Natural Awakenings DC March 2013

1natural awakenings March 2013

March 2013 | Washington, D.C. Edition | NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

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Welcome to the premiere issue of the Washington, D.C. edition of Natural Awakenings. The magazine publishes monthly in more than 85 communities nationwide and counts 3.6 million loyal readers. We are pleased to bring this vital resource to you, your family and our larger community. My path to becoming a publisher began several years ago in a favorite whole-grain bagel spot in Northeast Pennsylvania, where my husband, John Sankey, and I are delighted to inhabit

a small place on a lake. There I spotted the rack of free publications with the radiant face of a young woman beaming from the Natural Awakenings’ cover. It spoke to me because our family has committed to embodying healthy and sustainable living and are always on the lookout for information. I combed through that first issue cover to cover and began eagerly picking up the latest issue each month when it arrived. I was hooked. More recently, I began to feel the lure of doing something new and fresh in my career. I had been working with nonprofits on Capitol Hill, most recently advocating for the health and well-being of women and children. Despite the fact that I felt it a noble calling, it was draining my energy. I began to play a mental game with myself: “What if I gave up my work on the Hill and started publishing Natural Awakenings here? How could my community benefit?” Before long I made the change and never looked back. The ride has been joyous. In recent months, I’ve travelled throughout the D.C. area meeting integrative doctors, yoga teachers, enlightened shop owners, organic grocers and many others that immediately supported the project. Many expressed the need for a community resource that brings together the best our city offers in terms of green businesses and healing practitioners that support conscious eating, creative relaxation, fitness, meditation and all things good and green. There is much more about our area awaiting our mutual discovery as we pour over these monthly pages together. I am excited about the news, articles and calendar of events and classes you will find in the current issue. I love the concept of Linda Sechrist’s feature, “It’s All about We,” which explores growing evidence of the power of connectedness and unity and how these bonds strengthen us all (page 16). The article captures my vision for this magazine, how the insights and experiences we share here can support us as individuals and as a collective body, positively influencing humanity and sometimes influencing national policy. In this first issue, we highlight one of our own, Representative Tim Ryan (D-OH), who continues to seek to bring a new level of mindfulness to the work of the U.S. Congress (see page 13). Going forward, we will continue to bring you informative and practical thinking by local experts and nationally recognized voices. I look forward to having you join us in enhancing the quality of your life and helping to make our world a healthier and ever better place to be.

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

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

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13 a mindful nation Congressman Tim Ryan Calls for a New Era of Healing by Robin Fillmore

16 it’s all about we Conscious Evolution: Why We’re Better Together by Linda Sechrist

20 courting marriage success Relationship Expert Stephanie Coontz Shares Go-To Guidelines by S. Alison Chabonais

21 food & mood Solutions for Emotional Eating by Judith Fertig

22 bullY blues busters Positive Ways to Promote Kindness by Meredith Montgomery

24 raw food diets for Pets Weighing the Pros and Cons by Sandra Murphy

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News to share?email details to: [email protected]

Submittal deadline is the 10th of the month.

newsbriefsExperience a Fit Explosion

Lorne Durham, owner of Durham Fitness Innovations, LLC, recently released a new

fitness tool designed to minimize injuries: the AB Bed. A padded device with straps, an over-head bar and wheels for independent move-ment, the bed is designed for low-impact, total abdominal workouts. The machine rapidly tones the core, while reducing the risk of stress or injury. Durham

explains, “I had a back injury that prohibited me from getting around, let alone working out. I had to come up with a way to work my abdominal muscles without hurting my neck or back.” Made in the U.S., the patented, user-friendly device supports natural body movements and offers a variety of exercise positions without changing or adjusting the machine—it can be used while lying on one’s back, side or face-down with little to no stress on the neck or back. “I have a passion for fitness,” says Durham, noting that the machine can be used for lower and upper abdominal training in the home, gym or studio and is safe for users of any fitness level. “I want to assist individuals in being their best in mind and body.”

Lorne Durham is a National Sports Performance Institute certified personal trainer. For more information, call 301-500-0531 or visit TheAbBed.com.

Goûter Brings Healthy Goodness to D.C.

Nine fitness and yoga studios and healthy cafés across the city now stock the nutritious treats, tonics and energy snacks

created by local provider, Goûter. Determined to enhance the wellness of the community, Violaine Orban (known to all as “V”) and partner Stephen Mekoski began Goûter (pro-nounced goo-tay, French for “to taste”) in 2011 as a meal de-livery service, handcrafting raw, vegan food, organic tonics, cleanses and energy snacks and delivering them to a growing list of clients throughout the district. As their client list grew, the partners developed a more comprehensive distribution system and plan to add more studios and cafés. Goûter also offers home delivery of its cleanse package. Mekoski, a trained chef, creates the tonics with a base of alkaline water and a mixture of organic lemon and coconut nectar. The company carries six regular flavors, including Anti-Age, with goji berries and cinnamon; Stretch, with turmeric and cardamom; and Digest, with aloe, mint and ginger; as well as two seasonal specials. Their energy treats are bonbon-sized vegan delights with a base of nuts and coconut. Marc Caputo, the owner of ZenGo Fitness, in Bethesda, says Goûter’s products are bestsellers at his studio. “I sell out as soon as I get them in,” he advises.

To locate a Goûter distributor, visit Facebook.com/heygouter. See Community Resource Guide listing, page 31.

International Women’s Day Honors Change MakersOn March 8,

thousands of International Women’s Day (IWD) events will celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women, while calling attention to the continued need for true equality. Organizations, govern-ments, nonprofit groups, wom-en’s groups, corporations and the media will honor the day with gatherings, educational events and networking sessions, with the intention of commemorating the role of women as change makers in society. The determination and per-sistence of women’s rights groups throughout history has made significant progress in finding greater equality in the workplace, the home and in public life. The celebratory day has been observed since the early 1900s, when the industrialized world was undergoing changes rang-ing from a booming population to new roles for women in work and society. Today, women are still not equally represented in board-rooms or political spheres, their pay is not equal to men’s and violence against women is prevalent in many areas of the world. However, impres-sive global improvements have been made, and so the tone and nature of IWD has moved from being a reminder about the negatives to a celebration of the positives.

For more information or to add a local event, visit International WomensDay.com.


Humane Society Now Offers a College Degree

An exciting new pathway is now open for individuals that care about animals and want to help them: formal

education and training in animal care and related subjects of humane concern. The field of human-animal studies is a burgeoning enterprise and a relatively new entity, Humane Society University (HSU), is leading the way by offering courses in subjects tied to animal protection. The HSU College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) confers undergraduate and master’s degrees, as well as graduate certificates in animal studies, animal policy and advocacy and humane leadership. The School of Continuing Education (SCE) offers a range of non-credit online courses, specialist programs and onsite workshops in humane educa-tion, shelter management emergency animal response advocacy and animal care and behavior. It also hosts free monthly webinars dedicated to the human-animal bond. As an institution affiliated with The Humane Society of the United States, HSU emerged from a growing appreciation of the need for professionally trained animal care and advocacy specialists as part of an expanding animal protection commu-nity that is working toward a better future for humans and animals alike. Spring registration continues through March 7. For more information about the CAS, email [email protected]; to inquire about the SCE, email [email protected]. To register for spring classes, visit HumaneSocietyUniversity.org.

National Cathedral Offers Tour of Earthquake Damage

Everyone that was in

Washington, D.C., on August 23, 2011, has a story to tell of where they were at the mo-ment the region was hit that day by a 5.8-mag-nitude earthquake. While for most the damage was minimal, many of the city’s beloved landmarks still bear the scars of the quake and workers are still repair-ing damaged buildings. The National Cathedral is offering a close-up tour—Though the Earth Be Moved—throughout March, in which visitors will explore the damage in-curred during the quake to the majestic Gothic stone edifice.

Location: 3101 Wisconsin Ave. N.W. For more information, call 202-537-6200 or visit NationalCathedral.org.

Gestures, in love, are incomparably more attractive, effective and valuable than words.

~ Francois Rabelais


newsbriefsNew Center Features Classes, Meditation and Dharma

The Insight Meditation Community of Washington (IMCW) recently opened

the Center for Mindful Living, a space in the Washington, D.C., area dedicated to Buddhist teachings, the practice of meditation and the exploration of ways to bring deeper presence and awareness into our lives. The new center provides a sanctuary for stillness and inner ex-ploration in the heart of the metropolitan area.

IMCW and affiliated mindfulness classes currently avail-able or planned include daily meditation, now offered in the mornings but soon to include evenings and weekends; classes for experienced students; introduction to meditation; deepening dharma study and practice; weekly meditation; mindfulness-based stress reduction; and Sutta study. The center will also offer mindful yoga classes and train-ings and meetings on bringing mindfulness into schools, pris-ons and veterans’ groups in the area. Two spaces are available for individuals interested in offering a class or workshop. One room holds 35 to 40 people and the other accommodates 15 to 20. An office is also available for rent by the hour or day.

Location: 4708 Wisconsin Ave. N.W. For more information, visit imcw.org or email [email protected]. See Com-munity Resource Guide listing, page 31.

Yoga Activist Group Seeks Volunteers

The nonprofit organization, Yoga Activist, Inc., based in Washing-

ton, D.C., is seeking volunteers to assist with its Mat Program initiative, which accepts donations of new and gently used yoga mats and props and distributes them to yoga outreach programs across the country. Volunteers help clean and deliver the mats, typically commit to at least three hours a week and are eligible for free yoga at a local studio. As an online community hub, Yoga Activist supports connectivity across the yoga outreach community and fosters yoga activism by developing and supporting sustain-able outreach programs and helping yoga teachers reach out to communities in need through yoga. The organization believes that yoga’s proven holistic benefits can assist those in need as a practical tool of empowerment, self-healing and coping. The Mat Program is one aspect of Yoga Activists’ outreach.

For more information, email [email protected] or visit YogaActivist.org. See Community Resource Guide listing, page 31.

kudosIn December 2012, Clean Currents, an independent green energy com-pany headquartered in Silver Spring, won Green America’s People & Planet Award. The firm was one of three busi-nesses to receive the $5,000 award, an honor they were given for their innovative Green Neighborhood Challenge (GNEC) program. Clean Currents will invest the award in cultivating community action for a cleaner future through the GNEC program. Clean Currents is a certified green business and B-corpo-ration that supplies both national and local Green-e Energy certified wind power to more than 12,000 residences and 1,500 businesses in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Penn-sylvania. The GNEC program gives community and nonprofit groups an opportunity to raise funds for green projects while increasing support for clean energy. Since beginning the initiative three years ago, the com-pany has engaged 150 communities to switch to wind power and donated more than $20,000 to fund community gardens, recycling and compost bins, energy efficiency initiatives, tree plantings and environmental education programs.

For more information, visit CleanCurrents.org.


communityspotlight

City Acupuncture Circle is located in the heart of one of

D.C.’s more affluent city subdistricts, five floors above Lucky Bar, at the intersection of 18th and Connecticut. At the top of a narrow, wooden stairway, the five-bed office resonates with calm and serenity punctuated only by gentle, instrumental music. Owner JoseLo Gutier-rez, MAc, worked in spas as a licensed acupuncturist and massage therapist for almost 10 years in New York. He says traditional spas have their place—not all therapists have the space to work with multiple clients at one time, and many patients prefer private consultations—but notes that individual sessions, especially within a premier medical spa, can be very expensive. “I couldn’t afford my own services; I couldn’t sell my services to my friends… I felt like a hypocrite,” Gutierrez says, adding that community clinics offer an appealing, affordable alternative. Traditionally, Chinese medicine has always been practiced in a commu-nal setting, which is how Gutierrez got his start. He began his practice in 1998, and his apprenticeship studies took him through the fast-paced community clin-ics of Taiwan, where he learned to treat more than 40 patients in a day. “People need acupuncture and people want it. Most people give up because of the exorbitant costs,” he advises. A community clinic provides a solution. Its space becomes a portal into the world of sacred healing, in which clients are allowed to do their own work towards wellness. “Some people want to talk,” Gutierrez says, and they use an hour-long private session as an alternative medicine counseling appoint-ment, with the added bonus of receiving acupuncture. In a community clinic, talk

therapy is removed from the equation, and clients can determine their own level of transformation. By allowing oneself to become receptive and having a peaceful place for silent meditation, being present in the clinic attunes the body and mind. Adherents say it allows for the spontaneous healing of many conditions and illnesses. Anecdotal testimonials about the benefits of align-

ing one’s energy field abound online, offered by people that have found heal-ing for chronic pain, disease and other bodily imbalances. Insurance compa-nies continue to expand their contracts to include alternative healing therapies, and acupuncture was one of the first non-traditional treatments to be listed as a reimbursable modality. Gutierrez prefers to spend his time and energy outside the system, and has created a place to invest directly into the community. City Acupuncture Circle opened in July 2012 as part of a larger movement across the U.S., Canada and United Kingdom that is making affordable acupuncture avail-able to everyone. Since its opening, more than 900 people have come in for sessions. Clients that are making the circle a part of their regular routine enjoy the practice for a number of reasons—from the affordable, sliding scale suggested donation to the community aspect. Cat Lockman, an acupuncture vet-eran who is new to City Acupuncture Circle, is impressed with Gutierrez’s acupuncture technique and her experi-ence in the community environment. “It combines the best pieces of com-munity practice and the five-element approach, rolled into one,” she says. “City Circle offers a more multi-tech-nique approach than private sessions I

have had which cost twice as much.” Gutierrez, who offers acupuncture six days a week, is adept at maintain-ing his own balance, noting that in a community environment, the treatment process becomes a form of meditation. “Your ego dissolves and you have no time to think,” he explains. Instead of getting caught up in daily dramas, Guti-errez connects to the deeper energetic pathways that flow between people, placing the needles and aligning with the intention of healing. “You only have time to be intuitive,” he adds.

Location: 1221 Connecticut Ave. N.W., Ste. 5B. For more info, call 202-300-8428, email Clinic@CityAcupuncture Circle.com or visit CityAcupuncture Circle.com. See ad, page 30.

Jessica Snow is a healing artist and D.C. native dedicated to helping people find affordable, holistic medicine within the community. Connect at Facebook.com/dreamcityhealingco.

Local Community Acupuncture ClinicsIn addition to City Acupuncture Circle, several other community acupuncture clinics dot the D.C. metro region. All are members of the People’s Organization of Community Acupuncture; for more information, visit PocaCoop.com.

Little Bird Community Acupuncture(not accepting patients at this time)1640 Columbia Road Northwest, Washington, D.C.; 202-328-1804LittleBirdDC.com

OurSpace AcupunctureFarris Johnson, owner809 Easley Street, Silver Spring, MD301-388-8085OurSpaceAcupuncture.orgSee ad in Community Resource Guide

Revive Community AcupunctureKim Deane, owner3808 34th Street, Mt. Rainier, MD301-864-1975Revive-Acupuncture.comSee ad in Community Resource Guide

City Acupuncture CircleA Portal into Healing

by Jessica snow

JoseLo Gutierrez


healthbriefs

Hot Peppers Help the Heart February was Heart Health Month, and individu-

als that like hot peppers have another reason to continue their spicy habit, according to recent research. A study presented at the latest National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemi-cal Society focused on the benefits of capsaicin and its fiery-hot relatives, a piquant family of sub-stances termed capsaicinoids, that give cayenne, ja-lapeños, habanero and other chili peppers their heat. The research team discovered that these substances boost heart health in several ways: They block the action of a gene producing a substance that makes arteries contract and restrict the flow of blood to the heart and other organs; lower cholesterol by reducing its accumula-tion in the body and increasing its breakdown and excretion; decrease the size of cholesterol deposits already formed in blood vessels that narrow arteries and increase the risk of heart attacks or strokes; and reduce overall levels of so-called “bad” cholesterol while not affecting levels of “good” cholesterol.

Reading Helps Teens Beat the BluesBooks stimulate the mind in more ways than previously known, and may even

help reduce the risk of depression in teenagers, according to a new study pub-lished in the journal Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers report adolescents that spend more time reading books are less likely to experience a major depressive disorder than those listening to contemporary music.

Participants were called up to 60 times during five extended weekends over two months and asked if their attention was currently devoted to television, movies, music, video games, the Internet, magazines, newspa-pers or books. Teens that spent the most hours listening

to music were 8.5 times more likely to be de-pressed than those that spent the least amount

of time absorbed in tunes. In contrast, adoles-cents that read the most (primarily books)

were one-tenth as likely to be depressed as those that read the least. Major depression is thought to af-fect one in 12 teenagers, according to the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health. Dr. Brian Primack, the assistant

professor of medicine and pediatrics who led the study, remarks, “These find-ings may help clinicians and parents rec-ognize links between media and depres-

sion. This is worth emphasizing because overall in the United States, reading books is

decreasing, while nearly all other forms of me-dia use are increasing.”

Mindful Meditation Eases LonelinessFeelings of

loneliness, especially for the elderly, may pose an additional risk factor for health problems such as heart disease and Alzheimer’s. A new study published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, offers fresh evidence that mindfulness medi-tation reduces negative thoughts about being alone in older adults and also improves their physical health. The ancient practice dates back to the time of Buddha and focuses on creating an attentive awareness of the present moment. In the study, researchers at Carne-gie Mellon University, in Pennsylvania, recruited 40 healthy adults between the ages of 55 and 85 that were interested in learning the technique. Subjects were assessed at the begin-ning and end of the study using an established loneliness scale, and blood samples were collected. After eight weeks of meditation training, partici-pants reported decreased feelings of loneliness, and new blood samples re-vealed reduced pro-inflammatory gene expression (manifestion of encoded information). Inflammation is thought to promote the development and pro-gression of many diseases, including cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Lead researcher J. David Creswell reports, “Mindfulness meditation training is a promising intervention for improving the health of older adults. It’s important to train your mind like you train your biceps in the gym.”


Red, White and TrueBag the guesswork of grocery shopping and let the American

Heart Association (AHA) Heart-Check mark help identify healthy foods. The red-and-white icon, created in 1995 and now found on product packaging, is a solid first step in building a heart-friendly diet. The AHA is now beginning to include foods with high levels of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats—the “good” fats—in the Heart-Check program. Updated requirements also covering sodium, sugar and fiber will take effect in 2014 to allow food manufacturers time to refor-mulate their products.

Peel-good energYConsumers do not need to buy overpriced, sugary sports

drinks in order to replenish carbohydrates and electro-lytes during or after exercise, say researchers at the Appa-lachian State University Human Performance Lab at the North Carolina Research Campus, in Kannapolis. Instead, just grab a banana. The tasty fruit not only offers the same performance boost as sports drinks, but additional advan-tages, as well. Bananas provide antioxidants not found in the manmade beverages, plus a greater nutritional boost,

including fiber, potassium and vitamin B6. Bananas also boast a healthier blend of natural sugars than sports drinks.

the saltshaker thiefBefore reaching

for the salt-shaker, consider that excessive dietary salt not only burdens the kidneys and increases the risk of hyperten-sion; it may also deplete vital cal-cium. Research by Canadian medical researchers at the University of Alberta recently dis-covered an important link between sodium and calcium, which appear to be regulated by the same molecule in the body. When sodium intake be-comes too high, the body excretes it via urine, taking calcium with it and creating a risk for developing kidney stones and osteoporosis. So, pass the pepper instead.


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

globalbriefs

Safer CellsMobile Phones Becoming Less ToxicThe Ecology Center, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in conjunction with technicians at IFixIt.com, has published a list of toxic chemi-cals found in 36 cell phones from a range of manufacturers. The good news is that companies are responding to consumer and regulatory pressure and these troublesome components are on the decline. The Motorola Citrus, Apple iPhone 4S and LE Remarq were the least toxic cell phones in the analysis. Two of the bestselling models, the iPhone 5 and Sam-sung Galaxy S III, ranked fifth and ninth, respectively. Among earlier models, the 2007 iPhone 2G was found to contain the most toxic materials. Jeff Gearhart, research director at the Ecology Center, concludes, “The takeaway is that mobile phones are chemically intensive and full of chemical hazards, but they’ve been getting a lot better.” The center reported that every phone sampled in the study contained lead, bromine, chlorine, mercury or cadmium.

Source: Tinyurl.com/MobileRisk

Cut AbuseGovernment Steps In to Curb Greenwashing

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued updated green marketing guidelines intended to stop advertisers from making deceptive or unqualified claims about products being environmentally beneficial or eco-friendly, called “greenwash-ing”. The FTC said that few products deliver the far-reaching environmental benefits that consumers associate with such claims, and they are nearly impossible to substantiate. The revision is the first since 1998, when phrases like “carbon footprint” and “renewable energy” were relatively new. Using input from consumers and industry groups, new sections

address the use of carbon offsets, “green” certifications and seals, and renewable energy and renewable materials claims. Marketers are warned not to make broad, unqualified assertions that their products are environmentally benign or eco-friendly. Arthur Weissman, president and CEO of Green Seal Inc., a nonprofit environ-mental certification organization based in Washington, D.C., says, “We hope that there will be enforcement to help rid the marketplace of the many less-than-credi-ble seals and greenwashing that exist.” The new guidelines are not rules or regulations, but general principles that describe the types of environmental claims the FTC may find deceptive. They do not address use of the terms “sustainable”, “natural” and “organic”.

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

Shell GameTurtles Facing Extinction Get HelpThe Turtle Survival Alliance Foundation (TSA) is opening a facility to house some of the world’s most endangered freshwater turtles and tortoises near Charleston, South Carolina. The 50-acre Turtle Survival Center will maintain living groups, or assurance colonies, of many species facing an uncertain future in the wild. The center will house 20 species of fresh-water turtles and tortoises ranked “critically endangered” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Nine are also on the Turtle Conservation Coalition list of the world’s most endangered tortoises and freshwater turtles. According to TSA President Rick Hudson, “No group of animals is under greater threat or faces a higher risk of extinction than freshwater turtles and tor-toises.” The center will focus on species that have little chance of being recovered in nature because of habitat loss and intensive hunting pressures. Some species have undergone such dramatic declines that without interven-tion, their extinction is imminent. It’s hoped that offspring born at the center will eventually repopulate their ancestral habitats.

Contribute to the TSA Turtle Survival Center capital campaign to help at TurtleSurvival.org.


Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH) has a differ-ent sort of future in mind for our nation. The six-term democrat representing northeast

Ohio, a region hard hit by the recent recession, is looking beyond economic stimulus packages and unemployment benefit extensions to heal a district that has had more than its share of economic mis-fortune. Instead, Ryan supports healing through mindfulness. He has recently written about his personal journey in A Mindful Nation: How a Simple Practice Can Help Us Reduce Stress, Im-prove Performance, and Recapture the American Spirit, in which he offers a holistic prescription for our nation. As a student, Ryan turned to yoga to deal with sports-related injuries and recognized the benefits of connect-ing mind with body. Seeking similar relief after winning his 2008 congressional race, Ryan attended a leadership conference led by Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care and Society and the renowned Stress Reduction Clinic, both at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Ryan left his two Blackber-ries at home and set out on a path of lifelong practice, seek-ing a broader context to the problems facing our nation. He had entered public service because he wanted to solve problems, alleviate suffering and generate hope for those who needed a voice in the political arena. He saw mindful-ness as another avenue in which to serve his constituents. Through the lens of mindfulness, problems that seem too big to solve suddenly become part of a larger landscape of experiences. In A Mindful Nation, Ryan writes of a con-gressional delegation to Pakistan and India where mem-bers saw water and sewer systems running together in the streets. Despite the deplorable conditions, the children of the city sang and laughed just like children do everywhere. Ryan writes, “They didn’t know how poor they were. They were joyfully alive and in the moment. Mindfulness practice can train us to be like that—to free ourselves from mental burdens that we create out of our tendency to treat our worries like solid, permanent realities.” Ryan is passionate about his practice, saying, “It has changed my life in many ways and could potentially be beneficial to other members of Congress, too.” He has worked to incorporate mindfulness into his daily life and work in the hope of attracting more converts within the halls of Congress. Specifically, the congressman has focused on areas in which mindful-ness can have a profound impact, including education, health care and military veteran support. In regard to education, the con-gressman notes that mindfulness has

been shown to increase a child’s attention span and evoke a greater sense of kindness. Groups such as the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL), in Chicago, and experts like Dr. Linda Lantieri, director of the Inner Resilience Program, highlight the benefits of social and emotional learning, through which children are taught to develop self-awareness, social skills and responsible decision making. After testifying before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education at Ryan’s invitation, Lantieri received

funding to provide training for teachers in Ryan’s home district, and the results have exceeded expectations. Ryan says that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2008 moved the nation in the right direction by placing more empha-sis on preventive health measures, but adds that the ACA could have gone further by incorporating mindfulness. Stress reduction is one of the primary benefits of mindfulness and if cultivated, changes how the human body reacts to disease and injury. Particularly in Washington, D.C., the adrenaline rush associated with the pitch of political battle might be invigo-rating in the short run, but Ryan suggests that the long-term consequences of stress can eventually extract a massive toll on our bodies. Citing Dr. Susan Bauer-Wu at the University of Virginia, he notes that mindfulness can be used to “cool” the impact of inflammatory processes in the body, thereby increasing the resiliency of our immune systems. Attending to the health of our deploying and return-ing soldiers is another of the congressman’s passions, and he believes that some of the challenges faced by war-weary veterans can be successfully managed through the practice of mindfulness. Ryan has been a strong advocate for pro-grams such as the Mind Fitness Training Institute, led by Army veteran Liz Stanley. The program is taught in eight weeks to service members that are deploying into battle. It enhances their ability to tolerate both outer and inner experiences (including pain and fear) and helps them perform in highly stressful situations, thereby enabling them to make effective decisions when lives hang in the balance. In these realms of health care, education and veterans’ support, mindfulness is slowly becoming part of the dis-course around solutions. Leading this transformation is Ryan, with his vision of a quieter form of leadership on Capitol

Hill. By digging deeper and paying attention to each breath, he believes we can transcend that which divides this city so starkly into red and blue camps and discover higher ground upon which we all can find healing.

Robin Fillmore, Ph.D., is the publish-er of Natural Awakenings DC.

A Mindful NationCongressman Tim Ryan Calls for a New Era of Healing

by robin fillmore

Congressman Tim Ryan


ecotip

Creative ReuseNew Life for Old BeddingReusing, recycling or repurposing a worn-out mattress is a far better solution than adding another to the 20 million or so that annually end up in landfills. Before discarding, first check with family mem-bers, friends or coworkers, or post a note on a community bulletin board or on the Internet (Freecycle.org) about the avail-ability of a free, gently used mattress. Next, offer to donate the mattress to The Salvation Army, Goodwill Industries or a local consignment or thrift shop, church, shelter or disaster relief organi-zation. Note that this option may require professional cleaning prior to donation. Many nonprofit outlets provide free home pickup of items, which can be claimed as a charitable tax deduction. Crafty individuals may want to disassemble the mattress and make use of buttons, tabs and fabric for sewing pil-lowcases, reupholstering indoor furniture, covering outdoor furniture or as stuffing for pillows. Check with local artist centers too, because one or more of their mem-bers may wish to use recyclable materials like the metal springs in their works. The wooden frame of the mattress can be used to create a backyard compost pile with the wood slots becoming the compost bin’s architecture. In addition, the springs of an old bed can be utilized in a garden as they can make for a serviceable trellis to support growing plants.

Some recycling centers do not accept mattresses. Find local resources and policies at Earth911.com.

Sources: Home.HowStuffWorks.com, Tinyurl.com/RadicalRecyclingMattresses

inspiration

When someone is suffering, it can be agonizing just to listen—we feel compelled

to jump in with advice or stories of our own trials, filling any awkward space or moments of silent air with word upon word. The first rule of empathy, however, is listening in silence. Miki Kashtan, writing for the Tik-kun Daily interfaith blog, points out that giving our full presence is the most important step in practicing true empa-thy, and it doesn’t require us to utter a thing: “There is a high correlation be-tween one person’s listening presence and the other person’s sense of not being alone, and this is communicated without words. We can be present with someone whose language we don’t understand, who speaks about circum-stances we have never experienced or whose reactions are baffling to us. It’s a soul orientation and intentionality to simply be with another.” When we achieve full presence, empathic understanding follows, Kashtan continues. “Full empathic presence includes the breaking open of our heart to take in another’s hu-manity. We listen to their words and their story, and allow our-selves to be affected by the experience of what it would be like. “Then we un-derstand. Empathic understanding is different from empathic presence. We can have pres-ence across any bar-rier, and it’s still a gift. If we also understand, even without saying any-thing, I believe the other person’s sense of being heard increases, and they are even less alone with the weight of their experience.”

There are signs that empathy might be on the decline, with narcissism elbowing it out of our modern lives. As reported in the Utne Reader, University of Michigan Psychologist Sara Konrath, Ph.D., found that empathy levels among college students measured on the Inter-personal Reactivity Index plummeted between 1979 and 2009. The greatest drops were in empathic concern and perspective-taking—the ability to imag-ine another person’s point of view. But don’t yet lament the death of human compassion. According to scientific studies, empathy is built into us. In recent research at the University of Southern California, Professor Lisa Aziz-Zadeh, Ph.D., pinpointed where and how the brain generates empathy, regarding it as a naturally occurring emotion. “It appears that both the intui-tive and rationalizing parts of the brain work in tandem to create the sensation of empathy,” Aziz-Zadeh told The Times of India. “People do it automatically.” However we get to that utterly tuned-in, selfless state of empathy, pro-viding a listening ear, giving our full presence and being moved by another can be gifts not only to the others, but

to ourselves, as well. Concludes Kashtan, “Allowing into our

heart the other person’s suffering doesn’t mean

we suffer with them, because that means shifting the focus of our attention to our own experience. Rather, it means

that we recognize the experience as fully

human, and behold the beauty of it in all its aspects,

even when difficult.”

Margret Aldrich is a former asso-ciate editor of Utne Reader.

The Gift of Empathy How to Be a Healing Presence

by margret aldrich


therapyspotlight

The American health-care system presents a paradox. As a nation, we

spend the most per capita on health care in the world, yet U.S. health benchmarks are near or at the bottom of the 16 most developed countries. One thing that sets the U.S. apart from other nations has been its resistance to adopt integrative medical practices, despite significant attempts to do so. In the 1970s, several progressive physician organiza-tions attempted to establish primary care reform where in-terdisciplinary teams of health care providers would create a “whole person healing environment”. The pinnacle of this attempt was reached at a 1978 international meeting where a common definition for effective primary care practices based on the whole person healing model was established. While this model was adopted in other countries, it was never successfully implemented in the U.S. Cultural norms, food, corporate and political interests and the medical es-tablishment all contributed to this noble attempt’s failure. At about the same time, a few forward-looking physi-cians, including Andrew Weil, M.D., of the University of Arizona, realized that providers of services such as acupunc-ture, Reiki and massage should be included in primary care medical teams, and that these therapies needed to be studied and their basic concepts taught to medical students. Weil coined the term, “integrative medicine”, and the new field was born. For the past 20 years, great strides have been made through the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine to further develop the field, educate fu-ture physicians and other healthcare providers and promote public awareness. As a growing component of the U.S. medical landscape, integrative medicine is a system of care that regards the hu-man body as a complex model with an innate capacity to heal under the right conditions. It attempts to incorporate the holistic philosophies and strategies of traditional methods with the modern, scientific approach of biomedicine, but not by simply combining surgery with acupuncture or substitut-ing herbs for prescription drugs. Despite the field’s growth and rising popularity, skeptics remain. However, the American Board of Inte-grative Medicine, under auspices of the American Board of Physician Subspecialties, will begin certifying eligible physicians in 2014, confirming that the field of integrative

medicine is established and will continue to grow. What does integrative medicine has to do with the American healthcare paradox? It very well could be the solu-tion. Instead of prescribing ex-pensive treatments for chronic medical problems, physicians can concentrate their efforts in helping people feel well and

optimizing their health by modifying their lifestyles. This ap-proach can save a lot of money. According to a 2007 report by the Milken Institute, incorporating basic principles of integrative medicine can save $1.1 trillion annually by the year 2023. This will not stop the rise of the health care costs, but it would slow it significantly and more importantly, likely improve national health measures. Additionally, there are provisions in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that support complementary and alternative medi-cine (CAM) and integrative healthcare. Under the ACA, insur-ance companies are prevented from discriminating against healthcare providers in regard to their participation and coverage in health plans. This provision encourages full utili-zation of healthcare providers and reduces the cost of patient care. The law also focuses on establishing community health teams to support patient-centered medical homes. These teams may include doctors of chiropractic and licensed CAM practitioners. Whether this support for integrative medicine leads to the creation of a whole, personalized and cost-conscious healthcare system or not remains to be seen. The field is still too small to have a substantial voice, but the speed of its growth and political support is promising. As the model for treating the whole person becomes incorporated in treat-ment rooms across the country, there is hope that our current American paradox will shift into greater healing for all.

Mikhail Kogan, M.D., is the medi-cal director of George Washington University Center for Integrative Medicine (GW CIM) and an as-sistant professor of medicine at the university. John Pan, M.D., is the executive director of GW CIM. For more information about existing integrative medical home models, visit gwcim.com. See ad, page 2.

America’s Healthcare ParadoxIntegrative Medicine Offers a Solution

by mikhail kogan and John Pan


After decades of studying issues of environmental destruction, poverty and war, Malcolm Hol-

lick, Ph.D., author of The Science of Oneness: A New Worldview for the Twenty-First Century, concluded in 2006 that a better future for humanity requires a more holistic worldview. It must be one that reflects the evidence of both new sciences and established spiritual traditions, all of which point to a deep unity, or Oneness, the grand reality underlying and often belying the superficial testimony of the senses. Hollick concluded, “We become open to the experience of this unity only when we recognize at the deep-est intuitive level that we do not exist as separate selves.” The founder of the Findhorn College Foundation, in

Scotland, recognized that while the old worldview has disintegrated, the con-crete of a new one has not yet set. He also observed how the acceleration of scientific findings—advancing knowl-edge and understanding of the universe, as well as the meaning and purpose of life—would continue to influence the general worldview. Within a decade, of the publica-tion of his book, hard scientific evidence across many disciplines—particularly physics and biology—as well as pio-neering ideas and anecdotal evidence presented by leading philosophers and authors, affirmed the existence of a real-ity in which everything is connected and linked in a coherent whole. Such thinking further revealed that evolution has equipped humans

with genetic wiring for

co-creation, cooperation and collabora-tion. Martin A. Nowak, a professor of biology and mathematics at Harvard University and co-author of Super Cooperators: Altruism, Evolution, and Why We Need Each Other to Succeed, explains that most great innovations of life have resulted not from competition, but cooperation, the real “master archi-tect” of evolution. Nowak believes that figuring out how cooperation comes about and breaks down is the key to human survival as a species. Books such as The Bond: Con-necting Through the Space Between Us, by Lynne McTaggart, a scientific researcher and award-winning journal-ist, and The Golden Motorcycle Gang: A Story of Transformation, co-authored by motivational speaker Jack Canfield, are helping individuals to see through the illusions of the old “survival of the fittest” and “I win, you lose” paradigms into one expressed in terms of con-nectedness and relationships. This new “Me-We” thinking and way of being has been spreading; it now informs everything from enlightened environ-mental stewardship to economics, as well as health and spiritual well-being.

It’s All About WeConscious Evolution: Why We’re Better Together

by linda sechrist


How Community WorksCanfield emphasizes the valuable les-son of collaboration and cooperation he learned while working for W. Clem-ent Stone, a philanthropist and self-help author: When working together, focus on overlapping goals and interests, and not on differences. In Chicago, Illinois, where the Eat Fresh Eat Local movement sparks successful collaborations, the focus is on food, rather than issues of race, sex or economic disparity. There, hundreds of people are growing food together in communal spaces on city-owned land, privately owned empty lots and roof-tops, as well as in school gardens, food forests and urban farm sites. “Self-reliant, community-operated urban farms and the food centers that retail the produce to residents in sur-rounding neighborhoods—some in the city’s most isolated and impoverished communities—are economic drivers that create jobs,” says Erika Allen, projects manager of Chicago’s Growing Power office. The daughter of national organi-zation founder Will Allen notes that lo-cal workshops resemble a cross-section of the world. “Participants from different countries, cultures and economic levels come together for three meals a day, where we connect, share perspectives and learn from one another.” Another successful initiative, Building a Healthier Chicago (BHC), brings together the Chicago Depart-ment of Public Health, the Office of the Regional Health Administrator of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Chicago Medical Society and the Institute of Medicine of Chi-cago. The BHC agribusiness project de-velops and maintains a system of more accessible food supply, distribution and markets where people live, work, play, pray and learn. Neighbors in Milwaukee, Wis-consin, organized park cleanups with the long-range goal of replacing crime and litter with learning. Now, Riverside Park, once an area of urban blight, has

both a college-level field research sta-tion and grade school outdoor class-room, offering innovative school, adult and community programs operated by the Urban Ecology Center (UEC). Programs serve 44 schools and have spawned two branches in Washington Park and Menomonee Valley to serve residents in those areas. The UEC’s latest project, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Milwaukee, the River Revitalization Foundation, Milwaukee County Parks, private businesses and local landown-ers, is an arboretum that will protect and restore 40 acres of land for native species and wildlife habitat along the Milwaukee River. “With the creation of the Milwaukee Rotary Centennial Arboretum, southeastern Wisconsin has a new, biologically diverse space for growing future environmental stew-ards,” says UEC Executive Director Ken Leinbach. He particularly likes creating spaces and resources that give people that wouldn’t normally connect a place to bump into one another.

Expanding WorldviewCollege settings are similarly intended to encourage stimulating and expansive dialogue among diverse populations. At Mount Holyoke College, in South Hadley, Massachusetts, recent environ-mental study grads Dana Rubin and Hannah Blackmer met Frances Moore Lappé when she visited to share the message of her book EcoMind: Chang-

“The transformation of our society, world and uni-verse starts and ends with

the transformation of ourselves… and in this way to co-create

with others and Spirit a person, a community, a

civilization, a planet and a cosmos that are whole

and harmonious.”

~ Malcolm Hollick

“We’re one humanity and we’re all in this together.”

~ Jack Canfield

“We are facing a critical moment in the unfolding of our human story, and

feel called to create path-ways to a better future.”

~ Craig Hamilton

ng the Way We Think, to Create the World We Want. As a result, the pair embraced the need to shift their view of the world away from looming negatives to focus on creating positive connec-tions and meaningful relationships that recognize life’s interdependence and fuel constructive change. After more research, the duo built a simple website named Convenient Resilience.com and created a blog before commencing a coast-to-coast, 100-day, solutions-oriented journey last summer. They posted nearly 30 “webi-sodes” of heartfelt interactions with in-dividuals and organizations with stories to tell, like the group at 2100 Lakeside Emergency Men’s Shelter, in Cleveland, Ohio, that is using small-scale, practi-cal and cost-effective solutions to lessen their impact on the environment. “The personal stories we heard affirm what we learned from Frances—that it’s pos-sible to locally solve global problems together,” advise the sojourners, who travel in a grease-powered car. “Learn to think beyond negative thought traps that engender fear,” advises Lappé. “Thinking, ‘There isn’t enough to go around, so I have to grab what I can now,’ for instance, focuses on separate-ness and lack, which is precisely what got us into the state we are in.”

Starting WithinA big-picture, more-whole-systems per-spective forms naturally when individu-als come together to explore the power of building intentional coherence. The Art of Hosting (and convening conver-sations that matter), World Café, Vistar Method for Circles and OpenSpace col-laborations leverage technology for the practice of mindfulness to foster deeper connections, authentic conversations and outside-the-box ideas, all contrib-uting to a more enlightened collective intelligence.


Join the Conscious Evolution

ArtOfHosting.org

BarbaraMarxHubbard.com

ConvenientResilience.com

GrowingPower.org

NewMomentumfhu.org

SmallPlanet.org

TheShiftNetwork.com

TheWorldCafe.com

VistarFoundation.org

“My experience has convinced me that

fixing the many problems that beset us requires

nothing less than ripping up our rulebook and

starting afresh, based on something other than every man for himself.”

~ Lynne McTaggart

One’s own new world perspective can even emerge as a result of a dark night of the soul, as Patricia Ariadne, Ph.D., author of Drinking the Dragon, has observed with clients that have undergone a personal metamorphosis as a result of the economic downturn. “Often, the entire process of transfor-mation indicates a spiritual initiation—a renewal or rebirth—that acts as an induction into a level of expanded consciousness and new relationship with Spirit,” remarks Ariadne. “True spiritual progress inevitably leads to a desire to be of greater service to others, to go from ‘Me to We,’ which I believe is our mandate for the 21st century.” Living mindfully can literally change our brains, states Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., in the introduction to A Mind-ful Nation, by Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan, which reports on the supporting science. “Mindfulness… can improve our capacity for perspective taking and decision making, and enhance our emotional intelligence and our ability to act with clarity and wisdom, alone and in concert with others.” Kabat-Zinn is the founding director of the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care and Society, at the University of Massa-chusetts Medical School, in Worcester. “A peaceful revolution is being led

by ordinary citizens across our nation,” confirms Ryan. “At the core of it is mindfulness—finding ways to slow the mind, pay attention to the present mo-ment and see how you are connected to others and can work in a spirit of cooperation with get things done.” The inner impulse to recognize the deeper unity of all life and sense the reality of Oneness is bubbling up within individuals, small groups and organiza-tions, and finding expression in writings and teachings, according to Barbara Marx Hubbard, author of Birth 2012 and Beyond: Humanity’s Great Shift to the Age of Conscious Evolution. Indi-viduals that feel compelled to join with others in expanding their consciousness to help foster systemic change and a culture of a higher order are invited to find a compatible group. Hubbard offers webcast training for Agents of Conscious Evolution (ACE), now 3,000 members strong; Craig Hamilton, founder of Inte-gral Enlightenment, provides an online telecourse called Awakening to an Evo-lutionary Relationship to Life. “Evolutionaries sense that we are facing a critical moment in the un-folding of our human story and feel called to create pathways to a better future,” says Hamilton. He notes that the 35,000 participants in his most recent introduction to his webcast were interested in where they could find a supportive community of kindred spirits committed to living life on the same level. He states, “We instinctively know that we can accomplish more together.” A partnership with The Shift

Network, which empowers a global movement of those intent on creating an evolutionary shift in consciousness, has enabled Hubbard, a featured sage in the documentary Awaken Soul to Soul, and her ACEs to launch a global initiative to mark the inauguration of a sustainable planetary civilization on December 22. Thousands of individu-als are now working in collective hubs across the United States to prepare for the Planetary Birth Day celebration. An initial concern for many indi-viduals seeking to experience Oneness is, “What happens to my identity?” Christo-pher M. Bache, Ph.D., professor emeritus in the department of philosophy and religious studies at Youngstown State Uni-versity, in Ohio, reassures us that within the matrix of connectivity, individuality is not suffocated, but paradoxically liber-ated into deeper forms of self-expression. “While opening to the collective fields that surround us melts the bound-aries of the private ego, bringing about the ‘death of self’ noted in spiritual lit-erature, as the ego dies, a deeper form of individuality is born—not an isolated individuality, but one that thrives in subtle give-and-take,” explains the au-thor of The Living Classroom: Teaching and Collective Consciousness. While the idea of a future in which American and other cultures reflect one-ness can seem distant and idealistic, it is already present in South Africa’s Xhosa community in the form of Ubuntu, a worldview which means, “I am what I am because of who we all are.” According to South African Arch-bishop Desmond Tutu, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984, Ubuntu iterates the essence of being human and speaks to the fact that it’s impossible to exist as human beings in isolation. We are people through other people. “We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected, and what you do affects the whole world,” he observes. “When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity.”

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. For more informa-tion and in-depth interviews on It’s All About We, visit ItsAllAboutWe.com.


wisewords

Stephanie Coontz, pro-fessor of history and family studies at The

Evergreen State College, in Olympia, Washington, shares her learned per-spective in an intriguing oeuvre of books—Mar-riage, A History: How Love Conquered Mar-riage; The Way We Never Were; The Way We Really Are; and A Strange Stir-ring. She’s also co-chair and director of public education at the University of Miami’s research-based nonprofit Council on Contemporary Families. As a speaker, she shares good news on marriage, based on her exten-sive study and observations.

Is marriage becoming passé?While marriage as an institution is less powerful than it used to be, people have higher expectations of marriage as a relationship. Precisely because most Americans no longer feel they have to marry, they are more specific about what they want from it. When a marital relationship works today, it is fairer, more intimate, more mutually beneficial and less prone to violence than ever before. Yet, individuals are less willing to stay in a relationship that doesn’t confer these benefits.

Which qualities do people most desire in a mate today?The old model of married love held that opposites attract. Men wanted mates that were pliable and nurturing; women wanted men that were ambi-tious, powerful and protective. The new model is based on similarities of inter-ests and talents. While some women are still attracted to men that are richer,

Courting Marriage SuccessRelationship Expert Stephanie Coontz

Shares Go-To Guidelines

by s. alison chabonais

taller, more powerful and slightly scary, and some men still want an admir-ing, yielding woman, the trend favors valuing more individualized traits. In a reversal from 40 years ago, men are much less interested in a partner’s cooking and housekeeping than in her intelligence, humor and accomplishments. Women value a mate that

shares household chores more than one that is a high earner. (See more results of a Pew Research Center survey at Tinyurl.com/PewTrends.)

What guidelines foster a rewarding marriage?Be truly interested in your partner’s ideas and activities; take pride in their achievements; use endearments or offer tactile affection without being asked; have a sense of humor about differ-ences; and never let irritation or anger slide into contempt.

How can small, daily interac-tions contribute to intimacy?We all have moments when we are ir-ritated, angry or emotionally or intellec-tually unresponsive. A mate will toler-ate these as long as he or she trusts you to be loving and attentive most of the time. It’s an emotional line of credit—each partner needs to keep replenish-ing the reserves of trust and good will, rather than drawing them down. Psychologist and researcher John Gottman, Ph.D., suggests people need about five positive interactions for every negative one in an intimate relationship. It’s less the occasional over-the-top ges-ture and more the regular, small deposits

that count—a few words of appreciation, a loving touch, an expression of sexual attraction. If we have trouble remember-ing to regularly express appreciation, we may do better by asking, “What would have been harder about this day if my partner wasn’t in my life?”

Why do the new realities of marriage emphasize play over work?Successful marriages used to depend upon specialization. Men and women couldn’t substitute for one another in accomplishing tasks. A typical woman couldn’t support herself financially; a typical man didn’t know how to feed himself, do laundry or manage childrear-ing. Even if couples didn’t share many mutual interests, the partners often took pleasure in being indispensable. Now women can support them-selves and men cook and clean. Thus, shared interests and leisure activities, rather than specialized work roles, increasingly serve as the glue of marriage. Play takes people off the work-centric treadmill and introduces novelty into the relationship. Spending leisure time with others also produces higher levels of happiness than co-cooning, according to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. So make it a double-date night.

How do current and potential partners benefit from game changers—from cell phones to the Internet?The Internet makes it easier to meet partners. Once in a partnership, tech-nology can help daily tasks get accom-plished efficiently, leaving more leisure time. It also allows us to check in with each other while apart. But e-devices are no substitute for face time. The best way to nurture a re-lationship is to unplug from the grid and plug into real life. I see many couples reinvigorated by each other’s company after a few hours together engaged in a fun outdoor recreational activity.

For relevant articles and interviews, visit StephanieCoontz.com.

S. Alison Chabonais is the national edi-tor of Natural Awakenings magazines.


A stressful day might have us seeking solace in ice cream, pizza or potato chips. Other times, we may feel a second donut or another high-calorie treat is our

reward for a task well done. Occasional food indulgences are one of life’s pleasures, but habitually eating in response to our emotions can cause weight gain and health problems.

Core Issues“Emotional hunger represents an appetite, craving or desire to eat in the absence of true physiological hunger cues,” explains Julie Simon, author of The Emotional Eater’s Repair Manual: A Practical Mind-Body-Spirit Guide for Putting an End to Overeating and Dieting. “Emotional hunger often feels the same as physical hunger,” she adds, yet it might rep-resent an unconscious longing for pleasure, calm, comfort, excitement or distraction. It can also have a physiological basis. A 2011 study from the University of Leuven, in Belgium, shows that stomach-based hormones can connect directly to the brain, setting up cravings for sugary and fatty foods, suggesting that we are hardwired to want the foods that provide the greatest number of calories in the smallest quantities. Sugary, starchy, salty and fatty foods also push the brain’s “reward” button, prompting the production of more dopamine, the neurotransmitter of pleasure and well-being. Dr. Pam Peeke, Ph.D., author of The Hunger Fix: The Three-Stage Detox and Recovery Plan for Overeating and Food Addiction, maintains that these foods also create a difficult-to-break addiction cycle. According to Peeke, an assistant clinical professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, in Baltimore, the more high-calorie foods we eat,

the more we need the “high” they produce. Soon, increased amounts of foods like cheeseburgers, potato chips or choco-late chip cookies are necessary to help us feel good again. Handling emotions without turning to food can be a knotty problem, health professionals agree, involving inter-weaving physical, emotional and spiritual strands.

Physical SignalsOne solution is to simply pay attention to what our body is saying. Are we truly feeling hunger pangs? “When we eat in the absence of hunger cues, regularly choose unhealthy comfort foods or continue eating when we’re already full, something is out of balance,” observes Simon at OvereatingRecovery.com. Identifying “trigger” foods might also enlighten us, advis-es Peeke. “You’re out of control if you have a particular food in your hand and you can’t just enjoy it, walk away and say, ‘Ahh, that was wonderful.’ Life’s okay without that particular food.” The key is being smart about which foods we need to eliminate and which ones will help us feel good and enjoy an overall better quality of life. “When you follow a plant-based, unprocessed, whole foods eating plan, your body chemistry becomes balanced and your biochemical signals (hunger, cravings and fullness) work well,” explains Simon. “Each time you eat, you feel satisfied and balanced, physically and emotionally.”

Emotional UnderpinningsOnce we understand the physical component of emotional hunger, we can address the feelings that cause it. Most famous for their Rescue Remedy herbal and floral drops that help soothe anxiety, Bach Flower Essences recently created an Emotional Eating Support Kit that includes homeopathic essences of crabapple, cherry plum and chestnut bud. They maintain that four daily doses can help us think clearly and calmly when we fear losing control, plus objectively observe mistakes and learn from them. Some feelings, however, can’t be “gentled” away. “Soothe the small stuff, grieve the big stuff,” Simon advises. Experienc-ing abandonment, betrayal, domination or violation may re-quire therapy. Lesser stressors can often be soothed by music, being outdoors, talking to a friend, taking a warm bath, walk-ing, meditative yoga or pausing to pray—instead of eating. “No matter how sophisticated or wise or enlightened you believe you are, how you eat tells all,” maintains Ge-neen Roth, author of Women, Food, and God: An Unexpect-ed Path to Almost Everything. “Your world is on your plate.” Roth came to terms with her own food addictions and now leads retreats to help others do the same. When we begin to understand what prompts us to use food to numb or distract ourselves, the process takes us deeper into realms of spirit and to the bright center of our lives, says Roth. She urges us to be present in the moment and to use good food as a sort of meditation. Notice the beautiful greens in the salad and bless the farmer that grew them. It’s one path to realizing the essence of food that’s good for us is a blessing we deserve.

Award-winning cookbook author Judith Fertig blogs at AlfrescoFoodAndLifestyle.blogspot.com.

consciouseating

Food & MoodSolutions for Emotional Eating

by Judith fertig


The National Education Association estimates that 160,000 children miss school every day due to fears

of being attacked or intimidated by other students. Bullying is more than a buzz-word. According to StopBullying.gov, it’s defined as unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-age children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. Kelly Hughes, a school counselor at Bayside Academy, in Daphne, Alabama,

has noticed a dramatic shift in bullying behaviors. She observes, “Kids are not hitting or punching or pushing each oth-er as much as they used to. Rather, they are using in-person relational aggression such as hurtful words, glares, whispering and excluding individuals, exacerbated by social media and cell phones.” While anti-bullying legislation ex-ists in 49 states (Montana is the excep-tion), approaches for addressing this

healthykids

BULLY BLUES BUSTERS

Positive Ways to Promote Kindness

by meredith montgomery

problem vary. Hughes says, “In my job, I spend a lot of time saying, ‘Just be kind.’ More positive results come from promoting kind behaviors and being ‘pro-hero’ than from simply discussing why bullying is hurtful.”

Calmly Taking ChargeEric D. Dawson, president and co-founder of Boston-based Peace First (PeaceFirst.org), also believes in the power of positive language. “We need to move away from harsh language that fo-cuses kids on what not to do and instead ignite their moral imagination—call on them to be problem solvers,” he says. To counter bullying in society, Dawson suggests that we all need to be role models, and talk about and cel-ebrate peacemaking. “We can’t expect our kids to listen to us when we tell them to be peaceful and share if they then see us aggressively cut in front of others on the road or in the checkout line. We can also ask kids how they were peacemakers during their day, in addition to what they learned.” Founded in 1992 in response to the youth violence epidemic, Peace First pro-vides programs and free online tools to help teach students peacemaking skills. The nonprofit is based on the premise that children have a natural aptitude for it and peacemaking can be taught, just like other subjects; their curriculum teaches and reinforces core social/emotional skills in communication, creative conflict resolution, courage, cooperation, empa-thy and civic engagement. A New York City student remarks,


“Peace First teaches that even if you don’t like someone, it shouldn’t affect how you work together to accomplish something... [putting] peace first makes my heart beat lovelier.”

Good for Us and OthersThe International Forgiveness Institute (IFI) (InternationalForgiveness.com), in Madison, Wisconsin, has added its support to the anti-bullying move-ment. Stemming from the research of IFI founder Robert Enright, Ph.D., and his colleagues, the institute works to forward forgiveness for personal, group and soci-etal renewal. It attests that in forgiving a hurtful person, a personal transformation begins that can enhance self-esteem and hopefulness. Enright’s scientific studies further demonstrate that when children learn about forgiveness, feelings of anger, depression and anxiety are reduced. “We believe that forgiveness is a choice,” explains Enright. “When you forgive, you may benefit the person you forgive, but you benefit yourself far more.” Enright recalls his experiences working with incarcerated men that were serving life sentences. “The first thing the assigned therapists asked the group to do was to tell me their story; tell me about the hurts that had been perpetrated on them. One man began to cry, saying that no one had ever asked for his story.” The therapists listened to a tale of the cruel disciplinary measures he had endured at home as a child and recognized a correlation with the crime he had committed. “I’m not justifying his actions, but we can see that he was an extremely wounded man. Many bul-lies in school have a story, and we need to take the time to hear their story. “Because those that engage in bullying are often filled with rage from having been bullied themselves, they get to a point that they don’t care about the consequences of their actions, including detention,” Enright continues. Instead of focusing on the prevention of unwanted behaviors, he says, “Our program is meant to take the anger out of the heart of those that bully, so they bully no more.” An elementary school-age partici-pant in the Forgiveness Program con-cludes, “Sometimes it is hard to forgive someone straight away if they really hurt

your feelings. It might take longer to see their worth and show them real forgive-ness… but it is worth it in the end.”

Meredith Montgomery is the publisher of Natural Awakenings Mobile/Baldwin, AL (HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com).

Peace in ActionWhen a first-grader returned to class shaken up after being accosted by a fourth-grader in the restroom, his teacher stepped back to see how the class would use Peace First prin-ciples. The boy was immediately embraced by his classmates, who quickly concluded that it was every student’s right, not a luxury, to feel safe, and thereafter implemented a restroom buddy system. The offending fourth-grader was then invited into their classroom to hear how each of the first-graders felt personally affected by the incident. He was also required to spend recess with the first-graders for the next two weeks. It became a transformative experience for everyone involved. The older student was recast from victimizer to a responsible, caring in-dividual. He has continued to display improved behavior, volunteering to help in the classroom and foregoing lunch periods with friends to support the first-graders and their teacher. “There’s a misconception that peacemaking is holding hands and sing-ing songs,” says Peace First President Eric D. Dawson. “It’s more a set of skills that’s nurturing human development. It’s working together to solve a problem.”

Peace First’s partner schools

experience an average reduction

of 60 percent in incidences of

violence and 50 percent fewer

weapons brought to school, plus

a 70 to 80 percent increase in

observed student peacemaking.


As with their own food, dog and cat owners are read-ing pet food labels more closely these days to evaluate ingredients and their

sources. American pet food companies may outsource to foreign manufacturers, some-times with disastrous results. Various brands of dry dog food (kibble) and treats have been recalled for melamine contamination or other problems—even brands manufactured here have been recalled for salmonella contamination. To ensure that what we’re serving our dogs contains a proper balance of protein, vitamins and minerals for overall health, the Dog Food Advisor rates dog foods and treats by brand name, explains the ingredients, including byproducts not fit for human consumption, and recommends the best op-tions. Owners can sign up for emails about recalls and other alerts at DogFoodAdvisor.com. Other reasons to read labels include potential allergic reactions to foods, especially chicken and corn, common ingredients in kibble. The educational website notes, “Corn is an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain of only modest nutritional value to a dog.”

Homemade MealsTo have more control over what the family dog or cat eats, many owners turn to home-cooked meals, but know-how is key. “A big risk with home-prepared diets is that they are almost al-ways nutritionally inadequate for long-term feeding, even when using published recipes,” advises Dr. Brennen McKenzie, presi-dent of the Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine Association. “Consult a board-certified nutritionist for the unique nutritional needs of the pet, based on age, breed, health condition and other fac-tors. Don’t substitute ingredients.” Cooking for pets can be time-consuming. Some owners have found dehydrated foods like those from The Honest Kitchen, made in the United States using human food-grade ingredients, both cost-effective and easy to prepare. While the purchase price can be higher than other options, the food

Raw Food Diets for Petsweighing the Pros and cons

by sandra murphy

rapidly rehydrates to four times its original weight by adding warm water. A meatless variety allows owners to add their choice of raw meat, meaty bones or cooked meat and can be suitable for sensitive dogs, raw feeders and dogs that need a unique protein source. “Dehydrated foods are also a good way for a squeamish owner to start a raw diet for their dog,” remarks Dr. Laurie Co-ger, an associate veterinarian at the Bloomingrove Veterinary Hospital, in Rensselaer, New York, who also offers consulta-tions through TheHonestKitchen.com. Coger suggests, “First, determine what a dog or cat needs in his diet, then transition gradually from kibble to a cooked or raw diet. Cats may resist change, while dogs can be more flexible.” Pet food maker Steve’s Real Food is another option as it does not use lamb, pork or venison. Each poses a greater risk

of carrying toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease that can be passed on to pets, especially cats. “If you decide to incorporate raw foods, find a wholesale meat supplier so you can buy in bulk. You’ll need a freezer to take full advan-tage,” suggests Coger. “Feeding raw is not an all-or-nothing proposition, so mix and match. Cook when you have time, feed raw several

days a week and use high-quality dehydrated or dry food when traveling.” Dr. Cathy Alinovi, owner of Hoof Stock Veterinary Ser-vice, in Pine Village, Indiana, found that switching to a raw diet solved an itching problem with her mixed-breed dog. She reports that, “Eighty percent of the reasons my clients bring their pets to me are cured by changing to better food.” Alinovi points out two drawbacks of serving raw food: “You can’t leave it out all day and it can be a challenge to transport home on a hot day.” But she’s found that the benefits are many, “Dog and cat furs shine and shed less; even their behavior improves.” Dog owners also note cleaner teeth, with no tartar buildup, cutting down on trips to the vet.

Not Everyone AgreesFeeding a raw food diet is not without controversy. The American Veterinary Medical Association voted last sum-mer to advise veterinarians to recommend clients against feeding raw meats and bones to pets. Pet Partners, formerly known as the Delta Society, which registers pets as therapy animals, has instituted a policy that states, “Animals may

not be fed a raw protein diet. Animals previously fed [such] a diet must be off it for at least four

weeks before registering them.” (See PetPartners.org/rawdiet.) Deciding which foods to feed our

pets requires extra research and meal preparation time, as well as money, but motivated own-

ers like the results they see in their pet’s health.

Missourian Sandra Murphy may be reached at StLouisFreelance [email protected].

naturalpet

“You can spend money on vet visits or on better food.”

~ Veterinarian Laurie Coger


To handle raw meat and bones safely, follow the same guide-

lines as when cooking for family members. When shopping, keep meat, seafood and poultry separate from other foods—double-bag them to keep juices contained. In the fridge, store meat products in sealable contain-ers on the lowest shelf, so that potential drips won’t touch other foods. Fridge temp should be 40° Fahrenheit or lower. Use one cutting board for meats and another for produce. Wash hands before and after handling meat. Sanitize counter-tops, wooden cutting boards and knives with white distilled vinegar (5 percent), undiluted, heated to 130° F and left on the surface for one min-ute; then dry with a recycled-paper towel or air dry. It will kill 99 percent of germs. Plastic cutting boards go in the dishwasher. Deep clean wooden boards by scrubbing with natural coarse salt and lemon juice (the second half of the lemon face works as a scrubber); rinse with hot water and dry upright. Keep wood from drying out by periodically applying beeswax or walnut or almond oil. Refrigerate or discard any un-eaten food, wash dog bowls after every feeding with soap and hot water, and then let air dry or wipe with a recyclable paper towel. Sponges hoard germs. If used, sanitize them in the microwave at least every other day. Make sure the sponge is wet, not dry. Two minutes will kill 99 percent of most disease-causing germs. Let it cool before handling.

Primary sources: U.S. Food and Drug Administration; OrganicAuthority.com

safe Pet food Prep

Many pet owners are feeling the finan-

cial squeeze of rising prices, not only for their own groceries, but for pet food, too. They want to give their four-legged friends holistic, grain-free and organic foods, but need to be con-scious of their spending habits. With a few simple steps, provid-ing healthy food for pets at a reasonable cost is possible. Add items from the kitchen into a pet’s meal when making people food during the week. For example, when preparing fresh vegetables for dinner, give the ends of the broccoli, carrots, asparagus and squash to a dog as treats. Either chop the ends and give them whole or blanch and then process the ends in a blender to add to the pet’s regular meals, while cutting back on their dry food. (Remember that some foods, such as onions and garlic, are toxic to dogs and cats; the ASPCA offers a helpful online list of unsuitable foods at tinyurl.com/pets-food. Always talk to a veterinarian if there are questions about vegetables in the pet’s diet.)

If time is in short supply, visit a local holistic pet supply store for healthy options that are quick, easy and budget-friendly. The Honest Kitchen, a dehydrated raw feed, produces grain-free and pre-mix formulations for dogs and cats. Try this in

lieu of feeding wet canned food, as a standalone food or even as an addition to raw or dry kibble. Dehydrated foods are safe for animals of all ages and are especially good for those with compromised immune systems. One food-allergy-friendly feed is Grandma Lucy’s Pure Performance, which uses ingredients with novel proteins like goat and rabbit for a completely nutritious meal. These dehydrated formulas, in conjunction with other foods, make economic and wellness sense.

Pennye Jones-Napier is co-owner of The Big Bad Woof, in Old Takoma, D.C., and Hyattsville, MD. For more information, visit TheBigBadWoof.com. See ad, page 8.

Healthy, Budget-Friendly Pet Food Options

by Pennye Jones-napier

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SATURDAY, MARCH 2 Farm Volunteer Training – 9-10am. To enroll as a Farm Volunteer you must first attend a one-time 45-minute volunteer training. Once trained, Farm Volunteers can sign-up for shifts online any time the farm is open. Common Good City Farm, V St NW between 2nd & 4th sts NW, DC. Common-GoodCityFarm.org.Orientation for Washington Youth Garden Vol-unteers – 9am-12pm. Science Program Reaching Out (SPROUT) is an outreach program that provides an opportunity for children and educators from across the Washington metro region to experience the Youth Garden. Beginning in April and continu-ing through the fall, volunteer hours are held every Tuesday and Saturday morning from 9am-12pm. Volunteers must first attend an orientation. U.S. National Arboretum, 3501 NY Ave NE, DC. Info: [email protected] Teacher Training, Day 1 – 3-4pm. Seven-month RYS-200 weekend program that promotes and preserves the ancient wisdom and traditions of yoga while honoring and cultivating the individual journey of the modern yoga teacher. Blue Heron Wellness, 10723B Columbia Pike, Silver Spring. 301-754-3730. BlueHeronWellness.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 3A.C.T.O.R. (A Continuing Talk on Race) – 5-7pm. The open discussion provides the opportunity for people to come together and speak openly and hon-estly about issues of race. Busboys and Poets, 14th & V, NW, Langston Room. BusboysAndPoets.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 9The Deeper Study of Yoga Weekend Workshops, Day 1 – 1-2pm. Take a weekend each month to study and explore the richness of yoga for awaken-ing awareness, deepening inner and outer connec-tions, creating presence, feeling good and enjoying life. Join Maria Hamburger to explore “Living Your Yoga” where in addition to our deeper study of asana, meditation and pranayama, topics explored will include the Yamas and Niyamas. Blue Heron Wellness, 10723B Columbia Pike, Silver Spring. 301-754-3730. BlueHeronWellness.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 10Tree Tour: Carderock with Melanie Choukas-Bradley – 9am-1pm. Join City of Trees author Melanie Choukas-Bradley for a tree walk at Card-

note: All calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month and

adhere to our guidelines. Review guidelines and submit entries online at

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com.

erock, one of the most dramatically beautiful and botanically diverse areas near Washington, DC. Start at Carderock Recreation Area, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park, Potomac, MD. RSVP: CaseyTrees.org.Canal Stewards Cleanup – 10am-12pm. Help Potomac Conservancy clean up the Potomac River. Typical activities include trash pickup, pruning vegetation and removing invasive plants. River Center at Lock 8 & Fletcher’s Boathouse. RSVP: [email protected] Deeper Study of Yoga Weekend Workshops, Day 2 – 1-2pm. See Mar 9 listing. Blue Heron Wellness, 10723B Columbia Pike, Silver Spring. 301-754-3730. BlueHeronWellness.com.Photography along the Potomac – 1-2:30pm. Join us for a photo-trek along the Potomac and C&O Canal and practice your photo-snapping skills. All levels of experience are welcome. For more info, Lien Vu: [email protected]. Prenatal Yoga: Pregnancy and Anatomy – 2-5:30pm. This workshop, for both professional therapists and expecting mothers, will allow you to get a better understanding of anatomy and physiol-ogy during pregnancy. Join our prenatal yoga teacher trainers as they delve deeply into the baby-body of the expectant mother. Eligible for Yoga Alliance CE credits. $75. The YogaFusion Studio, 4609 Willow Ln, Bethesda. Register: 301-656-8937 or TheYogaFusionStudio.com/WorkAndPlay.

TUESDAY, MARCH 12The Environmental Film Festival – Mar 12-24. One of the world’s largest and most influential show-cases of environmental film and a major collabora-tive cultural event in Washington, DC. The Festival presents a diverse selection of environmental films, including many Washington, DC, U.S. and world premieres. Documentaries, narratives, animations and shorts are shown, as well as archival, experi-mental and children’s films at venues throughout the city. Films screened at partnering museums, embassies, libraries, universities and local theaters and are attended by large audiences. For times & locations: DCEnvironmentalFilmFest.org.

THURSDAY, MARCH 14A Community of Gardeners Film Screening – 6:30-

calendarofevents

WE STILL ON?Call ahead to confirm that the

event details haven’t changed and

tell them you saw it in Natural

Awakenings of Washington, DC.


Center for Integrative Medicine, 908 New Hampshire Ave, NW, DC. To register: 202-833-5055.A Conversation with Junot Diaz and Bob Moses – 6-8pm. Teaching for Change’s Busboys and Poets Bookstore welcomes acclaimed writer Junot Diaz and Civil Rights Leader Bob Moses to share their thoughts about education, activism, and participa-tion in organizations such as The Young People’s Project (Mississippi). Busboys and Poets, 14th & V NW, DC. More info: BusboysAndPoets.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 30Spring Workday at Marion St. Garden – 10am-1pm. Join City Blossoms for their first work day of 2013 as they ready the Marion St Garden for another wonderful season. The work to be completed includes mulching, planting and digging. Marion St. Intergen-erational Garden & Girard Children, 1517 Marion St NW, DC. For more info: CityBlossoms.org.A Healer’s Work: Understanding the Healing Path –10am-3pm. This workshop will help you more fully understand your role as a healer and the true power and nature of healing work, while also deepening your understanding of the importance of protecting your boundaries, honoring your limits and your own healing needs. Whether you’re a doctor, an acupuncturist, an energy worker, a psychiatrist, an herbalist or just someone on their own healing journey, this workshop will help you avoid the pit-falls and dangers common to all healers while still honoring your calling. $50. The Yoga Fusion Studio, 4609 Willow Ln, Bethesda. Register: 301-656-8937 or TheYogaFusionStudio.com/WorkAndPlay.Author Azar Nafisi Celebrating the 10th Anniver-sary of Reading Lolita in Tehran – 5-7pm. Reading Lolita in Tehran is a work of great passion and poetic beauty, a remarkable exploration of resilience in the face of tyranny, and a celebration of the liberating power of literature. Busboys and Poets, 5th & K, NW, Cullen Room, DC. BusboysAndPoets.com.

plan ahead

SATURDAY, APRIL 27Healthy Kids Day – As part of the Y’s commit-ment to strengthen community by addressing critical gaps in health and education, Healthy Kids Day will encourage kids and parents to commit to keeping the body and mind active this summer. Join the Y and more than half-a-million parents and kids across the country as we commit to “Take on Summer.” With 1,900 Ys hosting free Healthy Kids Day events across the country, it’s never been a better time to get up, get out and grow. Held at YMCAs all over the region. More info: YmcaDC.org.

savethedate

SUNDAY, APRIL 28Science and Spirituality: A Benefit for Sanctu-ary Retreat Center – 3-6pm. Talks by renowned neuroscientist Dr. Candace Pert and senior IMCW meditation teacher Hugh Byrne with healing music by Eli Ammerman and Kathryn Ashera Rose. Light refreshments. A portion of ticket is tax-deductible. $49 advance; $59 at door. Tickets: 301-349-2799 or BrownPaperTickets.com.

be a soulful evening. Layering traditional Hindu kirtan with instantly accessible melodies and mod-ern instrumentation, Krishna Das has been called yoga’s “rock star.” $35. University of DC Theater of the Arts, 4200 Connecticut Ave NW, DC. Info: BuddhaFest.org.

SUNDAY, MARCH 17Herbs and Wellness for Women with Ayo Ngozi – 9am-3pm. Physiology/pathophys (including how different body systems interact in women), a review of herbs, as well as hands-on activities. Anatomy and the holistic, interwoven rhythms of women’s body systems including the menstrual cycle; what contributes to hormonal and reproductive disorders, and how to use herbs to create wellness; movement for pelvic wellness; and nutrition for women’s special needs. The class includes hands-on food- and medicine-making. Take home samples of remedies, teas and reference materials. $888 for full series of 15 meetings through Nov. For more info: CentroAshe.org.Canal Stewards Cleanup – 10am-12pm. See Mar 10 listing. River Center at Lock 8 & Fletcher’s Boathouse. RSVP: [email protected] Das Workshop: Heart of Devotion – 3-6pm. Join Krishna Das in a workshop setting. The renowned musician offers his unique understanding of the many challenges we all face on the spiritual path. Whether you are at the beginning of your spiritual practice or a lifelong practitioner, Krishna Das offers valuable insights into walking through life with an open heart. The workshop revolves around questions and interaction from participants. Church of the Holy City, 1611 16th St NW, DC. Tickets: BuddhaFest.org.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20Perfect Health: Ayurvedic Lifestyle Program: Lecture 1 – 5:30-7:30pm. Learn how to bring mind-body balance, health and nourishment into your life. Program developed by Deepak Chopra teaches students a powerful regime of ayurvedic practices and techniques designed to: balance the mind-body, enhance nutrition, reduce emotional tur-bulence, restore vitality, re-awaken the senses. $295/adult, $150/senior 65+. GW Center for Integrative Medicine, 908 New Hampshire Ave, NW, DC. To register: 202-833-5055. Author Event with Melvin Goodman – 6:30-8:30pm. Discussing his work, National Insecurity: The Cost of American Militarism. Busboys and Poets in the Langston Room, 14th & V, NW. More info: BusboysAndPoets.com.

FRIDAY, MARCH 22Perfect Health: Ayurvedic Lifestyle Program: Lecture 2 – 4:30-6:30pm. See Mar 20 for details. GW Center for Integrative Medicine, 908 New Hampshire Ave, NW, DC. To register: 202-833-5055.

SUNDAY, MARCH 24Perfect Health: Ayurvedic Lifestyle Program: Lecture 3 – 2:30-4:30pm. See Mar 20 for details. GW Center for Integrative Medicine, 908 New Hampshire Ave, NW, DC. To register: 202-833-5055.

THURSDAY, MARCH 28Perfect Health: Ayurvedic Lifestyle Program: Lecture 4 – 4:30-6:30pm. See Mar 20 for details. GW

8pm. Join filmmaker Cintia Cabib for a screening and discussion of the one-hour documentary A Com-munity of Gardeners. The film explores the vital role of seven community gardens in Washington, DC, and shows how these green spaces are changing people’s lives, their communities and their environ-ment. Free but pre-registration required. U.S. Bo-tanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave, SW. Pre-register: 202-225-1116 or Usbg.gov/Programs-And-Events.

SATURDAY, MARCH 16Herbal Fundamentals, Herbal Healing Tradi-tions, Medicinal Plants, Materia Medica, Herb Gardening – 9am-5pm. With Molly Meehan of Centro Ashé. The series is an introduction and includes herbal fundamentals, North American and Mid-Atlantic medicinal plants (and others), practical and therapeutic applications of herbs, body system therapeutics, nutritional healing, herbal preparations and medicine making, creating sacred space using herbs, guided meditation, harvesting and wild crafting plants, permaculture and herbal gardening, herbal energetics and more. $888 for full series of 15 meetings through Nov. For more info: CentroAshe.org.Krishna Das Concert: Songs of the Heart – 8-10pm. From the first heart-opening sounds of the concert, as the harmonium blends with the unmistakable voice of Krishna Das, something stirs deep within. One knows immediately this will

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

CONTEST

YOUTH ART CONTEST – The deadline for students (K-12) submitting artwork in the Endan-gered Species Day Youth Art Contest is March 15. The contest is a key part of the 8th annual national Endangered Species Day on May 17. For contest details (including guidelines and prize information): EndangeredSpeciesDay.org.

FOR SALE

SAVE THE AMAZON! – Beautiful photos of plants, animals and indigenous people from the Peruvian basin are available for sale. Professional photographs and images from Jim Duke’s Gar-den. All proceeds go towards buying trees to plant in the Amazon and preserving acres of the Rainforest. 301-752-1425. LivingFromTheEarth.com.

HELP WANTED

SALES REPS FOR NATURAL AWAKENINGS – If you would like to help grow the natural, healthy and green movement here in the Washington Metro area, we’re looking for you to do advertising sales. Part time, commission based, make your own hours, meet fabulous people! If this sounds like you, please call Robin at 202-505-04835.WANTED – Full-time employment in the envi-ronmental science/nonprofit sector. Marine science professional with master’s degree seeks entry- to mid-level employment in the DC Metro area. For details, contact [email protected].


cover expenses and is gratefully received. River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 6301 River Rd (corner of Whittier Blvd & River Rd), Bethesda, MD. For more info: Imcw.com.Blessing Circle – 9:15-9:45pm. 2nd Wed. The Insight Meditation Community of Washington offers the Blessing Circle to comfort and support those experiencing loss, grief, illness or any of the “10,000 sorrows” of this life. We gather after the Wed class with Tara Brach for a 30-min service of sharing, mindful and supportive listening, and metta practice. Together we offer blessings to all in need as we take refuge together in the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 6301 River Rd (enter from Whittier Blvd.), Bethesda. More info: Imcw.org.

thursdayWinter Farmers’ Market at Penn Quarter, DC – 3-7pm. North end of 8th St NW, between D & E sts NW.

saturdayWinter Farmers’ Market at Silver Spring, MD – 10am-1pm. Ellsworth Dr between Fenton St & Georgia Ave.Pre-Natal Yoga – 11:30am-12:45pm. Blue Heron Wellness, 10723-B Columbia Pike, Silver Spring. 301-754-3730. BlueHeronWellness.com.

note: All calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Review guidelines and submit entries online at

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com.

ongoingevents

sundayWinter Farmers’ Market at Dupont Circle – 10am-1pm. 20th St NW between Massachusetts Ave & Connecticut Ave, in the adjacent parking of PNC bank.

mondayBaby and Me Postnatal Yoga – 11:30am-12:15pm. Blue Heron Wellness, 10723-B Columbia Pike, Silver Spring. 301-754-3730. BlueHeronWellness.com.Family Yoga – 5-6pm. Family Yoga easing transi-tions, building strength and creating connections. Blue Heron Wellness, 10723-B Columbia Pike, Silver Spring. 301-754-3730. BlueHeronWellness.com.

wednesdayWednesday Night Dinner and Class with Juliette – 6:30-8pm. Learn how to cook quick simple, deli-cious healthy meals for everyday living. Though we incorporate macrobiotic principles into our teach-ing, this class is open to anyone who wants to learn healthy vegan cooking. An introduction to the world

of natural foods. $38/class payable in advance and non-refundable. Jelleff Community Center, 3265 S St, NW. Info: [email protected]. Wednesdays with Tara Brach – 7:30-9pm. Class includes a half-hour of Vipassana meditation instruc-tion and guided meditation followed by an hour-long Dharma talk. A large gathering of approximately 250-300 people. Beginners through advanced stu-dents welcome. There is no registration, but dana (donation) of about $10-$15 is suggested to help

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Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email [email protected] to request our media kit.

ACUPUNCTUREcitY acuPuncture circle 1221 Connecticut Ave, Ste 5B, NW, DC 202-300-8428 CityAcupunctureCircle.com

Safe, affordable acupuncture care. Pay what you can, $20-$50 p e r t r e a t m e n t . J o i n t h e Communi ty Acupunc tu re movement. See community spotlight, page 9.

oursPace acuPuncture 809 Easley St, Silver Spring, MD301-388-8085OurSpaceAcupuncture.org

Natural, affordable, safe, holistic health care in a comfortable community setting.

We ask for $15-$40 per session. Schedule your appointment online today. See community spotlight, page 9.

revive communitY acuPuncture3808 34th St, Mt. Rainier, MD 301-864-1975Revive-Acupuncture.com

$15-$35 acupuncture. Open Tuesday/Thursday 2-7pm, Wednesday/Friday/Saturday 10am-2pm. Convenient to Brookland, Chillum, H St, the Hill, Hyattsville, Cheverly. Free parking. Walk-ins welcome. See community spotlight, page 9.

ARTS & DANCEe street cinema 555 11th St NW, DC202-783-9494LandmarkTheatres.com

Check out the latest exclusive engagements and premieres, including the best in new indies, foreign films, documentaries and restored classics on our film calendar.

JoY of motion dance center1333 H St NE, DC 202-399-6763 JoyOfMotion.org

Joy of Motion Dance C e n t e r t e a c h e s a n d encourages people of all ages to integrate dance into their lives for better

individual and community health and well-being.

COUNSELINGnatalie X. korYtnYk, PhdIndividual & Couples Therapy 3 Washington Circle, NW, DC202-296-5959 • DrNatalieK.com

With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Natal ie Korytnyk is a psychologist with an expertise in relationship difficulties, anxiety, depression, work stress, eating disorders and self-esteem.

DAY SPAaveda institutes 713 7th St NW, DC 202-824-1624 AvedaInstitutesBB.com

E x p e r i e n c e luxury for less. E x p e r i e n c e

AVEDA salon and spa services provided by talented students about to enter the industry. We train the best and brightest students in cutting-edge techniques and styles in areas of cosmetology and esthiology.

venus sPa and nail 400 C St SW Washington, DC (Relocated from L’Enfant Plaza)202-546-0008

Treat yourself to the ultimate spa experience with our extensive nail and waxing service menu. We disinfect our equipment with medical-grade sanitizers to ensure the safety of our clients.

communityresourceguide HEALTH CLUBone world fitness 1738 14th St NW, DC 202-510-0433 OneWorldFitness.com

One World Fitness is a unique wellness training and fitness studio that focuses on your goals and your health. Our certified

wellness counselors act as guides and consultants, assisting you to reach your fitness goals, and helping you to cultivate a healthier life. We have helped hundreds of people at all fitness levels reach their goals. See ad, back cover.

HEALTHY PETSthe big bad woof5501 Baltimore Ave, Hyattsville, MD117 Carroll St NW, Old Takoma, DC 301-403-8957 TheBigBadWoof.com

The Big Bad Woof is a communi ty resource for companion animals and their guardians. We are committed to providing nutritious foods for companion animals whether they are dogs, cats, small

mammals, birds or fish. We provide access to organic, holistic and premium raw diets and a wide range of alternatives including holistic supplements for companion animals. See ad, page 8.

HOME ORGANIZATIONJust that simPleJust-That-Simple.net

Home and office organizing and move preparation services w i t h a p e r s o n a l i z e d , nonjudgmental approach, JTS helps tame “all clutter in all rooms.” You can find, use and

put away things in relaxing, productive spaces.

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINEangela gabriel, msom, lac, chGW Center for Integrative Medicine 202-833-5055, 202-300-4981 Gwcim.com

Classical Chinese medicine, Japanese-style acupuncture, pain and stress management, chronic issues, family care, women’s health, pregnancy, children, Kiiko Matsumoto-style acupuncture, moxibustion, integrative medicine. See ad, page 2.

An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the

broader concerns of all humanity.

~ Martin Luther King Jr.


gw center for integrative medicine908 New Hampshire Ave, NW, DC202-833-5055 Gwcim.com

A clinic that effectively combines use of traditional and conventional evidence-based

m e d i c a l p r a c t i c e s t h r o u g h a v a r i e t y o f complementary and alternative therapies and has many years of close collaboration with George Washington University Medical Center and a variety of physicians in most subspecialties. See ad, page 2.

mikhail kogan, md GW Center for Integrative Medicine 202-833-5055 Gwcim.com

Dr. Kogan is Medical Director of GW Center for Integrative Medicine where he provides integrative consultations and primary care. In addition he does geriatric consultations at GW University Hospital and makes home visits to frail patients. See ad, page 2.

MEDITATIONhugh bYrne, Phd Hugh-Byrne.com

Mindfulness-based counseling and meditation instruction. Dr. Byrne teaches classes, retreats, and workshops on Buddhism and meditation in the Washington DC area and nationwide and provides individual counseling.

NUTRITIONbleu harvestA Personal Chef Service BleuHarvest.com

Customized meals. I do the shopping, planning, cooking, packag ing and

cleanup. Experience with kosher, vegetarian, gluten-free, paleo, raw and other diets.

goûter240-330-3674 Facebook.com/HeyGouter

Handcrafting raw, vegan and organic treats, tonics and cleanses in Washington DC. Making a raw vegan lifestyle more approachable, fun and simple through our products and services; consume less, become

aware and live sustainably. See news brief, page 6.

suPer fantastic foods dc 202-660-2145 SuperFantasticFoodsDC.com

Super Fantastic Foods specializes in providing busy people with farm-fresh nutritious meals and a more convenient way to eat

healthy. Simply choose your meal plan each week, let our chefs prepare your meals and we deliver them to your door (or arrange for a pick up). It’s like having your own personal chef service. See ad, page 22.

Yes! organic marketYesOrganicMarket.com

Yes! Organic Market has provided healthful food, supplements and body care products at affordable prices for over 30 years. Visit any of our seven stores in the greater Washington DC metropolitan

area. See ad, page 27.

REAL ESTATEskY real estate 1703 N Capitol St NE, Ste 1, DC 20002202-630-2437 SkyRealEstateDC.com

We recognize that real estate is a significant financial asset. SKY Real Estate’s commitment to listening to

the individual needs of our treasured clientele and custom tailoring a plan to achieve personal goals is our standard.

REIKIluann Jacobs, slP/rmtReiki-Biofeedback PractitionerGW Center for Integrative Medicine 202-833-5055 Gwcim.com

Luann provides treatments and trainings in the use of Reiki hands-on and biofeedback for self-care, and Reiki care of others. See ad, page 2.

SKIN CAREJoelle skincareJoElle LeeJoElleSkinCare.com

Natural skincare products and services. JoElle SkinCare carefully selects each ingredient for its superior quality, freshness and potency. We use traditional ingredients in their purest form, pioneering a fresh new approach to therapeutic skincare.

THERAPEUTIC YOGAlinda langTherapeuticYogaDC.com

Therapeutic yoga instructor and medical educator specializing in individual sessions throughout greater Washington DC area. A highly experienced practitioner, certified in the medical, therapeutic arena of Cardiac Yoga. Special-izing in chronic conditions and

degenerative disease.

WELLNESSblue heron wellness 10723B Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 301-754-3730 BlueHeronWellness.com

Relax, rejuvenate, energize with acupuncture, massage, yoga, skincare and herbal medicine at our center or at your workplace.

healthY self theraPY and wellness center1875 K St NW, Ste LL-150, DC 202-463-5000HealthySelfDC.com

Our goal is to provide our clients a wide range of therapeutic modalities that meet their needs both immediate and long term. See ad, page 7.

YOGAthe Yoga fusion studio 4609 Willow Ln, Chevy Chase, MD 20815301-656-8937 TheYogaFusionStudio.com

Yoga c lasses , t eacher training, health and wellness seminars, and community wellness offerings. We are your home for a loving and

cohesive yoga family. See ad, page 23.

Yoga district At locations throughout the District202-265-9642 YogaDistrict.com

Yoga District offers affordable y o g a c l a s s e s i n t h r e e community-run yoga centers committed to eco-friendly practices in Washington DC. See news brief, page 8.

Natural Awakenings DC March 2013

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