although I have a business to run, I want my energy going to my students.”

Finding new teachers that share her philosophy can be a challenge. LaPointe says, “I want to keep a sense of community at the studio, so I only hire teachers with a good amount of experience who follow certain alignment guidelines and don’t teach at other studios. I stand behind this philosophy, but it can make finding the right yoga teachers a challenge.”

At one point, LaPointe found run-ning the business a challenge and seri-ously thought about closing down the studio. “But then, I received an email from a client thanking me for helping them and how much having a place like YANA to go to meant to them,” she says. “That was it for me. I shifted my focus and kept plugging along, and I am so glad I did.” LaPointe says she is not done growing her studio and hopes to expand workshops and even offer retreats for her students. “We are hop-ing to move to a bigger, more promi-nent space within the next year or two,” she says. “We want a location that makes us more visible and easy to find. We are working on becoming a yoga school and hope to start offer-ing a yoga teacher training by the end of the year.”

YANA Yoga & Wellness is located in the Malta Commons, 100 Saratoga Vil-lage Blvd., Ste. 42, in Malta. For more information, call 518-522-5472 or visit YanaYoga.net.

Phil Gutis is a writer, editor and con-tributor to Natural Awakenings maga-zine. Connect at [email protected].

Amber LaPointe Takes Her Business To Heart

by Phil Gutis

Amber LaPointe


fitbody

Lois Parker Carmona first stepped into a yoga studio looking for better physical health. “I was doing hot

vinyasa because I wanted to sweat. I wanted to feel better,” she recalls. Many people on a similar quest try yoga for the first time during Septem-ber’s National Yoga Month (YogaHealthFoundation.org/yoga_month), founded by Johannes Fisslinger. “This year, more than 2,200 yoga studios will offer in-formative public events or a free week of classes to new students to educate everyone about the health benefits of yoga and inspire a healthy lifestyle,” says Fisslinger. “Yoga and mindfulness are an essential part of America’s newly emerging health paradigm.” Like many others, as Carmona deepened her practice, she discovered that yoga’s benefits transcend the physi-cal. Then she went further, becoming a certified Baptiste yoga instructor and co-owner of Melrose Yoga, in Melrose, Massachusetts. “Many of us are so busy and consumed with the constant motion of day-to-day ac-tivities that we lose complete track of who we are, along with the state of our bod-ies,” she says. “Yoga recon-nects me with myself.”

FlexibilityOne reason that people try yoga is to improve their flexibility. A recent report from Yoga Alliance, a nonprofit associa-tion based in Arlington, Virginia, states that it can improve flexibility and mo-bility and increase range of motion over time as ligaments, tendons and muscles lengthen and become more elastic. It also helps relieve muscular tension throughout the body. The Alliance’s Danica Amore notes that flexibility means different things to different people. “A senior might define flexibility as being able to pick up the grandkids, while young people might consider it essential to their athletic abilities.” Flexibility can also mean being able to turn around easily while backing out of the driveway or running with fewer injuries, adds Carmona.

Improvements in flexibility generally depend on an individu-al’s age, health and commitment to practicing yoga, as well as the

style chosen. “There are so many different lineages of yoga, and each teacher has his or her own style. Plus, each individual progresses at their own pace,” Amore explains. “It’s really a ques-tion of where you want this personal practice to take you and how you embrace it in your private life.” The bottom line is that every-one’s journey is different.

Say Yes to YogaIt Boosts Health, Peace, Community and Spiritualityby Lynda Bassett


Mental HealthMany experts concur that yoga can be effective in reducing stress. As students continue their practice, they feel less stress and an increased sense of peace and relaxation, along with other mental health benefits. “Yoga gives you what is often called a ‘witness consciousness’,” says John Kepner, executive director of the International Association of Yoga Thera-pists, in Little Rock, Arkansas. “Being able to observe the external events around you, but not being caught up in the drama. In modern terms, it’s an increased ability to stay cool, calm and collected. After a good yoga class, your troubles can appear further away.”

Improved RelationshipsWhen stress is reduced, an increased sense of calm tends to permeate all areas of one’s life, observes Kepner. “Based on my experience, yoga also helps improve relationships.” He has taught the same group of students for 10 years and notes their special relationship: “If one goes to the same yoga class regularly, a friendship tends to develop with others in the class, called Songhai. After a while, practicing together becomes one of the most valu-able parts of the practice,” he says. This beneficial, deeper sense of community—a major allure of a long-term yoga practice—develops mainly from the intangible sense of working together in terms of physical, mental and spiritual support.

Spirituality and Connectedness“Even beginning students quickly real-ize how connecting with their bodies and their breath helps them in their everyday lives,” says Carmona. “It adds a transcendent dimension to everything you do in life.” In addition to its more immediate tangible benefits, other long-term ben-efits experienced by students may be harder to define or quantify. Carmona observes, “People generally say that yoga has changed their life, physically, mentally and spiritually.”

Lynda Bassett is a freelance writer outside Boston, MA. Connect at [email protected].


creativespotlight

Australian musician singer, songwriter and activist Xavier Rudd recently released his ninth

studio album and will be performing in Boston, Massachusetts, and New York City in early May. Known for his progressive politics and championing of environmental and Aboriginal issues, Rudd’s environmentalism is deeply rooted. He says, “I come from a fairly carbon-neutral existence in a small town in the bush. Over time, as my music became popular, it lent itself to supporting environmental issues and organizations.” His live shows host information ta-bles for conservation societies, and he’s played myriad performances in support of environmental causes such as marine wildlife conservation, anti-fracking and land preservation for wilderness, culture and heritage. Rudd’s passion for the environ-ment is evident in his folk- and reg-gae-infused music that often features socially charged lyrics. He says, “The

spirit of the land is hugely influential all the time. The natural world is in all of my music and it has a place in all of my songs. Music has been connecting cultures and people to land since the beginning of time and the way we use music to spread the message of envi-ronmental protection to the world now is a modern version of that.” In the past, Rudd’s onstage one-man-band setup included a half-dozen guitar choices, three didgeridoos and different styles of native drum. For Nanna, his latest album, he is joined by The United Nations, a band of international musicians with diverse musical influence. The band is symbol-ic of the message that all people of the world can come together and return to spirit, respect the ancient ways, and protect the Earth and the very essence of creation. As they set out on tour in support of their new album, Rudd notes the challenges of being on the road. “The touring industry—diesel tour buses and

power-sucking PA systems—is not very sustainable, and to leave my sustain-able home to go on tour… it can feel a little toxic.” Having previously worked with Clif Bar’s GreenNotes program to reduce the environmental impact of his tours, he seeks out green options when possible, citing the use of recycled stock; choosing sustainable, eco-friendly mer-chandise; and requesting reusable dishes for use backstage. Rudd’s eco-consciousness is evident in his personal life, as well. As an avid surfer, Rudd feels particularly connected to the Earth when he’s on the water. “There’s not another way to get as close to dancing with mother nature as you do when surfing. It’s like you’re the only human being that will connect with that pulse of energy of the Earth at that moment. You just move with it and do a dance with it,” he reflects. His family built a self-suffi-cient home that features a standalone solar system, worm farm sewage and grey water system, rainwater collection and a hydronic heating system. Voted PETA’s World’s Sexiest Vegan in 2007, Rudd chose a vegetarian lifestyle early on, because “it’s what has always felt good for my system.” But he was inspired to advocate against factory farming, animal testing and animals in the entertainment industry after his first trip to America. “I remember a hor-rible stink for 20 miles between San Francisco and L.A. and seeing cows just stacked upon each other, eating out of each other’s waste, with no green grass in sight.” When he arrived at his desti-nation and inquired about the scene, he was told it was the main beef supplier in California. Rudd is an advocate for change, saying that while there is a lot of devas-tation in the world, a slow awakening is taking place. “There is a lot of positive stuff happening, but it needs to be in-creased. It needs to gather momentum and people need to do whatever they can every day.”

For more information and tour details, visit XavierRudd.com.

Meredith Montgomery publishes Natural Awakenings in Mobile/Baldwin, Alabama.

Xavier Rudd’s Music with a Message

by Meredith Montgomeryp

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RETHINKING CANCERA Brave New World of Effective Natural Therapies

by Linda Sechrist

affects the entire body, not something that can be cut out, killed or poisoned. “Central to healing and prevention is the elimination of things that fuel the growth of cancer cells, such as sugar, toxins, heavy metals, nutrient-deficient processed foods and an acidic environ-ment in the body,” observes Francis. “Regular exercise, a daily, high-quality multivitamin and detoxification are equally crucial to restoring the body’s biological terrain.” Doctor of Naturopathy Judy Seeger, founder of CancerCleanseCamp.com and host of CancerAnswers.TV and Cancer Winner Radio, recommends both a regular detoxification regimen and ongoing healthy nutritional plan to help maintain a healing alkaline envi-ronment. While this helps cleanse the body of environmental toxins, the toxic emotions and stress that produce acid, weaken the immune system and create an environment for cancer to propa-gate, must also be dealt with. Experts generally agree on a range of basic, commonsense preventive mea-sures that include a low-fat, plant-based diet; aerobic, flexibility and strength exercises; healthy sleep habits; and other stress-reducing activities. “These are basic ingredients for maintaining sound health, and can be crucial toward improving the health of an individual with cancer,” says Dr. Keith Block, the “father of integrative oncology,” and author of Life Over Cancer. He founded The Block Center for Integra-tive Cancer Treatment, in Skokie, Illinois, that customizes care plans based on each person’s medical, biochemical, physical, nutritional and psychosocial needs.

Nourish BiochemistryThousands of cancer patients have outlived their “medical expiration date” by using alternative nontoxic treatments and approaches, many of which are documented in Outsmart Your Cancer, by Tanya Harter Pierce. Lou Dina, a cancer survivor who like Francis, underwent a journey of intensive research, became a patient ad-vocate and authored Cancer: A Rational Approach to Long-Term Recovery. Dina speaks at conventions hosted by the Foundation for Advancement in Cancer Therapy (FACT), founded in 1971 by Ruth Sackman. He also appears with

Susan Silberstein takes her message for preventing cancer and recur-rences to medical and nursing

schools, continuing oncology nursing education programs and universities from her BeatCancer.org headquarters in Richboro, Pennsylvania. The nonprofit organization provides research-based education and counseling on how to prevent, cope with and beat cancer through immune-boosting holistic ap-proaches. Since 1977, it has helped nearly 30,000 cancer patients and more than 50,000 prevention seekers. “Early detection is better than late detection, but it’s not prevention,” says Silberstein, who taught the psychology of health and disease at Pennsylvania’s

Immaculata University. “We focus on building up patients—minimizing treat-ment side effects, enhancing immune system function, improving nutritional status and addressing the reasons for sickness in the first place.” “Conventional medicine never addresses the cause, which is a process that needs to be understood so the individual can turn it off,” elaborates Massachusetts Institute of Technology-trained scientist Raymond Francis, au-thor of Never Fear Cancer Again: How to Prevent and Reverse Cancer. Based on his experience beating cancer and research into cellular biochemistry and molecular biology, he concluded that the disease is a biological process that


When it comes to one’s lifetime risk of cancer, healthy diet and lifestyle choices can make all the difference.

~ Susan Silberstein, Ph.D., founder and president of the Center for Advancement in Cancer Education

other survivors in the FACT docu-mentary based on Sackman’s book, Rethinking Cancer: Non-Traditional Approaches to the Theories, Treatments and Prevention of Cancer. From decades of findings by international clinicians, FACT edu-cates practitioners and patients to view chronic degenerative diseases as systematic malfunctions caused by breakdowns in the balance of body chemistry that are subject to bio-repair. However manifested, they are viewed as correctable and controllable via an individualized program that includes a balanced diet of whole, unprocessed, organic foods—spurred by Gerson therapy that floods the body with organically grown nutrients—supple-mentation and detoxification. Other key measures involve body tempera-ture therapy, cellular and stem cell therapies and the use of botanicals. “Nutrients in food directly impact the mechanisms by which cancer cells grow and spread,” explains Block. “They also indirectly impact cancer by changing the surrounding biochemical conditions that either promote or inhibit the progres-sion of malignant disease. This is why targeting only tumors is not enough to quash cancer. Conventional cancer thera-pies almost inevitably leave behind at least a small number of malignant cells. Your internal biochemical terrain plays an integral role in determining whether a tu-mor will regain a foothold after treatment,

metastasize to distant sites or stay where it is without posing a threat.” Block notes that a healthy bio-chemistry can help prevent unpleasant and possibly life-threatening, complica-tions. An anti-cancer biochemical ter-rain will even boost a patient’s overall quality of life. At the Block Center, detailed assessments identify disrup-tions in six defining features of patients’ biochemical terrain—oxidation, inflam-mation, immunity, blood coagulation, glycemia and stress chemistry. Cancer thrives on terrain disruptions, which also can impair treatment.

Focus on High-Impact FoodsKathy Bero, founder of NuGenesis Inc., in Stone Bank, Wisconsin, asks, “How many other lives could be saved if doc-tors prescribed a diet primarily focused on plant-based, angiogenic-inhibiting foods for all cancer patients?” Angiogenesis is the development of new blood vessels. Cancer turns the body against itself by hijacking the angiogenesis process and keeping it permanently activated, ensuring that cancerous cells receive a dedicated, un-interrupted blood supply. “To effectively prevent cancer, inflammation and angio-genesis need to be controlled before a tumor can get a foothold,” advises Bero. Bero has personally beaten back two unrelated aggressive forms of cancer and credits the angiogenic-inhibiting foods in clinical research at the Medi-


cal College of Wisconsin, in Milwaukee, and the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha. Examples include green tea, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, apples, grapefruit, lemons, tomatoes, cinnamon, kale, grape seed oil and pomegranate. “These foods also played a significant role in strength-ening my immune system and restoring my overall health, which was radically affected by many rounds of chemothera-py and radiation,” remarks Bero.

Boost Recuperative PowersPatrick Quillin, Ph.D., a former vice president of nutrition for a national network of cancer hospitals and author of The Wisdom and Healing Power of Whole Foods and Beating Cancer with Nutrition, recommends a triple threat. “Cancer requires a threefold treatment approach to create a synergis-tic response. Teaming up to reduce the tumor burden without harming the patient, re-regulate the cancer to normal healthy tissue and nourish the patient’s recuperative powers is far better than any one approach,” says Quillin. He maintains that restrained medical interventions, ap-propriate nutrition and naturopathic approaches can bol-ster nonspecific natural defense mechanisms to reverse the underlying cause of the disease. “Nutrition and traditional oncology treatments are synergistic, not antagonistic, as many oncologists believe,” advises Quillin. Glenn Sabin, founder of FON Therapeutics, similarly sug-gests that multi-interventional, outcome-based studies, akin to Dr. Dean Ornish’s approach to prostate cancer, could greatly benefit conventional oncology. Sabin recounts his Harvard Medical School-documented remission of advanced leukemia in his upcoming book, N-of-1: How One Man’s Triumph Over Terminal Cancer is Changing the Medical Establishment. Sabin turned to therapeutic nutrition, neutraceuticals, stress reduction and exercise to become a 22-year cancer “thriver” without the aid of conventional therapies. He also emphasizes the importance of the psychological and psycho-social aspects of healing with the cancer patients he coaches. “If you don’t have your head in the game, it’s hard to make anything else work for you,” counsels Sabin.

Understand the Connection Silberstein and other leading physicians, including Dr. Tien-Sheng Hsu, a Chinese psychiatrist and author of the Secret to Healing Cancer; Dr. Jingduan Yang, a board-certified psy-chiatrist and founder and medical director of the Tao Institute

of Mind & Body Medicine; and Seeger, believe that the mind and spirit play a significant role in healing. “Cancer begins in the spirit and ends up in the body, which is why I recommend that anyone positively diagnosed read the Cancer Report,” remarks Silberstein. Cancer Report, co-written by John R. Voell and Cynthia A. Chatfield, dis-cusses psychoneuroimmunology and the powerful role that the mind, emotions and spirit play in contributing to or resist-ing disease and healing even the most terminal of cancers (Tinyurl.com/VoellCancerReport). Yang and Hsu, who also use acupuncture protocols, believe illness is a reflection of inner problems that disrupt the body’s naturally powerful immune system. “Cancer is a symptom delivering a message: You need to take better care of yourself—emotionally, chemically, physically and spiritually,” says Yang. As a faculty member of the Univer-sity of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, Yang sees firsthand how few patients understand that the trauma of a diagnosis and treatment can reactivate past traumas, un-resolved issues, blockages and repressed emotions. Both he and Hsu offer mind/body/spirit interventions to help patients cope better. “I talk to people who do all the right things to improve their biochemistry, but without an emotional detox and spiritual connection to something larger than themselves, their healing process tends to stall,” Seeger observes. Her online talk shows feature long-term cancer survivors like Dr. Carl Helvie, author of You Can Beat Lung Cancer Using Alternative/Integrative Interventions. “It all comes down to the microcosm of the cell. If we give our 73 trillion cells everything they need, the macro-cosm of the body will function properly,” says Francis. The authors of Cancer Killers, Dr. Charles Majors, Dr. Ben Le-rner and Sayer Ji, agree. Up till now, they attest that the war on cancer has been almost exclusively an assault on the disease, rather than an enlightened preventive campaign that clearly identifies and counters how cancer develops. “The battle can only be won by instructing people in how to boost their body’s immune responses to kill cancer cells before they face a full-blown diagnosis and showing them how to aggressively address the hostile exterior agents that turn healthy cells cancerous.” The best winning strategy is to naturally nurture a body—structurally, chemically, energetically, emotionally and spiritually—so that the inner terrain naturally kills cancer cells and stops them from growing.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Visit ItsAllAboutWe.com for the recorded interviews.

I talk to people who do all the right things to improve their biochemistry, but without an emotional detox and spiritual

connection to something larger than them-

selves, their healing process tends to stall.

~ Doctor of Naturopathy Judy Seeger


We’ve been conditioned to nar-rowly define breast health in terms of pink ribbon cam-

paigns, cancer awareness marches and cold, steel mammography machines. Nearly 30 years after anticancer drug maker Imperial Chemical Industries (now AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals) estab-lished the first National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October 1985, many women have come to equate healthy breasts with cancer-free breasts, and assume the most important thing they can do is undergo regular screening. But amid this chorus, some women’s health advocates are striving to get a dif-ferent message across: There are a host of steps women can take to not only fend off disease in the future, but keep their breasts in optimal condition today. “We need to change the conversation about our breasts from how to avoid breast cancer and detect it early to how to have healthy breasts and enjoy them,” says Dr. Christiane Northrup, an obstetrician and gynecologist from Yarmouth, Maine, and author of the new book Goddesses Never Age: The Secret Prescription for Radiance, Vitality, and Well-Being.

Healthy Breasts, Healthy BodyIn adolescence, breast changes are the first to signal the arrival of womanhood. When she’s aroused, a woman’s nipples harden and change color. When a woman gives birth, her breasts fill with life-giving milk. “In all these ways, your breasts are deeply connected to your femininity, compassion and sensuality,” says Hawaiian Naturopathic Doctor Laurie Steelsmith, co-author of Natural

Choices for Women’s Health. Because breasts are extremely sensitive to hor-monal fluctuations throughout the body, they can also serve as a barometer of overall health. “If you’re having chronic breast symptoms, it can be your body’s wisdom saying, ‘Help. Something’s wrong.’ Women need to listen.” While some premenstrual swelling and tenderness is normal, exaggerated or persistent pain is often a sign of sys-temic estrogen dominance in relation to progesterone. It’s common in the years leading up to menopause, but can also hint at impaired thyroid function, because low levels of thyroid hormones have been shown to boost estrogen in breast tissue, advises Steelsmith. Large, fluid-filled cysts or fibrous lumps, while non-cancerous, can also be a reflection of overexposure to harmful chemicals and toxin buildup, combined with poor lymph flow, notes Dr. Eliza-beth Vaughan, an integrative physician in Greensboro, North Carolina. “If a woman has lumpy, bumpy breasts, they probably contain too many toxins, and those toxins are primarily estrogenic.” Addressing such symptoms is important not only to relieve discomfort, but also because excess estrogen can fuel future

cancer risk, says Vaughan. Any new, suspicious lump should be evaluated by a professional. Also, severe breast tenderness combined with nipple discharge could be a sign of infection or a problem with the pituitary gland, so it should also be checked. But typically, subtle natural healthcare steps can go a long way toward restoring breast wellness. For nipple tenderness, Steelsmith recommends chaste-tree berry (175 milligrams [mg] of powdered extract or 40 drops daily). The herbal supplement mimics naturally occurring progester-one in the body, helping to counter estrogen dominance. Vitamin E (400 to 800 international units [IU] per day) and evening primrose oil (1,500 mg twice a day) have also been shown to alleviate breast tenderness. For fibrous or cyst-filled breasts, Vaughan advises supplementing with iodine (up to 12.5 mg per day via kelp, seaweed or oral tablets) or applying an iodine solution to the breasts at night. A key constituent of thyroid hormones, iodine helps the liver convert un-friendly forms of estrogen into friend-lier forms and flush toxins out of lymph nodes in the breast. Also, steer clear of chocolate and coffee, because caf-feine is

RETHINKING BREAST HEALTHNatural ways to keep breasts smooth, pain-free

and firm, while reducing the risk of cancer.

by Lisa Marshall


believed to interact with enzymes in the breast, exaggerating pain and lumpiness. Also consider ditching the bra, says Vaughan. Brassieres can constrict lymph nodes and hinder blood circula-tion in breasts, locking toxins in and ag-gravating fibrocystic symptoms. The link between bras and breast cancer risk remains hotly debated, with one 2014 U.S. National Cancer Institute study of 1,400 women concluding unequivo-cally that, “There’s no evidence that wearing a bra increases a woman’s risk of breast cancer,” while smaller studies from the United States, China, Venezu-ela, Scotland and Africa suggest a link. Vaughan, the founder of BraFree.org, says the science is compelling enough that she has chosen to keep her own bra use to a minimum and advises her patients to do the same. “Obviously, there are certain sports where you should wear a sports bra and there are certain dresses that only look right with a bra,” says Vaughan. At a minimum, avoid wearing a bra to bed and steer clear of underwires and overly tight bras that leave red marks. “This is not about guilt-tripping women into never wearing a bra. It’s about wearing a bra less.”

Beautiful Breasts NaturallyToo small or too big, lopsided or riddled with stretch marks… it seems almost every woman has a complaint about the

appearance of her breasts. That’s a prob-lem, says Northrup, because, “Healthy breasts are breasts that are loved. We have to stop beating them up.” According to the American So-ciety of Plastic Surgeons, the number of women getting breast implants for cosmetic reasons ballooned from 212,500 in 2000 to 286,254 in 2014. Physicians—including Northrup—claim that modern implants don’t, in the majority of cases, promote disease like older silicone implants did. Yet even plastic surgeons warn that having implants should be fully thought out, and at some point they’ll probably have to come out. “They are manmade devices, and are not intended to be lifelong. At some point, you will prob-ably have to have further surgery,” says Dr. Anureet Bajaj, an Oklahoma City plastic surgeon. Bajaj notes that implants can rupture, forming scar tissue and lending irregular shape to the breast. Often, as a woman ages and her body changes, the larger breasts she chose in her 20s no longer look right and may cause back and shoulder pain. In some cases, implants can also lead to loss of nipple sensitivity. For these and other reasons, 23,774 women—including actress Melissa Gilbert and model Victoria Beckham—had their implants removed in 2014, often following up with a breast lift (using their own tissue) to restore their shape.

Vaughan sees breast implant re-moval as a wise and courageous choice to restore optimal breast health. Better yet, don’t get implants in the first place. “There are a lot of other things you can do to improve the appearance of your breasts,” she advises. Vaughan recommends breast-perking exercises like dumbbell bench presses and flys that tone the pectoral muscles beneath the breasts, making them more resilient and look larger. To prevent or reverse sagging, she again urges women to go bra-free. “We have ligaments in the upper outer quad-rant of our breasts called Cooper’s ligaments, and they’re responsible for holding our breasts up. Just like your muscles atrophy when you put your arm in a sling, your Cooper’s ligaments atrophy if you wear a bra all the time.” In one unpublished, yet highly publicized 2013 study, French Exer-cise Physiologist Jean-Denis Rouillon measured the busts of 330 women ages 18 to 35 over a period of 15 years and found those that regularly wore a bra had droopier breasts with lower nipples than those that didn’t. In another, smaller, Japanese study, researchers found that when women stopped wear-ing a bra for three months, their breasts perked up. Those worried about stretch marks also have options. They can be a sign of inadequate copper, which promotes collagen integrity and helps skin stretch without injury, says Steelsmith. If rapid weight gain is occurring due to adoles-cence, pregnancy or for other reasons, try taking copper supplements or apply-ing a topical copper spray on the breasts. Remember to massage your breasts daily, not only as a “search and destroy mission” for early detection of cancer-ous lumps, says Northrup, but as a way to get waste products flowing out and loving energy flowing in. “It concerns me that women feel pressured to think of their breasts as two potentially pre-malignant lesions sitting on their chests,” Northrup says. “These are organs of nourishment and pleasure for both ourselves and others. We need to remember that, too.”

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


There is an intruder determined to establish a permanent lodg-

ing within our bodies. Striking those of us not accustomed to its existence, its discovery evokes silence, disbelief and confusion. “Men don’t get breast cancer,” echoes in our numbed minds as we suddenly confront a struggle so many women have endured. Breast cancer’s tenacity is unparalleled, for it recognizes no boundaries and harbors no sense of discrimination. It is an equal opportunity invader. It hits hard, it hits home and it strikes fear. Male breast cancer awareness and treatment is in its infancy. In 2014, the National Cancer Institute projected more that than 2,300 men will be diagnosed and more than 400 will die of the disease each year, but that assumption may reflect only men that seek out early medi-cal treatment. For many, the discovery of a lump induces fear and denial, yet any reluctance to act invites this toxic interloper further into our systems. Unfortunately, the thought that permeates the minds of many men is, “I will travel this road alone.” We then retreat into a cocoon, in hopes of concealing the reality. We cling to the hope that it is all a dream, but it is not. As we embark on a treatment designed for women, the rarity of this dis-ease becomes clear. Alone and frustrated, we sense an inner desire for change, so emerging from our self-created cocoon, we tune in to all the information around us and begin a much-needed conversation.

Learning from the teachers we have; the thousands of courageous women that have and are still jour-neying with this disease, we begin to open up. In revealing who we are and how breast cancer affects us, we connect with other men, dispelling the sense of isolation. We listen and share our frustra-tions, thoughts, losses and fears. Trust in conversation guides us to inform not only our daughters, wives, sisters and mothers, but also our sons, partners, brothers and fathers about cancer’s poisonous reach. We gain the courage to be tested for the BRCA gene, recogniz-ing that information is power and knowledge means life. Amidst the multiple surgeries, decisions, mastectomies and scars, through our connections and con-versations, we reclaim the power we had granted to fear and cancer. We release our shame and embar-rassment, knowing that we are not alone, for each of us possesses the self-compassion, strength, spirit and belief that we can, we will and we are thriving in the face of breast cancer.

For more information on male breast cancer, survivor stories and an upcoming documentary, visit MaleBreastCancerCoalition.org and MenHaveBreastsToo.com.

Michael Kovarik, a breast cancer sur-vivor and resident of Greenwich, NY, is the author of Healing Within: My Journey with Breast Cancer. Contact him at [email protected] and on Facebook/Michael Kovarik.

Male Breast CancerWe Are Not Alone

by Michael W. Kovarik


“Get down off your cross.” Harsh words, especially coming from a longtime hospital chaplain

when the woman she was addressing had just learned she was cancer-free. Regardless, “Within two minutes, she started retelling the story of her diagnosis, surgery and chemo,” recounted Debra Jarvis, affectionately known as “The Ir-reverent Reverend”, during a TEDMED talk in Washington, D.C. “She was using words like suffering, agony, struggle... and ended with, ‘I felt crucified.’” It was then that Jarvis asked this woman to do what would likely require more of her than anything she’d done before. Over the years, Jarvis has observed the tendency for us to identify our-selves by our wounds as “survivors” of something that does not and should not define us. “What if people decided to claim their trauma as an experience, in-stead of taking it on as an identity?” she queries. “Maybe it would be the start of defining ourselves by who we have become and who we are becoming.” As Jarvis well knows, there are, in her words, “powerful forces” push-ing us to do just the opposite. In 2005, she found herself in the same position as her friend, having recovered from cancer and trying to sort out what it all meant. “We don’t all have to start a foundation or write a book,” to

inspiration

MOVING BEYOND SURVIVALOur True IdentitySurpasses Any Diseaseby Eric Nelson

claim meaning for ourselves, she says. “Maybe we make one small decision that can bring about a big change.” For some, this has meant exchang-ing a disease-prone view of themselves for a more inspired outlook. Too often, though, mustering the humility to adopt such a perspective can seem just as dif-ficult as climbing down from whatever tortuous experience we’re clinging to. Yet, it’s essential. As those familiar with the Bible know, a central event of Jesus’ life, his crucifixion, was followed by his even more compelling resurrection, a term that thought leader Mary Baker Eddy describes as “spiritualization of thought; a new and higher idea of immortality, or spiritual existence; material belief yielding to spiritual understanding.” The good news is that such trans-formation is not exclusive, but available to anyone. Whether it’s at the urging of a chaplain or another counselor or our own divine inspiration that’s encourag-ing us to move on, we owe it to our-selves to begin discovering who and what we really are.

Eric Nelson is a Christian Science heal-ing practitioner from Petaluma, CA, who writes on the link between spiritual consciousness and health. Find more articles at norcalcs.org.


wisewords

Pierre Zimmerman, MS, is the organi-zational consultant

and ordained Buddhist chaplain in end-of-life care and director of One Big Roof, in Saratoga Springs. He has been working in behavioral and elder health care for more than 30 years in many ca-pacities and now mentors chaplaincy students at the Upaya Zen Institute, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Zimmerman received mindfulness train-ing at the University of Massachusetts Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care and Society with Jon Kabat-Zinn, Saki Santorelli, and Diana Kamila to teach Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. Thirteen years ago, he was diagnosed with stage four transi-tional cell carcinoma and given four months to live.

How did you beat your cancer?I am not sure as to what determinants were effective; there were probably as many as there are variables for so many of us being diagnosed with the big C. One assumption, fundamentally, I dare say, has lot to do with attitude. What I mean by that is that there are correla-tions and cause and effect between the mind, the body and the immune system and how they function or become dys-functional. We all have cancer cells in our body. The questions then becomes which particular people have cells that become malignant, what gives the impetus for those to propagate and how do they vanish or come back with a mission after remission?

Facing Cancer with an Attitude

by Martin Miron

Why do you call cancer cells “terrorist cells”?Edwin Friedman, in his book A Failure of Nerve, explains that normal cells have a specific identity and gravitate towards other cells that have similar functions; they specialize in order to contribute to the overall functioning of the larger body. They communicate with other cells in a mu-

tually reciprocal network that regulates each other’s growth and behavior and they become cooperative. They know when to quit and have a gene for self-destruction when they are dangerous to the host, which is a formidable altruistic phenomenon: built-in bodhisattva cells! Malignant cells differ from nor-mal cells in all the respects men-tioned, and they lose their capacity for self-definition; they are un-self-regulating, reproduce uncontrollably, compete and instead of self-destruct-ing, they are capable of killing their host. They are rogue cells and I label them terrorist cells.

Do you feel special about being a survivor?I don’t call myself a survivor. When I was ill, I believed that all the cells in my body and mind were working their way towards optimum health. Dealing with cancer is not waging war, wear-ing a pink bow or simply dealing with physical symptoms; it is about being at ease in one’s body and mind. Even when clinical pathways and interven-tions fail, one always has unlimited op-

Pierre Zimmerman


tions and opportunities to be fully alive. It is a journey of going deep into our interior territories to look at how we define ourself, regulate overwhelm-ing emotions, create balance between doing and being and relate and connect to the world around us. We need healthy food, physical activities, sound values, a sane ethical outlook, coherence and cultivate loving kind-ness and compassion for ourselves. It also means holding the awareness that there are real limitations as to how much control we have in life and discerning the options between facing what we are dealt with and how much we can let go of, which will then serve us and others boundlessly.

How does the existence of can-cer fit into your worldview?Whether with cancer or any major problem, there are deep secondary levels of factors and conditions for their existence, and any surface reac-tionary intervention or quick fix only compromises or adds additional issues. On one hand, we are creating systems and chemicals that poison our Earth, food, water, air, space, bodies and our minds. On the other hand, there are many elements and strategies currently in motion to remove those insidious elements and noxious poisons. Cancer treatment is big business and has been a very generous income generator for healthcare systems and pharmaceutical companies. At the same time, they have also made available treatments that are trying to balance efficacy with toxicity, targeting specific areas and genomes and extending life for many.

What do you say to fellow trav-elers on the post-cancer path?I am honored to serve them and witness how they enhance their quality of life. Life is not a gamble and there are no caveats for knowing who comes out of disease and who doesn’t. For those who do, our spirit is strong; we know we have more inner work to do and be awake, for it is clear that the purpose of life is a life of purpose, all the way to the last breath.

Contact Zimmerman at 413-992-7012. For more information, about One Big Roof, visit OneRoofSaratoga.com.

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Robert A. Weissberg, M.D., opened his first integrative medicine

practice in 1999. The very first patient had a diagnosis of both ovarian and uterine cancer. Upon receiving the diagnosis, she decided that she would take an integra-tive approach, accepting the proposed surgery, chemo-therapy and radiation, but also utilizing complementary therapies. She had obtained a consultation with a well-respected integrative oncology group in the Midwest and recommended therapy included specific diet changes, multiple supplements, herbal products, yoga and meditation. Treatment included Reiki, an energetic healing practice from Japan. “My patient did very well,” says Weissberg. “We worked with the complementary program, consulting periodically with the Midwest integra-tive oncology group and followed lab studies, as well as her clinical re-sponses. I offered Reiki periodically, in order to support the therapies she was receiving, while reducing the side ef-fects. Reiki was particularly effective in reducing the side effects of the chemo-therapy and radiation treatments. Not only did she do extremely well with the treatment, but her side effects were limited to hair loss, reduced appetite and mild urinary symptoms.” Weissberg feels that the oppor-tunity to work with this patient at the beginning of his full engagement with integrative medicine was a gift, opening a window for him to the vast potential of this growing field. “Since then, I have worked with many other people with cancer and other severe and complex ill-nesses,” he states. “Some have done very well, some not as well, but I feel that all benefitted from the broader perspectives

and paradigms of integrative medicine, which supports and enhances the best practices of conventional medicine and is applicable in all areas of wellness and healing promotion. According to the noted Dr. Andrew Weil, of the University of Arizona, integrative medicine is a healing-oriented philoso-phy that takes account of the whole person (body,

mind and spirit), including all aspects of lifestyle. It emphasizes the thera-peutic relationship and makes use of all appropriate therapies, both conven-tional and alternative. Weissberg explains that the ap-proaches and practices which constitute integrative medicine have had an influ-ence and taken root in many conven-tional settings, ranging from St. Peter’s Hospital, in Albany, and St. Mary’s, in Amsterdam, to a number of prominent centers such as Sloan-Kettering Me-morial, in New York, Dana Farber, in Boston, and the Cleveland Clinic. “The integrative approach is widely applicable in all areas of health, wellness and illness,” professes Weissberg. “After 32 years of medical practice in a variety of settings, I have chosen over the past year to focus on the deeply healing practice of Reiki. For me, as I offer and teach it, Reiki involves a direct engagement with the healing process wherever it is needed. I currently offer and teach Reiki in downtown Troy, and welcome inqui-ries and comments.”

Robert A. Weissberg, M.D., conducts sessions in traditional Reiki at Harmony Building, a Sanctuary for Holistic healing, in Troy. For more information, call 518-390-0299. See ad, page 44.

Integrating New Modalities into Mainstream Medicine

by Wesley Delanoy

Robert A. Weissberg


Since the 1950s, Americans have spent billions of dollars on cancer research and treatments, yet the

epidemic continues. Many doctors, natural health practioners, research-ers and oncologists are going outside of the conventional treatment box and successfully using less invasive and less toxic approaches that support the body’s immune system. Some are even combin-ing alternative approaches with invasive chemotherapy and radiation to reduce the impact of the more toxic treatments. Most alternative approaches have a foundation of highly nutritious foods and healthy diet. This makes sense because real foods provide us with the building blocks we need to have strong and vital bodies. In the current movement toward people taking charge of their own health, it has become apparent to many that the only way to become and stay healthy is to take control of what goes

into our body and to eliminate toxic foods and toxins we are exposed to in our environment. The more an individu-al can eliminate toxic body burdens and boost their immune system, the more incredible health they will experience. Many sick individuals have report-edly restored their health significantly by incorporating an abundance of fresh, organic (when possible) vegetables and fruits into their diets. There are also many published accounts of people experiencing health benefits from juicing fresh fruits and veggies; fasting; eating raw foods, nuts and seeds; eating healthy fats such as butter from grass-fed cows, coconut and olive oils; drink-ing fresh smoothies; avoiding processed and refined foods; and incorporating superfoods such as spirulina, chlorella, medicinal mushrooms and berries. Some people incorporate organic, free-range or wild-caught animal pro-teins, while others promote a predomi-

nately vegetarian diet. We are all indi-viduals, and some people may do well eating animal flesh and others many not be able to process it. Each person has to decide what is best for them. Many natural health practitioners have experienced great results by incor-porating whole food supplements and high-quality herbs into their patients’ and clients’ diet. Often, when trying to rebalance the body toward great health, we are so deficient in certain nutritients that it is impossible to eat enough of the foods that contain those nutrients to get what we need. Taking concen-trated nutritional support in the form of whole food supplements can provide the quantity of nutritients we need to rebuild the body. Because herbs are ac-tually the source of many prescription drugs, more people preferring them to conventional toxic chemicals therapy. Because we have been pro-grammed to think that feeling sick is not

The Connection Between Foods and Cancerby Susan Brown

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acceptable, it takes a while for people to trust that it is a natural part of the body’s healing process. As the body starts to eliminate toxins, if the channels of elimination are congested or slug-gish, such as the bowels, urinary tract, liver, lymphatic system or lungs, toxins can remain in the body longer than they should, which creates an immune response. Detoxification should be undertaken under the care of a health-care provider that understands and has experience helping people through the detox process. Preventing and curing cancer and all diseases requires a person to take control of their own health. With the Internet, doing research is easy, but caution must be exercised as to the authenticity of sources—there are no monitors to filter the truth from fic-tion. Research, read and talk to those that have successfully cured them-selves. Try anything and everything that makes sense. Incorporate mul-tiple approaches. Supporting the body’s healing pro-cess does not have to be expensive. Find a doctor or other health practioner that will support a more natural approach to healing and agrees with our philosophy. Start with a diet overhaul. Safely detoxify the body. Eliminate toxic foods and chemicals and feed the body the nutri-ents it needs to rebalance and thrive.

Susan Brown, MS, CN, a certified nutri-tionist, is the educational coordinator at Vitality Health Center, located at 3441 Amsterdam Rd. (Rte. 5), in Scotia. For more information, call 518-372-4706 or visit GetVitalHealth.com.


greenliving

Each blue recycle bin filled with plastic, aluminum, glass, paper and cardboard helps the environment,

because it reduces landfill, takes less energy to repurpose materials than to make new ones and gently reminds us that thoughtful consumption is health-ier for people and the planet. But what do all those recyclables turn into?

Repurposed PlasticsPlastic milk jugs turn into colorful playthings at Green Toys, of Mill Valley, California. Repurposing one pound of recycled milk jugs instead of making new plastic saves enough energy to run a computer for a month. All packaging is made from recycled content and printed with soy ink, so it can go into the blue bin again. GreenToys.com’s online counter shows the number of containers recycled—more than 10 million to date.

Fila Golf’s Principal Designer Nancy Robitaille says, “Recycled PET (polyethylene

terephthalate), a core Fila cooling fabric,

is used throughout our collection. Each fully recycled PET garment reuses about two-and-a-half 20-ounce plastic pop bottles.” Patagonia customers are encour-aged to return their old coat when buy-ing a new one. Coats in good condition are given to peo-ple in need; the PET fleece lin-ing from retired coats is sent to ReFleece, in Somerville, Mas-sachusetts, where it is cleaned and turned into recyclable protective cases for iPads, e-readers and cell phones. “We expect to make 10,000 cases this year from 2,000 jackets,” says Jen-nifer Fellers, ReFleece’s CEO. “We use low heat to press the cases into shape.” Vancouver, Canada, which plans to be the greenest city in the world by 2020, includes recycled plastic from bags and water bottles in laying down warm asphalt mix for roads because

RECYCLING EVERYDAY

REFUSE

What Happens after the Blue Bin is Emptied

by Avery Mack

it uses less fuel to keep the tar at a pourable temperature. Switching from traditional hot asphalt technology also reduces emissions.

Transforming Aluminum and GlassIn 2012, Do Something.org partnered with Alcoa to chal-lenge teens to recycle aluminum cans. For every 50 cans collected during a two-month period, they were awarded a chance to win a $5,000 scholarship. The sponsors note that recycling one can saves enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb for 20 hours. The final total was 1,152,569 cans kept out of landfills. “Aluminum can be recycled an infinite number of times,” says Beth Schmitt, director of recycling pro-grams for Alcoa, which has centers nationwide and cash-back programs for community fundraisers. “We re-melt the collected cans, then roll out coils of new can sheets. This process can be repeated without any loss of strength—that’s why we call aluminum the ‘miracle metal.’ If every American recycled just one more can per week, we would remove 17 billion cans from landfills each year.”

Wine bottles become designer drinking glasses at Rolf

Glass, in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania. “Our de-signs give used bottles a second life,” says owner Rolf Poeting. Re-fresh Glass, of Phoenix, Arizona, salvages and

preps the bottles. “Then, our glass cutting and diamond-wheel engrav-

ing technology transforms them into sophisticated Glacier Glass,” continues Poeting. “This seems to be a trend in many industries, to find ad-ditional uses for another company’s recycled products.” Rewined, of Charleston, South Carolina, also exemplifies this prin-ciple. It uses wine bottles to hold their soy-based, cotton-wicked candles,


which provide 60 to 80 hours of wine-scented burn.

Second Life for PaperPurina’s Yesterday’s News and Second Nature litter for cats and dogs, respec-tively, is made from recycled paper and absorbs waste upward from the bottom of the litter box for easier cleaning. The unscented litter pellets are three times as absorbent as clay, non-toxic and nearly dust-free. Hedgehogs, mice, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs and reptiles also like Yesterday’s News for bedding. On average, 44 million pounds of paper are annually recycled for these products. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States annually generates 11 million tons of asphalt shingle waste, mostly from re-roofing tear-offs and new installation scrap, comprising 8 percent of construc-tion waste. Each recycled ton saves a barrel of oil. OFIC North America, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, creates its Ondura corrugated

roofing from old newspapers or maga-zines and cardboard, made durable by infusing it with asphalt. It’s placed atop existing roofs, which means no dis-carded shingles. Each day, 40 to 50 tons of recycled paper goods find new life in Ondura products, available at most home improvement stores. Sound inside Buick Lacrosse and Verano vehicles is dampened via a ceiling material made partly from reused cardboard shipping boxes. Paint sludge from General Motors’ Lansing, Michigan, Grand River assembly plant becomes durable plastic shipping containers for Chevrolet Volt and Cruze engine components. Some 200 miles of absorbent polypropylene sleeves, used to soak up a recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, were converted into air de-flectors for the Volt, preventing 212,500

pounds of waste from enter-ing landfills.

As part of its com-munity outreach, 250

shipping crates from GM’s Orion assembly plant be-came raised garden beds for a Southwest Detroit community garden. A

local entrepreneur turned donated sound absorption material into coats that also serve as sleeping bags for the homeless.

Old Tires TransformedThe Rubber Manufacturers Association reports that Americans discard 300 million tires each year, each one having consumed about seven gallons of oil in its manufacture and poised to add to Earth’s landfills. Lehigh Technologies’ mi-cronized rubber powder (MRP), made by freeze-drying discarded tires and pulverizing them into a fine powder, changes the equation. MRP is now used in many items, from new tires, roads and building materials to shoes. It feels good to place used items in the blue bin instead of the trash, knowing that more and more companies are helping to put these resources to good use.

Connect with freelance writer Avery Mack at [email protected].


naturalpet

A pet’s love is extraordinary because it is unconditional. It doesn’t have expectations, pass judgment or try to leverage guilt. It is rich in loyalty, trust and adoration.

Domestic pets provide warmth, companionship and love, as well as purpose, fun and conversational gambits for family members. For lonely hearts, they are a lifeline, providing a physical, emotional and spiritual connection to life that may prove critical to survival and happiness. Loving pets seem like an endless source of happi-ness while with us, but few outlive their owners. Loss is as much a part of having a pet as potty training. For some, the loss of a dog or cat is debilitating and the grieving process can take months. Rev. Gary Kowalski, author of Goodbye, Friend and a Unitarian Universalist minister in Santa Fe, New Mexico, contends that the depth of the relationship that we develop with pets emerges from the time we spend with them every day—exercising, feeding, grooming and even sleeping with them. The relationship is pure and uncomplicated, and the pain of separation can be especially intense and profound. The challenge of pet loss is often complicated by the difficult decision to euthanize an aged or suffering animal. “One of the hardest things about having a dog is that some-times you have to decide to end its life,” says Jon Katz, of upstate New York, a New York Times bestselling author of many books about dogs, including Going Home: Finding

When Your Pet PassesA Guide to Mourning, Remembering and Healing

Peace When Pets Die. “Our job as pet owners is to be an advocate for our pets, making sure they do not suffer. Don’t poison the joy that you shared with your pet with guilt over your decisions,” he says. Katz recommends taking photos of pets and making intentional memories in the time leading up to parting to encourage closure. The same kind of rituals we use to honor and say goodbye to other family members can likewise help ease the pain of a pet’s passing. Owners can gather with loved ones and friends to celebrate the life of their pet with a burial ceremony or memo-rial. Kowalski likes adding meaningful words. His book includes a variety of readings that pet owners can use in their rituals taken from poems, literature, the Bible and other sacred texts. When a human friend or family member dies, compassion and empathy flows from everyone we meet, but many may not be aware of, or understand, the depth of grief associated with a pet’s death. “Some people feel embarrassed or don’t understand that mourning a deceased pet is a normal process,” explains Julia Harris, a pet bereavement counselor from Ellijay, Georgia, and author of Pet Loss: A Spiritual Guide. Support is essential during times of grief, and it can be difficult to find an understanding friend to discuss it with. Several online communities are devoted to providing sup-port. An Internet search of “pet loss support” yields a wealth of online resources. In the same way that the belief in an afterlife comforts people of many faith traditions when a person passes, the pos-sibility of the same destiny for pets can offer comfort. “Perhaps one of the most common questions I am asked is whether or not animals have a soul,” explains Harris. “I encourage people to know that the soul, like love, is eternal. It leaves the physi-cal body, but the loving relationship continues.” While there’s no standard timeline for the grieving process, it’s important to keep perspective. Excessive grief can lead to depression. “If the grief is interfering with life and your work, then you may need to seek professional help,” advises Katz. Not even a parent is capable of providing the purely un-conditional love we receive from pets. Kowalski views it as a sacred connection, observing that through the unconditional love and acceptance that we receive from our pets, we get a little glimpse of what God’s love must look like.

Julianne Hale is a writer and editor for Natural Awakenings and blogs about family life at AnotherGrayHair.WordPress.com.

by Julianne Hale


TUESDAY, MAY 5Group Card Readings – 6-8pm. Jaclyn Adler has 20-years’ experience with Oracle and other cards and provides thorough and detailed readings. $10/pp. Hosted by Natural Peace Life Coaching Studio. The Shirt Factory Arts and Healing Center, Studio G08, Garden Level, Glens Falls. Questions: 518-928-8682.Purification Program – May 5 and/or May 12. 6:30pm. Attend this exciting program on how to be relieved of many complaints like fatigue, low libido , indigestion and joint aches through this innovative modality. No cost to attend. Northeast Spine & Wellness, 1741 U.S. 9, Clifton Park. Must register: 518-371-4800.

THURSDAY, MAY 7Mental Health Matters – 11:30am-2pm. Mental Health Month Celebration. Warren Washington Association for Mental Health recognizes volun-teers and members of the community with awards, including recipient of the Amy Carpenter Memorial Scholarship. Free admission. Charles R Wood The-ater, 207 Glen St, Glens Falls. Info: Nicole Casey, 518-747-2284 x298.Guided Visualization Meditation – 6:45-7:45pm. Open the doors to the mysteries of the mind. Through guided visualization, take a break, still the mind, explore deep levels of consciousness and experience a profound sense of relaxation. $15 advance. $20 door. Key 2 Joy, 145 Vly Rd, Ste 6, Shaker Pine Plaza, Colonie. Info: 518-598-6968.

FRIDAY, MAY 8Girlfriends Getaway in Bolton Landing – May 8-10. Relax the body, renew the mind, refresh the spirit. Weekend of women’s wellness workshops, fitness classes, beauty and home demos, wel-come receptions, motivational speakers, fashion show, luncheon, three-course dinner specials, shopping discounts, door prizes and more. The Sagamore Resort on Lake George. Tickets/info: 518-644-3831.

FRIDAY, MAY 1Cloth Diapering 101 – 6pm. Learn about the advantages of cloth diapering and why one might want to cloth diaper their baby or toddler. $10 fee. Naturally Grown, 282B River St, Troy. Register: 518-274-2229.Big Bang at miSci – 6-8:30pm. Celebrating the opening of the Challenger Learning Center eighth annual fundraiser. Premier networking, gourmet cuisine, live music, an exciting silent auction and a memorable fireworks display. $125/pp.15 Nott Terrace Hts Schenectady. Info: 518-382-7890 x250.

SATURDAY, MAY 2Open House at The Shirt Factory – 10am-4pm. Discover the hidden treasure in Glens Falls; an artistic destination chock full of 77 different art gal-leries, shops and services of all kinds. 71 Lawrence St. Info: 518-907-4478.Svaroopa Yoga – May 2, 9, 16 & 30. 10:30am-12pm. Back, neck or shoulder pain? Svaroopa yoga is the answer. Gentle and effective. Space limited, reserve space. $20 walk-in, $69 series. Key 2 Joy, 145 Vly Rd, Ste 6, Shaker Pine Plaza, Colonie. Info: 518-598-6968.Pilates For The SPCA of Upstate New York – 11am-12pm. All levels. If first visit, arrive 15-min early. Wear comfortable clothing and socks. BYO yoga mat if desired. Discuss any injuries or physical limitations with instructor prior to class. Free. Do-nations accepted. 18 Division St, Ste 203, Saratoga Spgs. Info: 518-871-1315.Pranayama: The Wonders of Breath & Medita-tion – May 2, 9 & 16. 1-3pm. Learn prana or breath control to sooth, stimulate and heal the body, deepen a yoga practice and enhance meditation. Key 2 Joy, 145 Vly Rd, Ste 6, Shaker Pine Plaza, Colonie. Info/pricing options: 518-598-6968.Fairie House and Garden Workshop – May 2 or May 9. 2-5pm. Learn about fairies and how to attract their fun loving energetic energy to one’s home. All supplies provided to decorate and furnish a home, garden, furniture, plants. $75. Reiki Rocks/Toni Craft, Bldg 3, Ste 106, Computer Dr W Albany. Register:518-248-0995.Gong Bath – 4-5:15pm. Hosted by and led by The Gong Lab. Relax, restore and renew with the sounds of the gongs and chakra bowls. $15. Heartspace Yoga & Healing Arts, 10 Second St, 2nd Flr, Troy. Register online or: 518-512-3390.

SUNDAY, MAY 3Walk! MS – 9am/registration; 10am/walk. Provides an opportunity to connect people living with MS and those who care about them. Event raises critical funds to support life-changing programs and cutting-edge research. Free admission. Saratoga Springs High School, 1 Blue Streak Blvd, Saratoga Spgs. More info: 585-271-0805.

MELT Workshop – May 3 & 17. 12-1:30pm. Using specialized soft body rollers and small MELT hand and foot treatment balls to reduce inflammation and pain. Eliminate stuck stress before it accumulates causing chronic aches and pains. $20 walk-in. Key 2 Joy, 145 Vly Rd, Ste 6, Shaker Pine Plaza, Colonie. Info: 518-598-6968.

MONDAY, MAY 4Mindful Yoga Class – 9:30-11am. With Andrea Smith. Pleasure of this class is to be subtly and knowledgeably coached through the nuances of proper alignment with mindful awareness of breath and thought. An ongoing class. By donation. Na-maste Yoga, 2 Franklin Sq, Saratoga Spgs. Register online or: 518-222-7470.Yin Yoga – 6:30pm. Increase flexibility in the con-nective tissue of the body. Postures are held between 3-5 minutes. $10. Space limited, reserve space. Key 2 Joy, 145 Vly Rd, Ste 6, Shaker Pine Plaza, Colonie. Info: 518-598-6968.

calendarofeventsNOTE: All calendar events must be received by the 5th of the month and ad-here to our guidelines. Review guidelines and submit entries online at AlbanyAwakenings.com (within calendar section).


Transition With Grace – 6:30-8:30pm. With Laurie Ellis, NPP. Open discussion on death and dying. Participants will feel welcome to share their personal journey; experiences, fears, and hopes. Coffee, tea, and snacks provided. By donation. Still Point Retreat Center, 20 Still Point Ln, Mechanicville. Registra-tion required: 518-583-3035 x202.Moonalice – 8pm. Special acoustic performance by Doobie Decibel System. A psychedelic, roots-rock band of seasoned musicians mixing a variety of genres with extended musical improvisations that evoke a sense of adventure and exploration. The music inspires dancing and other acts of self-expression and more. $15. The Linda - WAMC’s Performing Arts Center, 339 Central Ave, Albany. Tickets: 518-465-5233.

SATURDAY, MAY 9Photos by Organic Images Photography – 9am-5pm. Looking for a Mother’s Day gift? Schedule a professional photo shoot at Naturally Grown. Space is limited. 282B River St, Troy. Appointment required: 518-274-2229.Free Health Screening – 10am-2pm. Blood glucose screening, skin assessment and more. Free. Four loca-tions to choose from: ShopRite of Colonie, 1730 Central Ave. Info: 518-598-4970. ShopRite of Albany, 709 Central Ave. Info: 518-708-3445, ShopRite of Slinger-lands, 41 Vista Blvd. Info: 518-708-7815 and ShopRite of Niskayuna, 2333 Nott St E. Info: 518-491-0050.Healing Springs Symposium – 10am-6pm. Key-note Speaker Susun Weed. Topic: Spirit and Practice of the Wise Woman Tradition—the oldest form of health care on the planet which offers a different approach to health and healing. Healing panel introduces local healers sharing different paths of health, healing and wholeness. Choose from two break-out sessions. $59 advance. $75 door. Gideon Putnam Resort, 24 Gideon Putnam Rd, Saratoga Spgs. Info, Kim Rossi: 518-226-4790.Mother’s Day Extravaganza – 3-5pm. Ages 4-12. Children select a gift to make and learn a few songs to sing for their moms. Free admission. The Genius Plaza, 511 Moe Rd, Clifton Park. Info: 518.280.9550.

SATURDAY, MAY 9Spring Concert – 7:30pm. Capital Community Voices presents “Greetings from An American Song-scape II.” $10 general admission. $8 seniors/students. Genet Elementary School, 29 Englewood Ave, Rte 4, E Greenbush. Info: ccvsings.blogspot.com.

markyourcalendar

demonstration. Ideal for hypnotists who want to hone their skills and those who want to experience hypnosis. Free. Info/location: George Guarino, 518-256-6549.

FRIDAY, MAY 15Your Passion, Your Purpose, Your Path – 6-9pm. In this life-changing event one will identify what is most important, become clearer about life’s purpose, discover path to living a passionate and purposeful life and learn tools to use when challenges appear along one’s path. $100. Louise Finlayson, Ph. D. 1525 Western Ave, Ste 1, Albany. Register: 518-218-0707.Queer and Trans Yoga – 6:30-7:45pm. Instructor Lacey Cukier. Regular drop-in prices apply but with a friend, one attends free. Heartspace Yoga & Healing Arts, 10 Second St, 2nd Flr, Troy. Register online or: 518-512-3390.Sound Meditation Group – 6:30-8pm. Sound is a powerful form of healing. Group experiences the benefits of sound meditation by practicing mantras. $15 advance. $20 door. Key 2 Joy, 145 Vly Rd, Ste 6, Shaker Pine Plaza, Colonie. Info: 518-598-6968.

SATURDAY, MAY 16Yoga/Crystal Singing Bowls & Pyramids by All Energy – 9:15-10:30am. Unique Hatha yoga class infused with Native American flute and crystal singing bowls. Leave feeling rejuvenated and at peace. $15 walk-in. $10 students. The Woman’s Club of Albany, men welcome too, 725 Madison Ave, Albany. Info: 518-810-7646.Niska-Day 34 “Under the Big Top” – 10am/parade starts from St Kateri Church (formerly St Helen’s). Clowns, jugglers and feats that will amaze all ages. Food booths and two business/community tents. After the parade the festivities move to Craig School, Balltown Rd, Schenectady/Niskayuna. Info: NiskaDay.org.Open Athletic Nia – 10-11am. Energizing and conditioning the body, personalizing intensity levels, while increasing physical fitness. $20. Joy of Nia Movement, 3 Denny Rd, Guilderland. Register: 518-452-3679.Aromatherapy & Your Pregnancy – 1-3pm. Aro-matherapy can enhance health and well-being. Learn which aromatherapy oils are safe and supportive and which oils to avoid while pregnant. Receive a handout with recipes and make a blend to take home. $45. A Space to Grow, 216 River St, 2nd Flr, Troy. Register: 518-438-7089.Modern Dance Master Class – 1:30-3pm. Class focusing on body alignment, technique, musicality

SUNDAY, MAY 10Arts, Crafts & Gifts Show – 10am-4pm. Free. Congress Park, Broadway, Saratoga Spgs. More info: 518-744-9310.

MONDAY, MAY 11Women’s Health Workshop – 6pm. Dr. John Fer-guson presents how to balance hormones naturally to prevent and treat a host of women’s health concerns including thyroid disease, heart disease, headaches, fatigue, anxiety and depression. Ferguson Family Chiropractic, 1783 Rte 9, Clifton Park. RSVP by May 7: 518-383-5595.

TUESDAY, MAY 12Saratoga Stress Reduction Program Begins – 5:15pm. Eight-week Mindfulness Training & Stress Management classes. One Big Roof, 433 Broadway, Ste 302, Saratoga Spgs. Preregistration required/details: 518-581-3180 x307.Open Beginner Night of Nia Dance – 6-7pm. Learning the Nia 52 moves, connecting to joy and healing, while dancing to soul-stirring music. $20. Joy of Nia Movement, 3 Denny Rd, Guilderland. Register: 518-452-3679.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13Inner and Outer Beauty Parlor – 6:30-8pm. Discover how to treat oneself lovingly and become more meditative and joyful. Learn how to create one’s own beauty parlor at home and enjoy special treatments. Say “Adieu” to cellulite and begin spring without wrinkles. $ 45. IKIERA, 34 B Cemetery Rd, Clifton Park. Info 518-788 7062.Hypnosis Workshop – 6:30-8:30pm. Learn hyp-nosis technique to de-stress the body and the mind. Discover how to set anchors to be triggered for stress management and enhanced creativity. Hypnosis


and use of space. $20 prepay, $25 drop-in. Albany Dance & Fitness, 1197 Central Ave, Albany. 518-573-3631.Partner Yoga – 2-4pm. For whatever type of rela-tionship, partner yoga enhances communication and fosters trust, this aids in strengthening connection with partner, as well as faith in their support. $20/pp. Registration required. Lilananda Yoga, 585 Saratoga Rd, Rte 50, Glenville. Register online or: 518-470-5240.Wahe Guru: A Kundalini Yoga and Meditation Workshop – 3-5pm. With Satyabir Singh. $20 pre-registered. $25 day of event. Heartspace Yoga & Healing Arts, 10 Second St, 2nd Flr, Troy. Register online or: 518-512-3390.Community Kirtan – 7-9pm. Ecstatic chanting from the Indian Bhakti (devotional) tradition. Ev-eryone sings together from their hearts, regardless of ability. No experience or special skill needed. Sing, dance or lie down and relax. Kids welcome with supervision. $15 suggested donation. Key 2 Joy, 145 Vly Rd, Ste 6, Shaker Pine Plaza, Colonie. Info: 518-598-6968.

SUNDAY, MAY 17The Art of Conscious Communication – 12-3pm. Three-hour interactive workshop. Learn how to actively and effectively listen, authentically and powerfully communicate, resolve conflict, keep emotional triggers from derailing one’s message. $100. Louise Finlayson, Ph.D. 1525 Western Ave, Ste 1, Albany. Register: 518-18-0707.Family Yoga – 1-2pm. Bring the family for fun with yoga. Great way to connect with each other and let the children explore something new. $15 per parent/child, additional participants $5 ea. Family max of $25. Lilananda Yoga, 585 Saratoga Rd, Glenville. Register: 518-470-5240.Relay For Life, American Cancer Society Vendor Event – 1-6pm. Food truck, multiple vendors and chair massage by Mantra Wellness Therapeutic & Medical Massage. Proceeds go to Relay For Life. Colonie Recreation Center, 2 Thunder Rd, behind Fire Dept on Central Ave. Info: Colleen, 518-663-6000.Sun/Moon/Planets 101 – 2-3:30pm. Join Sarah Hopkins for this essential intro workshop. Learn how the Sun, Moon and Planets can lend informa-tion to our search for self-knowledge. $40 Namaste Yoga, 2 Franklin Sq, Saratoga Spgs. Register online or: 518-222-7470.Spring Time Wine Glass Painting – 6pm. Paint two lovely spring wine glasses for one’s collection. $18 for two glasses. The Creative Chameleon Studio,

The Shirt Factory Arts and Healing Center, Studio 112, Glens Falls. Register: 518- 409-9467.Metaphysical Book Discussion – 6-7pm. Hear a discussion of The Fourth Awakening by Rod Pennington and Jeffrey A. Martin. Hosted by Albany-Saratoga Spiritual Adventures at Woodlawn Commons, 156 Lawrence St, Saratoga Spgs. More info: 518-423-3569.

MONDAY, MAY 18Exploring “Help” By The Beatles – 6:30-8:30pm. Learn more about the creation of the music, the stories and the Beatles themselves. Join clarinetist, singer, musicologist and Beatles specialist David Ciucevich as we explore “Help.” $20 advance. $25 door. Key 2 Joy, 145 Vly Rd, Ste 6, Shaker Pine Plaza, Colonie. Info: 518-598-6968.

TUESDAY, MAY 19Law of Attraction Group – 6-8pm. Attracting the things that bring personal happiness and suc-cess? Attend this growing group of people that are choosing to attract the things and the people that enhance their lives. $25. Hosted by Albany-Saratoga Spiritual Adventures. Pine Hollow Arboretum, 16 Maple Ave, Slingerlands. Register/RSVP required: 518-466-6846.Dudley Night Sky Adventure – 7-8:30pm. Dis-cover Saturn at its closest approach to Earth and its face fully illuminated by the Sun. $3/pp. $5/family. Museum of Science and Innovation, 15 Nott Terrace Hts, Schenectady. Hours/info: 518-382-7890.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20Pathways to Family Wellness – 6:30-7:15pm. Are children in the family suffering from chronic ear infections, asthma or allergies? Learn the origin of these issues and natural remedies and preventative measures to take to help restore and improve the functioning of one’s family. Ferguson Family Chi-

ropractic, 1783 Rte 9, Clifton Park. RSVP by May 18: 518-383-5595.

THURSDAY, MAY 21Bilingual Mommy and Me – 10-11am. Ages 2-5. Build a solid foundation for one’s toddler in the golden years of learning. During the early years children can develop a natural sense of a second lan-guage like a native speaker. We have the researched didactic methods. Free admission. The Genius Plaza, 511 Moe Rd, Clifton Park. 518-280-9550.The Gala at The Arts Center of the Capital Re-gion – 5:30-9pm. Opportunity to mix, mingle, enjoy some regional art and get a sneak peek of the 50th annual Fence Show; our member’s show and largest art exhibit. Witness the unveiling of The Arts Cen-ter’s annual Emerging and Established Artist Awards and more. $200 honorary ticket. $100 regular ticket. 265 River St, Troy. Info: 518-273-0552.Happiness Is: Finding Your Purpose & Following Your Passion – 6:30-7:30pm. Inspirational talk with Jeannie Thomma. Learn the mindset, heart set and skillset required to create a life that is infused with happiness. Discover how to create meaningful and sustainable change in one’s life. Free. Troy Public Library, 100 2nd St, Troy. Info: 518-350-4712.Makeup Class: “Mature Skin Care” – 6:30pm. Learn about caring for the skin as it matures. $20. bloom Salon and Makeup Bar, 5 Maple Rd, Voor-heesville. RSVP: 518-655-0043.Working with Our Anxious Parts – 6:30-8:30pm. Learn to use simple healing tools to help with anxiety. BYO journal and pen. Practice yoga and meditation while supporting one another on this healing journey. $20. A Space To Grow 216 River St, 2nd Flr, Troy. Register online or Diane Simpson: 518-283-6706.Releasing Weight Group Sessions – 6:45-7:45pm. Learn to make changes in life and become empow-ered to be healthier and happier. Hypnosis and other techniques used. Topics include: emotional eating, stress, exercise, goals and habits. $20. Key 2 Joy, 145 Vly Rd, Ste 6, Shaker Pine Plaza, Colonie. Info: 518-598-6968.Eckhart Tolle Study Group – 7-9pm. With Steve Costion. One-half hour discussion, guided medita-tion, listen to a CD or watch a DVD featuring Eck-hart followed by a silent meditation. Still Point Retreat Center, 20 Still Point Rd, Mechanicville. RSVP: 518-587-4967.

SATURDAY, MAY 23Intuitive Fair – 9-1am. Intuitive readings with Jeannie Thomma and other talented readers. Free


admission. The Armory at HAYC3, 80 Church St, Hoosick Falls. Schedule appt: 518-686-9050.March Against Monsanto – 1pm. Join the na-tionwide grassroots effort. The Capitol Building, Albany. Visit March Against Monsanto Albany on Facebook.Awaken Your Inner Goddess Retreat – 3-7pm. Course supports the claiming back of female wisdom. Share personal story with verbal and/or physical abuse of one’s female humanity. Let go by accepting, forgiving and forgetting. Release pain and traumas. Connect with one’s intuitive side and more. $99. IKIERA, 34 B Cemetery Rd, Clifton Park, Info 518-788-7062.

TUESDAY, MAY 26Past Life Regression Workshop – 7-9pm. Curi-ous about a past life? Joan Reid leads participants through a guided past life regression to find out in-formation about at least one past life of each person attending. Bring pen and paper. $20/pp. The Shirt Factory Arts and Healing Center, Studio 311, Glens Falls. Register: 518-744-0641.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27Monthly Restorative Yoga – 6:30-8pm. With Lisa Mary. Passive stretching that uses props, like blankets, bolsters, pillows and blocks to support the body as very gentle poses are held. Unwind, restore, meditate and rejuvenate. Space limited. $15 advance. $20 door. Key 2 Joy, 145 Vly Rd, Ste 6, Shaker Pine Plaza, Colonie. Info: 518-598-6968.Meditation Workshop – 7-9pm. Relaxation through a variety of meditation techniques. Learn techniques for de-stressing, staying present and finding one’s way to calm the mind. Taught by Joan Reid. $20/pp. The Shirt Factory Arts and Healing Center, Studio 311, Glens Falls. Register: 518-744-0641.

THURSDAY, MAY 28Special Olympics of NY Torch Run – 9:30am/start at Veteran’s Park, Schenectady. Will travel more than 14.5 miles down Central Ave. Second leg will run from the East Greenbush Town Hall, go over the Dunn Memorial Bridge and meet at the end with a press conference at Albany City Hall at approximately 12pm. Info: 518-388-0790.Home Composting – 6:30-8:30pm. Turn kitchen scraps and yard trimmings into “brown gold” to fertilize lawn, garden or houseplants. Learn to make nutrient-rich compost at home, examine different

types of composting systems and identify the proper ingredients to go into compost and more. $15. SUNY Adirondack Queensbury Campus. Info: 518-743-2238.

FRIDAY, MAY 29

FRIDAY, MAY 29 – SATURDAY, MAY 30

2015 CapitalCare/CDPHP Health & Fitness Expo – May 29-30. 12-7pm/Fri; 8am-2pm/Sat. The most comprehensive, interactive wellness event in the region. The Egg at Empire State Pla-za, Albany. Info/schedule: FreihofersRun.com.

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Yoga Nidra – 6:30-8pm. Yoga nidra or “yogic sleep” is a sleep-like state which is among the deepest possible states of relaxation while still maintaining full consciousness. $15 advance. $20 door. Key 2 Joy, 145 Vly Rd, Ste 6, Shaker Pine Plaza, Colonie. Info: 518-598-6968.

SATURDAY, MAY 30Free Community Yoga Classes with Yoga Teacher Trainees – 8-5pm. Yoga teachers in training offering free one-hour classes throughout the day, including Family Yoga, Moving Meditation, Prenatal, Yoga for Stress Relief and Basic Beginner’s classes. Overseen by Pam Lunz Medina, E-RYT. The Yoga Lily, 1 Barney Rd, Clifton Park. Register: 518-744-5565.Yoga/Crystal Singing Bowls & Pyramids by All Energy – 9:15-10:30am. Unique Hatha Yoga class infused with Native American flute and Crystal Singing bowls. Leave feeling rejuvenated and at peace. $15 walk-in, $10 students. The Woman’s Club of Albany, men welcome too, 725 Madison Ave, Albany. Info: 518-810-7646.37th Annual Freihofer’s Run For Women 2015 – 9:45am/start. One of the world’s largest all-women road races. Thousands of women from all ages and running abilities will compete in this 5K event. Start-ing/finish line located on Madison Ave between the Empire State Plaza and New York State Museum. Downtown Albany. Info: FreihofersRun.com.Balance Your Chakras: Balance Your Life – May 30, June 6, 13, 20, July 11 & 18. 1-4pm. De-clutter, remove blockages from and create space within the chakras using hypnosis, EFT and Feng Shui. Balance chakras, balance life. Create a life

of abundance and prosperity. Key 2 Joy, 145 Vly Rd, Ste 6, Shaker Pine Plaza, Colonie. Info/pricing options: 518-598-6968.Heart Chakra Yoga & Sound Meditation/Chant Workshop – 3-5:30pm With Dalien, aka 13 Hands. Celebrate one’s heart, let it shine this day. Prereg-ister. $30. Yoga Bliss, 140 Erie Blvd, Schenectady. Register: 518-894-7086.

SUNDAY, MAY 31Empower the Self – 1-3pm. Think Positive: an enlightening seminar to go within and find the power to change life by changing one’s thoughts. Also offering Explore Courage workshop for children ages 6-13. Free. Sponsored by the Brahma Kumaris, Capital District area. Albany Hindu Temple Cultural Center, 450 Albany Shaker Rd, Albany. RSVP: 518-466-3904.Restorative Yoga with Thai Yoga Release – 1-3pm. With Pam Lunz Medina, E-RYT. While resting in sup-ported yoga postures, participants will be given gentle pressing to assist further relaxation. Leave feeling stress-free and renewed, a restoration of body, mind and soul. $25 register by May 28. The Yoga Lily, 1 Barney Rd, Clifton Park. 518-744-5565.

plan aheadSATURDAY, JUNE 6Fourth Annual Cancer Fundraiser: Get Your Rack Back – 6:30pm-12am. Proceeds support ACS HopeClub and an effort to provide restaurant prepared meals for local cancer patients and their families. Food, entertainment, silent auction and more. $90. Hilton Garden Inn, 235 Hoosick St, Troy. Tickets: GetYourRackBack.com.

SUNDAY, JUNE 7

SUNDAY, JUNE 7 & 14Reiki Master Teacher Training – June 7 & 14. Receive Master attunement, master symbols and learn to give all Reiki attunements for all level classes including healing attunement. Class size limited, register early. Prerequisite: completion of Reiki I, II, ART. $650. $20 for manual, $200 deposit required. The Art of Reiki, Troy. Prereg-istration required. Joyce: 518-271-7802.

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FRIDAY, JUNE 26

FRIDAY, JUNE 26 – SUNDAY, JUNE 28

Old Songs Festival – June 26-28. 2-11pm/Fri; 9am-11pm/Sat; 9am-7pm/Sun. Old Songs is a family-friendly festival of folk, traditional, Celtic and world music and dance, known for its relaxed atmosphere, interactive sessions and workshops, hands-on experience and participatory nature. $20-$135. Altamont Fairgrounds, Altamont. Info: Festival.OldSongs.org.

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from various sacred sources and a time for guided meditation. Unity Church, 21 King Ave, Albany. 518-453-3603.

mondayZumba – 10am. Workout combining Latin and international music with dance moves. No dance experience necessary. Honest Weight Food Co-Op, Community Room, 100 Watervliet Ave, Albany. Info: 518-482-2667.Planetarium Show – 2pm. Explore the wonders of the sky. Check website for rotating show titles. Free with museum admission. Museum of Science and Innovation, 15 Nott Terrace Hts, Schenectady. Hours/info: 518-382-7890.Pilates For Spinal Health – 4:30pm. Focus on build-ing strength for those who have a history of osteopenia/osteoporosis, scoliosis, disc herniation and arthritis. Utilizing all Pilates apparatus, precautions and contra-indicated exercises for each condition will be taken into consideration, ensuring a safe, effective workout. $40/$35 register online. The Pilates Principle, 578 New Loudon Rd, Latham. Info: 518-783-1678.Hot Warrior Yoga – 6pm. 50 plus posture practice combining hot hatha and hot vinyasa in an 85-degree room. A physical and psychological challenge. $15. In Harmony Yoga, 137 Remsen St, Cohoes. Info: 518-369-8325.Prenatal Yoga – 6:15-7:45pm. Designed to im-prove the pregnancy and after birth experience by strengthening the pelvic, abdominal and hip muscles, improving breath and mind control to help with labor and delivery and the challenges of car-ing for a newborn. No yoga experience necessary. $12-$15/class. YANA Yoga & Healing Arts, 100 Saratoga Village Blvd, Ste 42, Malta. 518-522-5472.Belly Dance – 7:15-8:15pm. Let the inner God-dess shine in this joyful dance experience with Sarah Best. $15 drop in. Yoga Bliss, 140 Erie Blvd., Schenectady. Info: 518-894-7086.Overeaters Anonymous Support Group – 7:30pm. St. George Episcopal Church, 1912 Rte 146, Clifton Park. No meetings on holidays. Info: 518-384-1619.

tuesdayQiGong – 8:15-9:15am. With Deborah Guilfoyle. Feel energized and peaceful at once in this practice of moving meditation. $15 drop-in. Yoga Bliss on the Blvd, 140 Erie Blvd, Schenectady. Info: 518-894-7086.Body Fat Screening/Blood Pressure Testing – 11am-2pm. Testing body fat and blood pressure to then translate those numbers into healthy informa-tion. Free. Honest Weight Food Co-Op, 100 Waterv-liet Ave, Albany. Info: 518-482-2667.Vinyasa Flow – 5:45-7pm. With Monika Ostrowidzki. Vinyasa means to “place in a special way”. Continuous moving meditation linking breath with movement for

rejuvenation, clarity and harmony. In Harmony Yoga, 137 Remsen St, Cohoes. Info: 518-369-8325.Lyme Support Group – 6pm. 2nd Tues. Share stories, frustrations and achievements. Find support and guidance. All welcome. Free. The Stram Center for Integrative Medicine, 90 Adams Place, Delmar. Register: 518 689-2244.Tea Talk – 6pm. 2nd Tues. New topics each month. Samples of the featured tea served. $5. Short and Stout Tea, 1736 Western Ave, Albany. Preregister/Info: 518-456-8327.Awareness through Movement – 6:30-7:30pm. This Feldenkrais class is a series of gentle movement sequences that enhance personal awareness, posture, balance and flexibility. A Space to Grow, 216 River St, 2nd Flr, Troy. Register online. Info: 518-629-5664.Learn Hypnosis – 6:30-8:30pm. With NGH Hyp-nosis Trainer. Practice hypnosis skills, learn new hypnosis skills or satisfy a curiosity about hypnosis and how it can complement current work. Albany. Info/location: 518-256-6549.

wednesdayCommunity Acupuncture – 9am-3pm. A shared space that maintains privacy. Private appointment suggested before attending community treatments. See website for more info. $30-$40. 518 Acupuncture, 632 Plank Rd, Ste 202, Clifton Park. By appt: 518-416-1846.Kundalini Yoga – 9:30-11am. Taught by Yogi Bhajan, Kim Rossi. Donation. Lincoln Bath House at the Saratoga Spa State Park, front door entrance, to the rear of the 1st Flr, 39 Roosevelt Dr, Saratoga Spgs. Info: 518-321-5660.4-Week Beginners Series – 9:30-11:30am. May 6-27. Four Wednesday mornings with Susan Cuda, Have fun learning yoga from the ground up while creating and integrating healthy habits into everyday life. $70. Namaste Yoga, 2 Franklin Sq, Saratoga Spgs. Register online or: 518-222-7470.Healing Aroma Yoga – 1pm. A unique blend of yoga and Thai yoga therapy infused with Young Living Essential Oils. $65 private session or $35 semi-private. A Healing Art Sanctuary, 154 Milton Ave, Ballston Spa. Register: 518-530-2122.Gentle, Slow Yoga Class – 12-1pm. With Diane Simpson. Perfect for beginners, those new to yoga and people wanting to deepen their yoga practice in a slow, mindful class. Heartspace Yoga & Healing Arts, 10 2nd St, Troy. Drop-ins welcome. Info: 518-283-6706.Barre Blast – 5-5:45pm. Sculpt and Tone the total body to feel stronger, energized, and more flexible. $10. Albany Dance & Fitness, 1197 Central Ave, Albany. 518-573-3631.Family Support Group: for Caregivers of Loved Ones with Mental Illness – 6:30-8pm. 1st and 3rd Wed. SUNYA School of Public Health, 1 University Pl, Rensselaer. Info: 518-588-6949.

sundayDharma Meditation – 9-10am. With Pierre Zim-merman. Weekly meditation followed up by short discussion. All contemplative traditions honored. $10 donation. One Big Roof, 433 Broadway, 3rd Flr, Saratoga Spgs. Info: 518-450-1624.Mindful Moments for Parents – 9:30-10:30am. Meditation and mindful movement practices for busy parents. Nourish and strengthen mind, body and spirit. Relax, renew and refresh. Healthy parents, healthy families, peaceful homes. A Space to Grow, 216 River St, 2nd Flr, Troy. Register: 518-703-5665.Sutra Sunday Sadhana – 9:30-11am. Vinyasa flow class bringing perfect balance of spirituality and sweat. No better way to start the day or week. $20 drop-in. Yoga Mandali, 454 Broadway, Saratoga Spgs. Info: 518-584-0807.Body Sensing Yoga with Yoga Nidra – 10am. With Andrea Fortuin. All levels. Guided movements and postures to calm the body and mind, preparing for deep relaxation through Yoga Nidra. Orenda Yoga & Healing Arts, 457 Rte 146, Guilderland Center (12085). Register online. Info: 518-861-5714.ECK Worship Services – 10:30-11:30am. 3rd Sun. People of all faiths welcome. Service focuses on an aspect of Eckankar. Join others seeking to bring more insight and divine love into their lives at this special celebration of the light and sound of God. Best West-ern, 617 Plank Rd, Clifton Park. Info: 800-630-3546.Walk-In Therapeutic Massage Clinic – 12-5pm. Shorter, targeted, solution oriented massage treat-ments for headaches, TMJ, arthritis, plantar fasciitis, and shoulder/neck/back/leg strains, $25/ mini ses-sion. Bodyworks Wellness Center, 17 Computer Drive East, Albany. Info: 518-459- 4325.Women’s Healing Heart Meditation Circle – 1-2pm. 3rd Sun. Find clarity and peace, generate compassion and love. Guided meditation. No experi-ence necessary. $20 suggested donation. Meets 10-min from Albany. Details/register: 513-622-9178.HOPE Pet Adoption Clinic – 1-4pm. 2nd & 4th Sun. Homes for Orphaned Pets Exist will be holding an adoption clinic. Wilton Mall, 3065 New York 50, Saratoga Spgs. Info: 518-428-2994.Balletone – 2:30-3:15pm. Stand taller and feel stronger. Balletone uses ballet moves and exercises to strengthen, tone, align, improve balance, and stretch the entire body. No Ballet experience required. $10. Albany Dance & Fitness, 1197 Central Ave, Albany. 518-573-3631.Kids Yoga – 3:30-4:45pm. Ages 4-9. Encouraging creativity, teamwork and imaginative thinking. Pro-motes improved concentration and breath awareness. $10-$12/class. YANA Yoga & Healing Arts, 100 Saratoga Village Blvd, Ste 42, Malta. 518-522-5472.Multi-Faith Music & Meditation – 6pm. Featuring chants and songs from various faith traditions: San-sksrit chants, non-denominational chants, spiritual and gospel songs and original songs by Unity music team led by Roger Mock. Readings and reflections

ongoingcalendarNOTE: All calendar events must be received by the 5th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Review guidelines and submit entries online at AlbanyAwakenings.com (within calendar section).


classifiedsFor fees and info on placing classifieds, email [email protected]. Deadline is the 5th of the month.

Wellness Wednesdays – 6:30-8pm. Learn about in-corporating Young Living Oils into life at home, with family and pets. Free. Welcome Relief Massage, 5 Hemphill Pl, Malta. RSVP requested. 518-899-5550.

thursdayAyurvedic Consultations – 9am-12pm. An ancient medicinal system, originating in India. Receive rec-ommendations about Ayurvedic therapies to balance the doshas. Honest Weight Food Co-Op, 100 Wa-tervliet Ave, Albany. Info/appt time: 518-482-2667.Breastfeeding Café – 10:30am-12pm. 1st Thurs. For moms, their breastfed babies and toddlers with a certified lactation counselor available to answer any questions or concerns. Anyone pregnant and thinking about breastfeeding welcome. Naturally Grown, 282B River St, Troy. Info: 518-274-2229.Yin Yang Yoga – 4:30-5:45pm. Through June 11. With Pam Lunz Medina, E-RYT. A slow paced, meditative approach which increases flexibility, pro-motes healthy organs, boost the immune system, and stills the mind, allowing the benefits to be absorbed. Props provided for any needed support. Register by May 28th. The Yoga Lily, 1 Barney Road, Clifton Park. 518-744-5565.Dining for Women – 6:30pm. 2nd Thurs. Half-hour of socializing, followed by potluck dinner and monthly discussion at 7:30pm. The Women’s Club of Albany, 725 Madison Ave. Details: 518-465-3626.Classical Hatha Yoga – 6:30-7:45pm. Practice in its purest state. Reduce stress and pain. $15 drop-in. $70 six classes. Vitality Health Center, 3441 Amsterdam Rd, Rte 5, Scotia. Register: 518-372-4706.Mom’s Night Out/Breastfeeding Support – 6:30-8:30pm. 3rd Thurs. Join Dr. Jess and Lori Kohler, RN, CLC for a relaxing evening of conversation around breastfeeding and other holistic health top-ics. Bring baby and questions needing answers. Tea and gluten/dairy free snacks provided. Office of Jessica Davis MD, 781 Hudson Ave, Stillwater. Info: 877-664-6116.Salon de Consciousness: What Else is Possible? – 7-8:30pm. 3rd Thurs. We are all miraculous creators and being conscious of how we create and what we create is an art. Learn to create oneself moment by moment then see how the world miraculously changes. Discover how to master this art through yoga, discussion and yoga nidra. In Harmony Yoga, 137 Remsen St, Cohoes. Info: 518-369-8325.Young Living Wellness Workshop – 7:15-8:15pm. Gather family and friends and discover the wellness benefits of Young Living Essential Oils for home, family and pets. Free. A Healing Art Sanctuary, 154 Milton Ave, Ballston Spa. Register: 518-530-2122.Poetry Night – 7:30pm. 3rd Thurs. Open mic for community poets. $3 suggested donation. Social Justice Center, 33 Central Ave, Albany. Info: 518-482-0262.

fridayIntuitive Readings with Julie – 11am-2pm. By ap-pointment. $40/30-min. Crossroads Gifts and Well-ness, 133 Jay St, Schenectady. Info: 518-357-8366.

Raja Yoga Meditation – 2-8pm. Learn the art of changing harmful thought patterns and habits into more beneficial ones while creating focus, inner clarity and peace. Donation based. A Space to Grow, 216 River St, 2nd Flr, Troy. Register online. Info: 518-878-2673.Open House at Community Massage – 5-7pm. Last Fri monthly event features demos and chair massage. Nurture body, mind and spirit at one’s Urban Oasis. Community Massage, 270 River Ste 201, Troy. Info: 518-272-1400.Parents’ Night Out at Tiny Tots Tea Room – 5:30-9pm. 3rd Fri. Monthly event includes babysitting, open play, food, crafts and drinks. $35 first child; $25 siblings. 1536 Crescent Rd, Plaza 8, Clifton Park. Info: 518-348-1050.Holistic Moms Network – 6:30-8:30pm. 2nd Fri. Troy Chapter monthly meeting. A non-profit group connecting parents who are interested in holistic health and green living. Monthly topics posted online. A Space to Grow, 216 River St, Troy. Info, Chapter Leader Erica Svatek: 518-225-7243.

saturdaySuper Saturday Sampling – 8am-8pm. 3rd Sat. Come in and try select foods and products from the vendors, deli and bakery. Niskayuna Co-Op, 2227 Nott Street (at Balltown Road). Info: 518-374-1362.Saturday Shake-Up – 9-10am. A different dance or fitness class each week. For teens and adults only. Including Barre, PiYo, Dance Fitness, Jazz and more. Contact us for the schedule. $5-$12/class. Albany Dance & Fitness, 1197 Central Ave, Albany. 518-573-3631.Wake Up Warm Power Flow – 9:30-10:45am. In a warm room we will focus on alignment, building strength and conscious breath to move through the poses and finish in Savasana. Great for beginner and intermediate students. In Harmony Yoga, 137 Remsen St, Cohoes. Info: 518-369-8325.Awareness through Movement – 9:30-10:30am. This Feldenkrais class is a series of gentle move-ment sequences that enhance personal awareness, posture, balance and flexibility. A Space to Grow, 216 River St, 2nd Flr, Troy. Register online. Info: 518-629-5664.Morning Meditation – 10-11am. Create peace and stillness in the body, mind and spirit through this meditation practice. Learn how to feel more focused and calm. $10 donation. Hosted by Justin Coletti, L.Ac at Community Massage, 270 River St, Ste 201, Troy. Info: 518-272-1400.Live Music Saturday Brunch – 10am-12pm. Alternating weeks. Good food, music and vibes. Good Morning Breakfast Café, 2100 Doubleday Ave, Ballston Spa. Dates/info: Facebook page. 518- 309-3359.Community Acupuncture – 10am-2pm. A shared space that maintains privacy. Private appointment suggested before attending community treatments. See website for more info. $30-$40. 518 Acupunc-ture, 632 Plank Rd, Ste 202, Clifton Park. By appt: 518-416-1846.Walk-In Therapeutic Massage Clinic – 12-5pm. See Sunday for details. Bodyworks Wellness Center, 17 Computer Drive East, Albany. Info: 518-459- 4325.

ANTI-AGING

ALBANY – Fight wrinkles without slathering your skin in chemicals. Herbal Face Food skin serum is 100% organic, made entirely of plant ingredients specifically selected for their healing properties. Finally an all-natural way to nourish your skin. Herbal Face Food – East Coast, LLC. See ad, page 6.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

SPREAD YOUR WINGS – Add a Rejuvenation Studio to your existing beauty, fitness, or health/wellness business. Bring in new customers, gain revenue from several sources, and your customers will love it! For more information: 864-569-8631.

CONTRIBUTIONS NEEDED

PEACEFUL ACRES HORSES – This beloved sanctuary is raising funds for new shelters needed for its rescued horses. Contribute through PayPal via PeacefulAcresHorses.com or mail checks to 3740 Rynex Corners Rd., Pattersonville, NY 12137.

MAIL ORDER

AZUREGREEN.NET – Herbs, books, mortars and pestles, bumper stickers, jewelry, incense, gift items, gemstones, amulets, statuary. 8,000 items. Wholesale and retail.

SACRED CEREMONIES

PERSONALLY SPIRITUAL WEDDING CEREMONIES – Your wedding is all about you! Spiritual Minister, Rev Miriam Mimi Phillips, MS MA, creates and officiates the wedding of your dreams. Mimi is warm, welcoming, and positively awaits your exciting wedding day. 518-466-8884 or psweddingceremonies.com.

SPACE AVAILABLE

PLEASING SHARED SPACE – If you are a body worker, Ayurveda practitioner, nutritionist, wellness coach, spiritual advisor, intuitive or have valuable insight to share with others, we have room for you! Flexible hours and affordable rates. Contact In Harmony Yoga Studio, 518-369-8325 or [email protected].

SCOTIA/SCHENECTADY – Rooms available for part/full time holistic practitioners who are interested in being in an established health center. Vitality Health Center. Inquiries: 518-372-4706.

WEB DESIGN

ROGER LIPERA WEB DESIGN & CONSULT-ING – Guilderland. 518-248-4175. Lipera.com. See ad, page 50.

WEIGHT LOSS

ALBANY – Hypnosis helps with weight loss, smok-ing cessation, stress reduction, releasing worries and fears, sleep issues, negative emotions. Info: AlbanyHypnosisCenter.com. See ad, page 25.


Connecting you with local businesses and experts in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Natural Directory, email [email protected].

ACUPUNCTURE

518 ACUPUNCTUREAshley Wells, LAc, MS, MA632 Plank Rd, Ste 202, Clifton Park518-416-1846 • 518acu.com

Encourage the body to naturally heal itself. Positive results and affordable services. Community acupuncture appointments: $30-40. Private appointments, Chinese medical massage, qigong, facial rejuvenation, dietary therapy also

available. Free consultations.

ACUPUNCTURE AND THERAPEUTIC BODYWORKJustin Coletti MS, LAc, LMT270 River St, Ste201, Troy518-892-9668 • nyacutherapy.com

Acupuncture and therapeutic bodywork in the heart of Troy. Located within the Triangle Build-ing in the Community Massage suite. Offering a drug-free alternative for the treatment of digestive disorders, headaches and pain.

VICTOR TULCHINSKY, D.O.Family Physician/Medical Acupuncture255 Lark St, Albany518-482-1570 • DrVictorTulchinsky.com

Family medicine and Japanese/Chinese classical acupuncture for health and wellness. Treating chronic disease, TMJ, migraines and other conditions not treated by western medicine. Available by appointment. Off-street parking. See ad, page 12.

VITALITY ACUPUNCTURE Michele Dolan LAc, AcupuncturistAt Albany Total Wellness130 Everett Rd, Albany 518-435-1280 • MicheleDolanLAc.com

Acupuncture and herbal therapy are an all-natural alternative to improving well-being, preventing illness and resolving some of the most common health issues. See ad, page 20.

ART THERAPY

ANN SIMPSON-MCDOWELL, MA, LCAT1471 Rte 9, Ste 201, Crescent Commons, Clifton Park • 518-982-5376HavenOfHopeCounseling.com

Licensed Creative Art Therapist. 20+ years’ experience in grief work , a l l losses , and l i fe change adaptation. Offering compassionate counsel ing, therapeutic art and sand tray work for all ages.

BODYWORK

BODYWORK PROFESSIONALSNick PavoldiStructural Integration Practitioner, Proprietor578 New Loudon Rd, Latham • 518-389-220011 Spring St, Saratoga Springs • 518-389-2083BodyworkProfessionals.com

Bodywork Professionals are sk i l l ed , ded ica ted , ca ree r therapists who specialize in the art and science of effective soft tissue massage therapy and a variety of bodywork modalities. See ad, page 7.

CHILDREN’S HEALING ARTSA HEALING ART SANCTUARY154 Milton Ave, Ballston Spa • [email protected] Facebook: ahealingartsanctuary

Inspir ing heal ing through eclectic and artistic venues. O f f e r i n g a r t , y o g a , a n d aromatherapy for all ages. Seniors welcome too. Birthday

parties available. Retail shop includes: jewelry, art and more. Free Young Living Essential Oil Workshops. Summer camps available.

CHIROPRACTIC

DR. TERRY DHANJAL-GARCHAFamily Chiropractic & Wellness56 Clifton Country Rd, #104, Clifton Park518-357-3262 • DrGarchaChiropractic.com

Over 20 years of experience in medical/alternative health care. Holistic approach to wellness. Specializing in instrumental spinal adjustment, rehabilitation, ZYTO body scan, cold laser, color glass therapy, supplements and detoxification.

naturaldirectory DR. JOHN M. FERGUSONFerguson Family Chiropractic1783 Rte 9, Clifton Park518-383-5595 • ForLifetimeWellness.com

The “Chiropractor for your family”. With 10 years of pediatric/family wellness care experience, Dr. John is committed to healthy lifestyle changes for the family. See ad, page 26.

DR. KERSTIN MEDWIN, DCAt Albany Total Wellness130 Everett Rd, Albany518-435-1280 • MedwinChiropractic.com

Over 9 years’ experience working as a chiropractor. Establishes car ing and compass iona te relationships with each and every patient. See ad, page 20.

DR. JACLYN PURCELLSaratoga Chiropractic376 Broadway, Ste L4, Saratoga Springs518-435-1280 • SaratogaChiropractic.com

Chiropractic for people of all ages. From pain to maintaining optimal health. Helping clients heal naturally and improve quality of life.

COACHINGLOUISE M. FINLAYSON, PH.D.1525 Western Ave, Ste 1, Albany518-218-0707 LouiseFinlayson.com

Helping clients focus their attention on what they want to create in their lives; guiding them to discover their "why," their passions, their purpose, to let go of self-limiting beliefs and to step into effective action to create fulfillment and

meaning in their lives. See ad, page 26.

RUTH JACOBSCertified Health CoachDelmar• 518-817-3486 FoodAndHealthAdventures.com

Concerned about weight, diabetes or pre-diabetes? Focus on pleasurable ways to control weight and blood sugar. Get support for making changes to feel better and create a desired life. Free initial consultation.


MY TRUE PLACETRANSFORMATION COACHINGElana Davidson, TK413-259-4369 • MyTruePlace.com

Transform whatever stops you or holds you back from creating an amazing life. When you embrace yourself fully, what else is possible for you and your life? Let's find out. Serving the Hudson Valley, Berkshires and beyond.

JEANNIE [email protected]

Offering inspirational coaching for women who want to turn their passions into profits. Working with Jeannie, women identify their purpose and learn to get paid for doing work they love. Serving the Capital District and

beyond. See ad, page 26.

WOMEN’S HEALTH & HEALINGCarol Gardner, RN, MS518-312-8791 • [email protected] WomensHealthAndHealing.com

Coaching women to effectively discover strength and wisdom to support the body, mind and spirit; especially during life changes including retirement, divorce, chronic illness, grief and loss.

COUNSELING

BERNARD A. AMYOT, MS, MA, LMHC1471 Rte 9, Ste 201, Crescent Commons, Clifton Park • 518-982-5376 HavenOfHopeCounseling.com

20+ years’ experience in grief/loss and life transition counseling. Focus on sudden death loss, d ivorce/separa t ion, family relationship issues, anxiety, and depression. Using CBT and companioning counseling model.

CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY

ELENA AJDELSZTAJN, LMTWelcome Home Integrative Bodywork, LLC145 Vly Rd, Ste 6, Shaker Pine Plaza, Colonie 518-783-6091 • [email protected]

NYS licensed massage therapist offering craniosacral therapy, a bodywork modality to help process and resolve deeply held tension in the body. Professional, peaceful environment.

K. MICHELLE DOYLE, BCST, RN, NYS LM35 Dearstyne Rd, Troy • 518-238-3469 [email protected]

Biodynamic craniosacral therapy is a subtle yet deeply relaxing form of body work that employs light touch. Offering BCST to infants, children, and adults.

DIANE SIMPSON, LMT43 Pinewoods Ave, Troy518-283-6706

Offering integrated bodywork and somato-emotional release through craniosacral therapy, acupressure and myofascial mobilization/unwinding. Supporting clients with gentle and supportive therapy including chakra balancing with

sound/vibration. Pediatric craniosacral therapy for infants and children.

DETOXIFICATIONSUSAN BROWN, MS, CNAt Vitality Health Center3441 Amsterdam Rd (Rte 5), Scotia518-372-4706 • GetVitalHealth.com

Combining traditional remedies using whole foods, herbals and Reiki with modern detoxification therapies such as detoxifying foot baths, Rife machine and Live Cell microscopy to support our innate healing abilities.

ENERGY HEALING

GINA CLEMENTE, RMT229 Washington St, Saratoga Springs518-791-6565ReikiHealingWithGina.com

Experience professional quality Reiki energy sessions, workshops and classes. Reiki promotes healing that is safe, effective and compliments traditional medicine. Reduce stress and anxiety, pre or post-surgery, during transitions, cancer treatment. Peaceful office

and easy parking. Established in 2003.

TONI CRAFTAlbany-Saratoga3 Computer Dr W, Ste 106, Albany518-248-0995 • ToniCraft.com

Offering Reiki, which is spiritually guided energy balancing for body mind and spirit. Working on

both people and animals. Home or barn visits available. Crystal gridding for home and business. Reiki classes and crystals for sale.

EMOTIONAL HEALING WITH ENERGY THERAPYMelinda Lippert, BA, CECP, CYTServing the Capital District and beyond518-380-2031 • MelindaLippert.com

Gentle yet powerful techniques to release emotional trauma. Helping w o m e n h e a l i n f e r t i l i t y , relationships, and chronic illness. Emotion Code, EFT tapping, Reiki, and more.

ENERGY FOR HEALTH & HEALING, LLCJack Treiber, BS518-225-4692EnergyForHealthAndHealing.com

Over 20 years of energy healing experience. Using advanced, deep and powerful techniques to help clients feel better and achieve balance. Practicing in Clifton Park and Saratoga See ad, page 10.

SATPREM’S IKIERA DIVINE HOLISTIC HEALING ARTS34 B Cemetery Rd, Clifton Park • 518-788-7062 SatpremJi.com• IkieraHealing.com

Satprem’s 40 years of therapeutic training in India developed a meditation master and intuitive healer who channels divine energies for holistic health. Meditation helps endocrines, nerves, illnesses; opens

one to higher consciousness. She offers meditation, energy massages, Ayurvedic therapy and Reiki to gain a balanced body-mind-soul.


JOY OF NIA MOVEMENTBeth FosterBlack Belt Nia Teacher & Owner 3 Denny Rd, Guilderland518-452-3679 • JoyOfNiaMovement.com

Exper ience the energe t ic , expressive and joyful way to exercise. Free your spirit and move with passion as you connect to your body through the movement of Nia. Small, year-round classes in a comfortable

studio open to all fi tness levels. See ad, page 14.

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE

HEALTHY ENDEAVORS MEDICINE, PCANITA BUROCK STOTTS, MD2592 Western Ave, Ste 102, Altamont518-355-2060 • HealthyEndeavorsMED.com

Functional Medicine is a dynamic approach to assessing, preventing and treating complex chronic disease. It is science-based and patient-centered. See ad, page 41.

GREEN BUILDING/DESIGN

GREEN CONSCIENCE HOMEKaren Totino33 Church St, Saratoga Springs 518-306-5196 • Green-Conscience.com

Specializing in green home renovation for families and businesses. Supplier of non-toxic interior fi nishes for walls, fl oors, counter tops. Showroom features natural and organic mattresses, and bedding. See ad, page 55.

HERBS

JEAN'S GREENSHerbal Tea Works & Herbal Essentials1545 Columbia Turnpike, Schodack518-479-0471 • JeansGreens.com

Gifts from the Earth for you and yours. Offering quality organic and wild-crafted herbs, teas, tinctures, essential oils, books, gifts , and bath and beauty products, as well as a variety of supplies for making your own

products. Free catalog available. See ad, page 26.

HOLISTIC DENTISTRY

DR. FREDERICK DREHER410 Rowland St, Ballston Spa518-885-6185 • NoMercDoc.com

Combining a holistic approach that treats the teeth and the mouth, realizing the connection between dental health and whole-body wellness. Safe mercury removal. See ad, page 38.

THE ART OF REIKIJoyce Willson, RN, BSN, RMT, IET251 River St, Ste 401, Troy, NY 12180518-271-7802 • TheArtOfReiki.com

Bringing passion, experience and knowledge with Reiki and Integrated Energy Therapy (IET) plus 30+ years of nursing experience to focus on wellness as well as health issues of each individual.

THE REIKI PATHBob Weissberg, Usui Reiki Master518-390-0299

Reiki gently promotes relaxation, pain relief, healing, wellness and deep spiritual connection. Offering traditional Usui Reiki treatment since 1999, teaching since 2004. See ad, page 44.

FENG SHUI/SPACE CLEARING

BRENDA C. JENKS518-321-5940FengShuiBCJ.com

Assesses physical and non-physical infl uences in a home or business and suggests appropriate adjustments to ensure environ-ment supports one physically, emotionally and fi nancially. 18+ years’ experience serving the Capital District and beyond.

FINANCIAL HEALTH

CHANGING TIMES PLANNINGLaurie Bonser, CFP, CPA, CoachLaurie@ChangingTimesPlanning.com518-312-7980ChangingTimesPlanning.com

I n n o v a t i v e p l a n n i n g a n d information for fi nancial health, wellness, and fi tness through all life transitions, changes, and goals. Available for clients nationwide. See ad, page 22..

FITNESS

ALBANY DANCE & FITNESSGail Tassarotti, Owner/Instructor1197 Central Ave, Albany518-573-3631 • AlbanyDanceFitness.com

Relieve stress and feel positive about yourself as you get fit. Offering a variety of classes for all ability levels (adults and teens only). See ad, page 25.

HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE

GUILDERLAND HOMEOPATHIC CLINICLarry Malerba, DO • Mary Malerba, RN2592 Western Ave, Guilderland518-357-4210 • DrMHomeopathy.com

Safe, FDA-approved, holistic medical care for body, heart, mind & soul. 25 years’ experience treating all types of medical conditions in children and adults.

HYPNOSIS

ALBANY HYPNOSIS CENTERDeborah Nettles, CH251 New Karner Rd, Albany518-275-7388 AlbanyHypnosisCenter.com

Hypnosis services to lose weight, stop smoking, gain confidence, release worries, stress and fears. Providing private sessions, seminars and

stage performances. Free screening appointment is available to learn about hypnosis. See ad, page 25.

SHANNON KEYES CIUCEVICH Key 2 Joy – Hypnosis145 Vly Rd, Ste 6, Shaker Pine Plaza, Colonie518-598-6968 • Key2Joy.net

Lose weight, stop smoking and release stress with hypnosis. Receive a free hypnosis screening and learn how hypnosis can assist you discovering the Key 2 Joy within you. See ad, page 13.

GEORGE GUARINO, CH, CINGH Certified Hypnotist & InstructorAlbany • Delmar • Clifton Park518-256-6549 • HypnosisWorksWell.com

Feel good, feel well and be happy. Change old habits and smile. Discover why hundreds of happy clients now say, "hypnosis works well." Individual and group sessions. Hypnosis certification training available. Free phone consultation. See ad, page 15.

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE

CAPITAL REGION PROGRESSIVE MEDICINE AND LONGEVITY PRACTICE, PLLC1873 Western Ave, Ste 101, Albany518-452-4910 • DrErner.com

Board-certified internist treating patients with a holistic, integrative approach to preventive health and wellness. Specialties: weight loss, age management,

menopause, low testosterone, thyroid and adrenal disorders, fi bromyalgia/chronic fatigue, irritable bowel. See ad, page 35.


MASSAGE

ALBANY MASSAGEAt Albany Total Wellness130 Everett Rd, Albany518-915-1788 • [email protected] AlbanyMassage.com

The Capital District’s standard in therapeutic massage. Providing the latest in clinically proven therapies and delivering the highest level of quality service to our clients. See ad, page 20.

BODYWORKS WELLNESS CENTERLinda Addario, LMT, CEO17 Computer Dr E, Albany518-459-4325 (HEAL)TheBodyworksWellnessCenter.com

14 years of experience in bodywork with a background in physical therapy. Office mission: “We believe an organic component of supporting client wellness goals means offering the highest level of manual skills and conducting

business with consciousness and integrity.”

COMMUNITY MASSAGE & HOLISTIC THERAPIESKathleen Vroman, NYS LMT270 River St, Ste 201, Troy 518-272-1400 • TroyCommunityMassage.com

Offering therapeutic massage, myofascial bodywork, craniosacral t he rapy, and r e f l exo logy. Individually customized in a p rofess iona l and peacefu l atmosphere, enhanced with local art and natural foliage. Discover

Troy’s “Urban Oasis.” See ad, page 55.

MANTRA WELLNESS THERAPEUTIC & MEDICAL MASSAGE 636 Plank Rd, Ste 207, Clifton Park518-663-6000MantraWellnessMassage.com

Providing a healthy, relaxing env i ronmen t wi th NYS licensed massage therapists dedicated to promoting self-healing and balance to clients. Sessions by appointment only

and tailored to each individual. See ad, page 33.

TURN A NEW LEAF MASSAGE & ENERGY WORKErin Sikopoulos, LMT648 Maple Ave, Saratoga Springs518-636-9588 • TurnANewLeafMassage.com

Offering restorative therapeutic massage and unique energy work known as Gemstone Therapy. Every client's session is tailored to support his/her goals in relieving pain, easing symptoms of chronic conditions and helping reduce stress. See ad, page 6.

WELCOME RELIEF MASSAGE THERAPY5 Hemphill Pl, Malta • 518-899-5550WelcomeRelief@gmail.comWelcomeReliefMassageTherapy.com

Specializing in therapeutic mas-sage focusing on injury prevention

and recovery along with pain management. Only Young Living Essential Oils are used in the offi ce. Simple on-line booking for client convenience. See ad, page 38.

MIDWIFERY

HEARTSPACE MIDWIFERYHeidi Ricks, LM 518-588-7122Maureen Murphy, CPM 518-229-6541406 Fulton St, Ste 513, Troy HeartspaceMidwifery.com

Empowering women through knowledge, experience and heart. Offering gynecology, preconception counseling, homebirth midwifery services and lactation counseling. See ad, page 41.

LOCAL CARE MIDWIFERY, PLLCK. Michelle Doyle, CNM, NYS LM35 Dearstyne Rd, Troy518-238-3469 • LocalCareMidwifery.com

An independent midwifery prac t ice o ffe r ing qua l i ty women’s heal th care and planned home birth services. Considering home birth? Call for a free consult.

SAFE PASSAGE MIDWIFERYKathleen Breault, CNM, LMCapital Region • Central NY • North Country 518-944-1637 • SafePassageMidwifery.com

An artisanal midwifery practice (usually by hand or using tradition-al methods, small).

Providing well woman care and birth services in the comfort and privacy of home. Serving clients in the Capital Region, Central New York and the North Country.

NATURAL BEAUTY

BEAUTYCOUNTERJennifer Quinn, Independent Consultant 518-461-9318 • [email protected]

Beautycounter offers safe, effective and beautiful skincare and cosmetics. Shop one on one, or host a social to get rewards. Learn to make safer choices for personal and whole family health.

JESSICA DAVIS, MD781 Hudson Ave, Stillwater518-664-6116 • [email protected]

"The New Mom's Family Doctor." Holistic primary care focusing on women's and children's health, especially newborns and new moms. Integrative, holistic and functional medicine approach.

INTUITIVE

RICHARD LYONSIntuitive Readings518-373-6678

A personalized reading gently sheds light on the unspoken questions of the heart as we travel our individual paths toward spiritual transformation. “There is a message waiting just for you.”

LEGAL SERVICES

THE KUBIKIAN LAW FIRM, PLLCDavid A. Kubikian, Esq. 139 Meyer Rd, Clifton Park 518-406-5333 • KubikianLaw.com

Dedicated and caring services provided in an atmosphere that allows clients the ability to make important and informed decisions in the areas of trusts and estates, elder law and divorce law. See ad, page 11.

LIGHT THERAPY

JANE S. GRAY, LMT, CLTAt Healing Path Massage670 Franklin St, Schenectady518-374-8654 • [email protected]

Using the exciting new advances in Light Energy technology to increase circulation and decrease pain and infl ammation. Red, blue and infrared lights enhance healing on many levels.

Advertise with us and reach thousands of healthy living individuals in the Capital Region who are looking for services like yours.

Call Today!518-729-0099 AlbanyAwakenings.com

Gr o w your Businessr o w your


NYR ORGANICLisa Small, Independent Consultant/Leader518-755-2170 • [email protected]/Shop/LSmall

Certifi ed organic, non-GMO Project Verifi ed, Fair Trade skin and body care, cosmetics, essential oils, massage, aromatherapy, home fragrance, unique gifts and more. Products for the entire family. Discover organic.

NATURAL MATERNITY/BABY

NATURALLY GROWN282B River St, Troy518-274-2229NaturalGrownBaby.com

A natural, eco-friendly baby and momma boutique. Our mission: “Support the natural growth of your child through high-quality products and educational classes.”

NATUROPATH

BACK TO NATURE FAMILY WELLNESSDr. Amy Cole, NDAt Albany Total Wellness130 Everett Rd, Albany 518-701-4587 • AmyColeND.com

Providing naturopathic consultation integrating

science and nature. Plans include nutrition, herbs, homeopathy and hydrotherapy. Exploring all aspects of a person including mind, body and spirit. Additional offi ce in Bennington, VT. See ad, page 20.

REINVENTING WELLNESSDr. Sarah Stout, NDClifton Park/Ballston Lake518-410-9401 • ReinventingWellness.com

Naturopath and nutritionist with a unique passion for health and wellness. The Reinventing Wellness team is committed to assisting individuals in restoring their well-being and health with individualized approaches to nutrition and wellness.

NEW AGE RETAIL

CROSSROADS GIFTS & WELLNESS133 Jay St, Schenectady518-357-8366Find us on Facebook or CrossroadsGallery.com

Divine Inspiration for mind, body, spirit and senses. Locally crafted, fair trade and spiritual gifts, Local all-natural food items, coffee, tea, health and body care products, crystals and stones, essential oils and much more. See ad, page 37.

NUTRITIONANNE J DEROCHER, CNAt Vitality Health Center3441 Amsterdam Rd (Rte 5), Scotia518-372-4706 • GetVitalHealth.com

Certifi ed nutritionist and medical intuitive for 20+ years, using whole foods and herbs to reprogram and empower our innate wisdom to unravel toxicities to attain vital health.

PHYSICAL THERAPY

MACCIO PHYSICAL THERAPY1 New Hampshire Ave, Troy518-273-2121MaccioPhysicalTherapy.com

The McKenzie Method is an active patient involvement and education system for back, neck and extremity pain. Its methodology is backed by therapists/doctors worldwide. See ad, page 42.

SOMATIC PRACTITIONER

CONSCIOUS MOVEMENTSBuffy Owens, Feldenkrais MethodAt A Space to Grow, 216 River St, Troy518-629-5664 • ConsciousMovements.com

Offering group classes and private sessions for those interested in meditation & mindfulness, women moving through pregnancy and for families who have children with special needs & extraordinary gifts.

SOUND HEALING

ALL ENERGY HEALING, YOGA, SOUND THERAPYCheryl Beckmann, E-RYT, Daniel Roy518-810-7646 • AllEnergyHealing.com

Experience emotional, physical and spiritual healing with the beautiful vibrations of crystal singing bowls and Native American flute. Group and private sessions available in studios, wellness centers or in-home throughout the Capital Region. View schedule online.

SPIRITUAL CENTERS

ECKANKARNew York Satsang Society,Inc. PO Box 1316, Guilderland, 12084 800-630-3546 • Eckankar-ny.org

Eckankar means “Co-worker with God.” It offers ways to explore one's own unique and natural relationship with the Divine. The purpose of Eckankar is to make God an everyday reality in life.

UNITY CHURCH OF ALBANYRev. Jim Fuller, [email protected] • UnityAlbany.org

Offering practical and positive s p i r i t u a l p r i n c i p l e s a n d teachings, honoring each person and the spiritual path which they follow. Sunday morning services at 9 & 11am plus Wednesday e v e n i n g m e d i t a t i o n a n d metaphysical classes.


SUSTAINABLE FINANCE

SUSTAINABLE WEALTH ADVISORSHarry Moran, CFP, AIF112 Spring St, Ste 101, Saratoga Springs518-450-1755 • [email protected]

Comprehensive fi nancial planning and highly customized asset management strategies for socially and environmentally conscious investors. Serving the greater Capital Region. [Securities offered through Portfolio Resources

Group, Inc. Member FINRA, SIPC, MSRB, SIFMA. Office of Supervisory Jurisdiction (OSJ): 800 Brickell Ave, Ste 903, Miami, FL.] See ad, page 21

THERMOGRAPHY

BREAST THERMOGRAPHY INTERNATIONALPatricia Luccardi, LMT, CNMT, CTTChatham and Delmar518-929-7579 • Btiscan.com

Detect changes at the cellular level years before a mammogram. Clearer results, fewer additional tests, allowing for dietary and lifestyle changes. See ad, page 33.

MEDICAL THERMOGRAPHY ASSOCIATES2 Chelsea Place, Clifton Park518-983-6564 • MedThermography.com

Setting the standard. Medical thermography reveals physiological function and changes. Detects ca rd io-vascu la r p rob lems , hormonal imbalance, lymphatic congestion, and more. Used for early detection/prevention and

breast cancer screening. See ad, page 29.

WELLNESS

NORTHEAST SPINE AND WELLNESS1741 Rte 9, Clifton Park1873 Western Ave, Albany518-371-4800 • DrGulyas.com

Offering evaluation, education and solutions to chronic health concerns where others believe nothing else can be done. Helping to navigate the “storm” of ill health with the 3 Ms: Meal,

Movement and Mind. See ad, page 20.

WORKSHOPS/RETREATS

ONE BIG ROOF433 Broadway, 3rd Flr, Saratoga Springs518-450-1624 • OneRoofSaratoga.com

A spacious retreat and workshop center in the heart of Saratoga. Attend mind, body, spirit events for improved health and

well-being. See schedule online.

PEACE VILLAGE LEARNING & RETREAT CENTER54 O’Hara Rd (at Rte 23A), Haines Falls, NY518-589-5000 [email protected]

Experience the tranquility of weekend retreats, vegetarian food and special day events for the Capital District. Learn to meditate, be open to life-changing experiences and fi nd inner peace and power. Relax, refresh and renew.

YOGA

HEARTSPACE YOGA & HEALING ARTS747 Madison Ave, Albany 10 2nd St, Troy 518-512-3390 • HeartspaceAlbany.com

With locations in Troy and Albany, Hear tspace i s a community-oriented yoga studio offering daily drop-in classes for all levels, workshops and special events.

IN HARMONY YOGA137 Remsen St, Cohoes518-369-8325 • [email protected]

Our Sacred Space embodies a compassionate energy that will empower the body, mind and spirit. Kripalu, Hot Warrior Yoga (85 degrees), Vinyasa, Detox

Flow, Personalized Yoga, Corporate Yoga and Divine Sleep Yoga Nidra.

KEY 2 JOY – YOGA145 Vly Road, Ste 6, Shaker Pine Plaza, Colonie518-598-6968 • Key2Joy.net

Unlock the Key 2 Joy within you through yoga and meditation. Offering: hatha, chair, Svaroopa, gentle,

restorative, tantra, and Bhakti yoga, yoga nidra, andmeditation. Private and group sessions for all levels.

LILANANDA YOGA585 Saratoga Rd (Route 50), Glenville518-470-5240LilanandaYoga.com

Yoga and Pilates studio serving Glenville, Burnt Hills and the surrounding areas. An inviting space to come learn, expand and explore with yoga.

NAMASTE YOGA SARATOGA2 Franklin Sq, Ste F2, Saratoga Springs518-222-7470NamasteYogaSaratoga.com

Offering community based classes by donation. Calming and restorative Hatha yoga s tudio jus t 1 b lock off Broadway. All are welcome.

ORENDA YOGA & HEALING ARTS457 Route 146, Guilderland Center, [email protected] • OrendaYoga.org

Specializing in therapeutic and structural yoga practices. S m a l l c l a s s s i z e s a n d undivided attention from our teachers and practitioners,

offering yoga for everybody. See ad, page 37.

THE YOGA LILYPam Medina, Founder, E-RYT1 Barney Rd, Ste 222, Clifton Park518-744-5565 • TheYogaLily.com

A welcoming, safe, healing space to nourish well-being. Gentle to challenging classes, as well as chair and restorative yoga, Thai yoga

bodywork, goddess events, meditation, workshops/retreats and yoga teacher training programs. See ad, page 7.

YANA YOGA & WELLNESS100 Saratoga Village Blvd, #42Malta Commons, Malta518-522-5472 • YanaYoga.net

Committed to its clients for over 6 years, Yana Yoga & Wellness offers a variety of yoga classes including Prenatal, Kid's,

Mommy & Me, Gentle, Breast Cancer Recovery, Restorative and Vinyasa.

YOGA BLISS ON THE BLVD140 Erie Blvd, Schenectady518-894-7086YogaBlissBlvd.com

A safe and sacred space where one can inquire within. Dedicated under the guiding principles of love, grace and gratitude. Yoga Bliss offers a space to choose and practice happiness. See ad, page 35.

I have found that if you love life, life will love you back.

~Arthur Rubinstein


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Natural Awakenings of the NY Capital District - May 2015