NALAMAG FEB 2016

1natural awakenings February 2016

February 2016 | S.E. Louisiana Edition | NALAmag.com

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The Truth About Mardi Gras

BeadsQIGONG Helping Veterans Cope in New Orleans

Mindful Minutes for Little OnesYoga Helps Kids Focus and Relax

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

The Power of FriendshipIt Sustains, Nourishes and Supports Us

feel good • live simply • laugh more

MARDI GRASwithout the Grains

2 SE Louisiana NALAmag.com


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

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14 THE REAL MARDI GRAS TRADITION

What Is in Those Beads?

16 QIGONG FOR VETERANS Helping Cope in New Orleans by Todd Nichols

18 MINDFUL MINUTES FOR LITTLE ONES

Yoga Helps Kids Focus and Relax by Julianne Hale

20 THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP

It Sustains, Nourishes and Supports Us by Judith Fertig

23 DEEP LISTENING Our Wholehearted Attention Is Our Greatest Gift by Kay Lindahl

24 YOUR MOUTH TELLS A STORY Functional Dentistry Connects Oral Health to Sleep Apnea and Heart Disease by Linda Sechrist

26 ANCIENT GRAINS FOR MODERN PALATES Gluten-Free and Eco-Friendly Grains Gain Favor by Judith Fertig

30 ALYSSA MILANO’S ANTI-AGING SECRETS Her Natural Lifestyle Choices Keep Her Young by Gerry Strauss

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5 newsbriefs

7 eventspotlight

8 healthbriefs

1 1 globalbriefs

12 recipeforsuccess

12 ecotip

13 ecospotlight

14 coverstory

16 community spotlight

18 healthykids

23 inspiration

26 consciouseating

30 wisewords

32 classifieds

33 calendar

37 resourceguide

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© 2016 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 for 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.

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Publisher Melissa Burbank

Editor-in-Chief Coco Kunstman

Design & Production Chelsea Rose

Distribution Big Art's Distribution

Cover Artist Mike Buck Photography

Editors Michelle Bense

Lauren A. Pirosko Sara Peterson

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letterfromtheeditor

Coco

“It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.”

–Ralph Waldo Emerson

Friendship. That word holds a great deal of meaning for me. Throughout the years I have found that friends are the family you choose and have created quite a family. In the South it is a more common practice to call loved ones Aunt or Uncle without having any ac-tual blood relationship. It is an endearment that I have adopted into my life. I have built my family out of friendships. The words, to me, have become entwined.

“My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me.”–Henry Ford

I think about “Aunt” Tammy and “Uncle” Steve and my “cousins” Megan and Me-lissa. People I celebrate with, cry with, lean on and believe in my heart are family. It is in this way that my sister, Aubrey, is my best friend first and sister second. A best friend is the person you call when you have just done something stupid and you want to laugh about it with someone. A sister could simply be someone who stole your doll when you were little. As I have come to find out, not everyone has the friendships with their siblings that I have been fortunate to develop. I try to imagine what my life would be like if I could not text my brother the lyrics to "Walking on Sunshine" and wait for the verbal assault to ensue, as the memory of Aubrey and my musical torture we inflicted upon him as a child resurrects itself from his memory. It is not a life full of the friendship and laughter I enjoy now.

“Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.”

–Helen Keller

Psychologists have tried to study the meaning of the word friendship and the im-pact is has on people's loves and psyche for years. The black and white description of the word is a relationship, one rung above association. But if Sex and the City taught us anything it is that friendships go far beyond that dry denotation. I will always remember a line in the final episodes where Mr. Big announces to Carrie’s three friends that he knows they “are the loves of her life.” Like Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, these strong bonds of friendship rise well above the average shopping adventure. For me, it is the people I surround myself with that wrap me in love, respect and friendship.

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.’”

–C.S. Lewis

As we move into this month of festivities, it is the best time to celebrate with those chosen individuals we deem friends. It is a time to laugh together and honor the city’s best and oldest tradition—celebrating with friends.

Coco Kunstman, Editor-in-Chief


newsbriefs

Dr. Mendoza Expands Practice to Include Akashic Records and Past Life Regression

Dr. Marilyn Mendoza has been a practic-ing psychologist for the past 30 years.

In addition to her services as a grief, be-reavement and trauma counselor, Mendoza has extended her work to include Akashic records (the Book of Life) and past life re-gressions through hypnosis. The Akashic records are a concept of

interconnection and central conscientiousness. According to novices like Edgar Cayce it is this system that acts as the central storehouse of all information for every individual who has ever lived upon the earth. Mendoza believes these services help people achieve a deeper and more spiritual understand-ing of themselves. Traditional psychotherapy focuses on our present lives and helps us develop a better understanding of ourselves and our interactions with the world around us. According to Mendoza, using the Akashic Records and past life regressions, one can achieve an even deeper understanding of who they are as a soul living a human life. She believes the way we interact and respond to problems is based on our past, whether it be from this life or a past incarnation. In this light Mendoza has found it is often necessary to go further back in time to discover the root of a problem and achieve healing. Mendoza has seen how, using the Akashic Records and past life regression, deep emotions and experiences can be unlocked and healed. She believes one can explore relationship issues, illnesses, phobias, recurring nightmares, sleeping problems or the fear of death as well as many other issues. Alternatively, Mendoza says some people simply want the experience and to help them on their journey of self-discovery. Additionally, Mendoza explains that many of her clients comment that knowing about past life experiences has been a benefit for overcoming their fear of death. Mendoza believes the safety in the knowledge that souls have been here before also helps put this life into perspective. Since the publication of her book We Do Not Die Alone (2008) and her work in hospice, her focus has been on helping medical personnel and the public overcome their fears of death.

For more information or to make an appointment, call 504-363-0203 or visit MarilynMendoza.com.

504-866-22418132 Willow Street, Uptown, New Orleans

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Mardi Gras Without the Grain?

Eating gluten-free in New Orle-ans can be a challenge. As we

all learned from Mean Girls, butter is not a carb, thank the gods. Even with blessed butter, finding good gluten-free bakeries in New Orleans

can still be a challenge. At no time is that more

important than King Cake season. However, many local bak-eries offer specif-

ic gluten-free items or can make them upon request. Breads on Oak also offers a

host of delicious gluten-free options, from cinnamon raison rolls to cookies. Shake Sugary is a neighborhood favorite in the Marigny and Bywater offering weekly gluten-free spe-cials. Sucré is a growing NOLA favorite. All of their deli-cious macarons are gluten-free and they even have a special Mardi Gras macaron for those who need a gluten-free way to celebrate the season.

Shelly Wilson To Speak in NOLA

Shelly Wilson is an author, in-tuitive medium and conscious

creator who is passionate about helping people wake up to their greatness. Residing in Oklahoma, Wilson holds a bachelor's degree in business, with a minor in psy-chology. She supports others as they navigate their own journey into consciousness to experience aliveness. She offers private readings, intu-itive coaching, small business coaching, reiki sessions and teaches workshops. Wilson’s books, 28 Days to a New YOU (2013), Connect to the YOU Within (2013), and Journey into Consciousness (2013) are available in paperback and eBook. She is the host of "Incomparably Comparable with Shelly Wilson" on VividLife.me Radio. This month Wilson will hold events in the New Orleans area around the Metaphysical Resource Center and Unity of Metairie. Topics include Mindfulness, Awareness and Spirit to Journey into Consciousness.

See the event calendar for a full list and details. For more information, visit ShellyRWilson.com.

newsbriefs


eventspotlight

Tibetan Bud-dhist monks from Drepung

Gomang Monas-tery of South India are creating a Sand Mandala for World Peace. The public is invited to witness the creation of the sand mandala from March 10 through 12, and the mandala will be completed during the final Dissolu-tion Ceremony on March 13. The monks will be joining Tibet-an House for the Candlelight Vigil acknowledging Tibetan Uprising Day, March 10, at the Labyrinth at Audubon Park, in New Orleans. The Tibetan House and the New Orle-ans Healing Center will sponsor the monks’ visit.

Buddhist Monks' Upcoming Visit to New Orleans

Sand painting is an ancient art form of Tibetan Buddhism. The term “mandala” is a Sanskrit word meaning cosmogram, or “world in harmony.” The sand mandala is careful-ly constructed from dyed sand particles as a vehicle to generate compassion, to realize the impermanence of

reality and to create a social/cosmic healing of the environment. At the Dissolution Ceremony, the monks will perform the ritualistic ceremony of destroying the sand mandala that took five days to create, teaching the lesson of impermanence. Everyone who attends will be given his or her own piece of the mandala in the form of a bag of sand.

The Drepung Gomang monks are presently on tour in the U.S. to share the compassion and wisdom of Tibetan Buddhism, to demonstrate the artistic accomplishments of the people of Tibet, and to generate funds to insure the survival of the Tibetan culture. Drepung Gomang Monastery uses all donations to house, feed and educate nearly 2,000 monks living and studying at the monastery, including orphans and refu-gees fleeing Chinese-occupied Tibet.

For more information, visit Tibetan-House.com and DrepungGomang.org.


healthbriefs

Kids Get Fewer Cavities When Mothers Chew Xylitol GumResearch published in the Internation-

al Journal of Paediatric Dentistry has concluded mothers that chew natural xylitol gum regularly will significantly reduce oral infections of mutans strep-tococcus bacteria in their infants. Five research teams and 11 randomized stud-ies of 601 mothers and their children showed 46 percent fewer infections of the bacteria, which is the central species responsible for dental caries and peri-odontal disease. The studies included children that were 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months old. Other research supports the claim of xylitol’s beneficial nature. A study from the University of Manchester, in England, analyzing data from 4,216 schoolchildren, showed that using toothpaste containing xylitol with fluoride resulted in 13 percent less tooth decay than using toothpaste with fluoride only.

Note: Xylitol is toxic to dogs; if ingested, consult a veterinarian.

Olive Oil Compound Kills Cancer CellsResearchers from Rutgers University have found

that an ingredient in olive oil will kill cancer cells in under an hour. The researchers tested a compound called oleocanthal, a central compo-nent of extra virgin olive oil, and found that it caused the premature death of cancer cells in the laboratory by puncturing cancer cell vesicles, called lysosomes. “We needed to determine if oleocanthal was targeting that protein and causing the cells to die,” says Paul Breslin, Ph.D., a professor of nutritional sciences in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences at Rutgers and co-author of the study, published in Molecular and Cellular Oncology. The research also found that the olive oil compound didn’t damage healthy cells. Breslin states that the compound merely “put them to sleep” for a day, after which they resumed their normal, healthy functioning. Senior author David Foster, Ph.D., of Hunter College, points out that additional studies are necessary to determine if the compound halts tumor growth. “We also need to understand why it is that cancerous cells are more sensitive to oleocanthal than non-cancerous cells,” he says.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month

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Kids Learn Social Skills Through Pretending and JokingResearch published in the journal

Cognitive Science has found that toddlers with parents that played with them using humor and fantasy gained increased skills for learning, imagin-ing and bonding, along with thinking in abstract ways. The researchers tested children between 16 and 24 months old in two phases. The first utilized action play among 25 kids and the second utilized verbal play among 40 children. The parents and children pretended to do activities such as washing their hands with no soap or creating situations using a toy. During the second phase, the children and parents played around jokingly by using words, identifying things in funny ways and making believe they were doing things. The researchers found that jok-ing and pretend play allowed the kids to distinguish cues that helped them communicate and develop skills to understand intentions. The study also found that older toddlers relied more on verbal cues to understand pre-tending and joking communications.

High-Fructose Sweetener Aggravates Asthma and BronchitisA large study from the New York Medical College and the University of

Massachusetts found that high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is linked to a greater risk of asthma and chronic bronchitis. The research included 2,801 people between the ages of 20 and 55 years old. The scientists utilized health data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 2003 to 2006 to compare people with a history of chronic bronchitis. The study measured the types of soft drinks consumed, eliminat-ing risks related to known asthma relationships such as smoking. The researchers found those that drank five or more HFCS-containing sodas per week had an 80 percent increased incidence of chronic bronchitis. Greater intake of HFCS has also been linked with higher risk of other health conditions, including diabetes and obesity.

Bifidobacteria Probiotic Fends Off Colds and FluIn a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition,

researchers found that supplementing with bifido-bacteria probiotics will reduce colds and flu. The study followed 581 college students for six weeks as they prepared for their final exams. During the study period, the students consumed a placebo or a daily supplement with one of three probiotics, including Bifidobacterium bifidum. The students given the bifidum supplement expe-rienced significantly fewer cold or flu infections, and when they did succumb, the infection was generally less severe. The other probiotic supplements did not reduce colds or flu compared to the placebo for the six weeks.

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

Nice SpiceMcCormick Going Non-GMOMcCormick, the world’s largest spice company, plans to eliminate almost all genetically modi-fied (GMO) ingredients from their product line by 2016. In response to increased consumer demand for healthier options, 80 percent of its overall gourmet herb and spice business in the U.S. will be both organic and non-GMO by 2016, as well as all McCormick-branded herbs, spices and extracts sold in the U.S. They will voluntarily label the updated products to inform consumers as part of a commitment to transparency and consumer education. The first product introduced, a non-GMO vanilla extract, is already available. McCormick also uses steam treatments in its processing to preserve the health benefits of spices instead of the ionizing irradiation used by competitors. Although food radiation is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, some stud-ies link it to significant health problems. “Our consumers are increasingly interested in quality flavors with pure ingredients in their food,” says McCormick President and Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Kurzius. “Our efforts prove that we are listening to consumers and are committed to continuing to evolve.”

Source: NaturalNews.com

Green GoalpostsSuper Bowl Eco-Stadium Gains National SpotlightThe 50th Super Bowl will take place February 7 at the brand-new Levi’s Stadium, in Santa Clara, outside San Francisco, and the anniversary isn’t the only thing that’s historic. As part of a trend toward sustainability in athletic facilities, it’s the greenest and most technologically advanced professional football stadium in the U.S. The structure is designed to support sustainability, located on a site with accessible public transportation plus a bike path to encourage fans to pedal to and from games.

Its predominantly open and airy, environmentally friendly building plan also takes advantage of the Silicon Valley climate. One outstanding feature is the green roof atop the suite tower on the west side of the stadium. Another is the three solar bridges connecting the main parking area to the stadium that generate energy from hundreds of solar panels. All of the wood used was repurposed from a local airplane hangar at Moffett Field, in Mountain View, California, and other reclaimed building products were used where possible. Reclaimed water sources serve potable and non-potable uses, including playing field irrigation. The local suppliers providing farm-to-table food menus also are required to practice composting and recycling to the greatest extent possible.

For more information, visit LevisStadium.com.

Seeing ChangeYoung Children Can Unlearn Racial Stereotyping

New research by Paul Quinn, a professor of psychological and brain sciences at the University of Dela-ware, and his collaborators across the globe, have found a simple exercise that can undo the unconscious racial biases that may begin to develop as early as infancy. Quinn learned that 3-month-olds begin showing a visual preference for the same race they see most often in their daily lives. By 9 months, infants not only distinguish racial categories, but also become less able to tell differ-ent individuals apart if they are mem-bers of a less-familiar race. In the experiment, the scientists morphed together photos of African and Asian faces to create ambiguous images that looked equally African and Asian. As a result, Quinn reports, “At 9 months, they didn’t respond to the differences between the African and Asian categories, but instead they had two less discriminatory broad catego-ries; ‘own race’ and ‘other race’. We think it might be a precursor to an ini-tial ‘in group/out group’ differentiation and suggest that perceptual and social processing of faces may overlap, even in infants.”

Source: LaboratoryEquipment.com

breathe


recipeforsuccess

Flavor is synonymous with Louisiana cooking. Our Cajun spices are literally great on everything. As loyal as New

Orleans is to the household name of Tony Chachere’s, nothing beats making your own. This also has the added bonus of knowing exactly what/how much you are put-ting into the spice. Sodium levels are a concern for many when buying prepackaged spice mixes. Take a look at the delicious, salt-free mixture below to start your Mardi Gras feasting off right.

1 tsp black pepper 1 tsp cayenne 1 tsp celery seed 1 tsp dried thyme 2 tsp dried oregano 1 Tbsp garlic powder 2 Tbsp sweet paprika

Mix them al l together in a glass spice jar and get to cooking!

Eco-CappuccinoReducing Coffee Shop WasteFor many, getting a coffee to go at a fa-vorite spot on the way to work or while dropping the kids off at school and running errands is a weekday ritual. It also warms up the body on cold morn-ings in northern regions this time of year. The java might taste even better if we reduce the amount of waste traditionally involved. Here are a few ways to better cherish Earth’s resources. Avoid the paper cup; carry a reusable thermos or insulated bottle instead as a matter of routine. Author and activist Beth Terry, in her book Plastic Free: How I Kicked the Habit and How You Can Too suggests both stainless steel beverage containers and mugs. She also recommends glass mason jars and points out that EcoJarz recently began making stainless steel caps and lids instead of plastic. Learn more at MyPlasticFreeLife.com. Ter-ry further cites the unhealthy aspects of continual use of paper cups because, “Many are lined with plastic, and the plastic lids are often the equivalent of Styrofoam.” If caught without a favorite reusable container, Treehugger.com’s Katherine Martinko recommends at least giving an old paper cup one more turn. “It’s not a zero waste solution, but if you’ve already got a paper cup in your car or kitchen, you might as well extend its life. Wash and hand it over the next time you get a coffee,” she suggests. “It will still do the job.” For those that add cream, milk or sugar to coffee, consider the waste involved just in the plastic and wood stirrers provided by the shop that are tossed in the trash after serving their one-time function. “Avoid all of them,” advises Terry. “Carry a clean utensil in the car,” such as a bamboo tableware or a spork (combination spoon and fork). Cutting down or weaning off of dairy, sugar and especially sugar substitutes is another healthful move.

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Just a few months ago I was very

proud of myself for weeding out old, ill-fitting, well-past-their-prime items from my closet by actively engaging with a fashion blog’s spring-cleaning checklist. Not only did I pat myself on the back for parting with pieces to which I had become irrationally attached, but I was also careful to separate the out-going clothing into two piles—trash or charity. I sent one bag off to donation and the other to the dumpster with little thought as to what would eventually happen to either. About a week later I stumbled upon the startling fact that Americans toss 82 pounds of clothing each year, resulting in 11 million tons sitting in landfills. And they don’t just stay there for a year or two. Because most textiles are not biodegrad-able, they’ll stay on this planet for 200 years. The donation pile doesn’t fare much better: One out of every 10 items of cloth-ing donated is resold. The rest is either shipped off to be sold in other countries or goes to those growing landfills. Sud-denly, I wasn’t feeling so smug about that whole closet cleaning operation. Cotton Incorporated is working with Bonded Logic, Inc., manufacturers of UltraTouch Denim Insulation, to give

A group of organizations are using worn-out denim to create

insulation for homes

by Kelly Bryant

beat-up (not in a trendy way) jeans a second life, and one that is impactful to boot. This year the program, which started in 2006, focused its efforts in New

Orleans, which is still recovering from the massive amounts of destruction left behind by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. It’s hard to believe it has been a decade since that natural disaster flattened and flooded the city and its surrounding neighborhoods. What’s even harder to wrap one’s head around is the signifi-cant rebuilding still left to be done after all of these years. FEMA estimates Ka-trina’s overall damage at $108 billion, the costliest hurricane in U.S. history. While the rest of the country may have moved on, New Orleans residents are still coping with their losses. Through Habitat for Humanity’s Build-A-Thon, 10 homes were built in 10 days using the insulation made from the denim donations. Previous com-munity recipients have included those in the Gulf Coast region spanning from Texas to Mississippi. This year Sheryl Crow teamed up with the campaign to actively encour-age denim donations, but the celebrity involvement didn’t stop there. Actor Anna Sophia Robb helped out along-side 600 other volunteers during the ac-

ecospotlight

How Your Old Jeans Are Warming Houses

tual build. Robb also had the honor of presenting New Orleans resident Karen Walker with a key to her new home on the city’s America Street. According to a Blue Jeans Go Green spokesperson, it takes about 500 to 1,000 pieces of denim to make enough insulation for a home, depend-ing on its size. So far the program has collected more than 1 million pieces of denim, helping to produce over 2 million square feet of the insulation. Considering the statistic floating around claiming the average person owns seven pairs of jeans, donating a fallen pair instead of tossing it in the trash can have a big impact on the environment. To date, Blue Jeans Go Green has diverted 600 tons of denim from land-fills. Now if only someone could find a way to repurpose the horrendous club wear I wore in college. Then I could sleep a little easier at night.

Kelly Bryant is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer covering fashion, pop culture and parenting for a variety of national publications.

Give beat-up (not in a trendy way) jeans a second life, and one that's impactful to boot.


coverstory

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Mardi Gras and beads go together so seamlessly that it almost seems like one word

on the tongue. The tradition of catch-ing Mardi Gras beads at parades is so ingrained in the culture that no one really stops to think about where the beads have come from or what effect they can have on your health or the health of your family. In the late 1800s, during the early years of Mardi Gras as we know it, Rex threw treats such as sugar-coated almonds into the crowd. This tradi-tion stemmed from a similar English Renaissance era festival custom in which candied nuts were thrown into a crowd. Not long after this tra di-tion was started, food was replaced with glass beads. New Orleanians will probably agree this was due to the fact that you cannot leave sugar anything lying around or the roach apocalypse will soon ensue. Up until the late 1960s Mardi Gras beads' most common form was a string

of multicolored glass beads import-ed from then Czechoslovakia. Some parades still hand out these “vintage” beads to parade goers. They are now manufactured in India, but have the same stylistic elements of the original necklaces. In the mid 1960s these glass beads were replaced with the less ex-pensive and more durable plastic beads that we know today. They were first supplied from Hong Kong, then Taiwan, and now most come from China. This shift to plastic beads allowed riders to be supplied with a greater number of throws as the popularity of Mardi Gras expanded around the globe. As many

The Real Mardi Gras Traditions: What is in those Beads?

parade goers will attest, the single plastic Mardi Gras beads have lost their luster. Most end up on the ground. The Chinese workers who manufacture the beads are led to believe that these beads are real jewelry that will be sold in jewelry shops. The majority of the Mardi Gras beads are made in China from poly-styrene (Styrofoam) and polyethylene, two petroleum-based products. There have been repeated studies of the beads by HealthyStuff.org. The results showed that many beads tested very high in lead and other potentially haz-ardous chemicals, including bromine and chlorine. These chemicals are used as halogenated flame-retardants, but within the human body they are endocrine (hormonal) disruptors. This is the result of materials such as plastic manufactured from melted comput-er boards and other recycled plastic waste being utilized in the production process. Other toxicities, including arsenic and cadmium, have been found as a result in testing as well. These listed toxins exist throughout the beads, not just in the coatings. At this point you may be asking why these throws are permitted or why local government has not addressed the health concerns through regulation. Louisiana law does not address them, and the Consumer Product Safety Com-mission (CPSC) does not consider them children’s toys, subject to the CPSC’s more stringent regulation. Following passage of Proposition 65, California re-quires businesses to inform Californians about exposure to certain chemicals. And you might find vendors of Mardi Gras beads will not ship to that state as a result of their stringent public health regulations. Regarding the CPSC, the sense is that no changes will be made until a documented health problem is reported to the Commission.


Meanwhile, you can do your part in making Carnival in New Orleans healthier and greener by these tips.

n Keep Mardi Gras throws out of the mouths of loved ones. n Wash hands after handling beads and throws.n Catch and release—the only current way to reduce is to recycle.n Give your throws to Options Inc., an organization that works with the mental-ly disabled. They sort Mardi Gras beads for reuse as part of their work programs.n If you are a krewe member, be thechange and insist on a full disclosureregarding the products you handle and share (Remember, the Chinese workers are put at risk too.)n Be original and buy from local arti-sans or a charitable reseller of throws.n Simply throw less and throw green. Throwing tons of plastic beads is a relatively new phenomenon—not a Carnival tradition.

If you suspect toxicity from beads (as in lead exposure) please report the exposure to the CPSC and tell your pediatrician. For more information on the potential toxicity of Mardi Gras beads, see Healthystuff.org’s full report at Tinyurl.com/MardiGrasReport. Mardi Gras is really about friends, family and community—the joie de vivre, not all the stuff. Happy Mardi Gras, and remember it is Purple, Gold and GREEN.

N othing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible!’

~Audrey Hepburn


Todd Nichols has actively shared Qigong and Power Breathing at Veteran Facil-

ities for five years with outstand-ing results. Anger and alcoholism are the norm for veterans, and Nichols is breaking through by getting them high naturally. Ad-ditionally, Nichols shares qigong at several drug rehab centers and even with baker-acted patients.

No mistake in life has troubled me more than not serving in the military. After missing that opportunity, I’m sharing qi-gong at the Veterans Hospitals. The biggest challenge in teaching Veterans Qigong is

to gain their trust. An individual who never wore their uniform cannot understand what they endured. Veterans immediately want to know if you’re one of them. In the beginning this was unnerving. Veterans Administration (VA) facil-

ities are tough places. I’ll never forget my first time teaching and being let in the locked door as it quickly shut behind me. One vet in a wheel chair was trying to es-cape. Chairs were full of sand so they couldn’t be thrown. Doctors and social workers were coming in during my class and interrupt-ing. Many veterans were medi-cated and dealing with obvious

challenges. Some appeared physically fine, but their mind waged an emotional war inside. One large man was sitting in a state of shock and sat staring straight ahead making a low-pitched sound. Di-rect exposure to mental health struggles

QIGONG FOR VETERANS Helping Cope in New Orleans

by Todd Nichols

communityspotlight


of veterans has enlightened me. Most Americans are unaware that 22 U.S. vets commit suicide each day. I hope my experiences help tutor other qigong instructors.

“One of the best things to happen to me was to be sentenced to 6-month drug rehab center where Mr. Todd literally was breathing new life into us.” —Timothy Stewart, U.S. Veteran.

When vets do qigong breathing in a group, trust issues and whether I’m a vet or not becomes less important. Old mind patterns are temporarily bypassed, as the feeling of QI is so strong that it gives a natural high. Many vets report this has been invaluable to replace harmful addictions. My VA teach-er’s position actually came from a referral from Westcare of St. Petersburg, Florida, a 98-bed mental health and “Substance Abuse Center.” Some vets I met at the VA also ended up in drug rehab and therefore they saw me at both places.

“For four years running Todd’s Qigong program has uplifted the spirit of many." —Robert Neri, Westcare Rehab, Chief Clinical Officer.

Recovering heroine addicts need a powerful approach and I quickly realized I needed to wow them immediately with qigong, to make a memorable, quick, and powerful statement.

My grand slam is the Breath-Em-powerment and the 9-Breath Method exercises as this group of people is challeng ing to gain trust. They are guarded and apprehensive. I draw them in and challenge them to take huge breaths, swallow it and hold it in their belly. A crammed room becomes momentarily silent,

smiles and then scattered giggles. I love to see students’ resistance turn to wonder. They tell me, “I feel electricity, and my body is warm and tingling.” Without the breathing tools, many would give up before ben-efiting from the immense healing rewards. Teaching qigong at the VA was not very respected in the beginning. Now it has grown from a single class to two classes each week. The doctors, nurses and social workers now respect the group and do not disturb our class. Qigong at Westcare has been received so well that it has grown from one to three classes every week. It is now a part of their curriculum. There is no doubt in my mind that the need for more instructors in this field of qigong is a must.

QI REVOLUTION comes to New Orleans Convention Center, February 19 to 2. Two-and-a-half days of qigong training for $99. Open to public; fire, police and military servicemen admitted free. For more information, call 800-298-8970 or visit QiRevolution.com.


American kids’ school, after-school and weekend schedules now rival the hectic pace of their multitask-

ing parents. Like their adult counterparts, youngsters need time to decompress from the pressures of life and be present in their own skin, and yoga provides the tools to accomplish this. Most adults take to their yoga mat to create harmony in their body and mind, increase flexibility and balance, build muscle tone and strength, and because it makes them feel great. These same benefits apply to children as their developing bodies and minds respond to yoga on a deep level, both on and off the mat.

Start with Watching Breath“Breathing and mindfulness practices are important for children,” explains Mariam Gates, the Santa Cruz, Cali-fornia, creator of the Kid Power Yoga Program and author of Good Morning Yoga and the upcoming Good Night Yoga. “There is so much that children are not in control of in their everyday lives; to give them a way to physically

and violent solutions are modeled, yoga empowers children to pause and take a breath so they can own what’s happened, move through it and move on.” “I like yoga because it makes me feel like there is calm all around me,” says 8-year-old Biko Cooper. Dee Marie, the Boulder, Colora-do, founder and executive director of Calming Kids, a nonprofit program that integrates yoga into the classroom to foster a nonviolent atmosphere, says, “When a child learns through yoga how to feel a sense of themselves and begins to understand their self-worth and stand tall in their power, they can begin to reg-ulate their breath and their emotions.” These invaluable skills stay with children through adulthood.

Step into Yoga TogetherEducators are starting to take notice of yoga’s benefits for children, including those with attention deficit disorders or autism, but yoga practice is still rare among school-age children. As encour-agement, “Make it fun,” advises Gates. “It’s essential to create experiences that feel accessible and enjoyable for kids. They must feel empowered to do it them-selves and take over the experience.” Six-year-old Carmen Wheeler likes doing yoga with her dad. “Yoga gets me feeling strong and it really calms me down,” she says. Music can help chil-dren relax and focus during their prac-tice. Soothing basic instrumentals are good to start; an Internet search for yoga music for kids reveals many options.

Parents can assist by incor-porating yoga into a child’s daily bedtime ritual. “Do whatever they are willing to do with them,” counsels Marie. “Start by lying on

the bedroom floor, doing stretches and focusing on breathing. Then

move to the bed and teach some relaxation and visualiza-tion techniques.” Marie cautions parents against insisting that their

child’s yoga practice mir-ror their own. “We have to meet children where they are.” Adults think that yoga has to look a certain way, but some-

times children don’t neces-sarily want to do the postures

healthykids

Mindful Minutes for Little Ones

Yoga Helps Kids Focus and Relaxby Julianne Hale

process their experience, to self-soothe and find their own internal source of strength, is crucial.” “Having kids experience simply paying attention to their breath as it comes all the way in and moves all the way out can serve them well in every area of their lives going forward,” says Gates. In the classroom, it transfers to learning skills ben-efited by the ability to focus. From toddlers to teens, children can have a difficult time processing and controlling their emotions, which are vital life skills. Carla Tan-tillo, founder of Mindful Practices, a Chicago-area wellness organization, has found that yoga and the practice of mindful-ness help children express themselves in constructive ways. She observes, “In any situation, especially in communities where reactivity, impulsiveness


When Scott Frauenheim, director of the Chicago International Charter

School (CICS) West Belden, noticed that some students in his kindergarten through eighth grade urban class-rooms were not fully engaged, he decided to focus the 2014-2015 school year on mindfulness for both students and faculty. He en-listed the help of Mindful Practices, a Chicago-based school wellness organization founded by Carla Tantillo. Using the strategies Tantillo recommends in her book Cooling Down Your Classroom, teachers were taught to involve students in mindful minutes—short bursts of simple yoga poses, breathing exercises and other techniques—to

cultivate mindfulness. The initiative proved to be powerful and helpful,

explains Frauenheim. “Soon stu-dents were able to identify areas

of personal need throughout the day and cultivate mindfulness within themselves using what they learned.” The program concluded

last year, but CICS West Belden teachers and students continue to use designated time to prac-tice mindfulness in the morning and as a classroom mental reset when they notice that students are distracted or unfocused during the day. Mindful Practices’ innovative programs have achieved similar success in other elementary, middle and high schools in the Chicago area.

Cultivating Mindfulness in the Classroom

by Julianne Hale

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we’re familiar with. The best teaching reaches each individual child in a way that resonates with them because yoga is a lifestyle, not an exercise regimen,” she says. Yoga novices and parents that pre-fer specific guidance can take advantage of local studio classes for children and families or use DVDs, online streaming services and instruction books. Kevin Day, age 5, regularly starts his days with a Boat pose. “I like it because you can do it with a friend,” he says. Lisa Flynn, the Dover, New Hamp-shire, founder and chief executive officer of ChildLight Yoga and Yoga 4 Classrooms, is optimistic about the future. “In 10 years, I envision social and emotional learning, yoga, and mindfulness integrated at every school and mandated by educational policy,” she says. In addition to improved physical, social, emotional and cognitive health and wellness of the students, teach-ers and parents, she foresees “a positive shift in the overall school climate.”

Julianne Hale is a freelance writer and Natural Awakenings franchise magazine editor in Cleveland, TN.


Childhood friends Matt Damon and Ben Affleck collaborated on the Oscar-winning screenplay

for Good Will Hunting. Fierce tennis competitors Serena Williams and Car-oline Wozniacki like to get together for a gal-pal getaway after a major match. Country music artists Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood married following an 18-year friendship; “We had a lot more in common than I ever dreamed we did,” says Brooks. Rafts of research confirm how friendship enriches us. Carlin Flora, of New York City, spent years as a Psy-chology Today writer and editor before penning Friendfluence: The Surprising Ways Friends Make Us Who We Are. She notes that among the varied and perhaps unforeseen benefits, friend-ships can help us “shed pounds, sleep better, stop smoking and even survive a major illness.”

An ongoing, two-decade-plus study of nearly 1,500 seniors by the Flinders University Centre for Ageing Studies, in Australia, found those with a large network of friends outliving others with the fewest friends by 22 percent. The University of Chicago National Opinion Research Center also reports people with five or more close friends as 50 percent more likely to describe themselves as “very happy” than those maintaining fewer confidants. “Friends past and present play powerful and often unappreciated roles in determining our sense of self and the direction of our lives,” says Flora. “Even in a supposedly merito-cratic society, friends give jobs and assignments to each other, so having friends that share your career interests and aspirations can get you much farther than you could ever get on your own.”

Make New Friends, Keep the OldToday, making and keeping friends can be challenging, due to distance, frequent life changes, overprotective parenting and substituting social media for more intimate face time. It all makes friendship more fluid than we might realize, says Shasta Nelson, the San Francisco founder of GirlFriendCircles.com, a women’s friendship matching site and author of Friendships Don’t Just Happen: The Guide to Creating a Meaningful Circle of Girlfriends, plus the upcoming book, Frientimacy, about deepening such relationships. “Most of us replace half of our close friends every seven years,” says Nelson. Although this might seem alarming, she considers it a natural ebb and flow. “We all need a couple of very close friends, while others that come and go might just be what we currently need—at work or school, among first-time parents, in a new neighborhood, starting a job, in retirement or during some other life change,” she says. Canadian Greg Tjosvold, a married middle school teacher in Vancouver, Canada, has enjoyed great friendships with women, including his wife, partly because he doesn’t relate to men’s gen-erally competitive nature and interest in sports. But when a close female friend moved away, he wanted to expand his circle to include men. He joined a group called The Barley Brethren that sample craft beers and talk about life. Although not into suds, he values “having a safe and enjoyable place to discuss deep issues, victories and temporary setbacks.” He admits, “That’s over-simplification, though.” Finding a group of men he can feel a part of has validated him, making this unique man still feel like one of the guys. Nelson categorizes the concen-tric circles of developing friendship as starting with a mutually agreeable acquaintance or contact, and then mov-ing emotionally closer with someone that we find similarities with. Then the original bond can enter the confirmed friend category. A group of friends, like a longtime book club, can constitute a community. The highest level is the committed friend that has evolved into a trusted and valuable life companion.

THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP

It Sustains, Nourishes and Supports Us

by Judith Fertig

For a reason, a season or a lifetime, friends help us cope with challenges, motivate our best work and celebrate life. Friendships take many forms, crossing generations and self-imposed boundaries, and even spring up between unlikely confidants.


Sarah Huntsman Reed, a medical counselor in Kansas City, Missouri, has such a lifelong friend. She met Doug Reed, now a pharmacist, when both were in their high school musical, Once Upon a Mattress. Reed had a great sense of humor, Sarah remembers. “He’s still the most honest yet kindest person I’ve met,” she says. Soon, their mothers became friends, too, and the two teens would pair up for family weddings. Then she went to college and married and he moved away; yet they stayed in touch through mutual friends and their moms, catching up in person when he returned to his hometown. Seventeen years after they first met, by which time Sarah was divorced, the two discussed taking their friendship to the next level and soon married. “It was a big decision to commit, because we knew so much about each other,” she says. “But we prefer each other’s compa-ny, and it was the best thing we ever did.”

Safety NetIn trying times, friends can surround us with positive energy, says Madisyn Taylor, co-founder and editor-in-chief of the spiritual blog DailyOm, in Ashland, Oregon. “The people we love form a protective barrier that buffers and shields us from many of the world’s

more crippling blows,” including receiving hurtful slights from others. How we make friends has been altered by today’s social landscape, which includes working parents and Amber Alerts. The days of children freely roaming their neighborhood discovering friends to play with are, unfortunately, over, says Jennifer S. White, a Toledo, Ohio, blogger and author of The Art of Parenting: Love Letters from a Mother. “My long-term friendships from childhood were all built around being neighbors and playing together just because we wanted to,” recalls White. With today’s safety concerns and work-life challenges, parents now set up playdates, a more structured, less organic way of fostering childhood friendships, and they must be proac-tive to ensure success. White has some misgivings about this modern-day approach. “When I think about that one little gleaming seed of truth at the heart of why, it’s often because I don’t think it’s fair that I have to be a popular ‘playdate mom’ for my kid to have some friends.”

Besties and BuddiesAutomatic playdates—with siblings—of-ten enhance family ties through lifelong friendships. Sally Ekus is a culinary talent representative in Florence, Massachusetts. Her younger sister, Amelia, is the general manager of Twitter Cafe, in New York City, and lives in Brooklyn. Both foodies have knife-and-fork tattoos. Sally is more into meal ingredients and preparation, while Amelia loves pouring wine and making sure everyone is comfortable. “Together,” says Sally, “we create total hospitality, from lavish Passover seders to Friday nights with friends.” She notes that her sister is the only other person who understands what the world looks like through the Ekus girls’ perspective. Some adults might never meet face-to-face, but become friends via social media. American Jamie Schler, co-owner of the Hotel Diderot, in Chinon, France, with her native-born husband, says, “So-cial media [especially Facebook posts] is how I meet and make personal friends and keep in touch on a daily basis. As an expat, this is important because I often feel far from family and friends

Hallmarks of good friendship include

staying in touch and being consistently positive

and vulnerable, so as we reveal ourselves over time, we can be authentic

with each other.

How to Make Good Friends

by Shasta Nelson

Three Necessary IngredientsBoth friendship and romantic bonds are developed when three things occur: We feel satisfied, which hap-pens when an interaction has more positivity than negativity. We feel safe, which comes when we commit to consistent time with each other. We feel seen, which we experience when we practice revealing ourselves and expressing vulnerability. Here’s a formula for creating meaningful connections: Positivity + Consistency + Vulnerability = Frientimacy.

Two StepsIt usually takes most people six to eight interactions with someone new before they start feeling like friends. The sooner they schedule such occa-sions, the sooner the rewards.c Be open to making new friends.c Make the first move; repeat.

One RatioTo keep a friendship going, remember that it has to have a positivity-to-nega-tivity ratio of at least five-to-one. That means sharing five times more fun and feel-good moments than stressors that can range from disappointments and frustrations to jealousies. By defi-nition, to be and keep a good friend requires that both parties bring satisfy-ing positivity to the relationship.

Source: Adapted from Frientima-cy: How to Deepen Friendships for Lifelong Intimacy by Shasta Nelson; scheduled for release in March.


that understand me, share common interests and ideas and speak the same language—and I don’t necessarily mean English.” Her high-tech circle ranges from hometown pals to new friends in the food community and political forums. She raves, “It’s a place where I find them all at the same time!” Nelson remarks, “No one is saying Facebook should replace visits, nights out and phone calls, but in a world where most of us wish we felt closer to

a few more people, it doesn’t hurt to use every tool at our disposal for creat-ing connections.” Differences in age needn’t be a hurdle in forging friendships. Can-delaria Silva-Collins, an arts marketing professional in Boston, attended area social gatherings where she regularly encountered a museum director and his wife. “They seemed like a fantastic cou-ple,” she says, and began a friendship with the older woman, despite their being from different generations. “My friend teaches me a lot about being vital and vibrant,” she says.

Expanding CirclesBecoming friends with people of different ages, languages and social standing gives us a spiritual workout, advises Nelson. With a master’s degree in divinity, Nelson views friendship as a type of health club in which we develop our empathy, forgiveness and compassion muscles through practice. “Friendships are the way we become better people,” she says. Furthermore, the process, espe-cially with people unlike us, leads to a better world. “Being able to inherent-ly care for people we know makes it easier to do the same for people we’ve not met yet,” says Nelson. World peace happens one friend at a time.

Freelance writer Judith Fertig also blogs at AlfrescoFoodAndLifestyle.blogspot.com from Overland Park, KS.

Everyone from contemporary scientists to ancient philosophers

agrees that having strong social bonds is probably

the most meaningful contributor to happiness.

~Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project


Perhaps one of the most precious and powerful gifts we

give another person is to really listen to them with quiet, fascinated attention and our whole being; fully present. Deep listening occurs at the heart level, and we must ask ourselves how often we listen to each other so completely. Such listening is a creative force. We expand, ideas come to life and grow and we remember who we are. It brings forth our inner spirit, intelligence, or true self, and opens up the space for us to thrive. Sometimes we have to do a lot of listening before another’s inner being feels replenished. Some people just need to talk and go on and on, usually in a superficial, nervous manner. This often happens because they have not been truly listened to. Patience is required to be a listening presence for such a person long enough that they get to their center point of tranquility and peace. The re-sults of such listening are extraordinary. Some would call them miracles. Listening well takes time, skill and a readiness to slow down to afford time

DEEP LISTENINGOur Wholehearted Attention

Is Our Greatest Giftby Kay Lindahl

inspiration

for reflection and to let go of expectations, judgments, boredom, self-assertiveness and defensiveness. When

two people listen deeply to one another, we sense

that we are present not only to each other, but also to some-

thing beyond our individual selves; something spiritual, holy or sacred.

Once we experience the depth of being listened to like this, we naturally begin to listen to be present with another. We notice what occurs when we interrupt someone and when we don’t. We watch what unfolds when another stops speaking and we ask, “Is there anything else?” Listening is an art that calls for practice. Imagine if we all spent just a few minutes each day choosing to prac-tice the art of listening; of being fully present with the person we are with. Being truly listened to and understood yields a sigh of contentment and joy.

Kay Lindahl, of Long Beach, CA, is the author of The Sacred Art of Listening, from which this was adapted with per-mission from SkyLight Paths Publishing.

Effective Listening Practices

by Kay Lindahl

Pay attention to the environment. Stop other activities to listen. Clear your desk. Turn off background noise or move to a quiet corner.

Be present. Listen with an open, appre-ciative and curious mind rather than evaluating what’s being said. Put your own agenda aside.

Stop talking. One person speaks at a time without interruption.

Listen for understanding. No one is required to agree with or believe what they hear. Let empathy and compassion take the lead; put yourself in their shoes.

Ask for clarification. It can help a listen-er understand what’s being expressed.

Pause before speaking. Allow the speaker to complete their thought, and then wait a few seconds before responding. Also ask, “Is there anything else?” There almost always is.

Listen to yourself. Inquire of your inner voice, “What wants to be ex-pressed next?”

Signal that they’ve been heard. Encour-aging body language includes empa-thetic facial expressions, nodding and sympathetic postures.

Adapted from The Top Ten Powerful Listening Practices on the author’s website SacredListening.com.


The focus of functional medicine—whole person health care—easily expands to include dentists trained

in oral systemic health. Currently em-braced by a small percentage of today’s farsighted dentists and doctors, this relatively new field of prevention and wellness views the mouth as a key portal when considering the status of the whole body. Similar to the way doctors of Ori-ental medicine assess the heart’s pulse to help diagnose health issues throughout the body, these systemic health dentists consider the gums, tongue, teeth and throat to be key signals of overall health. American Academy for Oral Systemic Health (AAOSH) Executive Director Bobbie Delsasso was a peri-odontal hygienist for more than 30 years before becoming a consultant and public speaker on the larger perspective. “I taught patients about the importance of good nutrition and alerted them to consult their physician regarding what their mouth health might indicate about their body’s health,” she says. While the academy educates dental professionals to understand the internal workings of nutrition and what the mouth reveals about overall well-being, “Less than 6 percent of physicians even learn adequate basics of nutrition in medi-cal schools,” she notes.

Cardiovascular Health LinksBeyond nutrition, academy curricula for dentists now include such titles as Arte-riology and Vascular Inflammation – The Oral/Systemic Connection, based on a course designed for medical professionals by physician Bradley Bale and Amy Do-

YOUR MOUTH TELLS A STORYFunctional Dentistry Connects Oral

Health to Sleep Apnea and Heart Diseaseby Linda Sechrist

healingways

neen, an advanced registered nurse prac-titioner, co-founders of the Bale/Doneen Method for the prevention of heart attack, stroke and diabetes. Mike Milligan, a doctor of dental medicine, founder of Eastland Dental Center, in Bloomington, Illinois, and AAOSH president, explains that heart attack and stroke are triggered by an inflammatory process which can be initiated or exacerbated by periodon-tal disease and abscessed teeth. Thomas Nabors, a doctor of dental surgery and an authority in molecular analysis and genetic risk assessment for periodontal diseases, provides clinical proof that supports the growing associ-ation between medicine and dentistry. “Since our inaugural AAOSH con-ference [in 2010], Bradley, Amy

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and Tom have continued to provide the current science and clinical backdrop to the oral/systemic connection to car-diovascular wellness,” says Milligan.

Respiratory Health LinksOther vital advances in oral systemic health involve treating airway concerns such as snoring and sleep apnea. “Snor-ing is typically caused by muscles and tissues relaxing in the throat and mouth, resulting in decreased space in the airway passage and vibration of tissues. Eventu-ally, individuals can develop sleep apnea, which can also result in hypertension and other problems,” advises Milligan. In sleep apnea, the sleeper’s breath-ing pauses often or produces hypopnea, slowed or shallow breathing for 10 or more seconds at a time. Fewer than five episodes per hour is normal, with five to 15 considered mild apnea, 15 to 30 moderate and more than 30 severe. Although 20 percent of Ameri-cans may have sleep apnea—typically associated with insomnia, tiredness and less oxygen in the body—95 percent of affected individuals go undiagnosed. To help, Milligan suggests that before going to bed we lower the thermostat in the bedroom and avoid drinking alcohol, smoking, watching television or working on a computer. Improved breathing helps assuage snoring, sleep apnea, asthma, hay fever and nasal congestion. Milligan cites Patrick McKeown’s work, explained in his book The Oxygen Advantage. An authority on the Buteyko Breathing Method, McKeown explains how im-proved breathing dramatically improves oxygenation, releases more energy and supports lifelong health and well-being. Muscle retraining using orofacial myofunctional therapy can help prevent sleep apnea and also abate temporo-mandibular joint disorders. This new field is concerned with orofacial func-tional patterns and postures when teeth are apart, their status 95 percent of each day and night. It also retrains muscles to keep the tongue at the roof of the mouth and the lips together to prevent breathing through the mouth, correct swallowing function and eliminate poor oral habits such as thumb sucking. Three mechanical treatments for sleep apnea include mandibular ad-vancement oral devices used to move

the lower jaw forward, a continuous positive airway pressure machine to aid airway functioning, or surgery, which is the last resort. “The real opportunity for catching and preventing this is with children 5 to 10 years old, when their jaws are developing,” says Milligan. He further cites links discovered between the mouth and brain. “Oral spirochetes, which normally live in the mouth, have been found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. Dr. Judith Mik-lossy, from the International Association for Alzheimer’s, spoke at an AAOSH

conference about the link between oral bacteria and dementia, and Garth Ehrlich, Ph.D., professor of microbiol-ogy, immunology and otolaryngology at Drexel University College of Med-icine, addressed rheumatoid arthritis and certain types of cancers. All of these links are more than enough reasons why good oral hygiene is essential to good health,” says Milligan.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Connect at ItsAllAboutWe.com.

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Ancient Grains for Modern Palates

Gluten-Free and Eco-Friendly Grains Gain Favor

by Judith Fertig

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

Ancient grains are making a comeback. Grown since Neolithic times about 10,000

years ago, varieties of barley, corn, millet and rice have helped assuage the hunger of many communities. Today, yellow millet, dark red whole-grain sorghum, brown quinoa and exotic black rice can help alleviate food shortages. According to Harry Balzer, an ex-pert surveyor of food and diet trends with The NPD Group, concerns about grains and gluten have prompted about a third of Americans to try to cut back on both since 2012. About 1 percent of the population has celiac disease, estimates the Celiac Disease Foundation, but many more prefer not to eat gluten. Many ancient grains are naturally gluten-free, including amaranth, buckwheat, millet, quinoa, rice and teff.

“Some think that a grain-free way of eating is healthier and also better for the planet,” says food writer Maria Speck, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, author of Ancient Grains for Modern Meals and Simply Ancient Grains. “But that may be too simplistic, a characteristic of many diet trends.”

Better for Our HealthWhole grains fill us up and provide fiber, both necessary for maintaining optimum digestion and weight, says Kathleen Barnes, a widely published natural health expert in Brevard, North Carolina. Eating more whole grains has been previously associated with a lower risk of major diseases such as Type 2 diabe-tes and cardiovascular disease, based on studies by the University of Minnesota and Lund University, in Sweden. Qi Sun, assistant professor in the Harvard School

of Public Health department of nutrition, agrees that whole grains are one of the major healthful foods for prevention of major chronic diseases. He’s the lead author of a new Harvard study of data associating consumption of whole grains with a 9 percent reduction in overall mortality and up to 15 percent fewer cardiovascular fatalities during two 25-year-long research initiatives that fol-lowed 74,000 woman and 43,000 men. The researchers cited substituting whole grains for refined grains and red meat as likely contributors to longer life. “Whole grains are nutritional power-houses, packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, beneficial fiber and even some protein,” observes Speck. With a German father and a Greek mother, she grew up in two cultures where grains are a part of everyday meals. “We eat them because they taste good.”

Better for Local FarmersSourcing and eating more organic and GMO-free whole grains (absent mod-ified genetics) can help support local farmers, Speck maintains. Choose barley from Four Star Farms, in Massachu-setts; heirloom grits from Anson Mills, in South Carolina; quinoa from White Mountain Farm, in Colorado; or heir-loom Japanese rice from Koda Farms, in California.

Better for the PlanetAncient grains require fewer natural resources to plant, grow and harvest. According to the Water Footprint Net-work, a pound of beef, millet and rice require 1,851, 568 and 300 gallons of water, respectively, to produce. Substituting grains in diets is a sustainable alternative to meat, and they grow on grasslands that now inefficiently support livestock. According to Universi-ty of Cambridge Professor of Engineering David MacKay, it takes about 25 times more energy to produce one calorie of beef than one calorie of natural grain. Ancient grains can add variety and flavor to meals and a wealth of them are as close as the gluten-free aisle of a neighborhood grocery or health food store.

Judith Fertig blogs at AlfrescoFood AndLifestyle.blogspot.com from Overland Park, KS.


Favorite Ancient Grains

by Maria Speck

It’s best to cook up a batch of ancient grains ahead on the weekend for use

during a busy week. To inject more color and flavor, add a pinch of saffron to turn the cooking water golden, or cook the grains in pomegranate juice. Cooked grain keeps in the refrigerator for up to seven days, ready to enhance salads, soups, yogurt or desserts.

Amaranth. The seed head of pigweed, amaranth can be baked into a custard or added to a soup. Grown by the Aztecs, iron- and protein-rich amaranth can be popped raw in a skillet like popcorn, and then added as garnish to soups and salads.

Buckwheat. The seeds of a plant related to rhubarb and grown in northern climates, buckwheat can be ground into flour for savory French crepes or simmered whole in soup.

Quinoa. Grown at high altitudes, quinoa has become a popular addition to salads or yogurt, as well as its own side dish.

Millet. A tiny, drought-tolerant grain, millet can be added to bread dough for texture or cooked as a healthy breakfast with toasted almonds and cardamom.

Teff. From Ethiopia, the flour of this tiny grain is fermented and used to make the flatbread known as injera. Try a teff waffle with caramelized pineapple.

Source: Adapted from Simply Ancient Grains by Maria Speck.

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Cardamom-Infused Black Rice Porridge with Blueberries and Pistachios

Yields: 4 to 6 servings

Black Rice¾ cup black rice2 whole green cardamom pods1½ cups boiling purified water

Porridge1 cup half-and-half, plus more as needed3 Tbsp maple syrup, or more as needed¾ tsp ground cardamom1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries4 to 6 Tbsp pomegranate seeds, for garnish3 Tbsp lightly toasted chopped plain pistachios, for garnish

Start the rice the night before: Add the rice and cardamom pods to a large, heavy saucepan. Pour over the boiling water, cover and let sit at room

temperature or overnight (or chill, covered, for up to 2 days).

The next morning, make the porridge: Add 1 cup of half-and-half, the maple syrup and ground cardamom to the saucepan with the rice, cover and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

Uncover, decrease the heat to retain a lively simmer, and cook, stirring once occasionally, until the rice is tender with a slight chew, 5 to 7 minutes.

Remove the cardamom pods, if pre-ferred. Add the blueberries and simmer gently until they are warmed through, 1 to 2 minutes more.

To finish, add ¼ to ½ cup more half-and-half to reach a desired consistency. Taste for sweetness and adjust with more maple syrup if needed.

Divide between 4 to 6 breakfast bowls. Top each bowl with 1 tablespoon of pomegranate seeds and 1 teaspoon of chopped pistachios. Serve warm.

Greek Millet Saganaki with Shrimp and Ouzo

Millet1¼ cups purified water¾ cup millet 1 bay leafPinch of fine sea salt

Saganaki1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil1 cup finely chopped yellow onion (1 small)1 clove garlic, peeled and slightly crushed1 small hot green chili, minced (optional)¼ tsp fine sea salt2 Tbsp tomato paste1 (28-oz) BPA-free can whole tomatoes, crushed in a bowl¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper ½ cup green pimiento-stuffed olives, halved if large

4 oz coarsely crumbled Greek feta cheese (about 1 cup), preferably made from sheep’s milk

Shrimp1 lb jumbo shell-on shrimp from a reputable fishmonger, deveined and patted dry (or substitute firm tofu, cut into bite-sized pieces) Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 1/3 cup ouzo or other anise- flavored liqueur¼ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

To prepare the millet, bring the water, millet, bay leaf, and salt to a boil in a 2-quart saucepan.

Decrease the heat to maintain a sim-mer, cover and cook until the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes.

Remove from the heat and let sit covered for 5 to 10 minutes. Uncover, remove the bay leaf and set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, make the saganaki. Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or large, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat until it shimmers. Add the onion, garlic, chili and salt; cook, stir-ring frequently, until the onion softens and turns light golden, about 5 minutes.

Cooking with Ancient Grains

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Add the tomato paste and cook, stir-ring, until it darkens, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes with their juices and the pepper; bring to a boil over medi-um-high heat.

Decrease the heat to maintain a light boil and cook, uncovered, for 3 minutes.

Stir in the millet and green olives.

Taste for salt and pepper and adjust (keeping in mind that olives and feta cheese are typically salty).

Remove the pot from the heat, sprinkle with the feta and cover to allow the cheese to soften.

To prepare the shrimp (or tofu), season them with salt and pepper.

Heat the olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over high heat until it shimmers. Add the shrimp. Cook, undisturbed, until the shrimp or tofu pieces turn golden, 1 to 2 minutes, and then flip them with a spatula and cook until the shrimp are just opaque throughout or the tofu has warmed through, 1 to 2 more minutes, depending on the size.

Add the ouzo and cook until it’s syrupy, about 30 seconds. Using a spatula, briskly remove the shrimp from the pan and arrange on top of the millet.

Sprinkle with the parsley and serve at once.

All recipes adapted from Simply Ancient Grains or Ancient Grains for Modern Meals, by Maria Speck, courtesy of Ten Speed Press.


wisewords

Alyssa Milano’s Anti-Aging Secrets

Her Natural Lifestyle Choices Keep Her Youngby Gerry Strauss

Alyssa Milano has grown up, and most of us have grown up

with her. From her days as preteen tomboy Samantha Miceli on Who’s the Boss? to witchy woman Phoebe Halliwell on Charmed, the actress has been a vibrant, relatable and beautiful persona we’ve come to know via television. She was even named a UNICEF ambassador in 2004. Today, with a young family, her Touch licensed sports apparel line, and the wisdom that accompanies adult-hood, her commitment to a natural, eco-friendly lifestyle has become anoth-er hallmark of her life. What connection do you see between eating organic foods and maintaining the energy level that your busy life requires?I think everything that you put into your body has a connection to how well we function in daily life. As a mom of two, eating organic is a priority; when organ-ic is not an option, it’s about finding the healthiest accessible choices. I eat tomatoes like other people eat fruit and love papaya. I would put avocado on anything. I also like to cook with healthful herbs and spices like garlic and onions, which is natural for an Italian like me. We keep genetically modified foods out of our house. Which fitness habits embodied by others have you made your own?In my Who’s the Boss? days, Tony Danza and Judith Light were always active

and athletic. Tony would bring in a tap dance teacher and Judith a pri-vate trainer during lunch breaks. Being tutored on the set, I had no physi-cal education classes or sports activities, so it was super-important for me to see how self-motivated they were to stay fit and in shape. Their example

instilled a desire to take care of myself as an adult.

What role does nature play in your daily life?I love being outside in my organic garden three or more times a week. Also, the kids and I regularly head outside, which is an easy place to keep them happily and healthfully occupied without my having to jump through hoops.

As an advocate of breast-feeding, which benefits do you think are especially good for mother and child?In the beginning, a primary benefit is giving your child quality nourishment, including healthy antibodies and other goodies to support health. As they start eating solids, it’s still about maintaining that intimate connection until they’re ready to be weaned and you’re ready to surrender this last physical bond.

How do you balance family life with your acting career? It’s a hard balance for anyone, espe-cially one who’s detail-oriented and a bit of a perfectionist, like me. The most important thing is to be in the

moment, doing the best I can every day. I’ve also learned to be kind to myself when I’m failing to do so or something is annoying me due to some unfortunate imbalance.

How do you and your husband keep both your friendship and love vibrant? We work hard at maintaining a good and healthy marriage, which can be tested in tough times. I believe that it’s vital to have the ability to laugh; you have to find humor in things, reminding yourself and each other that there is something funny in every daily activity, no matter how mun-dane or hard. When there’s no time to eat together or be intimate, shared laughter is an easy thing to achieve together. Done daily, it can only make the marriage stronger. We enjoy date nights once or twice a week when my parents take care of the kids. I’ll put on mascara and change out of yoga pants, even if we’re just hanging out together. Then we do little things like asking how each other’s day went and caring about the answer. We also look for ways we can help each other through-out the week.

What actions does your family emphasize in being stewards of the Earth?We try to be as eco-friendly as possi-ble, including having lights on timers, conserving water and being kind to animals. I cannot stress how important it is to visit a farm and organic gardens and orchards with children so that they see where their food comes from. We can’t take good food for granted.

In addition to a naturally healthy lifestyle, what else do you credit for your enduring youthfulness?My secret is happiness. I’ve always said that as long as my laugh lines are deeper than my frown lines, I’m living a good life.

Gerry Strauss is a freelance writer in Hamilton, NJ. Connect at [email protected].


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calendarofeventsNote: All Calendar events must be received via email by February 10 for the March issue. $15/Event Calendar or $10/Ongoing Calendar listing. $25/PlanAhead Events, $99/MarkYourCalendar. Qualified, free, community-wide events are listed for free as space is available. Submit entries to [email protected]. Call 504-975-0344 for more information.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2Ideal Protein Weight Loss Program – 5:30pm. Dr Debbi Hannan presents: The Ideal Protein Weight Loss Program at Chiropractic Health Center. Free. 101 Clearview Pkwy at Airline Dr, New Orleans. 504-454-2000.

Deep Tissue Massage Clinic – 6:15 & 7:45pm. Also Feb 16. Help a student with their education at our student massage clinic. Deep Tissue is muscle specific and really works out the kinks. $30. Blue Cliff College, Clearview Mall, across from food court, Metairie. Info/appointment: 504-293-0972.

Spiritual Significance of Mardi Gras – 7pm. With Paul Martinez and Brenda Aranda. Carnival season has a long spiritual history that seems to have been nearly lost in the midst of all the parties and parades. This class will examine this rich history and discuss its relevance to our spiritual lives today. $10 suggested donation. Unity of Metairie, 3939 Veterans. 504-885-7575.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3Deep Tissue Massage Clinic – 12:45 & 2:15pm. Also Feb 5, 10, 17 & 19. Help a student with their education at our student massage clinic. Deep Tissue is a full body massage that really gets out the kinks. $30. Blue Cliff College, Clearview Mall, across from food court, Metairie. Info/appointment: 504-293-0972.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4Swedish Massage Clinic – 6:15 & 7:45pm. Also Feb 11. Help a student with their education at our student massage clinic. Swedish is good for overall relaxation and increased flexibility. $30. Blue Cliff College, Clearview Mall, across from food court, Metairie. Info/appointment: 504-293-0972.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7Carnival Celebration with Rev Christy Snow – 11am. A festive, fun and dynamic Sunday service featuring the powerful, inspiring music and message of Rev Christy Snow, dynamic speaker and master of Native American flute. Love offering. Unity of Metairie, 3939 Veterans. 504-885-7575.

Divine Breath Meditation – 6pm. Join Revs. Christy Snow and Jack Fowler for a special Taize Prayer Service; chanting, Native American Flute, inspired words and music designed to take you within to the sacred center of yourself. Become immersed in the Divine Breath of God and experience the part of you that is eternal, timeless and always connected to the Source of Life. Love Offering. Unity of Metairie, 3939 Vets, 504-885-7575.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12Exploring Body Intelligences and How We Heal – 9:30-11:30am. Join Donna Caire to explore our bodies’ amazing abilities to heal, nourish, cleanse and be our ally. Held monthly on 2nd Friday – take any or all –

each explores a different bodily system. February’s focus: kidneys and bladder. For women. $25/pay as able. Women’s Center for Healing & Transformation, 71667 Leveson St, Abita Springs. 985-892-8111 Wom-ensCenterForHealing.org.

Swedish Massage Clinic – 12:45 & 2:15pm. Also Feb 26. Help a student with their education at our student massage clinic. Swedish is good for overall relaxation and increased flexibility. $30. Blue Cliff College, Clearview Mall, across from food court, Metairie. Info/appointment: 504-293-0972.

Messages from Spirit – Shelly Wilson, author, Spiri-tual Growth Coach and Medium will present a message gallery on Feb 12 and teach two classes on Feb 13. $85 for all three if purchased in advance. Metaphysical Resource Center, 1708 Lake Ave, Metairie. Info: 504-708-8353 or MetaphysicalResourceCenter.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13Gardening in Tight Spaces – 9am, gates open; noon, workshop. Patios, small yards and other tight spaces can be made into attractive green spaces. Learn how with Emily Mickley Doyle, the lead gar-dener with the ReFresh Project. Parkway Partners, 1137 Baronne St, New Orleans. 504-620-2224. ParkwayPartnersNOLA.org.

Saturday Morning Massage Clinic – 9:15 & 10:45am. Help a student with their education at the Student Mas-sage Clinic. Feb 13: Deep Tissue; Feb 21: Swedish; Feb 27: Neuromuscular Therapy. $30. Blue Cliff College, Clearview Mall, across from food court, Metairie. Info/appointment: 504-293-0972.

Quantum Healing Hypnosis Technique (QHHT) – 10am-noon. With Julie Flores. For women: Presen-tation on Past Life Regression Therapy and Healing, QHHT as taught by Dolores Cannon. Connecting with the higher self to explore your personal connection to your soul group and spirit guides. $20/pay as able. Women’s Center for Healing & Transformation, 71667 Leveson St, Abita Springs. 985-892-8111. WomensCenterForHealing.org.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14Journey Into Consciousness Workshop – 1pm. Author/intuitive Shelly Wilson offers her perception and interpretation of what has assisted her powerful spiritual journey into consciousness. Messages from angels, spirit guides and loved ones in spirit will also be shared. $15 suggested donation. Unity of Metairie, 3939 Veterans. 504-885-7575.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16Ideal Protein Weight Loss Program – 5:30pm. Dr Debbi Hannan presents: The Ideal Protein Weight Loss Program at Chiropractic Health Center. Free. 101 Clear-view Pkwy at Airline Dr, New Orleans. 504-454-2000.

Throat Chakra Class – 7pm. With Paul Martinez and Brenda Aranda. Examine, reflect on, and work with the throat chakra, the voice of the body that allows expres-sion. If out of balance, health and well-being are affected. When in balance, our personal truth can be expressed into the world. Wear something blue. $10 suggested donation. Unity of Metairie, 3939 Veterans. 504-885-7575.

C. G. Jung Society Presents: An Evening with Guest Artist Candy Chang – 7:30pm. Hosted by Jungian An-alyst Constance Romero. Chang will discuss the healing power of interactive public art and communal space. Look for her TED Talk. $15, $10/students, members/free. Parker UMC, 1130 Nashville, New Orleans. Jungneworleans.org.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17Foundations Of Yoga Course – 7:45-9:15pm. Four-week course with Lauren Sloan. $60. Wild Lotus Yoga Uptown, 4842 Perrier St, New Orleans. 504-899-0047. WildLotusYoga.com.

Deep Theta Meditation Deep Theta Meditation along with instructional videos, journeying within, use of sound frequen-cies. Sessions are always different, tapping into

different meditation and reflection practices

February 3, 10 & 17 6:30-8:30pm

Southshore location: Journey into Wellness,

3939 Houma Blvd, Bldg 3, Ste 15, Metairie

February 15 • 6:30-8:30pmNorthshore location: The Healing House,

1101 Village Walk, Covington

$15/energy exchange 504-931-6494

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18Practices In Self-Care Course – 7:30-9pm. Four-week course with Farah Gokturk. Learn short, simple, proven self-care techniques to integrate into your daily routine. $90. Limited to 10 people. Wild Lotus Yoga Uptown, 4842 Perrier St, New Orleans. 504-899-0047. WildLotusYoga.com.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19Women’s Full Moon Drum Circle – 7-8:30pm. Celebrate the energy of the full moon. Find your own natural rhythm. Monthly drum circle for adult women and teen girls. No experience needed. Bring your own drum or rattle - or share ours. An alcohol free event; donations appreciated. Women’s Center for Healing & Transformation, 71667 Leveson St, Abita Springs. 985-892-8111. WomensCenterForHealing.org.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20Reiki I and II – Feb 20-21. 10am-5pm. With Reiki Master and Instructor Sunny Robichaux. Learn this light touch technique which uses practitioner’s energy flow for health and healing. Techniques for working on self and clients. 12 CEUs for LMTs. Blue Cliff College, Clearview Mall, across from food court, Metairie. Info/register: 504-352-0039.

Psychic Fair – Noon-6pm. Mediums, psychics, healers, astrologer, aura photos, crystals, essential oils, jewelry and more. Free admission. Metaphysical Resource Center, 1708 Lake Ave, Metairie. Info: 504-708-8353 or MetaphysicalResourceCenter.com.

Conscious Connected Breathing Workshop – 2:30-5pm. With Jack Fontana. Relieve stress, fear and anxiety naturally. $54. Wild Lotus Yoga Uptown, 4842 Perrier St, New Orleans. 504-899-0047. WildLotusYoga.com.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22Parenting Workshop – 6-7:30pm. A breakthrough parent-ing workshop hosted by Pediatrician Dr Lisa Defusco and Holistic Health Coach Matthew Ancira. Combining mind-fulness, awareness and practical parenting knowledge will allow for reduced stress, more meaningful family relation-ships and mindful interactions within the family dynamic. $75/person or $125/couple. Location TBD. Info/register: MatthewAncira.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23Ideal Protein Weight Loss Program – 5:30pm. Dr Debbi Hannan presents: The Ideal Protein Weight Loss Program at Chiropractic Health Center. Free. 101 Clear-view Pkwy at Airline Dr, New Orleans. 504-454-2000.

Living the Unity Principles – 7pm. These powerful principles are simple to talk about yet can be challeng-ing to fulfill in our daily experience. Join our open discussion on these timeless truths and how to imple-ment them in your life. $5 suggested donation. Unity of Metairie, 3939 Veterans. 504-885-7575.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25Family Yoga Workshop: One Mind, One Body, One Family Equals Love – 4-5:15pm. With Charlotte Mabry. Parents and kids ages 6-10. $20/per family. Wild Lotus Yoga Uptown, 4842 Perrier St, New Orleans. 504-899-0047. WildLotusYoga.com.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26Spiritual Cinema: Songcatcher – 7pm. A powerful film about a woman whose drive to pursue the things she believes in leads her on an unexpected path to self-discovery in 1907. Frustrated and determined to get academic recognition, a musicologist heads to Ap-palachia with a recording device and writing materials. PG-13; adult themes. $5 suggested donation. Unity of Metairie, 3939 Veterans. 504-885-7575.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27Basics of Ortho-Bionomy – Feb 27-28. 10am-5pm. Focus on Extremities with registered instructor of Ortho-Bionomy, Peggy Scott. Improve posture, flexibility and balance; re-duce pain. Energetically based positional release techniques for working with shoulders, hips, knees, elbows, hands and feet. Blue Cliff College, Clearview Mall, across from food court, Metairie. Info/registration: 504-352-0039.

Psychic Fair – Noon-6pm. Mediums, psychics, healers, astrologer, aura photos, crystals, essential oils, jewelry and more. Free admission. Metaphysical Resource Center, 1708 Lake Ave, Metairie. Info: 504-708-8353 or MetaphysicalResourceCenter.com.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28Mindfulness for Kids – 11-11:30am (4-7yr olds) & 11:45am-12:30pm (8-12 yr olds). Whitney Stewart will present two mindfulness meditation classes for children, based on her book Meditation is an Open Sky. Free. Tibetan House, 4900 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans. 504-897-9339. TibetanHouse.com.

Integrative Breathwork Journey – 2-7:30pm. With Patricia Stout, LCSW, Certified Breathwork Facilitator. For women: A transformative musical trance journey. Allows safe access to altered states of awareness, beyond ego-mind realm. Experience shift in deep unconscious thought and behavior patterns. $45/pay as able. Women’s Center for Healing & Transforma-tion, 71667 Leveson St, Abita Springs. 985-892-8111. WomensCenterForHealing.org.


sundaySunday Morning Meditation – 9am. Join Mike Wittenbrink as he leads a group meditation designed to bring you silence and stillness as you embrace the new week. Unity Temple of New Orleans, 3722 St Charles Ave, New Orleans. 504-899-3390. UnityTempleNewOrleans.com.A Course in Miracles – 10am. A discussion of an in-depth study of the principle ideas of the text by the same name. Unity Temple of New Orleans, 3722 St Charles Ave, New Orleans. 504-899-3390. UnityTempleNewOrleans.com.Science of Being – 10am. Text by Baron Eugene Fersen. As humans enlightened their bodies, minds, and spirits in the physical world with the pure knowledge of the flame of inspiration and love, more would be revealed to mankind through the "all" knowing that resides with their absolute soul. Unity Temple of New Orleans, 3722 St Charles Ave, New Orleans. 504-899-3390. UnityTempleNewOrleans.com.Sunday Celebration Service – 11am. With Jack Fowler, Spiritual Director. Contemporary service with music and heartfelt talks to celebrate the divine presence in all of life. Love offering. Unity of Metairie, 3939 Veterans Blvd, Metairie. 504-885-7575. UnityOfMetairie.com.Unity of New Orleans Sunday Service – 11am. A loving family of spiritual seekers who honor all paths to God. Unity Temple of New Orleans, 3722 St Charles Ave, New Orleans. 504-899-3390. UnityTempleNewOrleans.com.A Course in Miracles – 1pm. Healing Center, 2372 St Claude Ave, New Orleans. Malcolm Fugler: 504-220-3223.Weekend Recovery – 2pm. Vinyasa flow class with breathing emphasis releases toxins and balances your senses. Transform NOLA, 8422 Oak St, New Orleans. 985-640-2648.

mondayAerial Yoga – 9-10am & 6:15-7:15pm. $25. Bliss Body NOLA, 5717 Crawford St, Harahan. 504-262-8860. BlissBodyNola.com.TRXpress – 8:30am. And Wed &rdquoz??? All core, all the time fitness class works the body as a whole. Trans-form NOLA, 8422 Oak St, New Orleans. 985-640-2648.

Beginner Children’s Karate Class – 5-5:45pm. Build self confidence, self discipline. 8132 Willow St, New Orleans. Info: Sensei King Lam: 504-866-2241.Stronger, Leaner, Longer – 5:30pm. Pilates-based strength class builds muscle and tones. Group screen-ing required. Transform NOLA, 8422 Oak St, New Orleans. 985-640-2648.

Beginner Adult Karate Class – 6-6:50pm. Learn person-al safety, self confidence, keep physically fit. 8132 Willow St, New Orleans. Info: Sensei King Lam: 504-866-2241.

Basic/Beginners Aikido Class – 6:15-7:15pm. Bene-fits include self-defense, flexibility, strength, balance, stress reduction, concentration, community and fun. First class free. NOLA Aikido, 3909 Bienville St, Ste 103 in Mid-City, New Orleans. 504-208-4861. [email protected].

Introduction to Nichiren Buddhism – 7-8:15pm. Learn how to activate your greatest potential, increase compassion and achieve absolute happiness. Free. SGI-USA Buddhist Center, 1331 Prytania St, New Orleans. 504-310-2011.

tuesdayStrong and Flexy Yoga – 8:30am. And Thurs. Expect an energizing, well-rounded flow that strengthens, lengthens and relaxes. Transform NOLA, 8204 Oak St, New Orleans. 985-640-2648.

Classical Tai Chi Yang Style – 8:30-9:30am. With Sifu Tommy. Long form and rolling techniques based on classical Tai chi yang style. All levels. $100/month; unlimited classes. 31 5th St, Gretna. 985-630-2859.

Crescent City Farmers’ Market/Uptown – 9am-1pm. Open-air market with fresh, locally grown fruits, vege-tables, seafood, baked breads and pies, bedding plants, dairy products and freshly cut flowers. 200 Broadway St, parking lot of Uptown Square, New Orleans. 504-861-4488. CrescentCityFarmersMarket.org.

Qigong/Dao-In – Noon-12:45pm. With Debra How-ard. Qigong translates as qi (cultivation through skillful practice); dao-in is self-care. Experience myriad ways to balance one’s qi and life. Bring a mat. $5/class. New Orleans Healing Center, 372 St Claude Ave, 4th Fl, New Orleans. 985-467-0900. [email protected].

Yee Chuen Do – 5-7pm. With Sifu Tommy. A self-de-fense system based on classical tai chi. All levels.

ongoingeventsplan ahead

Natural Awakenings Magazine 504-975-0344

Advertise on our website! NALAmag.com

Blue Cliff CollegeMassage Dept.

Continuing EducationCEUs for LMTs

BCC Clearview Mall, Metairie504-293-0972

[email protected]

markyourcalendar

March 5 & 6Healing Touch: Level I

Mary Frost, RN, HTI

March 5 & 6Massage Cupping IntroAnnie Garic, ACE Educator

March 5-7Massage Cupping Certification

Annie Garic, ACE Educator

March 12 & 13Hot Stone MassageDerrie Bergeron, LMT

March 19 & 20Series of Shiatsu Series

Spring- RenewalCarlene Banister, AOBTA

How wonderful it is that nobody

needs to wait a single moment before starting

to improve the world.~Anne Frank


Qigong translates as qi (cultivation through skillful practice); dao-in is self-care. Experience myriad ways to balance one’s qi and life. Bring a mat. $5/class. New Orleans Healing Center, 2372 St Claude Ave, 4th Fl. 985-467-0900. [email protected] City Farmers’ Market/Mid-City – 3-7pm. Rain or shine. Farmers’ Market, American Can Co Bldg, 3700 Orleans Ave, New Orleans.Women’s Choir Experience – 5-6:30pm. With Sarah Lessire and Patricia Stout. Vocal meditations, intention-al songs and sound/movement improvisations. Women and girls 13 and up, no experience needed. Monthly $15-$20 donation. Women’s Center for Healing & Transformation, 71667 Leveson St, Abita Springs. 985-892-8111. WomensCenterForHealing.org.

Yee Chuen Do – 5-7pm. With Sifu Tommy. Self-de-fense system based on classical Tai chi. All levels. $100/month; unlimited classes. 31 5th St, Gretna. 985-630-2859.Oneness Meditation – 6-7pm. Learn this calming meditation technique for health and happiness. Free. 3900 General Taylor St, New Orleans. 504-249-5130.A Course in Miracles – 7pm. St Tammany Parish Hospital, 1202 S Tyler St, Covington. Malcolm Fugler: 504-220-3223.Handstand and Flexibility Training – 7:15pm. Gives everyone the support, time and repetition to build con-fi dence upside down. Transform NOLA, 8422 Oak St, New Orleans. 985-640-2648.

Tai Chi and Qigong – 7:30-8:30pm. With Marilyn Yank. Nine beautiful movements from traditional yang style. Classes include gentle stretches, deep breathing exercises, and meditation. All levels. $12/drop-in, $40/4 classes. NOLA Aikido, 3909 Bienville, New Orleans. 504-610-3672.

fridayMeditation Class – 10-11am. Build your daily prac-tice. Beginners welcome. $10/drop-in or $30/30-day. Tibetan House, 4900 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans. TibetanHouse.com.Yee Chuen Do – 5-7pm. With Sifu Tommy. Self-de-fense system based on classical Tai chi. All levels. $100/month; unlimited classes. 31 5th St, Gretna. 985-630-2859.Meditation and Restorative Yoga – 6:15pm. Sitting meditation, then restorative yoga practice to release tension. Transform NOLA, 8422 Oak St, New Orleans. 985-640-2648.

German Coast Farmers’ Market/West Bank – 2:30-6pm. Open-air market offering fresh produce, rotisserie and fresh meats, fresh pastries/breads, sausage, kettle corn, cracklings, prepared foods, soy candles, goat milk soap and lotions. Arts and crafts fourth Wed. St Charles Plaza Shopping Center, 12715 Highway 90, Luling. GermanCoastFarmersMarket.org.Beginner Children’s Karate Class – 5-5:45pm. Build self confi dence, self discipline. 8132 Willow St, New Orleans. Info: Sensei King Lam: 504-866-2241.Embrace the Emptiness-Community Medita-tion – 6pm. With Jack Fowler, Spiritual Director. Ride the wavelengths of music, beautiful images and affi rmative prayer into the sacred inner self for healing and transformation. Love offering. Unity of Metairie, 3939 Veterans Blvd, Metairie. 504-885-7575. UnityOfMetairie.com.Basic/Beginners Aikido Class – 6:15-7:15pm. Bene-fi ts include self-defense, fl exibility, strength, balance, stress reduction, concentration, community and fun. First class free. NOLA Aikido, 3909 Bienville St, Ste 103, in Mid-City, New Orleans. [email protected] Course in Miracles – 6:30pm. Facilitated by Mary Beth Ellis. Unity Temple of New Orleans, 3722 St Charles Ave, New Orleans. 504-899-3390. UnityTempleNewOrleans.com.A Course In Miracles: Disappearance of the Universe– 7pm. Join Jack Fowler, Spiritual Director at Unity of Metairie, on a journey into mind blowing yet liberating spiritual concepts, which guides one to see the world through the eyes of love instead of fear. Love Offering. Unity of Metairie, 3939 Veterans Blvd, Metairie (behind Parran's PoBoys). 504-885-7575.Beginner Tai Chi Class – 7-8pm. Reduce stress, bal-ance, mind and body. 8132 Willow St, New Orleans. Info: Sensei King Lam: 504-866-2241.Discovering Tibetan Buddhism Class – 7-8pm. $10/drop-in or $30/30-day. Tibetan House, 4900 Tchoupi-toulas St, New Orleans. TibetanHouse.com.Qigong – 7-8:00pm. $17. Bliss Body NOLA, 5717 Craw-ford St, Harahan. 504-262-8860. BlissBodyNola.com.

thursdayClassical Tai Chi Yang Style – 8:30-9:30am. With Sifu Tommy. Long form and rolling techniques based on classical Tai chi yang style. All levels. $100/month; unlimited classes. 31 5th St, Gretna. 985-630-2859.Qigong/Dao-In – Noon-12:45pm. With Debra Howard.

$100/month; unlimited classes. 31 5th St, Gretna. 985-630-2859.Okinawan Karate Weapons Class – 6-7 pm. 8132 Willow St, New Orleans. Info: Sensei King Lam: 504-866-2241.Key to Ultimate Success – 6:30pm. Mike Witten-brink talks on how Powerpath Letters are the secret to ultimate success, to obtaining success of body, mind, heart and soul. Unity Temple of New Orleans, 3722 St Charles Ave, New Orleans. 504-899-3390. UnityTempleNewOrleans.com.Meditation Class. 7-8pm. Build your daily practice. Beginners welcome. $10/drop-in or $30/30-day. Ti-betan House: 4900 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans. TibetanHouse.com.Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Class – 7-8pm. Last Tue of the month. Learn EFT, or “tapping”, a gentle, self-administered acupressure technique for diminishing or clearing physical and/or emotional pain. Affordable Healing Arts in the NOHC, 2372 St Claude Ave, Ste 220, New Orleans. RSVP: Gail Gillespie: 504-442-8762.

wednesdayMeditation Class – 9-10am. Build your daily prac-tice. Beginners welcome. $10/drop-in or $30/30-day. Tibetan House, 4900 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans. TibetanHouse.com.Tai Chi and Qigong – 10:50-11:50am. With Marilyn Yank. Nine beautiful movements from traditional yang style. Classes include gentle stretches, deep breathing exercises, and meditation. All levels. $12/drop-in, $40/4 classes. NOLA Aikido, 3909 Bienville, New Orleans. 504-610-3672.

Prayer and Healing – 11am. Facilitated by Har-riet Stafford. Unity Temple of New Orleans, 3722 St Charles Ave, New Orleans. 504-899-3390. UnityTempleNewOrleans.com.Essential Oils 101 – Noon-1pm. Learn the ba-sics of essential oils and how to live a cleaner, natural life. Free. Light lunch provided. NOLA Float Tanks, 3013 20th St, Metairie. RSVP: 504-975-0344 or [email protected]. YoungLavenderBuds.com.Crescent City Farmers’ Market/French Quarter– 2-6pm. Fresh produce, pastured meats, sea-food, dairy, breads and baked goods. Live music. 1235 N Peters St, New Orleans. 504-861-4488. CrescentCityFarmersMarket.org.

Vitality Holistics

TAYLOR TIDWELL

THAI YOGA MASSAGEINTEGRATIVE TABLE MASSAGE

NEW ORLEANS | 504.390.6257

WWW.VITALITYHOLISTICS.NET #LA8103

LLC.


DENTISTCYPRESS DENTAL, INC.3138 McIlhenny Dr. Baton Rouge, LA 70809225-248-8400

Offering services including cosmetic dentistry, full-mouth rehabilitation, minimally invasive dentistry, mercury safe environment, non-titanium implants, laser dentistry and treatment for complex conditions; obstructive sleep apnea, snoring, head, neck and

facial pain and TMJ dysfunction. See ad on page 2.

MIKE ROBICHAUX, DDS1101 Robert Blvd., Ste. A, Slidell985-641-8058MikeRobichauxDDS.comA Holistic Approach To Dentistry

Mike Robichaux, DDS

We help people move toward wellness.

We are aggressively conservative and practice

minimally-invasive dentistry.

www.mikerobichauxdds.com 985-641-8058

1101 Robert Blvd., Ste ASlidell, La 70458

If you are a person who…• placesahighvalueonyouroralhealth,• believesthatthehealthofthemouthisintimatelyrelatedtothehealthofthewholebody,

• islookingforadentalpracticethatlistenstoyouwithoutjudgmentandwillhelpyougetwhatisimportanttoyou,

• understandsthatexcellenceisachoicethatismadeeachday,

then maybe we are a fit for you!

Offering a holistic and patient-centered approach to dentistry, because we believe the health of the mouth and overall health cannot be separated. We help those we serve make decisions that are in their best interests, based on their values and goals, by providing

state-of-the-art information within a trusting relationship. See ad on page 12.

EDUCATIONBLUE CLIFF COLLEGEClearview Mall, Metairie504-293-0972

Train for an exciting, new career as a Licensed Massage Therapist. Earn an Assoc ia tes degree upon completion of advanced massage training. Inquire about fi nancial aid. See calendar for information about

our $30-student massage clinic. Visit our retail shop for massage supplies: Biotone & Therapro Cremes & Oils, aromatherapy products, books & more. Monthly specials! See ad, page 19.

ESSENTIAL OILSYOUNG LAVENDER BUDSCoco Kunstman Independent Distributor Young Living #1491684504-344-7320 [email protected]

Learn the basics of essential oils and how to live a clean and natural life. This is your first step towards a chemical free and healthy lifestyle. Learn the basics and set yourself on a path to healthy living. All classes are always free. See our class schedule in

the calendar section. See ad, page 5.

ACUPUNCTUREFAMILY ACUPUNCTURE & WELLNESSErin Kenning, MSOM, Dipl.OM, LAc,LA Lic.# ACA.200039, NAET specialist9531 Jefferson Hwy., River Ridge504-715-2317NolaFamilyWellness.com

Have Allergies been getting the best of you? Are you tired, congested and ready to be over it? We can help! Call today for a free 15-minute consultation. See ad on page 24.

AARON J. FRIEDMAN, M.D.Integrated Pain and Neuroscience504-300-9020PainIsAPuzzle.com

Dr. Fr iedman offers medical acupuncture as part of a comprehensive and integrative approach to pain. Acupuncture is proven to be benefi cial to many pain conditions, including fi bromyalgia, headaches, low back pain and arthritis.

ANIMAL HOLISTIC MEDICINE

JANICE E. POSEY, DVM315 Lee Ln., Ste. 104, Covington985-898-3623

Offering a holistic, integrative approach to healing your beloved pet th rough acupunc ture , he rba l medicine/nutritional supplements, and food therapy. We treat the patient, not the symptoms. See ad on page 8.

CHIROPRACTICCHIROPRACTIC HEALTH CENTER & HOLISTIC WELLNESS SERVICESDr. Debbi Hannan101 Clearview Pkwy. at Airline, Metairie504-454-2000HannanWellness.com

Experience the difference! We offer total wellness care: Chiropractic, d e t o x i f i c a t i o n , n u t r i t i o n , endermologie, DRX-9000 non-surgical spinal decompression, cold laser, EB-Cellular Cleanser, Far Infra Red Sauna and the Ideal Protein Diet plan. See ad page 7.

localdirectoryConnecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email [email protected] to request our media kit. Call 504-975-0344 for more information.

saturdayVietnamese Farmers’ Market – 6-9am. More than 20 vendors set up shop on blankets spread with produce; beyond the courtyards are shops selling Vietnamese baked goods and imported groceries. 14401 Alcee Fortier Blvd, New Orleans East. GoGreenNola.org/farmersmarkets.Camellia City Farmers’ Market – 8am-noon. Fea-turing baked goods, herbs, vegetables, honey, jams, poultry, crafts, fl owers, eggs, plants, soap and trees. 333 Erlanger, Griffi th Park, Slidell. 985-640-7112. CamelliaCityMarket.org.Covington Farmers’ Market – 8am-noon. Offering fresh produce, fresh baked breads, prepared foods and plants. Covington City Hall, 609 N Columbia St, Covington. 985-966-1786. CovingtonFarmersMarket.org.Crescent City Farmers’ Market/Downtown – 8am-noon. Open-air market offering fresh locally grown fruits, vegetables, seafood, baked breads and freshly made pies, bedding plants, dairy products and fresh fl owers. Cooking demos by local chefs. 700 Maga-zine, corner of Girod, New Orleans. 504-861-4488. CrescentCityFarmersMarket.org.German Coast Farmers’ Market/East Bank – 8am-noon. Open-air market offering fresh produce, rotisserie meats, fresh meats, fresh pastries/breads, sausages, kettle corn, cracklins, prepared foods, soy candles, goat milk soap and lotions. Arts and crafts second Sat. Ormond Plantation, 13786 River Rd, Destrehan. 985-359-0190. GermanCoastFarmersMarket.org.Gretna Farmers’ Market – 8:30am-12:30pm. Featuring fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, baked goods, dairy, native fruit wines and garden plants. Located in the old train depot, 300 Huey P Long Ave, between 3rd St & 4th St, Gretna. 504-362-8661. GretnaFarmersMarket.com.Westwego Farmers’ and Fisheries Market – 8:30am-12:30pm. Open year round, rain or shine. Featuring fresh produce, seafood, bakery items, dairy, plants, prepared foods and handcrafted items. Plus live music and kids activities. Free parking. 484 Sala Ave, corner of 4th St, Westwego. 504-341-3424 Ext 209.Mandeville Trailhead Community Market – 9am-1pm. Fifty-plus vendors weekly: gourmet foods, art, produce and plants. Tai chi at 9:30am. Parking lot of the Mandeville Trailhead on the St Tammany Trace, off LA59, Mandeville. 985-845-4515.Complimentary Yoga Lessons – 10am. Our gift to you. Join instructor Patrick Somers to set the intentions of health, balance, joy and well being for 2016. Unity of Metairie, 3939 Veterans Blvd, Metairie (behind Parran's PoBoys). 504-885-7575. Sitting Meditation Group – 10-11am. Practice zazen (sitting meditation) as well as walking meditation. Instruction and discussion also available. 3909 Bien-ville St, Ste 103, in Mid-City, New Orleans. Brian: [email protected]. 504-644-7351.Yoga and Guided Meditation –10-11:30am. Yoga nidra with Katrina Zech. Experience pure rejuvenation and deep relaxation through movement, breath and mindfulness practice. $15 donation. Unity Temple of New Orleans, 3722 St Charles Ave, New Orleans. UnityTempleNewOrleans.com.Yee Chuen Do – 12:30-2pm. With Sifu Tommy. Self-de-fense system based on classical Tai chi. All levels. $100/month; unlimited classes. 31 5th St, Gretna. 985-630-2859.


THE WELLNESS CENTRE OF BR DR. KARIN NIELSEN, ND, CCT1528 Delplaza Dr, Ste B, Baton Rouge225-229-6107 WellnessCentreBR.com

Offering full body thermography; detects abnormalities in the earliest stages, to fi nd underlying causes of disease as it looks at the entire body’s behavior after being stressed. Consultations/follow-up care is offered as well. See ad, page 6.

WOMEN’S CENTER FOR HEALING & TRANSFORMATION71667 Leveson St., Abita Springs985-892-8111WomensCenterForHealing.org

Beautiful nonprofit center for women’s spir i tual i ty, eco-psychology and community building. Workshops, speakers, events, healing circles, support groups, and on-site professional

mind/body/spirit services, for women, by women. Rent space for your workshop or offi ce. See ad, page 13.

HOLISTIC PRACTICESANAYA AKIMWild n’ Divine HealingEmpowerment Healing318-232-2093WildNDivineHealin.g.com

Are you ready to welcome happiness back into your life? Using Kundalini Reiki, Intuitive Coaching, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and more, you will be guided to empowerment. I welcome you to embark on an adventure of self-love and manifesting the life you deserve!

THE ENERGY EXCHANGEMarlene Chaplin3940 Monroe St, Mandeville985-778-0299 • [email protected]

Return to yourself by experiencing heart centered healing through Reiki, Healing Touch, Chakra Balancing, Intuitive Coaching, The Art of Emotional Freedom and more. Take a trip of self-love returning home. Offering sessions and classes.

MATTHEW ANCIRA - MATTEO Corporate & School District Mindfulness Trainer/Holistic Health Coach 504-457-1717 • MatthewAncira.com Higher Purpose Healing L3c

Corporate and school mindfulness sessions bring increased productivity, better attendance and overall employee health and satisfaction. Awakens the potential in every individual increasing the strength and effectiveness in the organization. Holistic health coaching for

individuals provides freedom from depression, anxiety, chronic pain and helps individuals and couples to realize their gifts and full potential.

KARATE/TAI CHI/QI GONGGrandmaster King Lam8132 Willow St, Uptown New [email protected]

Asian Arts to improve health, fi tness, personal safety and rejuvenate energy. Achieve a better mind, body and spirit. Serving the New Orleans community for 46 years. See ad, page 5 and calendar for classes.

TAI CHI-GRAND MASTERSifu Tommy31 5th St. Gretna, LA985-630-2859

All levels welcome. $100/month unlimited classes (at 6 classes/week, that’s up to 24 classes a month or just over $4 apiece). See calendar for classes.

GREEN LIVINGSOUTH COAST SOLAR 2605 Ridgelake Dr, Metairie504-529-SUN9SouthCoastSolar.com

Since 2007, South Coast Solar has helped more than 500 clients start saving money with solar energy using best-in-class products and installation practices. 100 percent locally owned and operated. See ad, page [??].

HOLISTIC HEALING CENTERS

AFFORDABLE HEALING ARTS 2372 St. Claude Ave. 2nd Floor Upper, Ste. 220985-467-0900AffordableHealingArts.com

AHA! is a Community of Healing Arts Practitioners in a Healing Arts Center for the Professional Practice of Alternative, Complementary, Integrative, and Indigenous healing arts by independent practitioners in

a shared space environment. See our website, contact a practitioner, make your appointment today! See ad, page 16.

NOLA FLOAT TANKSFlotation Therapy504-352-6418NOLAFloatTanks.com

F l o t a t i o n t h e r a p y i s a b r e a k t h r o u g h t r e a t m e n t involving 800 lbs of Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) poured into 200 gallons of water in a small shallow pool. The benefi ts of just a one-hour session are

significant as they relieve stress, reduce blood pressure, ease joint and muscle pain and enhance one’s mood. See ad, page 28.

YOUNG LAVENDER BUDSMelissa Burbank Independent Distributor Young Living #2946391504-975-0344 [email protected] YoungLavenderBuds.com

Learn the basics of essential oils and how to live a clean and natural life.This is your first step towards a chemical free and healthy lifestyle. Learn the basics and set yourself on a path to healthy living. All classes are always free. See our class schedule in

the calendar section. See ad, page 5.

YOUNG LAVENDER BUDSDenise Woltering-VargasIndependent Distributor Young Living # 3096166504-376-9492Denise.Woltering@gmail.comYoungLavenderBuds.com

Learn the basics of essential oils and how to live a clean and natural life. Take your fi rst step towards a chemical free and healthy lifestyle. Learn the basics and set yourself on a path to healthy living. All classes are always free. See class schedule in the calendar

section. See ad, page 5.

FITNESSBLISS BODY5717 Crawford StreetNew Orleans, LA 70123504-262-8860BlissBodyNola.com

Yoga- Aerial, Prenatal, Ball, Meditation, Workshops and Programs with Master Instructor Laura Ates. Mat Pilates, Reformer and Chair

Pilates, Barre and TRX with expert Mary Mang. Facials and massages too!

DR. IINA ESTERHealth and Fitness Coach504-758-9192LiveFreeLaughHardFitness.com

Exercise scientist specializing in fi tness and nutrition interventions. I specialize in private outdoor and in-home training, designing a program based on your interests, goals, and barriers to being active. For group programs, see calendar section. See ad, page 22.


NATURAL FOODS & SUPPLEMENTS

NUTRIVERUS POWDER Jeanie Leclere504-888-4464

Boost your immune system and increase energy levels with a whole-food supplement that combines a matrix of glyconutrients with organic plant- and food-

sourced vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. An amazing product. Call for free sample.

NATURAL MEDICINEKARIN NIELSEN, ND, CCT225-229-61071528 Delplaza Dr, Ste B, Baton RougeWellnessCentreBR.com

Offering non-invasive health a s s e s s m e n t s , To t a l Thermography, Lymphatic Therapy and many detox therapies. Specializing in

chronic fatigue, Fibromyalgia and Lyme disease for men, women and children. See ad, page 6.

SPIRITUAL CENTERSUNITY OF METAIRIEJack Fowler, Spiritual Director3939 Veterans Blvd, Metairie504-885-7575 (behind Parran’s)UnityOfMetairie.com

Loving, energetic spiritual f ami ly hono r ing a l l r e l ig ions , pa ths and lifestyles! Do you like w h a t M a r i a n n e

Williamson, Eckhart Tolle and Wayne Dyer have to say? You’ll love Unity of Metairie. Relevant Spirituality for Everyday Life! Join us Sundays 11am. See ad, page 25.

UNITY TEMPLE OF NEW ORLEANS3722 St. Charles Avenue, New OrleansUnityOfNewOrleans.com

The New Orleans home of practical Christianity. We honor all paths to God and welcome all who seek love, peace, and wisdom.

Services on Sun & Wed 11 am; A Course in Miracles class Wed 6:30pm. See ad, page 17.

MARILYN A. MENDOZA, [email protected]

Dr. Marilyn Mendoza, author of We Do Not Die Alone, announces the expansion of her clinical practice to include Past Life Regressions and Akashic Record Readings. For more information or to make an appointment call: 504-363-0203. See ad, page 36.

FRANK A. TRUPIANO, LCSWCenter for Akashic Studies and Holistic Counseling1581 Carol Sue Ave, Grenta504-392-3498AkashicLight.org

Your l i fe i s wai t ing to be transformed! Experience the power of holistic healing for mind, body, and spirit. Reiki, EFT, The Sedona Method, Psych-K, Hypnotherapy, meditation, Akashic Record

readings and classes. Relationship and individual life coaching also available.

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE KEVIN F. DARR, M.D.Covington Orthopedic Sports Medicine Institute985-892-5117CovingtonOrtho.com

Comprehensive orthopedic care, including today’s most innovative and best practices to achieve optimal orthopedic function and performance. Traditional orthopedic treatments and surgery, plus minimally invasive alternatives

using state of art technology and integrative ortho-biologic therapies.Currently taking patients for Cell Therapy study. See ad, page 2.

INTEGRATED PAIN AND NEUROSCIENCE504-300-9020PainIsAPuzzle.com

Eric Royster, MD, and Aaron Friedman, MD, o f f e r t h e m o s t

comprehensive treatment experience for patients suffering from chronic pain, from acupuncture to more invasive techniques offered exclusively at IPN. New Orleans, Chalmette, Westbank and Slidell locations. See ad, page 27.

IRENE SEBASTIAN, M.D., Ph.D401 Veterans Blvd., Ste. 203, Metairie504-838-9804IreneSebastianMD.com

Experience the difference that Homeopathic Medicine and Functional Medicine can bring to your health. Most conditions can be treated using these safe, natural approaches. Safe, less drugs, stimulates innate healing. See ad, page 15.

YOGATRANSFORM NOLAMia Oramous, E-RYT 500/ACE PT8422 Oak St, New Orleans985-640-2648 TransformNOLA.com

200-hour yoga teacher training begins February 2016; Yoga Al l iance certifi ed and affi liated with Rolf Gates Yoga. Private sessions available. Yoga

and TRX workout classes offered throughout the week. Sign up for our email list and receive 7 Yoga Poses for Strength eBook free.

WILD LOTUS YOGA4842 Perrier St, Uptown2372 St Claude Ave, Downtown504-899-0047WildLotusYoga.com

Voted Best Yoga Studio 11 years. Intro Offer: 30 Days Of Yoga For $33 (fi rst time local residents), Intro To Yoga Courses + Over 60 c l a s se s a week i nc lud ing Prenatal, Kids, Tweens & Teen

classes. See ad, page 24.

Reach YourTarget Market

Secure your ad spot in our next issue!

Contact us for ad rates:504-975-0344

[email protected]


Healing Postures & Power Breathing: Friday Evening (6pm-9pm) * Introduction to Qigong: Review of Chinese medicine secrets of Longevity.* Empty Force: Your energy field becomes so palpable - it feels like solid magnetism.

Qi Revolution Qigong Breathing and Food Healing

$99 Life-Changing Seminar 2-Days 1 Night

Breathing Qi Energy Gives You Profound Healing Vibrations

Reflexology for Pain Hands on Healing Tui Na Massage

Comes to New Orleans

In this seminar you’ll receive training in the art of using specific foods to

reverse specific diseases.

Food Medicine & Qigong 9-Breath Method: Saturday (9am-6pm) * Level-1 Qigong Form: Strengthening and gives pulsating warmth circulating thru body. * Food Healing Science: Using FOOD we stop the aging OXIDATIVE processes behind ALL Disease.* 9-Breath Method: ULTIMATE Breathing practice. Blissful waterfall of Qi removes stress & negativity.

Strength Training & Massage Qigong Style: Sunday (9am-6pm) * Qigong Strength Training: Use breathing to slow heart rate and recover faster in exercise. * Massage Tui Na & Reflexology: Acupressure Chinese Massage for reliving pain and energy blocks.

16 CE Hours for Massage. (800)-298-8970 QiRevolution.com Advanced Registration Required. Seating Limited. Call us or visit online.

$99 for 2-Days 1 Night February 19-21, 2016 New Orleans Convention Center

.

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