September 2014

FREE

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

Create an Eco-Bathroom

Gentle Ways to Give it a Sheen

that’s Green

HELP FOR HELPERS

How to Make Caregiving Easier

OM SWEET OMSounding the Key Note of the Universe

SAY YES TO YOGA It Boosts Health, Peace, Community and Spirituality

September 2014 | Birmingham, AL | Facebook.com/nabirmingham

2 Birmingham, AL Facebook.com/nabirmingham

3natural awakenings September 2014

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HOW TO ADVERTISE Display Ads due by the 10th of the month prior to publication. Contact Us to advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit. 256-476-6537 -or- [email protected]

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

5 newsbriefs

7 healthbriefs

16 healingways

20 greenliving

22 fitbody

24 wisewords

25 inspiration

26 calendar

27 classifieds

30 resourceguide

contents

12 CONSCIOUS CAREGIVING Nurture Yourself While Helping Another by Deborah Shouse

16 SPARKING CREATIVITY IN ELDERS WITH DEMENTIA Re-Engaging Through Art, Music and Dance by Deborah Shouse

20 A LOVELY LOO THAT’S ALL GREEN, TOO Tips for Eco-Friendly Plants, Shades and Cleaners by Avery Mack

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

24 KAMINI DESAI EXPLORES A YOGIC LIFE Inner Calmness Leads to Self-Mastery by Linda Sechrist

25 OM SWEET OM Sounding the Key Note of the Universe by Sam Saunders

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contact us

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

PublisherTom Maples

[email protected]: 404-395-9634

Co-Publisher, Advertising SalesCindy Wilson

[email protected]: 256-476-6537

Design and ProductionMelanie Rankin

Natural AwakeningsBirmingham

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© 2014 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing.

Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business.

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

“Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.”

~Eleanor Brownn

We are taught to be selfless in the service of others. This is a lofty and solemn goal. There is a dignity to the thought, a rarified reverence, and a sense of

absolute virtue. There is no nobler act, especially, than to care for another who cannot care for themselves. By contrast, the notion of putting ourselves first sounds scandalous. Selfish. Contemptible. Not in the sense that it is a descent into evil, but rather as a failure to achieve the highest good. The mandate of selfless service to others compels that we be perfect in this regard. Total and complete sacrifice of our own time, desires, wants and needs is the standard to which we hold ourselves. Anything less is shameful, when there is a loved one who needs our care. Putting ourselves first is simply not an option in the context of how we see it. We must put the other person first or we are not a loving being. But what if there was another way to look at it, another way to approach the moral imperatives that drive us when it comes to giving care to others vs. caring for ourselves? It starts with a reconception of what it means to put ourselves first. Think of it in terms of numbers. A math metaphor, if you will. Visualize a one followed by zeros. The one is the self, and the rest of the all, everyone and every-thing, are the zeroes. If you put the one first, followed by zeros, as in…

1000 and 10000000000000

…then you can add as many zeroes as you want and the value of both the one and the all increases, exponentially. However, if you put the one second, as in…

01 or 0000000001

…then the value of the one, and the all, diminishes drastically.

In this conception, putting the one, or oneself, first, is the true value proposi-tion. In practical terms, putting oneself first means taking care of oneself with the same intensity of dedication that we would extend to our loved ones who need us. This means we follow the basics of self-care: getting adequate rest, nutrition, exer-cise, and personal time to do what we need to do to replenish ourselves energeti-cally, psychically and emotionally. We don’t lose anything by putting ourselves first. In fact, we gain the ability to serve others better.

letterfrompublisher


newsbriefs

Indigenous Chiefs and Wisdom Keepers Gather for Star Knowledge Conference near Nashville, Sept 18-20

Indigenous Chiefs and Wisdom Keepers will gather near Nashville, TN, Septem-

ber 18-20 for the Star Knowledge Nash-ville Conference to share Sacred Knowl-edge of the Earth, stars, and ascended realms. The conference is being held at the Montgomery Bell State Park Conference Center, located in Burns, TN about 30 miles west of Nashville. According to coordinator Janice Mickle, the purpose of the event is to share ancient spiritual teachings, heal humanity and the Earth, and celebrate The Great Thanksgiving. “It is a powerful time of giving thanks for the manifestations of our heart’s desires,” Mickle says. The event features more than 30 speakers, includ-ing Chief Golden Light Eagle, Grandmother SilverStar, and Jerry Wills plus over 20 workshops with gifted psychics, healers, educators, life coaches and energy workers. Conference vendors will provide pottery, paintings, organic farm info, Native American music and clothing, crystals, drums, sacred painting and more. Live Native American Music will be featured each evening, including Singer Terri Sings with Ravens Rivera, Yolanda Martinez and many more, plus some native Nashville Sound. All attendees are invited to the Fall Equinox Sunrise Ceremony, Sunday, September 21 at Nashville’s own Sacred Site, Mound Bottom, located just a few miles from the Conference Center. Register for all 3 days of the Conference for only $222 or $88 for a single day, please specify day(s).

Register by phone/fax, 800-221-6801 or go online to StarKnowledgeNashville.com. For more info, contact Janice Mickle at 615-830-1512. See ad, page 15.

Crystal Zen

Crystal Energy is the power that crystals naturally give off and that you are able to use to heal yourself. As you learn

about the metaphysical properties of these powerful crystals, you can learn to use them to find peace within and experience greater balance in your life. Crystals can help us to center and refresh the body mind and spirit. They can help us to strength-en the aura as we raise our vibration to align with our soul. Come discover complete and absolute peace through yoga and crystal healing. Explore the many benefits of crystal inspired

jewelry as we apply them to the body, mind and spirit. Move through a calming yoga class ending with a crystal healing laying of stones on the body in Savasana. Learn about the many healing and empowering properties of crystals and stones as you explore the art of Crystal Jewelry for wearing your empowerment. Join jewelry artist Terri Ann Heiman of Natural Forces Studio and Dylan Royale of Wraps Royale for an evening of “wearable” healing Crystal Zen, Satur-day, September 1 from 6-8:30pm. Explore the jewelry and pick out healing stones beginning at 6pm. Yoga begins at 7pm.

Location: Natural Forces Studio, 609 37th Street South, inside Birmingham Yoga. NaturalForcesStudio.com. Info: Terri Ann Heiman, 516-457-3885. Fee: Love Donation. See listing, page 30.

“Make it Rain” with Satisfied Clients, Less Hours, More Leisure and a Profitable Return on Investment (ROI)

Business owners

can become perplexed by the psychology of marketing their business. Often their marketing strat-egy consists of allocating minimal funds for a marketing budget and provid-ing content and graphics for market-ing their products and services. A lack of strategic planning ultimately results in a failure to realize a return on investment. Entrepreneurs can be disillusioned with marketing and convinced that the solution is to work longer hours before they will see the fruits of their labor. These entrepre-neurs dream of spending less time working, more time with their fami-lies and a fair profit from their ROI. Natural Awakenings will be host-ing two workshops presented by Betty Perryman, director of the American Coaching School. The purpose of the workshop is to provide marketing strategies and resources to attendees that they can utilize in real time. The workshops are for business owners and entrepreneurs interested in estab-lishing personalized marketing strate-gies designed to grow your business with satisfied clients, leverage your hours to give you freedom to spend more leisure time with your family and result in bottom-line profits. Register now and “Make It Rain.”

Workshop: Thursday, October 2, 6pm. Location: Birmingham, TBA. RSVP with Cindy Wilson at 256-340-1122 or email Cindy@ AlabamaAwakenings.com.

Betty Perryman


newsbriefs Fall Equinox Celebration at Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve

Help to raise the

vibration of love and light on the planet with this spiri-tual Equinox Fire Circle Ceremony

where we will come together and participate in a powerful healing and earth blessing. Join together to celebrate the earth’s cycles as an observance and honoring of the changes within ourselves. The fall equinox is a time of equal day and equal night…acknowledging the balance in all life…the darkness and the light. It is a time to look at the balance of our relationship with Mother Earth. Fire allows for rapid transforma-tion. It provides the avenue to let go of the old stuff and transform the energy for the highest good. The Equinox is more than just a transition point between the sea-sons. In many of the world’s elder traditions, it is a sacred day. These “birth-days” of the seasons belong to all traditions. They are perfect occasion to realign our relationship with the universe, our community and our selves. Ceremony to be led by Terri Ann Heiman and staff at Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve. What to bring: Drums and rat-tles, a stick to offer to the fire, water and a snack to share with the com-munity after the ceremony. What to wear: Dress in layers appropriate for the weather.

Monday, September 22, 6:30-8:30pm. For more information: Mitchell Nash 205-833-8264 x17. Check the Ruffner Mountain Facebook page for up to date info or NaturalForcesStudio.com. See listing, page 30.

Birmingham Unites at Vulcan for Global Mala Yoga Event

On Saturday, September 20, over 200 people will gather at Vulcan Park and Museum for Birming-

ham’s 8th annual Global Mala Yoga for Peace Project. This free event brings the Birmingham community together for 108 sun salutations, raising awareness for world peace, community wellness and the power of

selfless service. All around the world, communities in other cities will unite on this day in the same spirit, calling upon the symbol of the mala, a garland con-structed of 108 beads that is used during meditation, to signify the power a group can harness when individual intentions unite for the same cause. A pre-party at local brewery, Trim Tab, will take place on Thursday, September 18 from 6-9pm to bring the yoga community together for a night of fun and cama-raderie. No reservations required for this free event. These events are presented by Sweet Om Alabama, a non-profit organization devoted to service to the greater good. This year, Sweet Om Alabama devotes this practice of service to UAB’s Happy Healthy Kids, a program designed to stop the increase in prevalence and reduce the incidence of childhood obesity in Alabama by educating children and their parents from underserved communities to pursue healthy eating and active lifestyles. No experience necessary. Bring a yoga mat and water, or just come sit on the lawn and enjoy the energy. Rain or shine.

Saturday, September 20, 8am-10am. Free. Donations accepted, benefitting Sweet Om Alabama and UAB’s Happy Healthy Kids. Location: Vulcan Park and Museum, 1701 Valley View Dr, Birmingham. See ad, page 31.

Antiques at The Gardens

Since 2006, Antiques at The Gardens has served as one of the two largest annual fundraisers hosted at Birmingham

Botanical Gardens. Over the event’s eight previous years, Birmingham’s premier antiques show has raised nearly $2.7 million to aid the mission of Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens—education. During that period, 77% of funds raised have directly funded programming at The Gar-dens including its flagship educational program, Discovery Field Trips, which has provided a free, curriculum-based science education to more than 110,000 Birmingham metropolitan area students over the last decade. This year’s event, coming to the Garden Center October 2-5, will feature two speakers at the Red Diamond Lecture Series: royal florist and author Shane Con-nolly and celebrity designer and author Mario Buatta. Connolly’s lecture will be held Thursday, October 2 at 1pm, while Buatta’s will be Friday, October 3 at 11am. The event’s black-tie affair, the Sterne Agee Gala at The Gardens, welcomes Atlanta Pleasure Band for an evening of dancing, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. The Gala will be held on Friday, October 3 from 6-1pm. The public show is open on Thurs-day, October 2 from 1-5pm, Friday and Saturday from 10am-5pm, and Sunday, October 5 from 11-3pm. The show features dozens of Tastemakers and Dealers from across the nation. For tickets to each event and to the public show, and for more information about Tastemakers and Dealers, please visit BBGardens.org/Antiques.


healthbriefs

Yoga Boosts Hearts, Shrinks WaistlinesTwo scientific reviews of human clinical research

have found that hatha yoga significantly reduces heart disease risk factors. Researchers from Germany’s University of Duis-burg-Essen reviewed 44 studies involving more than 3,000 people. Overall, the studies found that hatha yoga significantly reduced both systolic and diastolic

blood pressure. Yoga participants also showed lower respiratory and heartbeat rates, significantly reduced triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or bad cholesterol, and increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or good cholesterol. Several important diabetes risk markers decreased among the yoga participants; they also realized smaller waistlines. Similar results were reached by scientists from the United Kingdom’s Warwick Medical School. In analyzing 11 studies involving 800 people, they found that regular yoga exercise both reduced diastolic blood pressure and triglycerides and increased beneficial HDL cholesterol levels.

TONGUE DIAGNOSIS REVEALS SLEEP DISORDERSTraditional medicines have long utilized tongue analysis

to diagnose various disorders. Now, a recent study from the Republic of Korea’s Institute of Oriental Medicine sup-ports the accuracy of this ancient health practice in the area of sleep dysfunction. The researchers studied two separate groups of 153

people and 454 elderly people; in both, the color of their tongues was analyzed and compared with cases of sleep disorders within each group. Those experi-encing sleep dysfunctions had a paler tongue color compared with those in the healthy group; they also had more thickly coated tongues.

Licorice Root ReducesDangerous FatA new study published in the journal Nutra-

foods has confirmed that licorice extract helps reduce visceral fat in obese adults. The study tested 60 men and 60 women that were clinically obese with body mass index (BMI) scores of over 30. For three months, they were given either a pla-cebo pill or 300 milligrams per day of licorice root extract. Then they were tested for visceral fat using CT scans and measured for waist circumference, waist-to-hip measurements and BMI scores. The licorice ex-tract group had significantly fewer visceral fat cells, lower BMI scores and reduced waist circumference compared with the placebo group. Previous research with the extract also showed similar weight-loss effects among human subjects.

coverartist

Sending BlessingsLori Portka

A former counselor and educator, fine artist Lori Portka delights in the favorite things that inspire her: nature, traveling, animals, yoga and friends. She lets her art pour out in boldly rendered images that burst from each canvas via saturated pastels, paints, chalks and inks to forge a visceral connection between artist and viewer. “I make artwork that is a reflection of gratitude and joy in the world,” says Portka, whose expressive works fulfill her mission of spreading happiness through art. A personal loss led Portka to begin painting again at 30-something for the first time since the 10th grade, a process she says has opened her heart even more deeply. Inspired by Aus-tralian photographer and filmmaker Hailey Bartholomew’s documentary, 365 Grateful, about living on the sunny side of life, Portka embarked upon her own project, A Hundred Thank-Yous, creating and giving away 100 paintings to 100 people that have touched her life, she says, “in a beautiful way.” “I feel like I am on the right path, doing what I am supposed to do,” she explains. “Art feels like home to me.”

View the artist’s portfolio and follow her blog at LoriPortka.com.


RAISINS LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE AND DIABETES RISK

Researchers from the University of Ken-tucky have determined that snacking on

raisins can decrease high blood pressure and reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes. For 12 weeks, 46 men and women snacked on either processed snack foods or raisins. At the beginning and end of each month, the researchers tested for blood glucose, diabetic risk markers and blood pressure. Raisin snacking was found to reduce blood

pressure while improving blood glucose and diabetic risk factors. The researchers concluded, “Regular consumption of raisins may reduce glycemia and cardiovas-cular risk factors, including blood pressure.”

Vitamin D3 Cuts Antibiotic Use by ElderlyResearch from the Queensland Institute of

Medical Research, in Australia, has found supplemental vitamin D3 reduces the incidence of infection among seniors. More than 600 subjects, ages 60 to 84, were divided into three groups and for one year took either 1,000 international units (IU) a day of vitamin D3, 2,000 IU a day of vitamin D3, or a placebo. Those given the 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 per day were 28 percent less likely to require antibiotics prescriptions than those taking the placebo. Those older than 70 years were 47 percent less likely to be prescribed antibiotics than the placebo group.

Antioxidant Supplements Improve Eye HealthEye health may be improved by taking cer-

tain antioxidant supplements, according to researchers at Austria’s Medical University of Vienna. They studied 40 healthy volunteers between the ages of 18 and 30 split into two groups, giving a control group a placebo pill and the other a supplement containing vitamins C and E, lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc, copper, selenium, gingko biloba, flavonoids, omega-3 fatty acids and alpha-lipoic acid. The medical scientists tested the health and blood flow of the retinal artery, which feeds the eye with blood and nutrients. The results of the two-week trial showed the supple-ments significantly improved blood flow through the retinal arteries. The supple-ments also helped protect the retinal arteries from free radical damage. The scientists concluded that such supplementation can prevent a type of cellular dysfunction in the eye induced by oxidative stress that is assumed to play a role in age-related macular degeneration.

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Melanie Miller, MDGwendy Starkey, CRNPJanet Baker, RN

Most Insurances Accepted

“On the Journey to Healthy Living”

Dr. Melanie Miller

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ONGOING WEEKLY CALENDAR

Bookstore & Church Office Hours

205-251-4365

24 hrs Prayer Available 1-800-NOW-PRAY

Tuesday–Thursday 9:30–4:30 Friday 9:30–3:00

Chaplain Prayer Line

Silent Unity

Unity of Birmingham 2803 Highland Ave S Birmingham AL 35205 205-251-3713UnityBham.org

Rev. Charles and Rev. Christine Perry

SEPTEMBER SERVICE SCHEDULE

Sun., September 7 11 am “Rock n Roll Sunday”

Thur., September 11 World Day of Prayer

Sat., September 13 Spiritual Gifts Inventory

Sun. September 14 “Fall Faith Series” Kickoff, 11 am Based on Eric Butterworth’s book, “In the Flow” 7 wks.

Wed. September 17, 6:30–8pm “Fall Faith” continuing study of “In the Flow”

October 2 & 3, 9am–5pm “PSYCH-K” workshop Presented by Jeanne Northington, LPC. Cost $350, registration required and discounts are available. For more information call 205-777-4771 or register online at www.lifecoachingsolutions.net Call to request CEU’s (12 CEU’s for LPC’s).

For more information on any of the above events, please call Unity of Birmingham 205-251-3713 or email [email protected].

Sundays9:45am Adult Sunday School10:45am Youth Ministry in Artie’s Place 11am Sunday Service in the Sanctuary5pm “Course in Miracles,” Main Lobby

Tuesdays5:30-6:30pm “Vinyasa Flow Practice” Artie’s Place

WednesdaysNoon Prayer Service

Fridays6:45-7:30pm CODA in Main Lobby7pm Alcoholics Anonymous

Pandit speaks on “Exploring the Scientific Basis

of Reincarnation” Saturday, Sept 27, Noon–1:30pm

(Love Offerings Gratefully Accepted)The idea that this is not our first life and also not our last has been part of the Hindu and Buddhist belief system for thousands of years. This presen-tation will help the Western mind comprehend this mysterious topic and its relationship to the

idea of karma. We will explore scientific research that has been conducted with cases of people

remembering previous lives.


Remember how energized you feel after a short im-

mersion in cold water? That’s the same general principle behind Whole Body Cryotherapy, without the discomfort of getting wet. The differ-ence is that Whole Body Cryotherapy is much more effective than ice baths or cold water at reducing pain and inflammation, stimulat-ing the metabolism, and promoting that general feeling of rejuvenation. And it only takes three minutes. Whole Body Cryotherapy is a completely non-invasive therapy has been shown to have a wide range of beneficial effects in the categories of athletic performance and recovery, health and pain management, and beauty and wellness. Whole Body Cryotherapy involves a brief exposure to extremely cold air in a “Cryosauna.” The Cryosauna experience involves lowering the body’s surface skin temperature from approxi-mately 90.5° F to around 32° F for 2-3 minutes. This is achieved by the use of Nitrogen mist which gently surrounds the body at -133° F to -274° F. During this process, thermorecep-tors in the skin send signals to the brain

to release endorphins and beneficial bio-chemicals. In response to the cold, the body shunts blood to the core to protect the vital organs and to maintain core body temperature. In the process, the blood is supercharged with anti-inflammatory proteins and higher levels of oxygen. The vessels and capillaries in the skin undergo a period of severe vaso-constriction followed by vasodilation. This causes toxins in the

body to be broken down and carried away through these vessels. The body activates all of its natural healing abili-ties and releases endorphins for further protection. As a result, Cryotherapy is very effective for athletic recovery and muscle repair, reduction of chronic pain and inflammation, and skin health improvement through increased collagen production, leading to a reduction in cellulite and tighter and healthier skin. Cryotherapy essentially tricks the body into triggering its protective and rejuvenating processes, including the release of analgesic “feel-good” brain chemicals such as endorphins, dopa-mine, and adrenaline, Because of this, the three-minute Cryosauna experience

has shown to be tremendously effective for the relief of pain and inflammatory symptoms in a variety of illnesses. Cryotherapy has been clinically evaluated in the treatment of arthritis, fibromyalgia, ankylosing spondylitis, multiple sclerosis, tinnitus, anxiety/depression, and many other disorders. In these studies, many patients expe-rienced significant temporary relief of their symptoms. Cryotherapy helps athletes recover faster from exercise

therapyspotlight

Cryotherapy Birmingham

“My training intensity has picked up tremendously this year,

and so has my recovery. With Cryotherapy I can train harder

& recover faster for better performance.”

~Blake Matthews, Owner, Coach, Crossfit Furious, Helena, AL

and injury, and it helps surgical patients heal faster and recover quicker. For those seeking a metabolic boost, Cryo-therapy burns 500-800 calories from one three-minute session. People un-dergoing Cryotherapy typically notice a sharp increase in their appetite about 1-2 hours after their session, along with a noticeable energy boost that lasts for up to eight hours following treatment. Cryotherapy has been proven safe and effective in clinical practice and studies in Asia and Europe for more than 30 years since it’s discovery in Ja-pan in 1978. The Cryotherapy technol-ogy and process have been researched and refined since that time, culminating in the advanced Cryosauna system at Cryotherapy Birmingham—the ultimate three-minute health boost.

Cryotherapy Birmingham is located at 1816 28th Ave South Suite E in Home-wood across from SOHO Square. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 205-414-0404, email [email protected], or go online to CryotherapyBirmingham.com. See ad, page 22.

“I was left with tremendous

pain from back surgery 8

years ago. Now, two months

after repeated Cryotherapy,

I am 27 lbs lighter, I have

more energy, my pain has

decreased significantly and

I’m able to exercise and

move around like I want to.”

~Brandon Greenhill


businessspotlight

Walking our talk and practicing what we profess can sometimes be referred to as the road less traveled. For Nick A. Jerch, president of Bell Lifestyle Prod-

ucts, it’s the path most frequented. In fact, a well-worn path leads directly to the herbal medicine cabinet in his home. It is stocked with the teas and supplements that his company produces and sells in Canada and the U.S. Jerch founded his Canadian-based company in 1996 in order to share a valuable message with the world about the power of natural health products. He learned the lesson first-hand after suffering with many health ailments. At age 82, he manages his joint and bone discomfort with Bell Lifestyle’s Joint Support, which contains shark cartilage and the weak-ness of his kidneys with their #76 Boost Kidney Function. “I was 40 years old when a doctor told me that I was headed for dialysis. I had our research scientist formulate a tea for

that. It boosted my kidney function 20 percent, which was enough to avoid dialysis. Ezee Flow Tea takes care of my prostate and urinary frequency,” says Jerch. When Jerch first began experi-menting with natural products in the mid-1990s, he was as skepti-cal as his friends were. However,

when the results proved posi-tive, Jerch was so pleased that he wanted to share his experi-ence with everyone else who had joint discomfort. To his delight, his friends, acquain-tances and family members listened, followed his advice, and enjoyed the same re-sults within two weeks. Their feedback provided the only incentive that Jerch needed to found his company. Inspired by the idea of helping others, Bell Lifestyle Products became Jerch’s way of living out his dream to im-prove the quality of life for millions of individuals with high quality, natural products. Available locally in pharmacies and health food stores, the company’s more than 50 products are also exported to countries around the world. Jerch is very proud of Bladder Control Tea, a recent prod-uct he had formulated specifically to help 30 million women who suffer with incontinence, bladder infections and problems with UTIs. He’s also excited about another new tea, Blood Sugar Metabolism, that can help an estimated 57 million indi-viduals manage Metabolic Syndrome, a global epidemic now recognized largely as obesity, heart disease, pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes in 188 countries around the world. As enthusiastic and passionate today about his company as well as its products as he was in 1996, Jerch has never strayed from his core principles and values of natural purity, customer satisfaction, honestly and quality. “Our signature on every product states that our nutritional supplements are “empowered by Nature” because I believe that using the wonders of Nature is the best way to restore health. Our customers think so too because thousands of them have sent us written testimonials. We are one of the few natural health companies that share these testimonials with full contact information.

For more information, call 1-800-333-7995 or visit BellLifestyle.com. See ad, page 2.

Bell Lifestyle Products

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“If you’re depressed, tired or sick, your caregiving is likely to suffer,” counsels John Schall, CEO of Care-

giver Action Network, in Washington, D.C., and a former family caregiver. “For the sake of your loved one, take care of yourself.” The AARP estimates that some 34 million family caregivers provide for someone that is ill or disabled in the U.S. According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, in Bethesda, Maryland, caregivers generally struggle with finding time for themselves, managing emotional and physical stress and balancing work and family responsibilities. Experts suggest that the following seven steps can help people enjoy a healthier, less stressful and more conscious approach to care giving—and receiving.

Reframe CareWhen Lori La Bey’s mom was diag-nosed with dementia, the daughter initially felt she was the only family

member that could help her. How-ever, gradually, the Minneapolis-based international caregiver advocate and founder of AlzheimersSpeaks.com learned to welcome help from others. “Being perfect gets in the way of true connections,” she observes. Although La Bey began her care-giving out of love, the volume of related tasks soon sparked stress. That’s when she taught herself to slow down and reframe her outlook: Before going into her mom’s room, folding her laundry, scheduling healthcare practitioners and delivering dinner, La Bey paused to consciously ask: “Is Mom safe, happy and pain-free?” Centering on those three questions reminded her that she was doing this work out of love. Psychotherapist Diana Denholm, Ph.D., of West Palm Beach, Florida, heightened her own consciousness by learning to see caregiving as a collab-orative effort. Denholm, author of The Caregiving Wife’s Handbook: Caring for Your Seriously Ill Husband, Caring for Yourself (CaregivingWife.com), sought

to keep her husband as engaged and active as possible. When she had difficult issues to discuss, she’d make a “talking date” with him, offering choices by saying, “I’d love to chat with you. Would Tuesday before dinner or Thursday after breakfast work for you?” Before the date, she’d select a comfortable room and clear her mind by meditating, napping or mind-fully sipping herbal tea. The conversa-tions would cover anything from how to work with their health professionals to plans for his end-of-life ceremony. They agreed on strategies and worked together as a team.

Redefine Assistance“I’ll carry your luggage for you, Dad, since you’re not feeling well”… La Bey still remembers her father’s down-turned mouth as she tugged the suitcase out of his hands. “I was trying to be helpful, but instead I took away his dignity and power,” she later real-ized. “If I had packed his bag lighter, he could have carried it like always.” When are we helping and when are we doing too much? “Put yourself in the sick person’s shoes. Avoid doing something the per-son can do for himself,” agrees Den-holm. Controlling behavior changes the dynamics of the relationship and can put the caregiver in a parental role. She recommends a holistic brainstorming exercise in which the caregiver writes answers to such questions as: What am I frustrated about? What really annoys me? Why am I angry with myself? The results offer a window to un-derstanding our own feelings. “Feeling anger could mean we’re acting co-dependently and taking on too many responsibilities,” Denholm says. “The caregiver’s job isn’t to save the patient, but merely to support him or her in necessary ways.”

Ask for Help“I don’t want to be a burden,” and “We’re afraid of losing our privacy,” and “I’m the only one who can take care of him; no one else can do it right,” are common concerns. “These self-limiting beliefs prevent people from reaching out for help,” says family caregiver and life coach Yosaif August,

Conscious CaregivingNurture Yourself While Helping Another

by Deborah Shouse


founder of Yes To Life Coaching (YesToLifeCoaching.com), in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and author of Coaching for Caregivers: How to Reach Out Before You Burn Out. August quotes a recent Johns Hopkins study that report-ed caregivers might improve their health “… when caregiving is done willingly, at manageable levels and with individuals who are capable of expressing gratitude.” Accepting assis-tance makes caregiving more manageable. August understands how overwhelming the experience can be and advises caregivers to ask themselves: “What do I need help with right now?” Keep answers specific, such as, “I need someone to prepare dinner tomorrow night, mow the lawn and pick up our vitamins.” August also suggests creating a family Declaration of Interdependence, a personal statement documenting how the family prefers to be helped, along with the attitudes and behaviors they find especially supportive. Encourage family and friends to ask these two questions: “Are you open to advice?” and “Is this a good time to talk about your spouse’s condition?” Make much-needed breaks sacrosanct from such discussions.

Nurture through NourishmentMore than 50 percent of caregivers surveyed in a 21st-centu-ry study spearheaded by the National Alliance for Caregiving reported, “I don’t have time to take care of myself.” That can translate to a lack of exercise, an unhealthy diet and little or no respite. “If you aren’t healthy and strong, you can’t properly care for anyone else,” says Liana Werner-Gray, New York City

natural lifestyle consultant and author of The Earth Diet (TheE-arthDiet.org). To begin each day, she advises drinking one cup of warm water with juice from half a lemon, explaining that stress produces acid and lemon water metabolizes as alkalinity and helps keep the body’s pH balanced. For healthy snacks, Werner-Gray recommends easy and nutrition-rich choices like fresh fruits, green smoothies, or-ganic nut butters and a trail mix of raw nuts, seeds and dried fruits. Save time with the smoothies by making a large batch and freezing portions to enjoy later. A basic recipe might include two handfuls of greens, such as spinach and kale, a banana and other fruits, almond milk or purified water and maybe adding flaxseed, cinnamon or goji berries. When appropriate, share the same health-boosting foods with the loved one. Victoria Moran, of New York City, is the director of the Main Street Vegan Academy and author of a dozen books on health and well-being including Main Street Vegan and Living a Charmed Life. She offers such conscious eating tips as eating full meals of “real” food instead of snacks; select-ing beautiful foods; and ritualizing indulgences, such as a special spot for relaxing with high-quality dark chocolate and tea using good china while listening to classical music.

Stand for ExerciseEven though caregivers may feel they don’t have time to spare, Dr. Jordan D. Metzl, author of The Exercise Cure, says it’s vital to incorporate physical activity. He recom-mends starting by walking 30 minutes a day for one month. If necessary, it can be done in 10-minute increments.


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According to a study by Mayo Clinic Physician James Levine, Ph.D., in Scottsdale, Arizona, “Sitting is the new smok-ing.” Researchers have linked sitting for long periods of time with a number of health concerns that include obesity, metabolic syndrome and increased risks of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer. The solution is to move more and sit less—walk while on the phone and stand up while reading. Metzl suggests a stretch break every 20 minutes. Three of his “com-mandments” for fitness are having fun, setting goals and minimizing sitting. “Schedule exercise and respite breaks and make them as inviolate as a doctor’s visit,” advises Schall.

Commune with SpiritAugust suggests establishing a twofold consciousness-raising ritual to welcome and appreciate life. Begin each day by showing gratitude for being alive and end it focused on forgiveness and grati-tude. “When you cultivate gratitude, you notice more things to be grateful for,” says August. La Bey concurs, and writes down at least five things she is grateful for every day. She mentally replays time with her mom and appreciates the little moments and signs of hope, like “the twinkle in Mom’s eye or the way she held hands and smiled.” This puts her in an upbeat frame of mind

when she drifts off to sleep. She also writes out her intention for the day, envisioning positive outcomes. She might affirm: “I am going to have a grace-filled day. Things will go smoothly.” Denholm centers herself by

petting her cats. Some caregivers chant or practice meditation or mindful breathing, while others might take a walk, shop, or sit quietly in a church.

Notice BlessingsLa Bey discovered that her journey as a caregiver also dramatically enhanced her own life. “Mom taught me so much,” she relates. “I learned compas-sion and unconditional love on multi-ple levels. I learned to live in gratitude, instead of loss.” August notes, “Even in the tough times, I experienced an engaged, poi-gnant and rich connection with my parents.” For Denholm, treasured gifts in-cluded strengthening her communica-tion with her husband and working as a team. “Allowing yourself to reach out for assistance and make time for respite will deeply enrich your caregiving ex-perience,” concludes Schall.

Deborah Shouse is the author of Love in the Land of Dementia: Finding Hope in the Caregiver’s Journey. Follow her blog at DeborahShouseWrites.wordpress.com.

Make a list of favorite ways to relax and renew

during short respites, such as reading, listening to

music, stepping outside, sipping coffee with friends

or taking a hot shower, and refer to it often. Online Help

for CaregiversAlzheimersSpeaks.com Radio show, blogs, free webinars and resource directory

CaregiverAction.org Advocacy, peer support and other practical information

CarePages.com Free patient blogs connect friends and family

CaringBridge.org Share views and receive support

LotsaHelpingHands.org Coordinates ways to address specific needs by those rallying to help

ShareTheCare.org Join in organizing a healing team and/or support system

TheCaregiverSpace.org Free social network to share experi-ences, find critical resources, cope with stress and learn to fulfill care partner roles most effectively

CaregivingWife.com Helps caregivers solve problems, learn survival tips and improve the care partners’ relationship



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Is there a way to upend the limits of Alzheimer’s disease? Expressive thera-pies focus on what people can do

and their successes. Cultural programs offer creative opportunities for those with dementia and their care partners. Artful Imagination Prompts Participation “Looking at art and making observa-tions gives people living with dementia a chance to exercise their imagination and creativity,” says Susan Shifrin, Ph.D., director of ARTZ Philadelphia, part of the Artists for Alzheimer’s program founded by John Zeisel, Ph.D., and Sean Caulfield. “There are no right or wrong answers. People are enlivened, realizing they still have ideas to contribute.” Prior to a museum visit, an ARTZ facilitator brings photos of familiar works of art that evoke memories, emo-tions and conversation to a care facility. The facilitator then tailors a museum visit so that the most engaging works of art are viewed. A similarly beneficial at-home ARTZ experience relates to the individual’s background or inter-ests, looking for images that tell a story

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about families or feature animals the loved one likes. “Use open-ended, non-judg-mental questions to discuss the art,” Shifrin suggests. “It’s all about listen-ing to the response and encouraging the conversation.” Musical Connections Trigger HappinessDan Cohen, of Brooklyn, New York, had a simple yet profound idea: Furnish people that have memory loss with an iPod loaded with their favorite music. It’s helping people nationwide reconnect with themselves through listening to their personal playlists. He has repeatedly seen how “The music transforms lives.” Cohen notes, “Residents who were formerly idle become engrossed in lis-tening to their favorite music. They are empowered to choose the songs they want to hear. They become engaged as the music triggers memories. I’ve also seen the experience make people more social.” He recommends using head-phones to minimize distractions. Sit together, turn on the iPod and watch for smiles of delight.

Sparking Creativity in Elders with Dementia

Re-Engaging Through Art, Music and Dance

by Deborah Shouse


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Dance Movement Integrates Souls“Dance therapy enhances connections in the brain and uses movement to inte-grate body, mind and spirit,” says Erica Hornthal, owner of Chicago’s North Shore Dance Therapy, a psychotherapy practice that helps individuals cope with the challenges of dementia. Hornthal often notices a real change after people experience move-ment therapy. Often, when she enters a memory care facility she sees people withdrawn or sleeping. After she guides them in specific movements designed to connect mind and body, participants are usually awake, more alert and mak-ing eye contact. “We might reach our arms up, then down, to connect with ourselves. We might give ourselves a hug and then stretch toward our neighbor,” explains Hornthal, a board-certified dance movement therapist. “All the move-ments have a psychosocial goal.” She suggests that care partners play familiar music and encourage their loved one to move as they wish to. The care partner might move her head or wiggle her fingers to the music, invit-

ing the other to do the same. “Focus on what your loved one can do and cel-ebrate their abilities,” Hornthal advises. Brushing Watercolor Memories“Even after memory and cognitive functions are damaged, the abil-ity to create art can continue,” says Karen Clond, a licensed master social worker and dementia care specialist at the Alzheimer’s Association Heart of America chapter, in Prairie Village, Kansas. “The organization’s Memo-ries in the Making art program works because the amygdala, the part of the brain involved with emotions and memory that processes feelings like fear, also processes beauty, apprecia-tion and attachment.” Sally Jenny developed the program in 1988, which now boasts more than 4,000 participant artists a week. Facili-tators create a safe and encouraging at-mosphere to explore painting with wa-tercolors, which can unlock memories, stimulate thoughts and promote social interaction. The process also produces tangible pieces they’ve created and can revisit. “The artists have complete con-

trol over their work,” Clond comments. “It’s a failure-free activity.” For at-home painting activities, she suggests inviting guidelines: Provide good-quality supplies; have no expec-tations; find something good in every effort; ask them to title their piece and affix their artist’s signature; call them an artist and provide artistic respect. Telling Personal Stories Improves Well-Being“Creative storytelling for dementia patients replaces the pressure to re-member with the freedom to imagine,” remarks Joan Williamson, of Milwau-kee, Wisconsin, a coordinator and mas-ter trainer with TimeSlips. She’s seen it improve communication, self-esteem and social interaction for people with memory loss. Whether exploring art, music, movement or storytelling, expressive therapies can enrich the lives and con-nections of people with dementia and their care partners.

Deborah Shouse is the author of Love in the Land of Dementia. Visit DeborahShouseWrites.wordpress.com.


by Steve Dupont, RD, LD

Cutting Through the Nutrition Nonsense

This may sound like an oxymoron, especially passing from my keyboard. Rarely do I provide nutritional counseling to anyone without warning against the

death trap of modern processed food. But I am also a realist, understanding that most of us (myself included) cannot cook fresh, scratch-made meals every night of the week. Processed foods are a modern convenience, and not all of them are de-signed (as if) to kill us. The fact is, there are certain foodstuffs I am more than happy to have others produce for me. Just not food scientists at a multinational corporation! A perfect example is tomato sauce. I don’t use a lot of this stuff in my cooking—usually opting for garden fresh tomatoes, herbs and veggies instead—but there are certain dishes for which there’s no substitute for a well-crafted, slow-cooked tomato sauce. Besides, you can’t grow decent tomatoes in the winter. Not in this hemisphere anyway. For years I searched for a halfway decent sauce at the grocery store, to no avail. Organic, imported from Italy, spicy, chunky…these sauces were like elevator music— enough to fill the void, not utterly offensive, but lacking vitality and nuance. Then I stumbled onto the Harvest Eating podcast with Chef Keith Snow. Week after week, I listened to him talk about cooking tools, techniques and seasonal produce, and was finally enticed to order some of his small batch pasta

sauces. They touted 100% organic ingredients all sourced in the USA, and Chef Keith was beside himself with enthusiasm every time he spoke of them. Turns out for good reason, the sauces were excellent. But just recently, he reformulated and rereleased his line of sauces, and now they are an order of magnitude better. Unspeakably delicious, exploding with freshness and flavor. By virtue of being cooked and packaged in a jar, these sauces are technically processed food, yet about the closest thing you can get to homemade. Take the ingredients list of the Flame Roasted Red Pepper variety: Ground plum toma-toes, fresh sweet onions, first cold pressed extra virgin olive oil, flame roasted sweet red bell peppers, Grande parmesan cheese, fresh basil, fresh parsley, water, fresh garlic, Mor-ton kosher salt, black pepper. Then compare this to a mass produced sauce like Prego Traditional: Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste), Diced Tomatoes in Tomato Juice, sugar, canola oil, salt, dehydrated onions, spice, dehydrated garlic, citric acid, natural flavoring. Granted, this is more than a little un-fair, like comparing a fast food burger to filet mignon. Prego is cheap, and the reason they pack their sauce with a whop-ping 10 g sugar per half cup is mask the bland flavor of their cheap, lifeless ingredients. Perhaps what I love most about Keith Snow and Harvest Eating is that he’s not just making products to make a buck. He has a genuine passion and appreciation for great tasting food, along with a desire to share it with the world. He also goes out of his way to support small, independent farmers and makes no compromise on ingredients for the sake of profit. He even offers a money-back guarantee if you’re not completely satisfied. In terms of nutrition, these sauces will provide a healthy dose of potassium and the superstar antioxidant lycopene from the tomatoes, numerous phytochemicals in the other vegetable ingredients, along with wholesome fats in the extra virgin olive oil. But perhaps more importantly, having some-thing like this in your pantry can avert disastrous choices like take-out, drive-thru and pizza delivery, at a fraction of the cost. A jar of sauce, some pasta and maybe a few extra veg-gies if available, and you’ve got yourself a nutritionally solid, and darned tasty, meal. Perhaps even some for lunch tomorrow, if you’re lucky.

Steve Dupont, RD, LD, is a regis-tered dietitian and founder of Du-pont Dietary Consulting LLC. To ask Steve a question to be answered in a future column, call 205-213-7953 or e-mail [email protected].

The Perfect Processed Food (if there ever was one)


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Sober coaching is a concept used in addic-tion recovery to provide

additional support to one’s treatment plan going forward after initial treatment. My approach to coaching is to practice the techniques and skills you discussed in treat-ment but this time actually doing them—moving it from an intellectual notion to action. I go with my clients into whatever situation concerns them. (It would be similar to a playing lesson in golf, where the golf professional assists you on a round, helping you troubleshoot spots along the way.) To support you in work-ing the skills but also there to critique you when it’s over and make suggestions for the future—an in-the-moment consultation. This brings confidence and allows for internal ego state management, which makes life run smoother. I help you not to bump into things (like a person in a dark room trying to find the light) until you can turn on the light and see for yourself. Having a coach is like having a map of your recovery with operating instructions. This is a way to get good at self-understanding. Especially since the conse-quences of self-ignorance are many and devastating. Lack of vital information leaves one destined to repeat painful mistakes and perpetrate hurt on those around them, espe-cially those they love. Busy people fulfilling their work obligations don’t have to make a choice between their treatment and recovery and their work. My mobility allows me to be where you are and not the other way around. Recovery is learning how to be a sober person, so wouldn’t you think there needs to be a teacher? In my case, a coach. The goal of my work (coach-ing) is to have you develop your own inner therapist, which is a really good thing. This would be the gold standard for achieving self-competence and personal growth. Why would anyone not want to do this?

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therapyspotlight


greenliving

Key elements like low-flow faucets and showerheads, VOC-free paint, sustainable flooring and nonporous

countertops form the foundation of an eco-friendly bathroom. Now let’s take a look at the softer side of green. Start by considering the use of honeycomb window shades and dou-ble-glazed windows to keep this most intimate room comfortable year-round and reduce utility bills. Periodically let-ting in fresh air helps keep the room dry and reduces growth of mold, mildew and bacteria. While the kitchen harbors the most germs in the house, the bathroom is a close second. Instead of harsh chemical cleansers, try white vinegar, a safe and economical alternative. Its acidity is ef-fective in killing most germs. Madeleine Somerville, of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, author of All You Need Is Less, uses heated vinegar misted on the shower door to remove soap scum. To achieve a shiny tub, she advises mixing one-quarter cup of baking soda, one tablespoon of natural dishwashing soap and enough water to make a paste. The baking soda also freshens the drain when the tub is rinsed. Toilet bowl ring

stains can be scrubbed away with a pumice stone. “Cleaning faucet aerators and exhaust vents on a regular basis extends equipment life, maintains efficiency and prevents minor plumbing prob-lems,” advises Keita Turner, a New York City area interior designer. Turner has also installed dual-flush toilets that necessitate less water and upkeep. Bathroom odors are another concern. A few drops of essential oil on a cotton ball placed inside the toilet paper roll freshens the air every time the roll turns—without the plastic waste byproduct from store-bought brands. Baking soda removes odors in the bath like it does in the fridge. Upgrade from a simple bowlful by designing a mini-Zen meditation spot using a flat, open wooden box and a doll house-sized rake. Adding a smooth rock or two for texture heightens visual appeal. Green plants can chip in by absorb-ing odors, as well. Many, like the Boston fern, thrive in shower steam. Flowering plants add an inviting touch. Be sure to choose child- and pet-safe greenery. Even quick, water-saving showers eventually result in towels and wash-

A Lovely Loo that’s All Green, Too

Tips for Eco-Friendly Plants, Shades and Cleaners

by Avery Mack

cloths destined for the laundry. The Good Housekeeping Research Institute suggests that towels can be used up to four times before washing if they are hung to dry between showers, reducing both water and energy usage. To avoid spreading germs, personal-ize towels and washcloths for each child by color or marking with an initial or colored dot. Organic cotton towels are eco-friendly, comfy and widely avail-able, as are organic cotton bath mats. For the crafty, make a mat from recycled towels or upgrade to a foot-massaging mat made from recycled wine corks. On special occasions when a soothing bath is called for, add a whimsical touch with Mr. Green, the world’s first rubber duck made in the U.S. from environmentally friendly, recycled and recyclable material. “Recycled materials call for different sculpting and molds, so designing Mr. Green was the hardest thing we’ve ever done,” says Craig Wolfe, presi-dent of CelebriDucks, in San Rafael, California. It’s a fun way to remind kids about going green while they spend a few extra minutes getting clean.

Cleaning RecipesFreshen drains and keep oils and lotions from clogging bathroom pipes by pouring one cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by a cup of hot, white vinegar. After it foams, wait five minutes and then flush with hot water.

Mix two tablespoons of salt with one teaspoon of white vinegar to form a paste effective for cleaning chrome faucets.

Scrub chrome with a cut lemon to remove hard water stains.

Use lemon juice and an old tooth-brush to scrub grout.

Periodically douse the toilet with a half-cup of lemon juice and swish with a toilet bowl brush to keep it fresh.

Add a few tablespoons of lemon juice into a spray bottle filled with water to clean windows and mirrors.

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Green Bathroom Trivian Never clean with sponges—they merely move the germs around; use a washable cloth wipe instead.

n Turkish cotton towels dry faster than the Egyptian variety.

n Always put the upper toilet lid down. Testing by scientists at Leeds University found airborne germs 10 inches above and around the commode.

n Low-flow toilets use as little as 1.6 gallons per flush compared to older styles that use five to seven gallons. The average person flushes five times a day.

n A bath averages 35 to 50 gallons of water versus a 10-minute shower with a low-flow showerhead maxing out at about 25 gallons. Better yet, take quicker showers and turn off the water while lathering and shaving.

n Conventional showerheads run at 5 gpm (gallons per minute) compared with low-flow at 2.5 gpm. Conventional faucets can flow at 3 gpm versus low-flow faucets at half that rate.

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To indulge in post-shower per-sonal pampering, consider health-enhancing coconut oil for head-to-toe moisturizing. As a hair treatment, coconut oil blocks protein loss and reduces frizz. Make a home exfoliat-ing sugar scrub by combining one-half cup of virgin coconut oil, one cup of organic sugar and 20 drops of lime or another essential oil to gently scrub away dry winter skin. Dry skin and ragged cuticles also benefit from whipped coconut oil. Its antifungal properties help keep toenails healthy and sandal-ready. Goat’s milk soap can reduce symp-toms of dry skin, eczema and psoriasis. Its alpha-hydroxy acids remove dead skin cells. Add honey as a natural anti-bacterial boost. Mixing in colloidal oatmeal produces a gentle exfoliator. Let the next upgrade of the bath-room be of a more personal nature aligned with our core values of being good to our family and our home planet.

Avery Mack is a freelance writer in St. Louis, MO. Connect via [email protected].

Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.

~Maya Angelou


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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 September’s National Yoga Month (YogaHealth Foundation.org/yoga_month), founded by Johannes Fissling-er. “This year, more than 2,200 yoga studios will offer infor-mative public events or a free week of classes to new stu-dents 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 emerg-ing health paradigm.” Like many others, as Carmona deepened her practice, she discovered that yoga’s benefits transcend the physical. Then she went further, becoming a certified Baptiste yoga instructor and co-owner of Melrose Yoga, in Melrose, Mas-sachusetts. “Many of us are so busy and consumed with the constant motion of day-to-day activities that we lose com-plete track of who we are, along with the state of our bod-ies,” she says. “Yoga reconnects me with myself.”

FlexibilityOne reason that people try yoga is to im-prove their flexibility. A recent report from

Yoga Alliance, a nonprofit association based in Arlington, Virginia, states that

it can improve flexibility and mobility and in-crease range of motion over time as ligaments, tendons and muscles lengthen and become more elastic. It also helps relieve muscular tension throughout the body.

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THE BALANCING POINT 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 individual’s age, health and commitment to practic-ing 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 question of where you want this personal practice to take you and how you embrace it in your private life.” The bottom line is that everyone’s journey is different.

Mental HealthMany experts concur that yoga can be effective in reduc-ing 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 Therapists, 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, practic-ing together becomes one of the most valuable 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 physi-cal, mental and spiritual support.

Spirituality and Connectedness“Even beginning students quickly realize how connect-ing 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 benefits 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].

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wisewords

Kamini Desai’s Ph.D.-worthy ver-satile body of teachings combines her lifelong interests in Western

psychology and Eastern philosophy. Trained at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, she develops and leads core programs for Florida’s Amrit Yoga Institute, provid-ing advanced studies dedicated to the science and system of integrated human development. A resident of Salt Springs, Florida, and the Netherlands, she teaches in 10 countries on three continents.

What is a yogic lifestyle? It means being focused on inner peace. Through the study of yoga as a complete science of self-mastery, I’m cultivating the realization of my highest self beyond body and mind. This intention is the director of my unfolding life. I like to use the metaphor of a ship. If this higher self as a wise captain isn’t steadily setting the course at the helm, then on any given day, the happy, sad, griev-ing, enthusiastic or de-pressed me will likely be steering my life in a contrary direction and I’ll just be going in circles. In the Inte-grative Amrit Method of Yoga, along with the integrative method of yoga nidra

Kamini Desai Explores a Yogic Life

Inner Calmness Leads to Self-Masteryby Linda Sechrist

that I practice and teach, my focus is on the release of body energy, rather than any physical pose. Energy is healing. When energy is freed up, it naturally calms the mind and creates a spontane-ous, meditative state in which the high-est self can be experientially known. To free energy, I attune to the sensations resulting from the physical alignments in any yoga posture. Each pose focuses attention on sensations occurring along the meridian lines in the body, allowing areas that are blocked and limited to open up and energy to optimally flow. Then, in what Amrit yoga describes as the “second half of the posture,” I close my eyes and feel that released energy becoming magnified through my attention. The stronger the

energy becomes, the more the mind organically dissolves into a meditative state where mental, emotional and physical healing can hap-pen spontaneously.

What was it like to grow up as the daughter of Yogi Amrit Desai, a well-known guru?

I feel blessed that I was exposed to my father’s

teachings from a young age. His message that I

first embraced was that people and

things will always change, and if I rely on either of

them for happiness and peace of mind, I’m depending on the undependable. The need is to find internal stability in the midst of every polarity. My dad, now approaching 82, has always been an example of one whose entire life is about moving towards a changeless state of being and of what it means to remain a nonjudgmental witness to all that happens in life. Still, I had to learn my own lessons.

How have you benefited from yoga? I began studying with my dad when I was 16. Now, at 46, I more fully value the depth of yoga. The longer I practice, the more grateful I am that my mind is less fragmented than it otherwise would be. I’m progressively able to deal with situations that would have sent me over the edge before. I more naturally avoid wasting a lot of mental energy in internalized, “If they say this then I’m going to say that,” conversations. With less mental chatter, I have more energy and stamina to focus on what is in front of me. I can be totally absorbed in each present moment for a deeper sense of fulfillment in what I’m doing.

How do you feel about the Westernization of yoga?Individuals that begin any style of yoga for its physical benefits are off to a good start, but anyone that maintains a regular practice becomes curious about yoga’s other benefits, like relaxation, more peace and a sense of happiness that arises without any apparent cause. Eventually they ask, “Why is this good thing or greater bliss happening to me? What else is there besides postures?” Although everyone eventually learns many life skills, we rarely learn how to live our lives well, manage our emotions and relate to others in ways that create more peace and happiness within. These are the uncaused benefits of yoga that people come to love.

Find more of her words of wisdom in articles posted at KaminiDesai.com.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Visit ItsAllAbout We.com for the recorded interview.

25natural awakenings September 2014 25

“Om” is a Hindu sacred sound considered the greatest of all mantras, traditionally used

in prayers, chants and meditation—possessing high spiritual and creative power, it can be recited by anyone. Om is both a sound and a symbol rich in meaning and depth. When pronounced correctly, it is actually “AUM.” Aum consists of four syllables: A, U, M and the silent syllable. The first syllable is A, pronounced as a prolonged “awe.” The sound starts at the back of the throat and is stretched out; sense the feeling of the solar plexus and chest vibrating. The next is U, pronounced as a prolonged “o- o- ,” with the sound gradu-ally rolling forward along the upper palate and vibrating the throat. The third syllable, M, is pro-nounced as a prolonged “mmmm,” with front teeth gently touching. Start to feel the top of the head vibrate. The last syllable is the deep silence of the infinite. As intelligence rises from the deep silence, merge the chant from the M to the deep silence.

Why do we chant it?Everything in the universe is pulsating and vibrating—with nothing standing still. The sound Om, when chanted, vibrates at 432 Hz, the same vibrational frequency found throughout nature. By chanting the keynote sound of the universe, we are symbolically and physically tuning in to and acknowledg-ing our connection to all other living beings, nature and the universe. The universal vibrations and rhyth-mic pronunciation also physically affect the body by slowing the nervous system and calming the mind, similar to the effects of meditation. When the mind relaxes, blood pressure decreases and ultimately, heart health improves. Finally, chanting AUM is well-suited to mark the beginning or end of a yoga practice or meditation session or as a respite from regular daily activi-ties. It signifies that this is a special time to care for ourselves and practice being mindful.

Sam Saunders lives and teaches yoga in Dubai. Connect at [email protected].

inspiration

Om Sweet OmSounding the Key Note of the Universe

by Sam Saunders

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calendarofeventsMONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1Baby Bird Season at the Alabama Wildlife Center – Daily through 9/15. Observe the care of Alabama native wild bird patients in the nurseries, aviaries, and raptor flight cages via camera monitors or one-way glass viewing windows. Park admission charged. Alabama Wildlife Center, 100 Terrace Dr, Oak Mountain State Park, Pelham.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2Technology Tuesdays: Get the Most Out of Your iPad and iPhone – 2-3:30pm. Jeff Mann, Apple Certified trainer, answers your questions on how to best use your Apple device. This workshop is geared towards casual users. Free. Homewood Library, Large Auditorium, 1721 Oxmoor Rd. 205-332-6625.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4Birmingham Art Crawl – 5-9pm. Be part of the rapidly growing art scene in Birmingham at downtown venues. Free. Birmingham His-toric Loft District, 2300 1st Ave North 35203. BirminghamArtCrawl.com.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5ArtWalk – 5-10pm (Fri), 12-6pm (Sat). Artwalk is an arts festival that transforms Birmingham’s loft neighborhood into an arts district, featuring the work of more than 100 visual artists, live musi-cians, street performers, food and drink vendors, and children’s activities. Downtown Loft District, 2212 2nd Ave North, Birmingham. 205-240-0428. BirminghamArtWalk.org.

Candlelight Pilates – 6-7:30pm. Explore Pilates in a calming atmosphere to de-stress and rejuvenate your body, mind and spirit. The class flows through the breath and movement of Pilates mat exercises with soft light and a peaceful atmosphere. $15. Embody Practice Center, 3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 100. Register with [email protected]. EmbodyBirmingham.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6The Myths of Detoxification: How to Detox with Food – 10am-12pm. Clinical Herbalist Cameron Strouss will outline a few simple strategies for detoxifying our bodies daily and supporting our systems of detoxification with foods. $25. Register with [email protected]. Embody Practice Center, 3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 100. EmbodyBirmingham.com.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7Slow Art Sunday – 2-3pm. Master docent Emily Omura will lead a discussion on the Stratonice Master piece Enthroned Madonna and Christ Child with Angels and Saints. Free. Birmingham Museum of Art, 2000 Rev Abraham Woods Jr Blvd. 205-254-2571.

Meet the Doulas – 2-4pm. BirthWell in Birming-ham is a co-op of doulas and childbirth educators providing services for the childbearing years. Join us for our free bimonthly Open House. Q&A, resources and education. Embody Practice Cen-ter, 3918 Montclair Rd Suite 100, Birmingham. BirthWellinBirmingham.com.

Global Cuisine @ the Plaza: Greece – 2:30pm. Coffee-ol-ogy Cafe presents free programs on food and coffee from around the world. Complimentary samples provided. In September, we explore the foods and coffees of Greece. Hoover Public Library, 200 Municipal Dr. 205-444-7821.

Meditation wtih Swami Kenananda – 3-5pm. Swami Ken is a teacher of meditation in the Dhyan Meditation tradition. This 2-hour program consists of meditation instruction, meditation, discussion of meditation experience (Satsang), and time for questions and answers. Free. Love Donations ap-preciated. Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South. 205-637-4228. BirminghamYoga.com.

Restore & Rest – 4:30-6:30pm. Savor the deep relaxation of restorative yoga postures, then move into the guided module of Yoga Nidra, a de-program-ming of our central nervous system to encourage integrated rest and relaxation. $25 advance/$35 door. Embody Practice Center, 3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 100. Register with [email protected]. EmbodyBirmingham.com.

Southeastern Outings Moonlight Night Walk – 7pm. Join friendly folks on an easy four-mile walk on a full moonlit night on the Hillsboro Trail in Hele-na, AL. This is a scenic trail that goes through mostly wooded terrain. Info: Dan Frederick, 205-631-4680 or [email protected]. Seoutings.org.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8Read Your Own Adventure Book Group: South-ern Fiction – 7pm. Share your favorite Southern fiction and find other great reads. This book group meets once a month and discusses a different genre of fiction each time. Free. Hoover Public Library, 200 Municipal Dr. 205-444-7821.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9Oxmoor Page Turners Book Club Welcomes Author Michael Morris – 6:30-8pm. Join us as we welcome Michael Morris, award-winning Birming-ham author, to our book club. We will be discussing his latest, Man in the Blue Moon. Free. Homewood Library, Large Auditorium, 1721 Oxmoor Rd. 205-332-6620.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11Flower Arrangement – 11am. Flower arrangement has been a popular art for centuries. Get step-by-step instructions and learn how to create the perfect balance. Instructor: Jamie Reeves. Free. West End Branch Library, 1348 Tuscaloosa Ave SW, Birming-ham. 205-226-4089.

Logotherapy & the Search for Meaning in Life with Charles McLafferty, Jr, PhD – 6:30-7:30pm. Each person is motivated by the need for a unique sense of meaning and purpose in life. Logotherapy is a process that addresses this search for meaning. Free. Homewood Library, Large Auditorium, 1721 Oxmoor Rd. 205-332-6620.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12Foothills Festival – 5-9pm (Fri), 10am-10pm (Sat). A free music festival in the heart of downtown Jasper. Featuring live performances, hundreds of vendors, and kids activities. Free. Downtown Jasper, 400 19th St West, Jasper, AL 35501. 205-221-8529.

Restorative Yoga – 6pm-8pm. Join Lauren Brown for a full session of restorative yoga, where your mind and body can rest and renew with the help of props and massage to support the body’s re-laxation. $25 advance/$35 door. Embody Practice Center, 3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 100. Register with [email protected]. Embody Birmingham.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13Southeastern Outings Kayak/Canoe Tallapoosa River at Heflin, AL – 8am. The section we will paddle is relatively easy with no classified rapids. This is a scenic stretch of river located in a very rural area. Canoe/kayak rental available. Reservations Required with Dan Frederick: [email protected] or 205-631-4680. Seoutings.org.

Faythe Freese, Organ – 3-4pm. Faythe Freese, Professor of Organ at the University of Alabama, performs on the 100-rank Grieb-Williams Organ at the Cathedral Church of the Advent. The concert is free and open to the public. Free. Cathedral Church of the Advent, 2017 6th Ave North, Birmingham. 205-226-3505.

Qi Gong for Beginners with Stephen Guesman – 4-5:30pm (9/13, 10/11, 11/8). Qi Gong (chi kung) is the Chinese art of well being involving simple movements and serious breathing. $25 per class, $40 for 2, or $50 for 3. Embody Practice Center 3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 100. EmbodyBirmingham.com. [email protected].

Crystal Zen – 6:30-8:30pm. Explore the jewelry and pick out healing stones beginning at 6pm. Yoga begins at 7pm. Fee: Love Donation. Terri Ann Hei-man, Natural Forces Studio, 609 37th St South, inside Birmingham Yoga. 516-457-3885.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14Slow Art Sunday – 2-3pm. We will take a close look at Francesco Pesellino’s piece Seven Virtues and Seven Liberal Arts. Free. Birmingham Mu-seum of Art, 2000 Rev Abraham Woods Jr Blvd. 205-254-2571.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15Outside the Lines Program: Astrology, More Than Just Your Sun Sign – 6:30-7:30pm. Andrea Mathews discusses how to use astrology to enhance and enlighten your life choices and experiences. Free. Homewood Library, Large Auditorium, 1721 Oxmoor Rd. 205-332-6620.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16Essential Oils, Aromatherapy and Your Health with Cheryl Burnette – 6:30-7:30pm. Whether


it’s for medicinals, fragrance, cleaning products, or even bug repellent, you’ll find many healthy uses for essential oils. Free. Homewood Library, Large Auditorium. 1721 Oxmoor Rd. 205-332-6620.

Glue Gun Gang: Craft Supply Swap, Show and Tell – 6:30-8:30pm (Tues), 10:30am-12:30pm (Thu). Bring your extra arts and crafts supplies for a casual swap. Show off your current projects. Adults only. Free. Come to either or both sessions. Hoover Public Library, 200 Municipal Dr. 205-444-7840.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17Beginning Yoga with Margaret Pittenger – 5:30-7pm. Covers the basics of yoga including skillful pose alignment, pose modifications to suit each body, mindful movement, guided relaxation—all while cultivating awareness of breath. $15 drop-in per class or $72/six-week series. Embody Practice Center, 3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 100. Register with [email protected]. Embody Birmingham.com.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18Yoga for Athletes – 4:30-5:30pm. For those who do endurance and strength workouts but don’t have enough training time for flexibility. Learn techniques to get the most benefit out of stretching and avoid overstretching. $20 first class, $10 to repeat. Embody Practice Center, 3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 100. Register: [email protected]. EmbodyBirmingham.com.

Neuroscience Café: Exploring the Biology of De-pression – 6:30-7:30pm. Dr. Richard Shelton and Dr. Sarah Clinton discuss clinical aspects and ongoing research into molecular and genetic factors that may lead to depression. Free. Homewood Library, Round Auditorium, 1721 Oxmoor Rd. 205-332-6620.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19An Evening with Joshilyn Jackson: A Friends Fundraiser – 6:30pm. Join us for an evening with the New York Times bestselling author of six novels including Gods in Alabama. $25. Advance tickets required. Proceeds go to the Friends of the Homewood Public Library. Rosewood Hall at SoHo Square. 205-332-6625.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 Food for Life Cooking Class – Take a life-changing class. Join Sandra Scott in the kitchen as you learn to prepare healthy and easy vegetarian dishes and how plant foods can lower or reverse chronic health con-ditions. 5208 Heritage Ridge Circle, Irondale, AL 35210. 205-687-0238. To register: SandraEScott.com/CookingClasses.

Southeastern Outings Potluck Picnic Lunch, Afternoon Canoe and Kayak or Afternoon Dayhike Outing – 11:30am. Lower Fishing Lake, Oak Mountain State Park. Bring potluck dish if you wish to picnic. After lunch: boating or a hike that departs 1:30pm. Info: Acyenith Alexander 205-529-2253 (picnic), Dan Frederick 205-631-4680 or [email protected] (boating). Seoutings.org.

The Essentials: Swing featuring Kirk Whalum – 8-10pm. Featuring acclaimed jazz saxophonist Kirk Whalum alongside the UAB Jazz Ensemble, in a show that it combines equal parts education and entertainment. $39.50. Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center, 1200 10th Ave South, Bir-mingham. 205-975-2787.

Paws for the Cause 5K/1 Mile/Kids Fun Run – 7am. People of all ages and fitness levels come out to have fun and show their passion for Alabama’s needy animals. Proceeds from this event benefit The Shelby Humane Society. $25-$40. Veterans Park, 4800 Valleydale Rd, Hoover. 205-586-7534.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21Slow Art Sunday – 2-3pm. Master docent Julia Stork will lead a discussion on Hank Willis Thom-as’s piece It’s the Real Thing. Free. Birmingham Museum of Art, 2000 Rev Abraham Woods Jr Blvd. 205-254-2571.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) Certifica-tion by Klose Training – 8am-5pm. 45 hours of instruction over 6 days. Learn this effective, safe therapeutic form of soft-tissue mobilization to dra-matically enhance a healthy lymphatic flow. $795 for 45 CEU hours. Embody Practice Center 3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 100. Register: 303-245-0333 or [email protected]. EmbodyBirmingham.com.

Join us as we explore Sue Monk Kidd’s Invention of Wings, an inspired by the true story of early-nineteenth-century abolitionist and suffragist Sarah Grimké. Free. Homewood Library, Boardroom, 1721 Oxmoor Rd. 205-332-6620.

SEPTEMBER 27, SATURDAYSoutheastern Outings Dayhike – 9am. Join friend-ly folks on an easy six to seven-mile dayhike and picnic on the Chief Ladiga Trail east of Piedmont, AL. This is a smooth trail with no hills. Info: Dan Frederick, [email protected] or 205-631-4680. Seoutings.org.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27Southeastern Outings Twenty-Eight Mile Bicycle Ride – 9am. Join friendly folks for a 28-mile bicycle ride on the Chief Ladiga Trail in the Piedmont, AL area. This is a smooth, wide trail that is paved. Info and Ride Leader: Dan Frederick, 205-631-4680 or [email protected]. Seoutings.org.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28Aromatherapy 101 with Nicola McGill – 9am-4pm. Join Nicola McGill, a classically trained Aromatherapist, for an informative introductory to this immensely simple and effective complementary therapy. Open to massage therapists or those curious about essential oils. Embody Practice Center, 3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 100. EmbodyBirmingham.com. [email protected].

Cahaba River Fry-Down – 12-4pm. Learn more about the relationship between water quality and the health of humans and aquatic life while socializing, eating, playing family-friendly games, visiting the beer garden, and competing in the Fry-Down. $20/person. Trussville Springs, 6655 Gadsden Hwy, Trussville, AL. 205-322-5326.

Slow Art Sunday – 2-3pm. Master docent Marlene Wallace will lead a discussion on Childe Hassam’s piece Building the Schooner, Provincetown. Free. Birmingham Museum of Art, 2000 Rev Abraham Woods Jr Blvd. 205-254-2571.

Vulcan AfterTunes 2014 – 3pm. Chill out in Bir-mingham’s backyard and end your week with some of the area’s best music while witnessing spectacular views of Birmingham’s city skyline. Admission charged. Vulcan Park and Museum, 1701 Valley View Dr, Birmingham. 205-933-1409.

HEALTH COOKWARE

SALADMASTER sales and service. 256-502-9845.

REIKI

REIKI is a relaxation and stress reduction tech-nique that promotes healing. Call me today and take control of your health. Connie Sanford, RMT. Crestwood, Birmingham. 205-401-9437.

classifiedsFee for classifieds is $1 per word per month. To place listing, email content to [email protected]. Dead-line is the 10th of the month.

Fall Equinox Fire Circle at Ruffner Mountain – 6:30-8:30pm. Bring your drums and rattles, a stick to offer to the fire, water and a snack to share. Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve, 1214 81st St South, Birmingham. 205-833-8264 x17. Check the Ruffner Mt Facebook page for up to date info.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23Sidewalk E-Series #9: Equality – 5-8pm. A film and discussion series designed to stimulate con-versations about four issues that are particularly relevant to the Birmingham metro area today: Eco-nomic Development, Environment, Equality and Education. $10. RMTC Cabaret Theatre, 301 19th St North, Birmingham. 205-332-3715.

Tai-ji Quan Beginners Series – 6:30-7:30pm. Tai-ji Quan (Tai Chi) is a Chinese slow-motion martial art and moving meditation. It promotes physical and emotional balance, with particular emphasis on breathing (Qi Gong). $130 for the 13-week series. Embody Practice Center 3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 100. EmbodyBirmingham.com. [email protected].

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24The Better Than Therapy Book Club – 2-3:30pm.


ongoingevents

dailyBirmingham Yoga – View full calendar online at BirminghamYoga.com

Embody Practice Center – View full calendar online at EmbodyBirmingham.com.

sundaySunday Service – 11am-12:30pm. Unity of Bir-mingham, 2803 Highland Ave, Birmingham. 205-251-3713. UnityBham.com.

A Course in Miracles – 5-6:30pm. On-going dis-cussion group. Unity of Birmingham, 2803 Highland Ave, Birmingham. 205-251-3713. UnityBham.com.

tuesdayTrussville Fresh Market – 1-5pm. Herbs, prepared foods, honey, baked goods, fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, and jam. Trussville Mall, 225 Parkway Dr, Trussville. 205-283-4558.

Manna Market Organic Food Co-op – Pick up, deliveries and co-op store will be on Sept 9 and 23. Order online. Purchases can be delivered or picked up at one of the convenient locations. Co-op store hours are 1:30-3:30pm at Valley Christian Church, 2600 Cherokee Pl, Mountain Brook. MannaMarket.net. 205-566-2533.

wednesdayZumba – 6pm. Zumba at Railroad Park is a Latin inspired dance fitness class. It blends easy Latin dance moves with aerobic steps. The class is fun, energizing, and easy to follow. Free. Railroad Park, 1600 1st Ave South, Birmingham. 205-521-9933. RailroadPark.org.

thursdaySummit Farmers Market – 2-6pm. Find market favorites like fresh local produce, handcrafted jew-elry, coffee beans, pasta, breads, cheeses, sauces, soaps, lotions and more. Summit Shopping Center, 214 Summit Blvd, Suite 102, Birmingham.

Yoga – 6pm. Yoga is a form of exercise that strength-ens and tones the body. It promotes balance and flex-ibility, and quiets the mind. Yoga is for the beginning as well as advanced student. Free. Railroad Park, 1600 1st Ave South, Birmingham. 205-521-9933. RailroadPark.org.

fridayHappy Feet Friday – 6-7pm. Get your feet moving in the right direction with a 60-minute low-to-high impact walk/run course. Learn proper walk/run techniques to maximize your current fitness goals. All experience levels are welcome. Free. Railroad Park, 1600 1st Ave South, Birmingham. 205-521-9933. RailroadPark.org.

saturdayPepper Place Saturday Market – 7am-12pm. Pep-per Place Market brings the best Alabama growers, food producers and artisans to Birmingham each week. Weekly Musicians and Chef Demonstra-tions. Free. Pepper Place, 2829 2nd Ave South, Birmingham. PepperPlaceMarket.com.

East Lake Farmers Market – 8am-12pm. The East Lake Farmers Market, established in 2005, makes fresh produce and other resources for healthy living available in South East Lake. We accept SNAP/EBT and Senior Nutrition Coupons. East Lake Farmers Market, 7769 2nd Ave South, Birmingham. 205-836-3201. EastLakeMarket.org.

Valleydale Famers Market – 8am-12pm. This market features local farmers including Whitted Farms, Stone Oak Farms, and Burnette Farms, as well as other vendors and food artisans such as Bare Naked Noodles, Dough to Go, and Tiki Bar Soaps. Kids’ activities and live music. 4601 Valleydale Rd, Birmingham. 205-538-3652.

Downtown Homewood Farmers Market – 8am–12pm. The market typically features more than 15 local farmers and vendors, including Owl’s Hollow Hydroponic Farm, Finer Grind Coffee, and the Dreamcakes food truck. Soho Parking Lot, 2850 19th St South, Homewood.

West Homewood Farmer’s Market – 8am-12pm. Fresh food from area farmers, arts and crafts, and other artisan products. Live music. 160 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood.

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FAMILY MEDICINE

BIRMINGHAM INTEGRATIVE HEALTHDr. Melanie Miller 159 Main Street Trussville, AL 35173 205-655-2110 BirminghamIntegrativeHealth.com Facebook.com/Birmingham IntegrativeHealth

Dr. Miller brings a com-mitment to integrative health to her patients in the greater Birmingham area. Her defi-nition of good health goes beyond freedom from disease. She strives for both physical and mental well-being. She is a Family Medicine Doctor

with interest in adrenal, thyroid, hormone balancing, nutrition, food allergies, weight loss, herbs, supple-ments and acupuncture. See ad, page 9.

HEALTH CONSULTANT

SANDRA SCOTT, AADPNatural Health and Wellness Consultant Food for Life Nutrition & Cooking Instructor 205-687-0238 SandraEScott.com [email protected]

Gain and maintain optimal health the way God intended by using food as medicine. Specializing in plant-based nutrition for weight loss and diabetes, raw food preparation, workshops, cooking classes, private and group coaching.

HOMEOPATHY CONSULTANT

JOAN SCOTT LOWEHomeopathic Consultant 1901 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. South Birmingham, AL 35209 205-871-1288 [email protected] HomeopathyForWellness.com

Call or email Joan Scott Lowe, Homeopathic Wellness Consultant, to determine your individual constitutional remedy, the FDA-approved nontoxic homeopathic remedy based on the totality of your mental, emotional, and physical condition, chosen according to the Law of Similars (“like heals like”). Achieve wellness and freedom from illness!

NUTRITION AND GIFTS

GOLDEN TEMPLE, NOW 3 LOCATIONS1901 11th Ave. South, Birmingham: 205-933-6333 3309 Lorna Rd, Suite 7, Hoover: 205-823-7002 110 N. Chalkville Rd, Suite 148, Trussville: 205-655-0353

Since 1973, we have been bringing you the best in healthy living. We offer a wide variety of merchandise including vitamins, herbs, supplements, natural foods, organic produce, incense, clothing, books, and gifts.

ACUPUNCTURE

ASHLEY LUNDY, LAC Doctor of Oriental Medicine 104 S Chalkville Rd, Ste 105 Trussville, AL 35173 205-234-4033 Alacupuncture.com [email protected]

Specializing in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine. Using noninvasive treatment to help treat pain, high blood pressure, fertility issues, insomnia, fibromyalgia, and weight loss. Located inside Eastern Chiropractic. Call today for your appointment. See ad, page 23.

ANIMAL COMMUNICATOR

ANDREA J ROSSWholestic Pet Services 205-492-1000 • WholesticPetServices.com [email protected] [email protected]

Animal Communicator, Reiki Master, Animal Medical Intuitive, Dog Behaviorist/Trainer. Natural and alternative healing remedies, aroma therapies, essential oils, herbal remedies, and T-Touch. Natural

Flea & Tick Remedies. Creating and living a chemical free environment.

CHIROPRACTIC

CHIROPRACTOR & HERBALISTDr. Jeanne R. Chabot 2116 Rocky Ridge Road Hoover, AL 35216 • 205-822-2177 ChabotChiropractic.com

36 years of Chiropractic experi-ence, certified herbalist, Reiki Master. Conventional Chiropractic adjustments & gentle adjustments, physiological therapeutics, decom-pression therapy. Private treatment rooms. Massage therapy, Hypno-therapy, Energy Work, Meditation

Class, Personal training, and Yoga classes. Most Insurance accepted.

COLON HYDROTHERAPY

HEALING WATERSBernadine Birdsong I-ACT & NBCHT Certified Instructor 720 23rd St South, Birmingham, AL 205-323-7582 • MoreThanColonics.com

Detox your body with Colon Hydrotherapy, Infra Red Sauna, and BioCleanse Therapy. We are the only hydrotherapist in Alabama providing colonics with ionized, microclustered, antioxidant, alkaline water. We offer Lipoex®, a non-invasive way to melt fat, reduce cellulite, and tighten skin. Computerized Biofeedback, Massage therapy, pain management, light therapy, Korean-style Hip Bath, and VibaBody Slimmer also available. See ad, page 8.

COUNSELING

EMILY TUCKER LPC, NCC300 Office Park Dr, Ste 220 Birmingham, AL 35223 205-261-1417 • [email protected] Birmingham-Counseling.com

Empathy, compassion and reflec-tion are the foundation of her practice with each client. Special-izing in Addictions, relationship issues, trauma recovery, depression and anxiety, wellness coaching. Call today for your free consulta-tion. Wellness Packages now

available; pay once—no hassles. See ad, page 25.

EDUCATIONAL COURSES

AMERICAN COACHING SCHOOLAmericanCoachingSchool.com 205-721-3622

500 Quality and Affordable courses online and on-demand. See our ad on page 13 for more information.

ENERGY HEALING

REV. TERRI A. HEIMAN, RMT, RYTNatural Forces Studio, LLC Birmingham, AL • 516-457-3885 [email protected] NaturalForcesStudio.com

Offer ing pr ivate sess ions , workshops and classes in Reiki Energy Healing, Angels, Meditation and Yoga. Spiritual Healing Certification Program, Spiritual Development Academy™ at Spiritual-Development-Academy.com. To Your Spirit!

communityresourceguide


CONTEMPLATIVE PSYCHOLOGY

CHUCK WHETSELL, PH.D.Transformative Psychology Services 2011 9th Ave South, Suite 200B Birmingham, AL 35205 205-901-6438 • PeaceOfNowness.com [email protected]

Using principles of medita-tion, clients are guided in going more deeply inwards to explore life’s difficulties. Contacting one’s inner wis-dom gives access to strength and purpose, which translates into personal guidelines for

going forward in life. Individual and group sessions, including Peace of Nowness groups for working with anxiety.

VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTS

BELL LIFESTYLE PRODUCTS800-333-7995 BellLifestyle.com

Formulated natural health supplements intended for pain cont ro l , u r inary hea l th , preventive illness, virility, stress relief, weight control and other common conditions. See ad, page 2.

YOGA

BIRMINGHAM YOGA STUDIO605 37th Street South Birmingham, AL 35222 • 205-637-4228 [email protected] BirminghamYoga.com

Serving the community, Birming-ham Yoga offers and hosts: ongo-ing yoga classes in two beautiful studios, 200-hour yoga teacher training accredited with Yoga Alliance, morning meditation, exciting workshops and class series, monthly community kirtan,

musical events, and rental space for guest speakers and teachers.

EMBODY PRACTICE CENTER3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 100 Birmingham, AL 35213 205-637-0299 [email protected] EmbodyBirmingham.com

Embody Practice Center offers Yoga for all ages, levels, and health conditions. Classes include All

Levels Yoga, monthly Yoga Nidra and Restorative Yoga, Beginner’s Series, and series specific to injuries (such as neck and shoulders or low back). EPC also offers Tai-Ji Quan (Tai Chi), Breath/Feldenkrais® Class, Meditation workshops, and various other community and professional workshops. See ad, page 11.

SATURDAY, SEPT 20108 Sun Salutations

8:00 - 10:00 amVulcan Park & MuseumBene�tting Sweet Om Alabama

& UAB's Happy Healthy Kids

THURSDAY

NIGHT

PRE-PARTY

Trim Tab Brewing Co.

Sept 18

6:00 - 9:00 pm

Rain or Shine! Led by Birmgham yoga teachers. Bring a yoga mat and water. Receive a Sweet Om Alabama shirt with a minimum $35 donation. www.sweetomalabama.org

THURSDAY

NIGHT

PRE-PARTY

Trim Tab Brewing Co.

Sept 18

6:00 - 9:00 pm

FRESH TASTES BETTER....Farm to Table, Organic, Local, Sustainable

We deliver to your home, office, restaurant, school; Or pick up at one of our drop off locations.

Store Open Every Other Tues:2600 Cherokee PlaceMountain Brook, AL 35216

Manna Market Organic Food CO-OP

10% OFF All New Orders205-566-2533

MannaMarket.net

Call to book your appointment today!

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September 2014