Natural Awakenings of the NY Capital District - November 2013

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feel good • live simply • laugh more

November 2013 | NY Capital District Edition | AlbanyAwakenings.com

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feel good • live simply • laugh more

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Cookbooks, Resources

STEPS TO SPIRITUAL

AWARENESS The Path to Inner Peaceby Michael Singer

STEPS TO SPIRITUAL

AWARENESS12

Fashion a Passion-Driven Life

Realize Your Purpose and Feed Your Soul

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3natural awakenings November 2013


Natural Awakenings of the NY Capital District

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

AlbanyAwakenings.com

PublisherCarolyn Coogan

Editors S. Alison Chabonais

Randy KambicLauressa Nelson

Tisha Temple

Contributing WritersWesley Delanoy

Kim SteeleLoreanna Thomas

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Adrienne Money

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Michele Rose

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letterfrompublisherI am especially fond of this month’s cover because it speaks to the zest of this issue’s inspired theme and reminds me of my own outbursts of jubilance and playful expression. Family and friends readily attest to the many silly pictures that have resulted over the years. I love living life in this big, happy way and will never apologize for attempting to bring a smile and positive spin to everything I undertake. I attribute it to the Aquarius in me, more in-

clined to follow the whims of my heart than the logic of convention. This month’s issue is packed with rousing tools for living a joyful life rich in meaning. May the words our contributors share speak to you deeply while open-ing windows of thought toward your own expansive expression. Actually, I hope you will be ready to go out and do your own special happy dance upon reading it! The idea of living life out loud is how I came to be publisher of the Capital District’s edition of Natural Awakenings magazine. A local copy fell into my hands last fall at a downstate weekend event called The Festival of Change, and I experi-enced a lightning bolt moment when I turned to a page outlining the opportunity. Ever hoping to recapture the meaning and passion I had previously experienced as a small business owner, just the idea of such a venture produced goose bumps. I knew I was on the right path because nothing could better combine my pro-fessional experiences and personal hunger for greater purpose. For me, finding Natural Awakenings proved a turning point in moving me toward realizing the life of my dreams. I’m so pleased you’ve found this magazine too, and trust it will similarly prove to be an enriching catalyst for your life. Because gratitude is vital to living a bountiful life, we’ve included some help-ful tips in our Inspiration department. What a lovely foundation for our sharing in the tradition of Thanksgiving this month too. Here’s to a very memorable holiday with the ones you love.

In gratitude,

Carolyn Coogan, Publisher

P.S. Remember to look for us at VegFest on November 16 and be sure to check out this issue’s special Veg-Friendly pages.


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contents 6 newsbriefs

10 eventspotlight 1 1 healthbriefs

13 ecotip

14 globalbriefs 17 business spotlight 20 vegfriendlypages 22 healingways 27 community spotlight 3 1 inspiration spotlight 34 creativespotlight 38 calendar

43 naturaldirectory 47 classifieds

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

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16 LIVING GRATITUDE A Taproot of Happiness by Leo Babauta

18 FITNESS MYTHS DEBUNKED 11 Vital Truths by Lynda Bassett

22 THE PATH TO INNER PEACE 12 Steps to Spiritual Awakening by Michael A. Singer

24 FASHION A PASSION-DRIVEN LIFE Realize Your Purpose and Feed Your Soul by Lisa Marshall

28 CHOOSING FORKS OVER KNIVES Doctors Advocate a Plant-Based Diet by Linda Sechrist

32 STARRY-EYED KIDSClear Skies, Cool Nights

Open Vast Vistasby Randy Kambic

35 CRAFTING A GREEN HOLIDAY

Happy Ways to Deck the Hallsby Avery Mack

36 RAW FOOD DIETS FOR PETS Weighing the Pros and Cons by Sandra Murphy


newsbriefsOldWolfs Run Holistic Health Expo

OldWolfs Run will host a Holistic Health Expo from 10 a.m. to 5

p.m., November 16, at Saratoga City Center. The event will feature vendors, healers, psychic readings and discus-sions on various holistic topics. “I’m hoping to bring the small communities of healers together to make one big community,” says organizer Eric Hillenbrand.

Cost: $7 for adults, $5 for children ages 4 to 10, free for chil-dren under 4. Location: 522 Broadway, Saratoga Springs. For more information, call 518-657-6078. See ad, page 16.

GE Theatre at Proctor’s Celebration of Rhythm

Abenaki Nation: Here To Stay and Drums of Ghana, featuring Zorkie

Nelson, will kick off GE Theatre at Proctor’s three-part series of perfor-mances, Celebration of Rhythm, at 7:30 p.m., November 7, in Schenectady.

Featuring the cultural traditions of the Abenaki tribe, this musically driven, multimedia show is lead by local Abenaki member Denise L. Watso. She will share stories of a proud culture under siege, but never defeated. The presentation will be interspersed with songs in the Abenaki language per-formed by Watso and her family. West African drummer Nelson comes from a long line of Ghanaian master musicians. In addition to his percussive role in the band, he also lends his talents on flute and vocals.

Tickets: $15. Location: 432 State St., Schenectady. For more information, call 518-346-6204 or visit Proctors.org.

Annual Auction Gala Benefits Food Bank

The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York will

host its 24th annual Auction Gala at 6:30 p.m., November 8, at the Hall of Springs, in Saratoga Springs. Featuring live music by DJ Swing, the evening begins with a cocktail reception and silent auction, followed by dinner, a live auction and raffle prize drawings.

Tickets: $100 individual/$750 table of eight. Location: 108 Avenue of the Pines, Saratoga Springs. For more information, call Joanne Dwyer at 518-786-3691 ext. 223.


Sound Meditation Class at Key 2 Joy

Key 2 Joy, a Wellness

Commu-nity Center in Colonie, will host a Sound Meditation Class from 6:30 to 8 p.m., November 15. Taught by sound healer and Mu-sicologist David Ciucevich, this group class allows participants to experience the benefits of sound meditation by practicing mantras from a variety of tra-ditions and using sound and movement to clear the mind and raise vibration.

Suggested donation: $15. Location: 145 Vly Rd., Ste. 6, Shaker Pine Plaza, Colonie. For more information or to register, call 518-598-6968 or visit Key2Joy.net. See ad, page 19.

Sage-Femme Midwifery Opens New Studio

Sage-Femme Midwifery has

relocated and opened a new learn-ing studio at 527 Western Avenue, in Albany. Providing education in many subjects important to pregnant women, new moms, their families and birth-ing professionals, class offerings this month include Stillbirthday: Ten Essential Wisdoms, doula training for miscarriage, stillbirth and infant loss, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., November 9; and a Happy Babble baby signing from 1 to 3 p.m., November 16, at which parents or caregivers and their hearing children can learn about American Sign Language and research-proven Signing Smart Strategies while playing and interacting. Sage-Femme Midwifery also offers several classes on a regular basis, in-cluding What You Need to Know about Vaccinations, Infant Massage, Herbals and Your Family’s Health, and Sling Babies Baby Wearing.

For class times and fees, call 518-813-9290 or visit Sage-FemmeMidwifery.com.


newsbriefsCreative Self-Discovery Workshops in Amsterdam

Christine Kidder, owner of Your Creative Pur-

pose, will present work-shops for parents and their children from 10 a.m. to noon, November 2, 9 and 16, at the Creative Con-

nections Art Center, in Amsterdam. Certified by the International Association of Scientific Hand Analysis, Kidder will help participants make handprints and learn something about themselves and their children from the prints. Attendees will then use that information as a starting point for an art project—like a collage or a paint-ing—that can be created either individually or as a collabo-ration between parent and child. Each workshop will focus on a different element in the hands, such as heart lines, which can identify an emotional or communication style. Attendees can participate in one or all workshops and make a new art project each time or con-tinue working on the same project from a previous session.

Cost: $35/class per parent/child pair, includes all materials; or $85 for all three classes. For more information or to regis-ter, call 518-421-2091 or visit YourCreativePurpose.com. See ad, page 37.

Heartspace Yoga & Healing Arts Expands to Troy

Heartspace Yoga & Healing Arts, a

community-oriented studio offering many practices and modalities from a range of traditions, has expanded, adding a second location at 10 Second Street at the

intersection of Broadway, in Troy, to complement its original studio at 747 Madison, in Albany. The new, second-floor facility features an 800-square-foot main studio, as well as a smaller studio overlooking Monument Square and the Hudson River. In addition, there are two massage therapy rooms, two restrooms, changing areas and a reception area.

For more information, call 518-512-3390 or visit HeartspaceTroy.com.

News to share?Submit information online at AlbanyAwakenings.com

Submittal deadline is the 10th of the month.

Albany Peace Project Begins New Year’s Day

Starting on New Year’s Day with a

live streaming concert to be filmed at Unity Church in Albany, a community of people that appreciate the power of focused thought will be con-ducting a historic experiment with the aim of lowering aggravated assaults in Albany through a 30-day peace meditation. Research has shown that people that participate in such studies experience increased peace in their lives, including better relationships, more optimism, lowered blood pressure and less physical pain. Every day in January, meditation leaders will host a peace-based meditation streaming live from Trinity Alli-ance Church in Albany. Co-researchers, State University of Albany Professor, Dr. John Foldy and Numinous founder, Bethany Gonyea, MS, are drawing inspiration for their re-search protocol from the Maharishi University and the team of scientists working with Lynne McTaggart, author of The Intention Experiment.

For more information or to make a donation, visit AlbanyPeaceProject.com.

Silence Retreat at Peace Village

Discomfort during

silence in a group setting is a common emotion, but it can be overcome. Peace Village is offering

individuals the opportunity to discover what it feels like to be in silence with others and still feel self-confident, dignified and worthy by attending a Silence Retreat from November 8 to 10, in Haines Falls. Each morning of the retreat begins with a brief class to help guide participants into the depth of silence. Group ac-tivities in silence such as silent walks, meditations, mandalas and karma yoga will round out the weekend. All retreats at Peace Village are free of charge, but dona-tions are welcomed to support this volunteer-based facility, which aims to be a “spa for the soul”.

Location: 54 O’Hara Rd. at Rte. 23A, Haines Falls. Retreat Arrivals: Fri., 5-8:30 p.m. Departures: Sun., 11 a.m. For more information or to preregister (required), call 518-589-5000 or visit PeaceVillageRetreat.org.


Cohoes Holistic Counselor Hosts New TV Show

LisaMarie Tersigni, owner of Cohoes-based In-spiring Wellness Solutions, is now hosting Tune

In to Wellness Today, a new TV show produced by Schenectady Access Cable Council, Inc., and airing on channel 18 in Albany and channel 16 in Schenectady. Tersigni interviews professionals in the wellness community during each segment and offers insights into the myriad healthcare options available to the community. A Certified Holistic Health Counselor, Nutrition Coach and Reiki Master/teacher, Tersigni’s practice focuses on disease prevention and disease manage-ment, helping clients achieve sustainable healthy dietary and lifestyle habits with the goal of fostering a lifetime of wellness.

For air dates and times, visit SchenectadyAccess.org. For more information on In-spiring Wellness Solutions, call 888-581-5526 or visit InspiringWellnessSolutions.com. See ad, page 23.

Northeast Spine and Wellness Food Drive

Northeast Spine and Wellness will offer complimentary care in exchange for donations of a minimum of three

non-perishable food items from 8 to 11 a.m., November 16, at its Clifton Park practice. The special collection will benefit the Captain Food Pantry of Clifton Park.

Complimentary care includes a free initial exam with Dr. Joseph Gulyas for new patients or one free adjustment for a family member of an existing patient.

Location: 1741 Rte. 9, Clifton Park. For more information, call 518-371-4800 or visit DrGulyas.com. See ad, page 19.

kudosNiskayuna Co-op Celebrates 70 Years

The Niskayuna Co-op, a member-owned supermarket, will celebrate its

70th anniversary serving the community this month with many delicious activities from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., November 16. Highlights include the annual hamburger grill, featuring famous Co-op patties and sliders, as well as food samplings from 10 local vendors. Offering many unique organic, local, gourmet and specialty items, the Ni-skyuna Co-op takes considerable pride in providing personal service, high-quality meats, convenience and outstanding value.

Cost: $5 membership includes discount pricing. Location: 2227 Nott St., Niska-yuna. For more information, call 518-374-1362 or visit NiskayunaCo-op.com. See ad, page 3.

LisaMarie Tersigni and Randall Hogue


eventspotlight

The seventh annual Albany VegFest takes

place at the Polish Community Center, in Albany, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., November 16. The event boasts 70 exhibitors of vegan lifestyle products and foods, plus environmen-tal organizations and animal advocacy groups, as well as eight nation-ally known speakers and four cooking and baking demonstrations to educate attendees about topics including plant-based nutrition, cruelty-free vegan living and the effects of factory farming on the health of animals, humanity and the planet. Children will enjoy a special

area of age-appropriate activities. Attendees can check out vegan baker-ies and even a vegan jeweler, and the first 100 attendees receive a swag bag. Raffles will take place throughout the day. Featured speak-ers include vegan chef Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, an author and the founder of the online program, “The 30-Day Vegan Chal-lenge,” as well as the podcast, “Vegetarian Food for Thought.” She will present the

talk, Debunking the Vegan Myths and Addressing the Blocks that Keep Us from Making Changes. Also speaking

is Nathan Runkle, founder and execu-tive director of Mercy For Animals, with a talk entitled Putting Our Ethics on the Table: Inspiring Compassion for Farmed Animals. Amie Hamlin, execu-tive director of the nonprofit New York Coalition for Healthy School Food, will discuss the important issues surround-ing health and plant-based nutrition for children. “It is our deep desire to save lives, human and non-human, to bring well-ness into the world and to protect the environment we live in,” comments Dave Lajeunesse, co-founder of the Al-bany Vegan Network, which produces the annual event, originally called the New York Capital Region Vegetarian Expo. A group of friends that wanted to make a difference in the world founded the network seven years ago.

Cost: $5 suggested donation. Location: 225 Washington Ave. Ext., Albany. For more information, visit AlbanyVegFest.org or Facebook.com/AlbanyVegFest. See ad, back cover.

Albany VegFest Promotes Plant-Based Living


healthbriefs ROSEMARY REVS UP MEMORYRosemary’s folkloric reputation

for improving memory has been validated by science. UK researchers at London’s Northumbria Univer-sity found that when the essential oil of rosemary was diffused into a room—a method practiced in aromatherapy—it enhanced par-ticipants’ ability to remember past events and remind themselves to do tasks planned for the future, like sending an anniversary card. Mark Moss, Ph.D., head of psychology at Northumbria, says, “We wanted to build on our previ-ous research that indicated rosemary aroma improved long-term memory and mental arithmetic. In this study, we focused on prospective memory, which is critical for everyday functioning.” In the study, 66 people randomly assigned to either a rosemary-scented or unscented room were asked to complete a variety of tests to assess their memory functions. Those in the rosemary-scented room outperformed the control group. Blood analysis of those exposed to the rosemary aroma confirmed higher concentrations of 1,8-cin-eole, the oil’s compound specifically linked to memory improvement. The researchers concluded that the aroma of rosemary essential oil can enhance cognitive functioning in healthy indi-viduals and may have implications for treating people with memory impair-ment. The findings were presented at the British Psychological Society Annual Conference, in Harrogate.

HAPPY LIFE, HEALTHY HEARTFeelings matter when it comes to protecting a person’s

physical health. Researchers at Boston’s Harvard School of Public Health reviewing more than 200 studies pub-

lished in two major scientific databases found a direct correlation between positive psychological well-being and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart

attacks and strokes. They concluded that positive feelings like optimism, life satisfaction and happiness are associated with the reduced

risk, regardless of a person’s age, weight or socioeconomic or smoking status.

Mindful Meditation Relieves InflammationA new University of Wisconsin-Madison study

shows that meditation, a proven reducer of psychological stress, can also lessen stress-caused inflammation and thereby relieve the symptoms and pain of certain diseases. Long-term stress has long been linked to inflammation, an underlying cause of many diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, bowel disease, asthma, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.

Meditation study volunteers were divided into two groups—an eight-week mindfulness meditation course or a stress reduction program of supportive nutri-tion, exercise and music therapy that did not include meditation. The meditation group focused attention on the breath, bodily sensations and mental content while seated, walking or practicing yoga. Immune and endocrine data was collected before and after training in the two methods and meditation proved to be more effective. Melissa Rosenkranz, a neuroscientist with the university’s Center for Investigating Healthy Minds and lead author of the report, concludes that, “The mindfulness-based approach to stress reduction may offer a lower-cost alternative or complement to standard treatment, and it can be practiced easily by patients in their own homes whenever needed.”

Tanning Beds Invite MelanomaAs summer tans fade, some might feel

tempted to use tanning beds to keep a “healthy glow”, but they may be less than healthy. A recent multi-country meta-study published in the British Medical Journal con-firms that exposure to a tanning bed’s intense doses of ultraviolet light significantly increases the risk of cutaneous melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer. Of the 64,000 new melanoma cases diagnosed each year in Europe, more than 5 percent were linked by researchers to tanning bed use. Users experience a 20 percent increased relative risk of all types of skin cancer compared with those that have never used one. This risk doubles if indoor tanning starts before the age of 35, and the risk increases with every session.


healthbriefs

The Killer Called SugarA new animal study from the University of Utah, in Salt Lake City,

reports daunting results. Female mice that consumed the equivalent of a human drinking three cans of soft drinks a day doubled their death rate from all causes. The study further showed that fertility rates dropped dramatically in male mice and their innate ability to defend their ter-ritory diminished. All of the sugar-saturated mice performed poorly on cognitive tests. The lab mice received a diet in which 25 percent of their total calories came from sugar (not high fructose corn syrup, which carries substantial additional health risks). That’s an amount commonly con-sumed in the Standard American Diet, easy to do in one sitting via a super-sized soft drink.

WALNUTS STRENGTHEN SPERMAdding a

handful of walnuts to a man’s daily diet might just increase the chance of pregnancy for couples with fertil-ity problems. Scientists attribute male infertility as the central issue in 30 to 50 percent of the 70 million couples world-wide experiencing such difficulties. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, investigated whether increasing intake of the poly-unsaturated fatty acids found in fish, flax seed and walnuts that are critical for sperm maturation and membrane function would increase sperm quality in men consuming a typical Western-style diet. They found that less than three ounces of walnuts added to a man’s daily diet improved sperm strength, size and motility (swimming ability). The men eating the walnuts also showed fewer chromosomal abnormalities in their sperm.

JOG OR WALK TO LIVE LONGERA slow jog around the

block a few times a week can prolong life. The Copenhagen City Heart Study monitored 1,878 jog-gers for 30 years and found that 44 percent of these subjects are less likely to pre-maturely die from any cause than non-runners. Males and females that continued to jog regularly added 6.2 years and 5.6 years, respec-tively, to their average lifespans. It only takes 1.5 hours of slow-to-average-pace jogging a week to reap the longevity benefits. Walking is also benefi-cial; the National Institutes of Health says it can add up to 4.5 years to the average life expectancy. Seventy-five minutes of brisk walking a week can add 1.8 years to life expectancy after age 40, according to study results cited in PLOS Medicine.


ecotipDigital DetoxUnplug to Cut Stress, Up SuccessWhether it’s extreme texting, tweeting, Googling, posting or blogging, the phenomenon of being caught in the web of the Web is real. Rationalizations range from coping with today’s information overload to fear of missing out (FOMO). Yet, detriments of such continual digital connectedness range from the stifling of family and social bonds to a lack of life skills that only face-to-face communication fosters. In 2011, The New York University Child Study Center reported that 8-to-18-year-olds average more than six hours of daily media use and that school grades of a surveyed group that considered themselves “heavy” users were considerably lower than their “light” use counterparts. Stanford Communications Professor Clifford Nass, author of The Man Who Lied to His Laptop, remarked in a 2013 NPR inter-view that people that do extensive media multitasking “can’t filter out irrelevancy, can’t manage memory and are chronically distracted. They say they are productive and can ‘shut it off’, but can’t keep on task and focus on one thing.” Fortunately, programs to unplug are catching on. More than 400 middle and high schools in 20 U.S. states plus Canada took a Digital Blackout Challenge to refrain from using electronic devices for one week during the 2012-2013 school year (DigitalBlackout.org). From Chief Sealth International High School, in Seattle, Washington, senior Marissa Evans says the experience informed her “there’s a bal-ance between ‘too much’ and ‘just enough’” in being connected, and classmate Alex Askerov terms the Challenge “a breath of fresh air.” For the 2013 documentary film, Sleeping with Siri, Seattle-based journalist Michael Stusser underwent a one-week, self-assessed “techno gorge”, followed by a digital detox of the same duration. During stage one, he said his blood pres-sure went up 40 points after four days. He found, “You’re always waiting for a response.” He subsequently enjoyed being disconnected. Foresters, a Toronto, Ontario-based life insurance provider, asks families to take a Tech Timeout pledge for at least one hour every day and make Sundays entirely non-tech, packed with family activities and socializing.

Learn more at TechTimeout.com.

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

Second VerseKids Turn Trash into Musical Instruments

Young musicians from the village of Cateura, Paraguay, a town of 2,500 families that make a living by mining the 1,500 tons of solid waste daily dumped in a local landfill, have started making musical in-struments from the debris.

Favio Chávez, an ecological technician and trained musician, was inspired to teach the local children to play music in an orchestra. He says, “The world sends us garbage, we send back music.” A documentary, Landfill Harmonic, is in production and a 30-member Recycled Orchestra has performed in Argentina, Brazil and Germany. The message is that like other natural resources, children living in poverty have redeeming value and should not be deemed worthless.

Watch videos at Tinyurl.com/ChavezOrchestra and Facebook.com/landfillharmonicmovie.

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Giving GroupMillennials Devote Time, Talent, TreasureMuch is rightly written about how and why “millennials”, or “Gener-ation Y”—the young people head-ing into the 21st century—spend their time and money. This generation is redefining the way we think about busi-ness, and conscious consumerism is now its own form of philanthropy. This age group is leading the charge by extending the premise of a moral compass to for-profit enterprises and looking for ever-more meaningful opportunities to have an impact. The trend carries fresh implications for the nonprofit sector, too, because millennials lead the way in forwarding worthy causes. When The Case Foundation partnered with Achieve, a thought leader in nonprofit millennial engagement, to produce the Millennial Impact Report, researchers surveyed more than 2,500 millennials ages 20 to 35. They found that last year, 83 percent gave a financial gift to an organiza-tion supporting a cause that resonates with their interests. Seventy-three percent volunteered for a cause that they were passionate about or felt created impact, and 70 percent are raising money for their causes both online and offline.

Frack AttackControversial Drilling Threatens Pacific OceanFederal regulators have approved at least two hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking”, operations on oil rigs in the Santa Barbara Channel off the coast of California since 2009 without an updated environmental review that critics say may be required by federal law. Environmental advocates are concerned that regulators and the industry have not properly reviewed the potential impacts of fracking in the Pacific outer continental shelf. Fracking, a subject of heated debate, is a method of drilling that forces water, chemicals and sand deep beneath the Earth’s surface at high pressure to break up underground rock and release oil and gas. Offshore fracking is currently used to stimulate oil production in old wells and provide well-bore stability. In California, the oil company Venoco has been using fracking technology to stimulate oil production in an old well off the coast of Santa Barbara—where the public memory of the nation’s third-largest oil spill in 1969 lingers—since early 2010. Another firm recently received permission for fracking in the Santa Barbara Channel, home to the Channel Islands Marine Reserve. So far, offshore fracking is rare, but officials expect that other firms may seek to utilize the environmentally damaging technology on offshore rigs in the future.

Source: Tinyurl.com/PacificFracking


Capital IdeaSocial Networking Funds Local BusinessCommunity Sourced Capital (CSC) is a newly formed lender headquartered in Seattle, Washington, that aims to apply the crowdsourcing model to encourage the growth of locally owned businesses. “The hardest part is often not attracting shoppers once the project is off the ground,” explains co-founder Casey Dilloway, “but securing capital to get it started.” CSC’s objective is to harness the power of the connections that tie local people together—both via social media and in the physical world—to find people willing to loan money to small local business-es. They may initially connect through Community SourcedCapital.com. Lenders make funds available in $50 blocks up to a maximum of $250 per proj-ect, and are acknowledged by the receipt of a pale-blue square card bearing the CSC logo, which identifies them as “Squarehold-ers”. The funds are then made available to borrowers at zero interest, and loans are paid back at a desig-nated rate based on the company’s revenue. CSC makes loans of up to $50,000.

Source: Yes magazine

Pass GoCooperation Rules in New Board GameMonopoly is a traditional, popular board game that provides fun for the whole family as players ruth-lessly strive to outwit each other, form a monopoly and take ownership of all the real estate, houses, hotels and money. If that doesn’t seem like a pastime that teaches values of fairness and social justice, there’s a new game in town—Co-opoly. In the 21st-century game, invented by the Toolbox for Ed-ucation and Social Action (ToolboxForEd.org), players develop cooperative businesses using a team effort. Sharing knowledge and creating cooperative strategies determine whether every-one wins or loses. Instead of encouraging players to grab up all the wealth and bankrupt others, it showcases the economic success that can result when people work together.

Safer SleepPeople- and Planet-Friendly Fire RetardantsAn ultrathin film that consists of poly-mers found in crustacean shells could be an environmentally friendly alter-native to the flame retardants used in bedding and sofas. Mattresses and furniture cushions are typically made of highly flammable polyurethane foam; to meet fire safety guidelines, manufac-turers treat the foam with fire-retardant chemicals. These are typically brominated compounds that studies by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, in The Neth-erlands, have shown can act as endocrine disruptors, leading to neurological problems or even cancer. The European Union has banned several of the flame-re-tardant compounds and U.S. and Canadian regulatory agencies have started to scrutinize their use. The nano-coating could be sprayed on foam, which would make it easy for mass produc-tion; several companies have expressed interest in the material.

Source: Chemical & Engineering News


inspiration

“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, ‘Thank you,’ that would suffice,” a maxim first

voiced by mystic Meister Eckhart, has held true through the centuries. Why should this simple act mean so much? Expressing gratitude works wonders.

Gratitude reminds us to recognize good people in our life. They range from loved ones to those that render a kindness to a stranger. Treasuring good-ness in every form brings more of it into our experience.

Gratitude turns bad things into good things. Having problems at work? Be grateful to be employed and serving others. Challenges keep life interest-ing, enhance judgment and strengthen character.

Gratitude reminds us of what’s important. Being grateful to have a healthy family and friends, a home and food on the table puts smaller worries in perspective.

Gratitude reminds you to say, “Thank you.” Call, email or stop by to say thanks… it takes just a few minutes to ex-press our reason for doing so. People like being appreciated. It creates a satisfying beam of mutual happiness that shines on.

Habit-Forming TipsHere are some ways to overcome any initial discomfort felt in stepping for-ward to thank others.

Create a morning gratitude session. Take a few minutes each morning to close your eyes, silence the to-dos and give thanks to whomever and whatever is cause for gratitude.

Show thanks. Sometimes we think about something helpful or kind that someone did for us recently or long ago. Make a note, call them up or even bet-ter, tell them in person with sincere con-viction why you continue to be grateful and appreciative. Another option is a thank-you card or email—keep it short and sweet.

See the silver lining even in “nega-tive” situations. There are always two ways to look at something. We can perceive something as stressful, harmful, sad, unfortunate and diffi-cult, or look for the good embedded in just about everything. Problems held in a positive light from a differ-ent perspective can be opportunities to grow and to be creative in devising a solution.

Learn a gratitude prayer. Many songs and prayers, religious or not, serve to remind us to be grateful. Find or write a special one and post it in a highly visible spot.

Leo Babauta is the founder of the sim-plicity blog, ZenHabits.net, and author of bestselling e-books Focus, The Little Guide to Un-Procrastination and Zen to Done.

spirationspiration

LIVING GRATITUDEA Taproot of Happinessby Leo Babauta


Anne (left) and Danielle DeClue

businessspotlight

Peaceful Inspirations Celebrates Eight Years

by Loreanna Thomas

Seeking to bring peace and inspiration to people’s busy lives, Anne DeClue was moved to open a holistic shop

offering the community an outlet for tran-quility and enlightenment. Eight years ago this month, she opened Peaceful Inspira-tions, in Delmar. “I have always loved this building,” DeClue shares as she describes her origi-nal attraction to its homey architecture and yellow exterior. “I wanted the store to be a spiritual oasis,” she recalls. The shop’s anniversary will be cel-ebrated during regular business hours, November 16 and 17, with raffles for gift certificates, special sales throughout the store and entertaining events such as a drumming circle, which will take place Saturday after the store closes. Peaceful Inspirations offers merchan-dise that is “consciously made” by small, local, family and female-owned, inde-pendent businesses, as well as fair trade goods from around the world. Among the shop’s charming, one-of-a-kind gift items are jewelry, books, artwork, candles, essential oils and crystal and Tibetan singing bowls. “Many people come in seeking a gift for someone going through a tough time,” notes DeClue, adding that guided imagery and meditation CDs are some of the store’s bestselling items. “But the heart of the business is really our crystals and tumbled gemstones,” comments Danielle, Anne’s daughter and the store’s head associate. “Customers often come in looking for something special when they have a particular

goal in mind or they may be in need of balance. We help them select the appro-priate stones or gemstone jewelry piece.” Customers can expect this exceptional level of service with every transaction, the DeClues promise: “We act as personal shoppers frequently. Because of the shop’s cozy and comfortable feel, we get to know our customers well. We’ve also in-dividually hand-selected each item in the store, so we are familiar with everything we carry and can offer suggestions easily.” Yet, more than just a gift shop, the store hosts an ever-evolving list of work-shops that includes aromatherapy, crystals and angels, as well as special events such as aura photography and book signings with local authors. “We have psychics and mediums available for readings, as well, including intuitive animal communicators, for which only a photo of a pet is re-quired,” says Anne, explaining that she has developed longstanding relationships with

well-respected spiritual readers in the community. As part of its community commitment, Peaceful Inspirations also collects non-perishables year-round for the local food pantry.

Location: 384 Kenwood Ave., Delmar. For more information, call 518-439-7039 or visit PeacefulInspirations.net. See ad, page 13.

Loreanna Thomas is a contributor to Natural Awakenings who lives in Albany.


fitbody

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has concluded that more than a third of Ameri-cans today are overweight. Yet it also reports that at

least 30 percent of us don’t exercise at all, perhaps partly due to persistent fitness myths.

Myth 1: Lack of OpportunityEven the busiest person can fit in some exercise by making simple changes in their daily routine. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, do squats while watching television, deliver a message in person instead of via email, take a desk break to stretch or stand while talking on the phone. Even fidgeting is beneficial. The point is to be as active as possible during otherwise sedentary hours.

Myth 2: No TimeThe CDC recommends that each week, adults should exer-cise 150 minutes—the average duration of a movie—but not all at once. To make it easy, break it up into various exercise

activities in daily, vigorous, 10-minute chunks.

Myth 3: UnaffordableActivities like walking, bicycling and even jumping rope can be done virtually anywhere, anytime. Individuals can create a basic home fitness center with a jump rope, set of dumb-bells and not much more. Borrow an exercise video or DVD from the library or follow one of the many television fitness shows. “People can save thousands of dollars by combining five to 10 exercises into a burst-training workout routine,” which will burn calories and increase muscle mass, says Joe Vennare, co-founder of the Hybrid Athlete, a fitness website.

Myth 4: Too Late to StartMany people feel they are too old or out-of-shape to even begin to exercise, or are intimidated by the idea of stepping into a yoga studio or gym. “Stop wasting time reading diet books and use that time to go for a walk,” advises Exercise Physiologist Jason Karp, Ph.D., author of Running for Women and Running a Marathon for Dummies. “In other words, get moving any way you can.”

Myth 5: No Pain, No GainSuffering isn’t required. In fact, feeling pain can indicate possible injury or burnout. Still, consult a doctor before beginning any exercise program. “Do not hurt yourself,” says Charla McMillian, a certified strength and conditioning specialist, attorney and president of FitBoot – Basic Training for Professionals, in San Francisco. “Rather, aim for a point of gentle discomfort,” she advises.

Myth 6: Must Break a SweatPerspiring is related to the duration and intensity of the ex-ercise, but some people just sweat more than others. “How much (or little) you sweat does not correlate with how many calories you are expending,” assures Jessica Matthews, an experienced registered yoga teacher and an exercise physi-ologist with the American Council on Exercise.

Myth 7: Dieting is EnoughWomen especially fall prey to the myth that they don’t need to exercise if they are a certain dress size. Even those at a healthy weight can be in greater danger of contracting disease and shortened lifespan than obese individuals that regu-larly participate in physical activity, according to a recent study by the National Center for Biotechnol-ogy Information, in Bethesda, Maryland. Health experts recommend combining regu-lar activity with consuming lean proteins, healthy fats, limited starches and no added sugars.

Myth 8: Stretch Before ExercisingNew research from the American Council on Exercise recommends stretching at the end of a workout. “It is safer and more effective to stretch muscles that are properly warmed and

FITNESS MYTHS

DEBUNKED11 VITAL TRUTHS

by Lynda Bassett


more pliable,” says Matthews, who also recommends begin-ning a workout with simple movements such as arm circles and leg swings. She notes, “Stretching can help to improve posture and flexibility, plus reduce overall stress.”

Myth 9: Crunches Cut Belly FatThere’s no such thing as spot reducing. While crunches strength-en abdominal muscles, they will not shrink your waistline, says Karp. Instead, try exercises such as squats, lunges and yoga plank holds or kettlebell repetitions to lose stubborn belly fat.

Myth 10: Women Using Weights Get BulkyThe truth is that most weightlifting women won’t end up with a big, bulky physique because they have less testosterone, are smaller in size and have less muscle tissue than men, advises Matthews. “Any kind of strength training will help improve bone density, increase muscle mass and decrease body fat in both men and women.”

Myth 11: Exercise is HardPhysical activity should be fun. It’s best to start simply, add a variety of physical activities and challenges and keep at it. Schedule time for exercise and treat it like any other daily appointment; don’t cancel it. Alexander Cortes, a nation-ally certified strength and conditioning coach with Ulti-mate Fighting Championship Gym, in Corona, California, concludes, “When health is a priority, exercise is the most important appointment you can keep.”

Lynda Bassett is a freelance writer near Boston, MA. Connect at LyndaBassett.com.


vegfriendlypages

CookingOliva! Gourmet Olive Oils & Vin-egars—With locations in Clifton Park and Albany, this family-owned business carries specialty vegan oils and vinegars that are a staple and great gift for any foodie, from the gourmet chef to the home entertainer. Owner Kathy Connol-ly enthuses, “We personally sample and select each product in our store, and we hope that this personal touch is reflected in the quality of our products.” While they shop, customers can sample award-winning olive oils and balsamic vinegars from Modena, Italy, as well as specialty products such as white truffle oil and Ser-rano honey vinegar. The store carries a paraben-, sulfate- and cruelty-free line of olive-oil based body products by Olivina. New to the store are gluten-free artisan pastas.

Locations: 22 Clifton Country Rd., Clifton Park; call 518-371-3866. Stuyvesant Plaza, 1475 Western Ave., Albany; call 518-482-3866. Visit OlivaEvoo.com.

CommunityThe Albany Vegan Network is a nonprofit organization comprised of dedicated volunteers aiming to promote the global health benefits of sustainable living, environmen-tal awareness and compassion for animals and all beings, while high-

lighting their relationship to a vegetarian and vegan lifestyle. The network provides information, encouragement and com-munity for anyone wishing to discover more about healthy, environmentally friendly and humane lifestyle choices. The organization hosts regular social gatherings, which are listed at Meetup.com/AlbanyVeg, as well as the annual Albany VegFest, in November, which typically draws close to 4,000 visitors from across the region.

Call 845-594-7566, email [email protected] or visit AlbanyVegetarianNetwork.org. See VegFest ad, back cover.

GroceryGreen Grocer, locally owned and operated since 1995, is packed with organic produce, a large variety of vegetarian and gluten-free products, as well as cleaning prod-ucts, body care items and gifts that are eco-friendly and cruelty-free. The mission of the store’s owners, Barbara Moore and Bjorn Loftfield, is to promote overall wellness. They take pride in

assisting customers that may have questions or unique dietary needs, keeping a copy of Phyllis A. Balch’s Prescription for Nutritional Healing handy for customer reference. “We’re also committed to keeping business local and returning the dollars spent here back to our community and the farmers and suppli-ers based in the Capital District,” says Moore.

Location: 1505 Rte. 9, Clifton Park. Call 518-374-1362 or visit TheGreenGrocer.com. See ad, page 14.

Health & BeautyNYR Organic US is part of Neal’s Yard Remedies, which began in London’s Covent Garden more than 30 years ago. Independently distributed in the Capital Dis-trict by Lisa Small, the products, certified organic and cruelty-free, include skin and body care, cos-metics, essential oils, aromatherapy, supplements and home fragrances. Company owner Peter Kindersley, a passionate organic farmer and environmentalist, believes “in soil not oil—the goodness of natural ingredients sustainably grown from healthy soil, not synthetic ingredients made by man from toxin-contaminated petrochemical oil.”

Call 518-755-2170 or visit US.NYROrganic.com/shop/LSmall.

Nutritional CoachingInspiring Wellness Solutions is a holistic health counseling and coaching company specializing in the prevention and manage-ment of chronic disease and weight concerns. As part of an array of healing services, the company provides nutritional coaching for a full spectrum of dietary needs, including those living a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle. “More and more frequently, I am asked about the best way to transition from an animal protein diet to a plant protein diet,” shares owner LisaMarie Tersigni, a certified holistic health counselor and graduate of the Insti-tute for Integrative Nutrition, in New York City, who has been vegetarian/vegan for more than 22 years. “The key factor lies in understanding each client well and then helping them create the healthiest, most sustainable plan for their own individual needs.” Tersigni is also a health columnist for Latino New York newspaper, a public speaker and the host of her own televi-sion show, Tune in to Wellness Today.

Location: 100 N. Mohawk St., Cohoes. Call 888-581-5526 or visit InspiringWellnessSolutions.com. See ad, page 23.

Community Resources for Veg-Friendly Living

LisaMarie Tersigni

Lisa Small


Antipasto’sThis vegetarian, Mediterranean-style restaurant accommo-dates special dietary requests; the menu boasts specialty gourmet pizzas, veggie entrees and burgers, homemade soups and a beer and wine bar.

Location: 1028 Rte. 146, Clifton Park. Call 518-383-1209 or visit Antipastos.com.

AthosSeveral vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes are noted on the menu, and special dietary requests can be accommodated.

Location: 1814 Western Ave., Albany. Call 518-608-6400 or visit AthosRestaurant.com.

Lil’ Buddha TeaThis charming café features specialty teas, juices, smooth-ies and vegan desserts, as well as vegan cuisine prepared using locally grown, organic produce.

Location: 274 Lark St., Albany. Call 518-443-0029 or visit LilBuddhaTea.com.

Loving CaféVegan and veg-etarian salads, sandwiches, burgers, entrees and smoothies are prepared with fresh, local ingredients. Many items are gluten-free.

Location: 318 Delaware Ave., Delmar. Call 518-439-1727 or visit LovingCafeDelmar.com.

Moon and River CaféKnown for its free entertainment that be-gins at 8 p.m. nightly, this café serves a mostly vegetarian menu for breakfast anytime, lunch and dinner.

Location: 115 South Ferry St., Sche-nectady. Call 518- 382-1938 or visit MoonAndRiverCafe.com.

New World BistroGlobal cuisine, with local style. This cozy bistro offers a wide va-riety of creative vegan, vegetar-ian and gluten- free options on its fresh and expansive menu. Dinner served nightly. Open for brunch on Sundays.

Location: 300 Delaware Ave, Albany: 518-694-0520 or NewWorldBistroBar.com.

ScallionsThis popular gourmet res-taurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and specializes in homemade soups, panini, vegetarian items, sand-wich and salads.

Location: 44 Lake Ave., Saratoga Springs. Call 518-382-1938 or visit ScallionsRestaurant.com.

X’s to O’s Vegan BakeryThe Capital Region’s only totally vegan bakery offers a revolving menu of specialty baked goods, as well as grab-and-go lunch items, freshly made smoothies and espresso drinks.

Location: 97 4th St., Troy. Call 518-238-3311 or visit XOXOVeganBakery.com.

LOCAL GUIDE to Veg-Friendly Dining Out

Here is just a sampling of restaurants that offer vegan and vegetarian options in the Capital District. For others, visit TinyUrl.com/HappyCowAlbany or TinyUrl.com/UrbanSpVegAlbany.

Friendly Foods by Brother Ron Pickarski

The Vegan Tableby Colleen Patrick-Goudreau

Vegan for the Holidays: Celebration Feasts for Thanksgiving Through New Year’s Day by Zel Allen

Vegan Handbook, by Debra Wasserman

Vegan Holiday Kitchen, by Nava Atlas

Vegetarian Times Complete Thanksgiving Cookbook compiled by editors of Vegetarian Times

Turkey-Free Thanksgiving? Easy as Pie!Cookbooks for Delicious, Plant-Based Holiday Meals


The Path to Inner Peace12 Steps to Spiritual Awakening

by Michael A. Singer

Spirituality is meant to bring about peace. Yet our concepts of spiri-tuality often lead to confusion or

even conflict. What we need are clear steps that can be taken by people of any religion or intellectual standing. The following universal road map can be a helpful aid to self-realization. Realize that you’re in there. First realize, from deep inside, that you are consciously experiencing the outside world, as well as your inner thoughts and emotions.

Understand that you’re not okay in there. If you want to understand why you’ve done everything you’ve ever done, observe your mind and emotions. If you’re objective, you’ll see that you’re really never completely at peace.

Notice that you’re always trying to be okay. As you observe your inner state, you’ll notice that inner disturbanc-es create the urge to either get some-thing or avoid something. This is all done in an attempt to feel okay inside.

Watch as your mind strives to figure out how everything needs to be for you to be okay. Your mind is always telling you how people, places and things need to be. That’s its attempt to create a conceptual model of what would make you okay and then try to get the outside world to match it. Realize that defining how the

outside needs to be is not working. You’ve been busy trying to be okay your entire life. Although some times are better than others, you’ve never come close to experiencing permanent peace. This is because the world will never match your conceptual model. Eventually, you’ll come to see that this approach doesn’t work, and you need to find a different way.

Learn to not participate in the mind’s struggle. You must learn to relax inside and not get drawn into acting on your disturbances. Instead, be willing to allow them to pass through you and simply witness their passing. If you do, the drama will cease of its own accord.

Experience going about your life like everyone else, except more peacefully, because nothing you do is for the purpose of trying to be okay. When you aren’t preoccupied with trying to be okay, you can learn to sit inside and quietly love, serve and honor whatever naturally unfolds. At this point, you’re no longer living for yourself—you’re serving life.

As you let go of the personal ener-gies, you attune to a much deeper energy flow. Up to this point, everything you were watching inside was front and center in your consciousness. Now that you’re no longer being drawn into per-sonal thought and emotions, you’ll begin to feel Spirit flowing in from behind. It lifts you and brings great love and joy.

healingways


Your inner experience becomes so beautiful that you fall in love with the energy flow. You’ll see that there is a trade-off between getting involved in personal energies and the amount of Spirit you feel. Once you’ve established a direct relationship with spiritual energy, you’ll long to constantly experi-ence its freedom.

You begin to feel the energy pull-ing you up into it, and your entire path becomes letting go of yourself in order to merge. Will is no longer needed. All that’s left is learning to sur-render into the higher energy. You must be willing to die personally in order to be reborn spiritually.

Once you dwell deep in the up-ward flow, you realize that your personal existence can go on without you, leaving you free to live completely immersed in Spirit. This is the greatest miracle: You’ve surrendered your entire being to Spirit, yet people, places and things continue interacting with you. But now these in-teractions require none of your energy; they happen by themselves, leaving you at peace and absorbed in Spirit.

Now you are truly okay. Nothing inside or outside of you can cause disturbances—you have come to be at peace with everything. Because you are now completely okay, you don’t need anything. Things just are what they are, and nothing can disturb you. You’ve transcended the world and everything in it. Instead of feeling drawn into Spirit, you now actually experience yourself as Infinite Spirit.

Michael A. Singer is the author of The New York Times bestselling book, The Untethered Soul – The Journey Be-yond Yourself (UntetheredSoul.com). His “Twelve-Step Guide to Spiritual Awakening” is the basis for this article. He is the founder of the Temple of the Universe, a yoga and meditation center established in 1975 in Alachua, FL.

For information about local workshop event based on Michael Singer's teach-ings, see calendar listing under Novem-ber 23, on page 40.

According to the teachings of the

New Thought move-ment, we are born into the human experience with a curious condi-tion: we do not remem-ber who we truly are. Our whole lifetime is a process of remember-ing, and we are imbued with the desire to discover the Self as a part of Spirit, God, the Source, the Universe or whatever term is used for the Divine. Buddhist teacher Jack Kornfield writes, “There is a pull to wholeness, to being fully alive, even when we have forgotten.” The Divine is always calling us to it. Something within us that longs to be awakened. Outside influences, including families, teachers, friends, the media and society, can bring confusion, but none of what they tell us has any-thing to do with who we really are. New Thought teaches that rather than being related to our status or the roles we have in our jobs or personal lives, our true identities are living, loving expressions of Spirit. How this mani-fests in our lives is constantly chang-ing, even though the foundation from which it springs does not. We can dispel our spiritual am-

nesia and recognize our oneness through con-sistent spiritual prac-tice, including spiritual reading and classes, prayer, meditation and sacred service to others to achieve a state of awakening. Yet, awak-ening is not something we achieve permanent-

ly. We can have periods where we let go of our small selves and embrace the Divine Self, but those times come and go as we live our daily lives. Essential to awakening, along with consistent spiritual practice, is spiritual community. This is the sustenance of awakening that can provide us with tools, encouragement and support on the journey, as well as the opportunity to nourish others, a practice that goes a long way to remembering who we are.

Joanne McFadden is a licensed Science of Mind practitioner and minister and the director of the New Thought New York Center for Spiri-tual Living. For more

information, call 518-423-3569, email [email protected] or visit NewThoughtNewYork.org.

Waking Up From Spiritual Amnesia

by Joanne McFadden


Three years ago, Cindy Readnower felt as if work was swallowing her life. As a single mom with

two sons to support and two franchise restaurants to run in Sarasota, Florida, she routinely would get up at 4 a.m. and go to bed after midnight. She didn’t see enough of her boys. “I never had a free moment to just shut down and think about what I really wanted,” she recalls. Then the economy collapsed, forc-ing her to shutter her businesses, file for bankruptcy and consult with a career counselor to plan her next steps. Today, at 57, she’s working as a life coach and business consultant and as she sees it, living the life she is meant to live. “When you hit hard times and say, ‘My worst fears have come true; what am I going to do now?’ It makes you realize you will only find true suc-cess when you follow your passion,” she says.

Readnower represents what some see as the silver lining in these challeng-ing economic times. At a time of high unemployment, when some can’t find a job and others are working grueling hours to compensate for laid-off co-workers, many Americans are stepping off the corporate hamster wheel and sincerely asking themselves: “What is my purpose here, and how can I realize it?”

Purpose Over ProfitsAccording to a recent study by the nonprofit Encore.org, which helps older Americans pursue more meaningful ca-reers, as many as 9 million people ages 44 to 70 have already transitioned into encore careers that combine purpose, passion and a paycheck. Another 31 million would like to. Meanwhile, surveys show that new college grads are increasingly gravitating toward nonprofit and public

sector jobs that feed their souls more than their bank accounts. Off-the-clock volunteerism is soaring. Due to work-ing and earning less, people are also consuming less, cooking, sewing and gardening more, rediscovering forgotten passions and relationships and finding new ones in the process. “When the economy tanked, it prompted a real moment of spiritual awakening for all of us,” observes Sue Frederick, of Boulder, Colorado, a nationally renowned career counselor who also applies her intuitive skills in helping clients like Readnower find their muse. “We are no longer able to hide out behind jobs and benefits that might not have been a good fit for us to begin with. People are remembering their soul’s mission and waking up to the true work they are intended to do.” At the leading edge of the purpose-driven career movement is the millenni-al generation, now in their 20s through

early 30s. Having come of age amidst the Enron Corporation scandal, 9/11, Iraq and Afghanistan wars and the 2008 economic collapse, they’re graduat-ing from college with a more holistic perspective on what constitutes a good career. “The decade in which we have matured has been turbulent in almost every dimension,” says John Coleman, 31, a recent graduate of Harvard Busi-ness School and co-author of Passion and Purpose: Stories from the Best and Brightest Young Business Leaders. “This generation is looking at a world that has so many problems and saying, ‘The old opportunities are not there anymore, so we have to create new ones.’ Many are actively seeking more meaning and purpose at work.” One 2010 survey of 500 MBA students found that when considering a long list of options for what they looked for in a career, they ranked “intellectual challenge” and “opportunity to impact the world” as their first and third priori-ties, bracketing “compensation” which ranked second.

Fashion a Passion-Driven LifeRealize Your Purpose and Feed Your Soul

by Lisa Marshall

In the midst of

uncertainties,

many are asking,

“Why am I here?”


Another analysis by The New York Times found that in 2009, 11 percent more college graduates worked for nonprofits than in the pre-vious year. Accordingly, Coleman’s book is packed with encouraging exam-ples, from a Harvard MBA student and a U.S. Marine that co-founded a non-profit addressing poverty in Kenya’s largest slum to a biomedical engineering grad that launched a web-based car-sharing service. This altruistic, purpose-driven career track seems a stark departure from that of the baby boomers, collec-tively referred to as the “me” generation for its materialistic ethos. Yet those that specialize in helping people find more meaningful lives say this group cur-rently counts among their best and most focused customers. “We are at a time in the world when it is more socially acceptable to follow your passions,” says Janet Attwood, whose Passion Test work-shops—established in 2004—are welcoming more people than ever. “In my day, my dad was so freaked out I’d end up homeless that he sent me to business school so I would learn how to type. Back then, parents never asked: ‘What turns you on?’” That’s a shame, remarks Frederick, because first hints at our purpose often bubble up in our youth. “I believe all of us know at some point what our gift is, but we often bury it and say, ‘I have to fit in and get a job with benefits and a good paycheck.’” There is an alternative.

Work and Consume Less, Live MoreAttwood stresses that living in line with one’s passion isn’t just about work, noting, “It’s about your relationships and friends, your spirituality and health, what you consume and where you choose to live…” She asks clients to write down five life-defining passions (see sidebar) and use them as a guidepost. “Whenever you are faced with a choice, a decision or an opportunity, choose in favor of your passion,” she counsels. Attwood

has observed firsthand how success often fol-lows, because, “When you choose in favor of the things that have the greatest, deepest meaning for you, the universe sup-ports you more than if you are just tepid and neutral about something.” For some, that has meant working fewer hours for less pay, in order to al-

low more time for clarifying meditation, family dinners, volunteering at a local shelter, taking a long-yearned-for dance class or planning the next career shift. It has also led to willing trade-offs in buy-ing less and doing more for oneself. According to the 2010 MetLife Study of the American Dream, 77 per-cent of Americans now say that achiev-ing their big dream comprises improv-ing the quality of their lives by strength-ening personal relationships. As for millennials, 39 percent say they already have what they need. Also, those that feel growing pressure to buy more and better material possessions has dropped from 66 percent in 2006 to well below half today. “Plenty of people have already started down this path. They’re growing vegetables, raising chickens and keeping bees. They’re building their own homes, often with the help of friends and neigh-bors,” writes Boston University Sociol-ogy Professor Juliet Schor, Ph.D. In her groundbreaking book, Plenitude: The New Economics of True Wealth, she argues that contrary to many economists’ assumptions, a shorter work week and smaller econ-omy is better for society as a whole. More, such a lifestyle, “allows people to build stronger social connections, maintain their physical and mental health and engage in activities that are more creative and meaningful.”

Any Example Proves the RuleEver since childhood days of helping her mother make clothing for the fam-ily, Juliette Bastian has had a passion for fashion design. Her love of dancing dates back to watching American Band-stand. But when it came to choosing a

It is not how much you do, but how much love you put

into the doing, that matters.

~ Mother Teresa

Take the Passion TestMake a list of your passions; the 10 or 15 things most critical to your happiness and well-being. Start each entry with, “When my life is ideal, I am … ” (living in a beautiful house in the mountains, working in a job that changes lives, spending plenty of time with my children, etc.)

Don’t worry about how you’ll get there. Just write it down. You become whatever you are committed to. “People often write down a passion, but if they can’t immediately see how they can manifest it, they erase it and instead write something down that they can easily put their arms around. In other words, they play it safe,” says Janet Attwood, co-author of The Passion Test: The Effortless Path to Discovering Your Life Pur-pose. Instead, think big.

Narrow the list to your top five passions.

Write all five passions down on five index cards.

Post passions in places you will routinely see them, such as on the bathroom mirror and refrigerator door; display them prominently on your computer.

Create a vision board (a collage of representations of your passions). “It’s an easy way to keep your attention on the things you really want to grow stronger in your life,” notes Attwood.

Use these priority passions as a guidepost. “Whenever you are faced with a choice, a decision or opportu-nity, choose in favor of your pas-sions,” advises Attwood. Then run to the goal with purpose in every step.

Take the test again every six months, because passions can change and evolve over time.


career, “There was always this trigger that went off in my head that said, ‘You need to make money,’” she explains. By her mid-40s, this San Dimas, California, resident boasted a six-figure salary and a successful, but not terribly fulfilling career doing accounting and strategic business planning. To indulge her creative side, she created colorful spreadsheets, but it wasn’t enough. “At one point, I acknowledged, ‘I am not happy walking into work anymore,’” recalls Bastian, now 52. “I felt like a hamster on a wheel.” Seven years ago, she walked out, and with Attwood’s help, set out to find her true callings. “People always think you have to pick just one, but you have passions that run across every aspect of your life,” she says. “I now realize I am a dancer, fashion designer, family person and spiritual woman.” Bastian begins each week by mak-ing a color-coded “strategic plan of ac-tion,” making sure to include elements of each of her five passions: financial freedom, exceptional relationships, optimal health, successful business ventures and an alliance with God. That means she’s back in school studying fashion design, and now makes time for dancing, church, family and a part-time career-coaching business. She says that it has been finan-cially rough at times. But the “sacri-fices”—like fewer hair appointments, fancy clothes, meals out and expensive holiday gifts for friends—have been well worth it. “I now have the flexibil-ity, freedom and joy of knowing I am living who Juliette truly is,” she says with a smile. “I know I’ll be taken care of as long as I honor what truly matters to me.”

Lisa Marshall is a freelance writer near Boulder, CO. Connect at [email protected].

This is the true joy of life—being used up for a purpose

recognized by yourself as a mighty one.

~ George Bernard Shaw

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communityspotlight

The relaxing lavender walls, soothing aromas and beauti-ful waiting area of Albany Total

Wellness convey an almost instant sense of warmth and tranquility. The holistic healthcare center’s all-female team comprises an acupuncturist/herbalist, a chiropractor, massage therapists and a Feldenkrais practitio-ner who is also an Awareness Through Movement educator. Together, these professionals collaborate to empower their clients to reclaim their health and maintain balance in their lives. Fresh, locally grown, organic produce sits on a table in the kitchen, waiting to be carried home by the practitioners and clients that use the center as a pick-up location for their shares from the community supported agri-culture (CSA) program of Columbia County’s eco-conscious Row by Row Farm. “We truly want to educate our commu-nity as part of providing whole health care,” explains Dr. Ker-stin Medwin, the chiropractor who co-founded Albany Total Wellness with licensed massage therapist Rachel Nichols. A casual conversation between the two about the benefits of combining chiropractic and massage led to the establishment of the centrally located hub for complete wellness care.

Medwin started her chiropractic career while studying athletic training, when she sustained a back injury. A successful visit to a chiropractor triggered her call to the profession. She attended the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic, in Bournemouth, England, where she enjoyed the enrichment of studying with students and instructors from around the world, and finished her training at New York Chiropractic College, in Seneca Falls. Motivated by reducing the pain her

patients have experienced, Medwin also aspires to help them feel uplifted by her positive attitude toward healthy living.

Nichols, a graduate of both the Center for Natural Wellness School of Massage Therapy, in Albany, and SUNY Albany School of Business, was raised eating home-made foods and fresh eggs and drinking fermented kombucha tea long before it be-came popular. Her mother, an aromathera-pist, taught the importance of holistic health care to her and her sister, also a massage

therapist at Albany Massage, one part of Albany Total Wellness. The center’s licensed acupunc-turist, Michelle Nolan, administers Traditional Chinese Medicine, including acupuncture, cup-ping, gua sha, tui-na, herbology and West-ern and Chinese nutritional therapy. Nolan became interested in the philosophies and ancient healing arts of the East in or-der to step away from the unhealthy lifestyle traditions of her familial

upbringing. She recalls, “Meals were prepared using ingre-dients that were popular among Irish and Italian immigrants during the Great Depression–cheap and starchy.” Passionate about holistic healthcare education, Nolan has created an email listserv to transmit topical articles. She also enjoys helping returning veterans to overcome the physical and emotional aftermath of active duty. Buffy Owens, a guild-certified Felden-krais practitioner, started her career as a massage therapist with a degree in kine-siology and a special focus on psychol-ogy and neuroscience. She completed the extensive four-year training in the Feldenkrais Method of Somatic Education, became a certified Awareness Through Movement educator and worked for many years in California and Colorado develop-ing her mind-body approach. She intends to host work-shops with other experts in the Feldenkrais Method. “I merge my practical training in movement education and academic studies with my passion for mindfulness and meditation, pregnancy, birth and early child development to create a learning environment that empowers women and their families,” affirms Owens. The practitioners of Albany Total Wellness are dedi-cated to helping and educating the community with ongoing Monday night meditations, as well as workshops, events and regular Facebook postings about holistic health care.

Albany Total Wellness is located at 130 Everett Rd., in Albany. For more information, call 518-435-1280 or visit AlbanyTotalWellness.com. See ad, page 16.

Albany Total WellnessPractitioner Collaboration Brings Whole Health Care

by Kim Steele

Dr. Kersten Medwin

Rachel Nichols

Michelle Nolan

Buffy Owens


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Film Producer Brian Wendel’s concern for the many Americans suffering from multiple chronic

diseases, as well as the strain this puts on our nation’s health care system and economy, sparked the idea for documenting what doctors researching the issue have to say about it. In his latest film, Forks Over Knives, these pioneering thinkers examine the claim that most, if not all, of the degenera-tive diseases afflicting humanity can be controlled or reversed by avoiding the ingestion of animal-based and processed foods; more, they make a compelling case that switching to a whole-foods, plant-based diet can restore health. Much of the foundational science showing why a plant-based diet of whole foods is not only best for every-one’s health, but also for the planet, comes from noted nutrition research pioneer T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D. He has summarized his results in his book, The China Study, co-authored with his son, Dr. Thomas M. Camp-bell. His 1980 study of 130 Chinese villages, involving 6,500 adults and their families, directly tied the con-sumption of animal protein-based foods to the development of cancer and heart disease. Based on his research, Colin Campbell, teamed up with Dr. Jun-shi Chen, currently a senior research professor with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in Beijing, specifically characterized casein, a protein found in milk from

mammals, as “the most relevant car-cinogen ever identified.” With con-crete evidence in hand, and account-ing for other diet and lifestyle factors, the pair went on to conclude that consuming whole, plant-based foods offers the best strategy for improving health and preventing serious diseases. Other solid science presented in the film comes from Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., whose 150 scientific articles complement the 1995 publica-tion of his peer-acclaimed book, Pre-vent and Reverse Heart Disease, which summarizes the results of his long-term research on arresting and revers-ing coronary artery disease through

CHOOSING FORKS OVER KNIVES

Doctors Advocate a Plant-Based Diet

by Linda Sechrist


nutrition. In his two decades of global research, Esselstyn, who directs the cardiovascular prevention and rever-sal program at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute, found that wherever people ate a plant-based diet, cancer and cardiovascular diseases were rare. In many of the case histories and personal stories chronicled in Forks Over Knives, diet was used as a treat-ment for various diseases and cited as being more effective than prescrip-tion drugs. Anthony Yen and Evelyn Oswick, for example, attest how their lives were saved by switching to a whole-foods, plant-based diet after a lifetime of illness that included multi-ple heart attacks and surgeries, as well as chronic chest pain. Treatment under the care of Esselstyn succeeded in reversing advanced-stage heart disease in both cases. Today, they enjoy active lives full of friends, family and mean-ingful work. Social media channels such as Facebook have been vital to spreading the word about the effective solutions presented by the Forks Over Knives film and companion book (complete with recipes). Wendel reports inspiring posts such as, “Your film changed my life,” or “I no longer require diabetes medication.” Potential savings in costs to people and the planet are vast. Con-sider, for instance, that according to the Polytechnic Institute of New York University, if the entire U.S. popula-tion were to adopt a plant-based diet for just one day, the nation would save at least 100 billion gallons of drinking water, enough to supply every person in every home in New England for nearly four months. Wendel foresees the ForksOver Knives.com website ultimately ex-panding into a news resource, linking people with information provided by leading experts in the whole-foods, plant-based world via various me-dia platforms. It will also provide opportunities to blog with experts, listen to live broadcasts about food preparation and find resources to help individuals transition to a healthier, plant-based diet.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings magazines.


We all need iodine, yet most of us don’t get enough of it through our diet. A study in

the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that iodine deficiency in the developed world has increased fourfold in the past 40 years and now affects nearly three-quarters of all adults. Numerous U.S. practicing physicians quoted widely in the media estimate that the incidence of hypothyroidism in our adult population may be between 30 and 70 percent.

Thus, we can’t efficiently produce the thyroid hormones that serve as chemical messengers triggering nearly every bodily function. The pres-ence or absence of iodine affects our every cell.Be Aware of Hypothyroidism Symptoms

Low thyroid function, or hypothyroidism, is the most recognized and obvious indicator of low iodine intake because the thyroid gland contains more concentrated iodine than other organs.

Symptoms can range from extreme fatigue and weight gain to depression, carpal tunnel syn-drome, high blood pressure, fibrocystic breasts and a variety of skin and hair problems.

Hypothyroidism can further cause infertility, joint pain, heart disease and stroke. Low iodine levels also have been associated with breast and thyroid cancers. In children, insufficient iodine has been strongly linked with mental retardation, deafness, attention deficient and hyperactivity disorder and impaired growth, according to studies by Boston University, China’s Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and France’s National Academy of Medicine. The answer is simple: Taking the right kind of iodine in the right dosage can rebalance thyroid function and restore health to the thyroid and the whole body.

Reasons Behind Iodine DeficiencyRadiation: Almost everyone is routinely exposed to iodine-depleting radiation emitted by cell phones, Wi-Fi, microwave ovens and other electronic devices. Iodized table salt: The human body cannot utilize the iodine added to this product. Low-sodium diets: Failure to use healthy salts to fulfill sodium requirements, plus over-use of zero-nutrient table salt in foods, leads to iodine depletion.Bromine: This toxic chemical overrides iodine’s abilities to nourish the thyroid, adrenal and other hormone-producing glands. A known carcinogen, it is used as an anti-caking ingredient found in almost all baked goods, unless the ingredients specifically cite unbromated flour. Iodine-depleted soils: Due to poor farming techniques, iodine and other minerals in soil have declined, so most foods today are devoid of naturally occurring iodine. Proper iodine supplementation with a high-quality product like Natural Awakenings Detoxified Iodine can prevent harm by protecting the thyroid and other endocrine glands and restoring proper hormone production.

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Annie Gregson

inspirationspotlight

Joining their individual passions, life coach Annie Gregson, yoga instruc-tor Debbie Philp and writer Beti

Spangel collaborate as The Bona Fida Butterflies to facilitate unique retreats and workshops that inspire women to discover and explore their own dreams or simply recharge their batteries in a fun environment. Their annual retreat combines gentle yoga sessions, life coaching tools and journaling exercises in a weekend long format held at The Glen Lodge in Warrensburg, New York. The first retreat resulted in requests for workshops ad-dressing topics such as looking at one’s values, belief systems and the things that hold us back. Workshop titles include Dethroning Your Inner Drama Queen, Make My Day: Confronting Your Inner Critic, and Ignite Your Personal Power; all are characterized by creative ele-ments and a sense of lightheartedness. Workshops can be customized and are portable. “We can make any of the pro-grams work for any timeframe and loca-tion, a half-day or full-blown weekend program,” affirms Spangel. Annie Gregson is a certified personal professional life coach, licensed Living Your Vision coach and freelance artist. “I love the process of life coaching,” she en-

Taking WingThe Ladies of The Bona Fide Butterflies

by Helen Host

thuses. “What attracted me [to coaching] was how much you learn about yourself, as well as learning how to work with people on such an intense, inti-mate level. Through the training, I learned to peel back the layers that have covered my true self. I knew the great joy I would find helping others do the same.” Debbie Philp, owner of True North Yoga, is a profes-sional yoga instructor and ACE-certified personal trainer who brings her passion for physical health and spiritual well-being to the Bona Fide Butterflies’ retreats. “I never wanted to be a yoga instructor,” chuckles Philp. “I pursued teacher train-ing to immerse myself in the practice of yoga for my own benefit. In order to graduate from the first level of training, I had to teach a class. In front of that class, I realized how wonderful it was to share the practice that had been so transformational for me. I made teach-ing yoga my life’s work.”

Beti Spangel is a lifelong writer and strategic planning ex-pert. “I had the great fortune to work for a strategic planning firm for seven years,” says Beti. “I learned so much from them, and even though their focus was on upper management, I learned how to utilize the same tools on a more personal level. Combining that with journaling can make for some powerful and insightful discoveries. It’s great to be able to work with groups on these exercises.”

For more information, call 518-532-0275 or visit BonaFideButterflies.com, where an e-book, Spread Your Wings: How to Release Your Inner Butterfly, is available for free digital download. See directory listing, page 47.

Helen Host is a freelance writer and contributor to Natural Awakenings magazine who lives in Schroon Lake, New York.

Debbie Philp

Beti Spangel


healthykids

Wishing upon a star is an iconic activity steeped in every-

one’s childhood desire to attain happiness and fulfill-ment. Actual stargazing can help make parents’ dreams for their children’s well-being come true, as well. Children are exposed to imagining the larger celestial realm through popular films, science fic-tion literature and pop songs, plus more tangibly via current sky events. Consider news of the meteoroid that exploded over Russia in February and the latest images from the surface of Mars beamed to us by the NASA rover Curiosity. Experiencing the excitement of early knowledge can bolster academ-ics while fostering a calming sense of the order of nature’s rhythms. “Astronomy ties into every edu-cational domain—physics, geometry, algebra, history and ecology,” advises former elementary school teacher Hi-ram Bertoch, of West Valley City, Utah, owner of the KidsKnowIt Network, which maintains 10 free children’s learning websites, including Kids Astronomy.com. Standing in awe at the wonders of the universe can also instill a centering sense of humility in the face of such grandeur. Autumn is one of the best times for channeling youngsters’ intrigue in con-

STARRY-EYED KIDSClear Skies, Cool Nights Open Vast Vistas

by Randy Kambic

stellations, given the clearer skies and comfortably cool nights. This year, families can anticipate a special viewing of the Comet ISON, which is expected to be visible from much of the United States in late November.

Getting StartedSky & Telescope magazine’s online guide, Getting Started in Astronomy, offers easy steps for parents to put stars in kids’ eyes. Check out its This Week’s Sky at a Glance link. Find an open space like a park or wooded clearing to reduce ambient light and use sky maps in hobby publications or astronomy books from the library as guides. Binoculars are the best tool to start getting familiar with the night sky—they augment the naked eye enough to iden-tify many Moon craters, Jupiter’s moons and the crescent phases of Venus. Plan-etariums, science and children’s mu-seums, nature centers and astronomy clubs often hold public family events that include access to telescopes; some loan or rent them out. (Find local clubs and facilities at SkyAndTelescope.com/community/organizations.) Other opportunities include NASA’s Night Sky Network of astrono-my clubs, Astronomy magazine’s youth programs, SpacePlace.nasa.gov and Astronomy.com/kids programs. Boy

The magical night sky is a perfect

playground for a child’s imagination.


Scout and Girl Scout troops both offer astronomy merit badges. When a family’s interest continues sufficiently to buy a telescope, test pre-ferred models at many potential settings before finalizing a purchase. According to the online guide, a first telescope should provide high-quality optics that limit diffraction (the spreading of light as it passes through the lens system to the eye) and a sturdy, smooth-working mount. More advanced telescopes have built-in computers and motors that can be programmed to point at specific spots in the sky.

Rising Stars on EarthIf trying to emulate Galileo is a chal-lenge, youngsters can relate and aspire to the cadre of young scientists pro-filed in Astronomy magazine’s “As-tronomy’s Rising Stars” story in July, available via most public libraries. Being a “self-described computer nerd” led Mark Krumholz, Ph.D., an associate professor of astronomy and astrophysics in his 30s at the University of California-Santa Cruz, to conduct

massive-star formulation simulations. By “plugging in the laws of physics and turning the crank,” he has shown why some stars heat gas around them to appear much larger than others. Colors vary, as well. Stargazing was the catalyst for Anna Frebel, Ph.D., an assistant physics professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in Cambridge. “I consider myself fortunate that my initial passion led to becoming a professional astrono-mer,” says this scientist, who is credited with discovering the most chemically primitive star; the oldest known star as of 2007, at about 13.2 billion years; and the red giant star S1020549. Whether early steps lead to a later career or as a heavenly hobby, helping to convert a child’s, “What’s that?” to a happy, “I know what that is,” becomes worth encouraging. As Bertoch ob-serves, “Kids have an innate excitement about what’s out there.”

Randy Kambic, in Estero, FL, is a free-lance writer and editor who regularly contributes to Natural Awakenings.

Faraway Fun Facts� Stars appear to twinkle from light distortions caused by temperature differ-ences in our atmosphere. The lifespan of most stars is billions of years.

� Ancient peoples saw patterns among the 2,000 stars visible to the naked eye and gave them names like The Big Dipper, Cassiopeia and Scorpius.

� A “shooting star” is actually a meteor with a trail of gases and particles.

� The Moon’s surface is pitted with thousands of craters from long-ago meteor strikes.

� Saturn’s rings are composed mostly of billions of ice particles and rocks.

� Jupiter is by far the largest studied planet; after the Moon and Venus, it’s usually the brightest object in the night sky.

� Planets Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Mercury and Mars, as well as Pluto, are named for Roman gods—Venus was the Roman goddess of love.

� Planets and the Moon don’t emit light—they reflect light from the sun.

Source: Don’t Know Much About the Universe, by Kenneth C. Davis


creativespotlight

“I grew up with beautiful oil paintings in my home created by various relatives,” recalls Tamara DeMartino, an indepen-

dent visual artist who teaches at The Art Center of Capital Region, in Troy, as well as YMCA of Greater Syracuse and Hudson Valley Communi-ty College. “My mother was a fashion designer, and there were always all sorts of cool objets d’art hanging around.” Being immersed in creativity since childhood, DeMartino has had a lifelong interest in art. Her first creative passion as a teenager was photography; DeMartino enjoyed taking photos, processing film and working in the darkroom. Her formal education took her in the direc-tion of printmaking, and she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology. When she completed school and no longer had access to a printing press, she started painting. “I went on to get my MFA in painting from SUNY Albany,” she says. “My early paintings were always about odd things put together, usually with a funny twist. I like odd and funny.” Recently, DeMartino has been focusing on mosaic projects in the community and for private clients. She par-ticipated in the Uncle Sam Project, which placed 30 artist-designed statues depicting Uncle Sam throughout down-town Troy. “I had always wanted to make a public piece, and when this opportunity came along, I jumped on board,” DeMartino comments. “It was interesting and challenging to tile a three-dimensional object that would also have to withstand freezing and thawing.” Her Uncle Sam creation can be seen on Fifth Street, in Troy, between Fulton Street and Broadway. DeMartino’s love of teaching is tied into the idea that she can bring art to talented people that would otherwise

Creating Mosaics with Tamara DeMartino

by Lauren Hittinger

go without it. She explains, “For me, it’s a thrill to see a student—child or adult—create a work of art and feel a sense of pride and accomplishment in how it came out. I think I also enjoy teaching because I have the same attention span as a kid and like to explore new stuff at every corner. I try to make my classes something I would want to do. This fall at The Arts Center, DeMartino is teaching Mental Pauses: The Power Mosaic, a class in which participants create a mosaic from trinkets and small personal objects, al-lowing them to reflect upon poignant instanc-es in life. “As adults, it is infrequent that we actually get a moment to ourselves to reflect

and sort through the stuff rumbling around in our head,” she notes. “In the class, students are encouraged to come with a mental pause that they have experienced—be it a marriage, birth, death or other significant life change—and create a personalized piece of art that helps them redis-cover their center. I’m hoping that people will bring personal items that have deep sentiment that they can immortalize in these power mosaics. Anyone going through a change or anyone who is crossing a threshold into unknown territories should come. You never know when someone might just present something in such a light that it totally shifts their understanding of a moment.”

The Arts Center of the Capital Region is located at 265 River St., in downtown Troy. For more information about Mental Pauses: The Power Mosaic and other classes, call 518-273-0552 or visit ArtsCenterOnline.org.

Lauren Hittinger is the director of communications and spe-cial events at The Arts Center of the Capital Region.

Tamara DeMartino


greenliving

Low-maintenance, child- and pet-friendly colored seashells make a sustainable alternative to out-door mulch. Choose from 22,000 Sher-

win-Williams non-toxic, water-based hues to brighten any landscape. Hide a fallow flowerbed under a waterproof tarp, cover with light-colored shells as background. Then design a Christmas tree, wreath, menorah, multi-hued snowman or another original design with colored shells. After the holidays, the tarp can envelop the shells and be put away for easy storage. Visit ColoredShells.com. Canadian Laura Watt, owner of the ethical seed company Cubit’s Organics, in Toronto, made a felted wool wreath for a front door from an old jacket. A worn-out blanket will also work. “It only took one long baby nap to make,” says Watt, who gave new life to the wire base from an old wreath by using bits of yarn to stitch flowers. Find instructions at Tinyurl.com/FeltWreath. A little VOC-free paint, some repurposed mini-decorations and recycled toilet paper rolls could become an indoor wreath to be proud of. “I’m a television producer, blogger and mother of 2- and 4-year-old daughters, so it had to be easy and quick,” says Karri-Leigh Mastrangelo, in Los Angeles. “We’ll do it again this year.” See how at Tinyurl.com/TPWreath. Spice up table décor using unexpected items. Lay a base of an organic cotton tablecloth, runner and napkins. Top with a centerpiece base comprising a pie pan, clear flower

CRAFTING A GREEN HOLIDAYHappy Ways to Deck the Halls

by Avery Mack

vase or Mason jar filled with bits of fresh evergreens and accented with small ornaments or beads from repurposed and recycled jewelry. Colored shells can line the bottom. Add a stable soy candle positioned in a bit of water for easy cleanup of dripped wax. To continue the theme from the front door to the table, fashion leftover felt from the wreath into candle rings, us-ing the same method, but on a smaller scale. Add spirals of garland made of star-shaped, dried orange peels handcrafted by Colombia’s Sapia artisans. The green, yellow and orange colors, backed with a soft white, provide a citrusy fragrance that lasts months. Learn more at Tinyurl.com/CitrusGarland. Beeswax candle kits are kid-friendly and come with enough supplies to make 20 candles. Order red and green wax sheets for Christmas, blue and white for Hanukkah or purple and pink for Advent. The beeswax is rolled around the wick to make an eight-inch-tall, one-inch-diameter taper. The honeycomb texture creates a festive look. Beeswax is natural and free from the petroleum-based chem-icals commonly used in conven-tional candles. It burns brighter, hotter, cleaner and longer, while emitting negative ions that clean the air of odors, pollen, smoke, dust, dust mites and allergens. No time for a do-it-yourself proj-ect? Many ready-to-use beeswax and floating candles in the shape of poinsettias, holly leaves and snowflakes are available at

ToadilyHandmade.com. Angela Price has created hand-blown glass

terrarium ornaments for her small-space garden design company and boutique, Eden Condensed,

in greater Los Angeles, California. The ornaments range from two to four inches in

diameter and include live succulents, dried moss and miniature, holiday-inspired repurposed items. Price says, “Decorating the tree or the

table, they’re easy to maintain and can be enjoyed for many months beyond the holi-

days.” See Tinyurl.com/DecorativeTerrariums for inspired ideas.

Place cards add an elegant, personal touch to any holiday table. Kids can make snowflake ornaments from

recycled paper. Print a holiday greeting on one side of the snowflake and inscribe a name and personal message on the other for family gatherings. Tied with a ribbon, the snow-flakes can also be hung in the window or on the tree. Preprinted snowflakes made of recycled paper with soy ink at Tinyurl.com/PlantableSnowflakes are embedded with a variety of wildflower seeds for future planting. Mail them in lieu of traditional greeting cards or as more formal place cards for a simple way to prosper green holiday wishes. Mixing mindful shopping with creative touches embroi-ders a memorable day with family fun and the satisfaction that we’ve celebrated the holidays in sustainable style.

Connect with Avery Mack via [email protected].

Conjure a Norman Rockwellesque holiday fantasy of family members gathered around a home-cooked meal, creative gifts and decorations in place as stories of holidays past mingle with memories in the making.

Cue the strolling carolers.

The reality tends to be more of a distracted and exhausting race to the finish line. Available time, energy and money all play into what’s possible to get done by the big day. Some tips can make easy eco-decorations a feel-good part of the merriment.


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, for-merly known as the Delta Society, which registers pets as therapy animals, has instituted a policy that states, “Ani-

mals may not be fed a raw protein diet. Animals pre-viously 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 [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 guidelines 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 containers 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 coun-tertops, wooden cutting boards and knives with white distilled vinegar (5 percent), undiluted, heated to 130° F and left on the surface for one minute; 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 uneaten 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


Sept. Natural Awakenings Ribbon Cutting, Albany

calendarofeventsNOTE: All calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month and ad-here to our guidelines. Review guidelines and submit entries online at AlbanyAwakenings.com (within advertising section).

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1Mystic India – 8pm. Featuring enchanting music, spectacular aerials and perfectly synchronized movement, Mystic India brings the Bollywood tra-dition to life in a phenomenal evening of unmatched entertainment. $20-$65. Proctors Theatre; Main-stage, 432 State St, Schenectady. 518-346-6204.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2Memoriam Writing Your Own Memoir – 12-3pm. Take the challenge to tell your tale; after this class you will be able to write your own memoir. Taught by Marion Roach Smith, a former New York Times staffer, author of four mass market books, and commentator on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered. $72/members; $81/nonmembers. The Arts Center of the Capital Region, 265 River St, Troy. Pre-registration required: 518-273-0552.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3Live Life Local: Foods & Crafts from Around the County – 11am-4pm. Live Life Local is an opportunity for residents from the Capital District to taste and purchase products from vendors who represent the diversity that Albany County has to offer in the areas of food and the arts. Free. Times Union Center, 51 S Pearl St, Albany: 518- 487-2000.The Science of Consciousness & Intention – 1:30-3:30pm. Learn about the exciting intentional research that demonstrates how our mind influences what we experience and learn how to use these skills in a citywide research study that will benefit your life and the lives of others. Shenedehowa Adult Community Center, 6 Clifton Common Court, Clifton Park. Questions: 518-424-0406.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4Introduction to Energy for Health and Healing – 6:30-9pm. Learn about the energy system and why it is so important for physical, emotional and spiritual health. Instructor Jack Treiber will teach a powerful acupressure tapping technique and per-form individual energy assessments on interested

students. $11. Pre-registration required through the Academy for Lifelong Learning (A.L.L.) at Saratoga Springs. 518-587-2100, x 2415.What is a Naturopathic Doctor – 7-8pm. Learn what a naturopathic doctor is and how naturopathic modalities may help people feel their best. Get in-formed about this unique approach to wellness and how this can complement current health protocols. Free. 77 Troy Rd, Ste E, East Greenbush. Register: 518-701-4587.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6Job and Career Fair in Partnership with Mildred Elley – 9am-4pm. Exhibitors and recruiters will be on hand to interview, take resumes and hire indi-viduals immediately. Dress professionally, sharpen interviewing skills and think positively about land-ing a dream job. Free. Portofino’s, 831 New Loudon Rd, Latham. 518-441-3722.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7Creating Sustainable Happiness – 7-8:30pm. Are you done spinning wheels, wasting time and money and feeling confused? Have you felt like you have something unique to offer but don’t know quite what it is? Join Barbara Gilman for the weirdest, wacki-est, quickest and most fun way to change anything in your life that isn’t working. $11. Pre-registration required through the Academy for Lifelong Learning (A.L.L.) at Saratoga Springs. 518-587-2100 x 2415.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8Make Your Own Mineral Makeup Workshop – 6-8pm. Learn how to make mineral makeup such as eye shadow, blush and foundation; safe, natural, preservative free. $25. Materials and containers for 3 pieces of custom natural makeup included. The Bundle Store, 35 Milton Ave, Ballston Spa. Pre-register: 518-894-8766. [email protected].

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8Regional Food Bank’s 24th Annual Auction Gala – 6:30pm. Have a night on the town for a good cause. Cocktail reception with live music by Dr. Swing, silent auction followed by din-ner, dancing and raffles. Proceeds benefit the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. $100/individual; $750/table of 8. Hall of Springs, Saratoga Springs. Details or tickets: Joanne Dwyer, 518-786-3691 x 223.

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Super Science Weekend Kickoff Lecture & Star Party – 7pm Lecture; 8:30pm Star Party. Start Super Science Weekend off with a Dudley Observatory Skywatch Lecture and Urban Star Party. Suggested donation $5-$10. Museum of Science and Innovation, 15 Nott Terrace Heights, Schenectady. 518-382-7890.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9Thankful Living Survivor Celebration – 8:30am-12pm. Celebrate and learn with fellow cancer survi-vors over brunch. Hear from oncology physicians, nurses and survivors. Hilton Garden Inn, Troy. RSVP required: 518-438-3583.Stillbirthday: Ten Essential Wisdoms – 9am-5pm. Doula training for miscarriage, stillbirth and infant loss. This course will be required for anyone in The Northeast Full Spectrum Project who wants to contin-ue being listed for loss doula services on the website. CEUs hours may be available through ICEA. $75. Sage-Femme Midwifery, 527 Western Ave, Albany. Register, request more info: [email protected]. Cool Conscious Business Event – 9am-6pm. Discover a proven, conscious-business success for-mula that allows people to live their dreams, make more money and reach more people in their current business, all while staying true to core values. $97. Open to all business owners. Gideon Putnam, 24 Gideon Putnam Rd, Saratoga Springs. Register: 518-290-6690.


The Mediterranean Diet: Food Demo and Discus-sion – 2-3:30pm. ShopRite’s Registered Dietitian, Kristen Caponera, MS, RD, will provide the latest information about this regimen and prepare a healthy pasta salad for tasting. Short trivia game and gift basket giveaway included. Guilderland Public Library, 2228 Western Ave, Guilderland. Register: 518-456-2400.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10The Primacy of Consciousness – 1:30-3:30pm. Learn about the paradigm shifts that are occurring in science which suggest consciousness is primary in creating reality. Unity Church of Albany, 21 King Ave, Albany. Questions: 518-424-0406.Open Mic Poetry & Prose – 2pm. Hosted by Nancy Klepsch and Dan Wilcox, this is one of the Capital Region’s best open mic venues for poetry and spo-ken word. Bring friends and prose for performance. Free. The Arts Center of the Capital Region, 265 River St, Troy. For details: 518-273-0552.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11New Beginnings Meditation Course – 6-7:30pm. Learn to see and experience life filled with only positive energy like peace and love. Bring happi-ness back, no matter what is happening. Establish and strengthen a relationship with the source of all goodness. Free. Peace Village, Haines Falls. Pre-registration requested: 518-589-5000.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12Disease Prevention & Management Class – 7-8:15pm. Looking to avoid chronic disease, obesity or manage an existing disease? Want to avoid surger-ies, excessive pharmaceutical usage, illness or pre-mature death? Holistic Health Counselor Lisa Marie Tersigni will share the concept of food as medicine and explain how the power within can heal one’s health or prevent disease through food and lifestyle. $30. Professor Java’s, Albany. Pre-registration re-quired: Inspiring Wellness Solutions, 888-581-5526.Gaining Traction with Law of Attraction – 7-9pm. Manifestation requires impeccable honesty, tech-nical skill, arcane knowledge and a practice that retrains your nervous system to think in new ways. Explore these skill sets with a group of like-minded individuals. $20 Donation appreciated. Shenede-howa Adult Community Center, 6 Clifton Common Court, Clifton Park. 518-424-0406.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13Women of Excellence Reunion – 5:30-7pm. Celebrate the region’s abundance of excellence as the business community is brought together, along with years of distinguished “Women of Excellence” award recipients. A great opportunity to network with accomplished professionals and see where the journey has brought many of the women who have been honored over the past 22 years. Cocktails and reception. $25. Desmond Hotel & Conference Center, 660 Albany Shaker Rd, Albany. Register at: ACChamber.org/Events.aspx. 518-431-1400.Healthy Meals, Happy Family – 6-8:30pm. Learn how to have fun in the kitchen and take the frustra-tion out of delivering healthy and delicious meals and snacks to your family. Instructor Lisa O’Brien will show how to prepare easy, vegan and mostly gluten-free favorites. $60. Different Drummer’s Kitchen, Stuyvesant Plaza, Rte 20/Western Ave, Albany. Pre-registration required: 518-459-7990.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 145th Annual Shine a Light on Lung Cancer Vigil – 5:30-7:30pm. Add your voice to this historic movement as the community unites to triple lung cancer survivorship by 2020. Free reception. Albany Medical Center; Hilton Garden Inn, 62 New Scot-land Ave, Albany. Register or donate: 518-262-1200.Schenectady Green Market’s Harvest Dinner – 5:30-8:30pm. Celebrate the bounty of the season and the fifth anniversary of the market itself. River Stone Manor, Rte 5, Scotia. Tickets: Schenectady-GreenMarket.org.Fundraiser to Benefit Peaceful Acres Horses – 7-10pm. A night of music and fun in support of Peaceful Acres’ Feed the Rescues Fund. Featuring the talents of Joe ‘Sinatra’ Kriss. Moon and River Café, 115 S Ferry St, Schenectady. Moon River: 518-382-1938. Peaceful Acres: 518-887-3178.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15The Mystery of the Albany Mummies – 10am-5pm. Presented by GE, this is the largest exhibition on ancient Egypt ever presented in New York’s Capi-tal Region. Art and artifacts from around the world and advanced medical technologies help unravel the mystery of the Albany Mummies. Interactive stations, special programs, an international lecture series and an Ancient Egyptian Shop. $10/adults, $8/seniors, $8/students with ID, $6/ children 6-12; Under 6 free. Albany Institute of History & Art, 125 Washington Ave, Albany. For details: 518-463-4478.Rockin’ from the Heart 3 – 6-10p.m. Benefit for the Center for Disability Services Foundation in support of Adult Services. Live music from Delmartini’s, Blue

Factory, Grainbelt and The Rufus Leaking Band, plus specials and a silent auction. $10 donation at the door. Barrel Saloon, 942 Broadway, Albany. Contact Center for Disability Services: 518-437-5700.Sound Meditation Group – 6:30-8pm. Sound (vibration) is a powerful form of healing. In a group setting, experience the benefits of sound meditation by practicing mantras from various traditions. $15 suggested donation. Key 2 Joy, 145 Vly Rd, Ste 6, Shaker Pine Plaza, Colonie. 518-598-6968.Gong Lab – 7-8:30pm. Experience an extraordinary vibration and sound environment created with large diaphragm gongs, crystal and metal singing bowls. Sound can be a powerful healing support as well as deeply meditative and rejuvenating. $10-$20 sug-gested donation. Bodyworks Professionals, 578 New Loudon Rd, Latham. Pre-register: 518-389-2200.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16Lake George Polar Plunge Benefiting the Special Olympics – 9am-12pm. This year marks the Seventh Annual Polar Plunge for Special Olympics in Lake George. It’s a wild, crazy, fun event and a great way to show community colors. Raise $100 to take the Plunge and receive an official Polar Plunge Sweat-shirt. Shepard Park Beach, Lake George. Michelle Iorizzo: 518-388-0790.Peaceful Inspirations Celebrates 8 Years – 10am-6pm. Enjoy raffles, special sales throughout the store, and a drumming circle beginning at 6 pm. Peaceful Inspirations, 384 Kenwood Ave, Delmar: 518-439-7039.Old Wolf’s Run Holistic Health Expo – 10am-5pm. Vendors, healers, psychic readings and discus-


Community Kirtan – 7-9pm. Ecstatic chanting from the Indian Bhakti (devotional) tradition. Everyone sings together from their hearts, regardless of ability. No experience or special skill is needed. Sing, dance or lie down and relax, allowing the waves of song to wash over you. Kids welcome with supervision. $15 suggested donation. Key 2 Joy, 145 Vly Rd, Ste 6, Shaker Pine Plaza, Colonie. 518-598-6968.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17Reiki Level II Class – 9am-5pm. Step up healing abilities to the next level, receive a Reiki level II attunement, learn the Reiki symbols, distance healing. Give and receive full-body Reiki sessions. Class limited to 6 students. (Pre-requisite Reiki I certifi cate). $175. The Art of Reiki, 251 River St, Ste 401, Troy. Pre-register, Joyce: 518-271-7802.Meditation & Movement Fundraiser – 10am-6pm. A day of donation-based Awareness Through Movement classes and guided meditation. Attend one class or all. Funds raised are for the reconstruc-tion of the Hakubai Zen Temple in Boulder, CO. Conscious Movements, 130 Everett Rd. Albany. Registration Required: 518-629-5664.Peaceful Inspirations Celebrates 8 Years – 12-5pm. Enjoy raffl es and special sales throughout the store. Peaceful Inspirations, 384 Kenwood Ave, Delmar: 518-439-7039.Body Dialogue – 1:30-3:30pm. A blend of tech-niques derived from Eugene Gendlin (Focusing), Gay and Kathlyn Hendricks (At the Speed of Life) and John Welwood (Ordinary Magic: Everyday Life Of Spiritual Practice). $20 donation appreciated. Shenendehowa Adult Community Center, 6 Clifton Common Court, Clifton Park. 518-424-0406.Spirit Cafe: A Gathering for Spiritual Practice – 4:30-6pm. Gather with others for the purpose of seeking truth. This can involve meditation, listen-ing to or reading spiritual texts or teachings, and speaking or singing mantras and prayers. All faiths embraced. $10. One Big Roof, 433 Broadway, Saratoga Springs. 518-450-1624.Potluck and Movie Night – 5:15 pm (dinner) and 6 pm (movie). Explore science and spirituality in What the Bleep Do We Know followed by discus-sion. Offered on a love offering basis. New Thought New York, 2 Imperial Ln, Charlton. 518-423-3569.M editation for World Peace – 6:30-7:30pm. Observe as the universe is fi lled with energy of lightness, radiance and peace. Together, peace, love and care will be sent to our world. For new and experienced meditators alike. Free. Peace Village, Haines Falls. 518-589-5000.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19Grieving Through the Holidays – 4-5pm. Grief Counselor Will Hannah from Community Hospice of Rensselaer County will discuss the challenge of honoring grief and loss in the midst of community celebrations. East Greenbush Community Library,

sions on various holistic topics. Saratoga Springs City Center, 522 Broadway, Saratoga Springs. Questions: 518-657-6078. Holiday Open House at Artique – 10am-6pm. Giveaways, specialty coupons, and store-wide discounts, plus free balloons for the kids. Artique, Colonie Center (ground fl oor next to fountain/eleva-tor). 518-322-9973.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16VegFest– 10am-6pm. Albany VegFest brings together the global health benefits of green sustainable living, environmental awareness and compassion for animals and all beings. Spon-sored in part by Natural Awakenings Magazine of the NY Capital District. Free admission; sug-gested $5 donation. Polish Community Center, Washington Ave Extension, Albany. For details: AlbanyVegFest.org. See ad, back cover.

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Niskayuna Co-Op Market’s 70th Anniversary – 11am-4pm. Festivities to celebrate 70 great years. Highlights include the annual hamburger grill, fea-turing famous Co-Op patties and sliders, as well as food samplings via 10 local vendors. Niskayuna Co-Op Market, 2227 Nott St, Niskayuna. 518-374-1362.Albany County Rabies Vaccination for Dogs, Cats & Ferrets – 1-2:30pm cats/ferrets; 2:30-4pm dogs. All dogs, cats, and ferrets must be on leashes or in carriers. Open to any Albany County resident. $8 suggested donation. Village of Green Island Public Works Garage, Cohoes Ave, Green Island. Direct inquiries: Division of Environmental Health Services: 518-447-4620. Happy Babble Baby Signing Parent Workshop – 1-3pm. Parents or caregivers learn sign language vocabulary and language development strategies to help their hearing children communicate prior to being verbal. Ideal for parents of children 6-24 months. $40 suggested donation includes class and Signing Smart with Babies and Toddlers book. Sage-Femme Midwifery, 527 Western Ave, Albany. Register: 518-813-9290.Infant Massage for Parents and Caregivers – 4-5:30pm. Parents with babies 6 wks to pre-rolling. Learn simple and practical massage techniques as well as movements and exercises to encourage baby’s motor development. $40/family. The Bundle Store, 35 Milton Ave, Ballston Spa. 518-557-8809.

10 Community Way, East Greenbush. Pre-registra-tion required: 518-477-7476.A Vegetarian Thanksgiving – 5:30-7pm. Part of The Stram Center’s Culinary and Tasting Series; Join Eric C Sharer, MPH, RD, CSO, for an exciting cooking demonstration. Recipes, nutrition handouts and generous tastings included. $30. The Stram Center for Integrative Medicine, 388 Kenwood Ave, Delmar. Register: 518 689-2244.What is Nutrition Response Testing – 6pm. A free, fun-fi lled hour of learning. All new attendees are eligible to receive a complimentary initial consulta-tion ($125 value). The Natural Improvement Center, 357 Bay Rd, Queensbury. More info: 518-745-7473.Releasing Weight Monthly Group Sessions – 7:30-8:30pm. Learn how to make permanent changes in life and become empowered to be healthier, happier and fi tter. Hypnosis and other proven techniques are used in a group setting. Topics such as emotional eating, stress, exercise, goals and habits are also ad-dressed. $20. Key 2 Joy, 145 Vly Rd ,Ste 6, Shaker Pine Plaza, Colonie. 518-598-6968.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21Stop Painting Your Walls: American Clay Work-shop – 6-7:30pm. Learn a new “green” way to add color and texture to the home with American Clay plasters. Learn how to apply the clay and leave with a self-made sample board. $20, supplies included. Green Conscience Home, 33 Church St, Saratoga Springs. Reservations required, Karen: 518-306-5196.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23Readings from the Light – 10am-3pm. Drop-in intuitive readings with Paula Marie Histed at the Dance Crazy Kids Holiday Craft Fair. Mini readings, 15min/$20. Delmar Reformed Church, 386 Dela-ware Ave, Delmar. Questions: Paula, 239-370-7928.Flamenco Dance Introductory Workshop – 11am-1pm. Learn everything needed to get started in this incredibly emotive dance style. The workshop will cover hand and arm movements, turns, footwork and basic rhythms. Co-ed (no partnering required); beginners welcome. $15. Nataraja Center for Move-ment Arts, 1471 Rte 9, Ste 102, Clifton Park. Must pre-register online. 518-336-5506.The Secrets of a Spiritual Heart: A Journey Be-yond Yourself – 1-4pm. Discover how living with a spiritual heart will free you from habitual thoughts, emotions and energy patterns that limit conscious-ness. Based on the spiritual and meditative teachings of lecturer and author, Dr. Michael A Singer. $45. Among Angels, 1675 Rte 9, Watkins Plz, Halfmoon/Clifton Park. 518-357-8196.Kirtan with Chandrika – 7-9pm. Ecstatic chant-ing from the Indian Bhakti (devotional) tradition. Everyone sings together from their hearts, regardless of ability. No experience or special skill is needed. Sing, dance or simply lie down and close your eyes allowing the waves of song to wash over you. Kids welcome with supervision. $20 suggested donation. Key 2 Joy, 145 Vly Rd, Ste 6, Shaker Pine Plz, Colonie. 518-598-6968.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26 American Red Cross Blood Drive – 1-6pm. Do-nation types: double red cells, blood. Guilderland Public Library, 2228 Western Ave, Guilderland. 1-800-RED-CROSS.

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29Trains & Toys Holiday Exhibit Opens – 9am. The model trains are back at miSci this holiday season. In addition to the trains, play a favorite song on the huge walk-on piano, build a giant playhouse out of Lego-like bricks, and lots more. Free with admission. Museum of Science and Innovation, 15 Nott Terrace Heights, Schenectady. 518-382-7890.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3038th Annual Craft Marketplace – 10am-4:30pm. Over 100 crafters offering unique creations includ-ing pottery, stained glass, quilts, and much more. All proceeds benefit the Saratoga Center for the Family. $4. Saratoga Springs City Center, 522 Broadway, Saratoga Springs. Craft Fair Chair, Ann: 518-587-7244.Tribal Fusion Belly Dance Introductory Work-shop – 11am-1pm. Fun and power-packed intro to a modern style of belly dance. Learn the basics, explore new dimensions in movement and discover muscles. Women only; beginners welcome. $15. Nataraja, 1471 Rte 9, Ste 102, Clifton Park. Must pre-register online. 518-336-5506.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1Metaphysical Book Discussion Group – 6 pm. Discussion of The Art of Being by Dennis Mer-ritt Jones. Hosted by New Thought New York and offered on a love offering basis. Woodlawn Commons, 156 Lawrence St, Saratoga Springs. 518-423-3569.

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6Annual Open House – 4-8pm. Balance Massage Studio in Delmar celebrates its 13th anniversary with a one-night sale and refreshments. Donate a non-perishable food item and receive a compli-mentary massage. Proceeds benefit the Bethle-hem Food Pantry. Balance Massage Studio, 316 Delaware Ave, Ste 25, Delmar. 518-475-9999.

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7Masters, Saints & Angels – 1-4pm. Brenda Jenks, instructor, will hold an intimate meeting with higher beings that are working for your well-being. Learn about what their role is and receive a personal message from one or more. $45. Key 2 Joy, 145 Vly Rd, Ste 6, Shaker Pine Plaza, Colonie. 518-598-6968.

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8Troy Victorian Stroll – 11am-5pm. The streets of historic downtown Troy will come alive with holiday splendor for this annual festival. Enjoy a day of shopping, dining, family activities, music and more. Details: VictorianStroll.com.

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ongoingcalendarNOTE: All calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Review guidelines and submit entries online at AlbanyAwakenings.com (within advertising section).

dailyLocal Art Show at Community Massage – 11am-7pm, Mon-Fri (call for Sat hours). Explore a con-tinually changing exhibit of local artists’ works in a peaceful and unique gallery setting. Community Massage & Holistic Therapies, 255 River St, Troy. Kathleen: 518-272-1400.Visit Peace Village – 9am-6pm. Peace Village is a place where relaxation comes easily. People visit to learn new things about themselves, enjoy silence and solitude, and find peace of mind. Meet others who are interested in integrating a spiritual dimension into their lives. Tours available daily. Peace Village, Haines Falls. Please call ahead: 518-589-5000.

sundayGuided Yoga & Meditation Practices – 8-9:30am. Free. First Unitarian Society of Schenectady, 1221 Wendell Ave, Schenectady. More info: 518-374-4446.Sunday Meditation – 9:30-11am. Deepen spiritual practice through this seated meditation practice held in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. Readings and group discussion follow the meditation. Free. American Meditation Institute, 60 Garner Rd, Aver-ill Park. More info: 518-674-8714.

Dr. Joe on the Radio – 12:45pm. Dr. Joseph Guylas of Northeast Spine & Wellness gives his weekly radio show including tips for better health. Tune in to 101.3 FM. Young Audience Planetarium Show: Visit to the Moon – 1pm. Have you ever looked at the full moon and wondered? Wondered what it was made of and what it looked like up close? This intro planetarium program guides young visitors on an exploration of the Moon. Recommended for young audiences. Admission plus $5. Museum of Science and In-novation, 15 Nott Terrace Heights, Schenectady. 518-382-7890.Medium, Psychic or Animal Communication Readings – Walk-ins welcome but appointments suggested. $45/30 mins, $90/60 mins. Peaceful Inspi-rations, 384 Kenwood Ave, Delmar. 518-439-7039.

mondayHot Warrior Yoga – 6pm. This 50+ posture practice combines the best of Hot Hatha and Hot Vinyasa in an 85 degree room to challenge you physically and psychologically to be at one with your inner warrior. $15. In Harmony Yoga, 137 Remsen St, Cohoes. 518-369-8325.Monthly Restorative Yoga – 6-7:30pm last Monday of the month. Restorative yoga is passive

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stretching that uses props like blankets, bolsters, pillows and blocks to support the body as you hold very gentle poses. This is a great way to unwind, restore, meditate and rejuvenate. Space limited to 10. $15. Key 2 Joy, 145 Vly Rd, Ste 6, Shaker Pine Plaza, Colonie. 518-598-6968.Meditation by Donation – 7-8pm. Basic medita-tion instruction and introduction to the format of zazen practice. Includes two 20-30-minute sitting meditations, a short walking meditation and chant-ing. Albany Total Wellness, 130 Everett Rd. Albany. Register: 518-595-3067.

tuesdayHappy Babble Baby Signing – 10am. Thru Dec 10. This class provides a playful environment where parents or caregivers and their hearing children learn ASL signs and research-proven Signing Smart Strat-egies while playing and interacting. Ideal for chil-dren 6 to 24 months. Drop ins are welcome for $15/class + $40 for materials. Sage-Femme Midwifery, 527 Western Ave, Albany. Register: 518-813-9290.Body Fat Screening/Blood Pressure Testing – 11am-2pm. Personal Trainer Jeff Grayson Miller has the necessary instruments to test body fat and blood pressure and the know-how to translate those numbers into information about your health. Free. Honest Weight Food Co-Op, 100 Watervliet Ave, Albany. 518-482-2667.Mommy/Daddy & Me Yoga – 11:30am-12:45pm. Classes consist of breathing exercises, stretching, strengthening, dancing and meditation all with your children at your side. $15. Family Life Center Midtown, The Holistic Network, 485 Western Ave, Albany. 518-465-0241.Lyme Support Group – 6pm, second Tuesday. Come share your stories, frustrations, achievements and find support and guidance. Family and friends are welcome. Free. The Stram Center for Integrative Medicine, 388 Kenwood Ave, Delmar. Register: 518 689-2244.Hypnosis Workshop – 6:30-9:30pm. Ever wonder how hypnosis can help you? Would you like to hyp-notize? Find out more with NGH hypnosis instruc-tor, George Guarino. $12.50. Albany, 518-256-6549.

wednesdayFamily Support Group for Caregivers of Loved Ones with Mental Illness – 6:30-8:00pm, 1st & 3rd

Wed SUNYA School of Public Health, 1 University Pl, Rensselaer. Information: Mary Beth Honsinger, National Alliance on Mental Illness-Rensselaer County: 518-588-6949.Guided Meditation – 7:30-8:30pm. Practice and experience the deep state of meditation. These sessions serve as an introduction for beginners as well as a practice for experienced individuals in the cultivation of clarity and mindfulness. Free. The Stram Center for Integrative Health & Healing, 388 Kenwood Ave, Delmar. 518-689-2244.

thursdayRelax and Refresh – 3:30-6:30pm. Hypnosis can help one unravel, unwind and experience a calm and peaceful state of mind which will leave you relaxed, refreshed and ready to take on the rest of the day. Free. Honest Weight Food Co-Op, 100 Watervliet Ave, Albany. 518-482-2667.Awareness Through Movement Class – 6:30-7:30pm. You will be guided through a series of gentle movement sequences that create immediate improve-ments in personal awareness, posture, balance and flexibility. $15. Conscious Movements, 130 Everett Rd, Albany. Registration Required: 518-629-5664.

fridayHot Warrior Yoga – 5:30pm. This 50+ posture practice combines the best of Hot Hatha and Hot

Vinyasa in an 85 degree room to challenge you physically and psychologically to be one with your inner warrior. $15. In Harmony Yoga, 137 Remsen St, Cohoes. 518-369-8325.Free Reiki – 7pm. 1st Friday. Energy healers and Reiki practitioners work together to help balance and regenerate those who attend. Free. Venture Inward, 568 Columbia Trpk, East Greenbush. 518-477-6566.Open Message Circle – 7:30pm. Many people receive messages, impressions and communication from spirit loved ones and friends. $10. Doors close at 7:35pm. Holistic Studies Institute, 1510 Central Ave, Ste 375, Albany. 518-464-6200.

saturdayDelmar Farmers’ Market – 9am-1pm. Indoors Nov-May. Local, organic and natural farm products, baked goods, local and fair trade crafts and music. Bethlehem Central Middle School, 332 Kenwood Ave, Delmar. DelmarMarket.org.Southern Saratoga YMCA Farmers’ Market – 9am-1pm. Indoor Nov-April. Consumers can expect to find local products, including fresh fruits, vegetables, baked goods, poultry, beef, pork, eggs, vinegar, wine and goat milk soap. 1 Wall St, Clifton Park. 518-371-2139.Creative Self-Discovery for You and Your Child – 10am-12pm thru Nov 16. Have fun making hand prints with your child. Decode some really cool things from them that will help to understand each other better and enhance communication. Take home a one-of-a-kind art piece created together. Creative Connections Art Center, Amsterdam. To pre-register, Christine Kidder, Your Creative Pur-pose: 518-421-2091.Pregnant Pauses – 11:30am-1pm. Six weeks begins Nov 2. Specifically designed to change the way one experiences pregnancy. Gentle movement and aware-ness practices will help alleviate pain and discomfort, increase energy and vitality and prepare for labor & delivery. $90. Conscious Movements, 130 Everett Rd, Albany. Registration Required: 518-629-5664.The 5 Tibetan Rites of Rejuvenation – 12-12:30pm. A potent system handed down from Tibetan Lamas. Five postures with ancient breath repeated 21 times each are reputed to strengthen the body, enhance energy, regenerate body and mind, and stem the aging process. $8. In Harmony Yoga, 137 Remsen St, Cohoes. 518-369-8325.Fall Sky Tour: Pegasus – 3pm. Enjoy a fun and informative live exploration of the stars, constel-lations and planets visible in the current night sky. This 45-min planetarium program also takes a look at current events taking place in space. Admission plus $5. Museum of Science and Innovation, 15 Nott Terrace Heights, Schenectady. 518-382-7890. “Swing Me to the Moon”: Parental & Me Gravity Yoga – Learn tools for relaxation and stress man-agement along with breathing techniques and trust exercises. Great parent- and child-bonding time while utilizing the unique gravity swings. $22. Good Karma Studio, 3 Vatrano Rd, Albany. Space limited; register: 518-512-9929.Medium, Psychic or Animal Communication Readings – Walk-ins welcome, but appointments suggested. $45/30mins, $90/60mins. Peaceful Inspi-rations, 384 Kenwood Ave, Delmar. 518-439-7039.


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

ACUPUNCTURE

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

All-natural care providing pain relief and wellness care through acupuncture, massage therapy, laser therapy and acupressure. Experience in women’s health, insomnia, stress, migraines and fibromyalgia. See ad, page 19.

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

Acupuncture and herbal therapy are an all-natural alternative to improving well-being, preventing illness and resolving some of the most common health issues. See ad, page 16.

BODYWORK

BODYWORK PROFESSIONALSNick PavoldiStructural Integration Practitioner, Proprietor578 New Loudon Rd, Latham • 518-389-220079 Washington St, Saratoga Springs • 518-389-2083BodyworkProfessionals.com

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

GOOD MEDICINE: MYOFASCIAL BODYWORKAbi’l-Khayr, [email protected]

Myofascial Bodywork is a gentle and effective form of hands-on therapy. This technique provides profound relaxation, and relief from most forms of chronic pain. Locations in Albany, Troy & Malta. See ad, page 18.

CHIROPRACTIC

DR. JOSEPH S. GULYASNortheast Spine and WellnessOffices in Albany & Clifton Park518-371-4800 • DrGulyas.com

Dr. Gulyas is a 25-year veteran of holistic health. A graduate of Skidmore College and New York Chiropractic College, Dr. Gulyas received the dist inction as Clinician of the Year during his internship at Greenvale Outpatient Facility. See ad, page 19.

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

Dr. Medwin has been working as a chiropractor for over nine years and has established caring and compassionate relationships with each and every one of her patients. See ad, page 16.

ENERGY HEALING

THE ART OF REIKIJoyce Willson, RN BSN251 River St, Troy, NY518-271-7802TheArtOfReiki.com

Joyce brings to her Reiki practice her knowledge and experience in dealing with chronic and acute health issues as well as her passion for focusing on the health and wellness of the individual. See ad, page 7.

ENERGY FOR HEALTH & HEALING, LLCJack Treiber, [email protected]

Over 20 years of energy healing experience. Jack uses among the most advanced, deep and powerful techniques in the area to help clients feel better and achieve balance. Practicing in Clifton Park and Saratoga. See ad, page 7.

naturaldirectoryLYNN NEALInspiring Wellness Solutions1-888-581-5526Info@InspiringWellnessSolutions.comInspiringWellnessSolutions.com

Lynn is a certified fitness instructor, healing touch practitioner and Reiki II practitioner. She also teaches energy yoga classes. See ad, page 23.

FITNESS

REBECCA RIFENBERG, M.ED. Inspiring Wellness Solutions1-888-581-5526Info@InspiringWellnessSolutions.comInspiringWellnessSolutions.com

Certified instructor of Group Fitness, Ballettone, Kettlebell and Group Cycling. Licensed Zumba instructor. Rebecca maintains two master’s degrees in education and has extensive experience in designing fitness and exercise programs. See ad, page 23.

JOY OF NIA MOVEMENTBeth FosterOwner & Licensed Nia Instructor3 Denny Rd, Guilderland518-452-3679JoyOfNiaMovement.com

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

studio open to all ages and levels. See ad, page 29.

GREEN LIVING

GREEN CONSCIENCE HOMEKaren Totino23 Church St, Saratoga Springs 518-306-5196Green-Conscience.com

Specializing in green home renovation for families and businesses. Supplier of non-toxic interior finishes for walls, floors, counter tops. Showroom features natural and organic mattresses, and bedding. See ad, page 37.


LUCID LIGHT AT ARTIQUE1536 Crescent Rd, Clifton Park131 Colonie Center, Albany518-724-0750ArtiqueShopping.com

Lucid Light at Artique Co-op provides eco-friendly solutions for the mind, body and home.

Unique and stylish selection of inspirational gifts, décor and fashion accessories made with recycled, reused and natural materials. See ad, page 9.

GROCERY

GREEN GROCER1505 Rte 9, Clifton Park518-374-1362TheGreenGrocer.com

Fresh, local produce, gluten-free foods, organic bulk fruits, nuts, grains, beans, herbs, flours, coffees, vitamins, body products and more. Locally owned and operated since

1995. See ad, page 14.

NISKAYUNA CO-OP MARKET2227 Nott St, Schenectady518-374-1362NiskayunaCo-Op.com

Offering many organic, l o c a l , g o u r m e t a n d specialty items. Personal service and convenience.

Lifetime membership is $5. See ad, page 3.

HEALING

A PLACE OF ONE-NESSAvis A. Burnett, PhD639 Riverview Rd, Rexford518-371-0579 • AvisBurnett.com

Your Spiritual Mentor for individual transformational counseling, energetic healing sessions and workshops. Using principles of quantum mechanics to shift patterns of thinking, behaving and feeling at the cellular level.

SANDRA MARNELL, RN, MA Duanesburg & Schenectady, [email protected]

C e r t i f i e d H e a l i n g To u c h Practitioner, Addiction Counselor, Recovery Coach and Trainer. Support for withdrawal from alcohol and other drugs. Immune system strengthening. Healing and pain relief. Decrease depression and anxiety.

HERBS

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

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

products. Free catalog available. See ad, page 12.

HOLISTIC HEALTH COUNSELING

LISAMARIE TERSIGNI, CHHC, AADPInspiring Wellness Solutions1-888-581-5526Info@InspiringWellnessSolutions.comInspiringWellnessSolutions.com

LisaMarie unites her education in nutrition, counseling and healing arts with 25 years of workers’ compensa t ion hea l th ca re experience to develop sustainable multidisciplinary wellness and fitness programs. Specialties:

cancer patients, perimenopause and weight concerns; men and women. See ad, page 23.

HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE

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

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

HYPNOSIS

SHANNON K KEYESKey 2 Joy, Inc145 Vly Rd, #6, Shaker Pine Plaza, Colonie518-598-6968 • Key2Joy.net

Lose weight, stop smoking and release stress. Shannon is a certified hypnot i s t , r eg i s te red yoga instructor, Reiki Master/Teacher, Certified Tantric Educator, sound healer and Ordained Minister. See ad, page 19.

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE

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

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

menopause, low testosterone, thyroid and adrenal disorders, fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue, irritable bowel. See ad, page 6.

INTUITIVE COUNSELING

READINGS FROM THE LIGHTPaula Marie [email protected]

Offering intuitive readings to deepen inspiration and divine guidance on your spiritual journey. Serving the Capital District and beyond. See ad, page 15.

LIFE COACH

ANNIE GREGSONServing the Capital District and Beyond518-532-0275AnnieGregson.net

Personalized, inspirat ional coaching to joyfully move you in the direction of your dreams. Start living the life you want to lead today; because life is more than a four-letter word. See ad, page 12.

LIFE PURPOSE

WOMEN’S HEALTH & HEALINGCarol Gardner, RN, MSCarolgardner.whh@gmail.com518-312-8791WomensHealthAndHealing.com

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

Joy is what happens to us when we

allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are.

~Marianne Williamson


YOUR CREATIVE PURPOSEChristine Kidder518-421-2091Christine@YourCreativePurpose.comYourCreativePurpose.com

Scientifi c hand analysis is a system that can give you profound insight about yourself from the markings in your hands. See ad, page 37.

MASSAGE

ALBANY MASSAGEAt Albany Total Wellness130 Everett Rd, [email protected]

The Capital District’s standard in therapeutic massage. Providing the latest in clinically proven therapies and delivering the highest level of quality service to our clients. See ad, page 16.

ALBANY THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE & SPORTS PERFORMANCE CENTERPaul Jensen, Jr, MS, LMT17 Computer Dr East, Albany 518-366-4429 • PerformAtYourBestNY.com

Therapeutic massage, bodywork, energy work, personal training and life coaching. 16 years of experience helping clients eliminate pain, optimize recovery and maximize performance. See ad, page 13.

BALANCE MASSAGE STUDIO316 Delaware Ave, Ste 25, Delmar518-475-9999BalanceMassageStudio.comEst. 2001

Offering a variety of massage and energy healing modalities in a p e a c e f u l a n d s a f e

environment. Wellness packages, Young Living Oils, Aromatherapy Products. See ad, page 22.

COMMUNITY MASSAGE & HOLISTIC THERAPIESKathleen Vroman, NYS LMT255 River St, Troy 518-272-1400 • TroyCommunityMassage.com

Offering therapeutic massage, myofascial bodywork, craniosacral t h e r a p y a n d r e f l e x o l o g y, individually customized in a p rofess iona l and peacefu l atmosphere, enhanced with local art and natural foliage. Relax and

renew at your urban oasis. See ad, page 6.

For more information about advertising and how

you can participate, call

000-000-0000

For more information about advertising and how you can participate, call

518-729-0099

Coming Next Month

Awakening Humanity

Join in Raising Up Our World

with the December issue of Natural Awakenings

REGINA M. EPP, LMT, E-RYTInspiring Wellness Solutions1-888-581-5526Info@InspiringWellnessSolutions.comInspiringWellnessSolutions.com

Regina is an NYS licensed massage therapist, registered yoga teacher, personal trainer and spinning instructor with years of successful experience in healing arts and fi tness. See ad, page 23.

MIDWIFERY

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

Empowering women through knowledge, experience and heart. Offering gynecology, preconception counseling, homebirth midwifery services and lactation counseling. See ad, page 19.

SAGE-FEMME MIDWIFERYKelly McDermott, CNM, LM527 Western Ave, Albany518-813-9290 • Sage-FemmeMidwifery.com

At Sage-Femme Midwifery, we believe women should be empowered to create their own birth experiences as well as be educated to be actively involved in decision making and self-care. Kelly has been serving the Capital District since 1987.

MUSIC INSTRUCTION

MICHAEL WARDGuitar Instructor518-369-6365GuitarDreamer131@yahoo.comMikeWardGuitar.com

Professional, full-time instructor of 60+ students per week. Specializing in teaching kids ages 6 and up, and teenagers in various styles. Private and group lessons. Teaching at Patrizio Center for the Arts (Latham) & Rocky’s Music

Studio (North Greenbush). See ad, page 33.

NATURAL BEAUTY

NYR ORGANICLisa Small, Independent Consultant/[email protected]/Shop/LSmall

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


PILATES

HEALING WITH MOVEMENT PILATESPenny Shure2021 Western Ave, Albany518-669-9677 • HealingWithMovement.com

Intimate, neighborhood studio, specializing in individual attention and fracture prevention. Class sizes limited to 10 people. Private or duet sessions also available by appointment. Penny is a Pilates Method All iance Cert i f ied

Instructor, Meeks Method Osteoporosis Exercise Specialist and Foot Management Professional.

PSYCHOTHERAPY

BRYON KOSHGARIAN, PHDInspiring Wellness Solutions1-888-581-5526Info@InspiringWellnessSolutions.comInspiringWellnessSolutions.com

Bryon is a psychotherapist and spiritual counselor specializing in stress and anxiety disorders, PTSD, bereavement, depression and spiritual concerns. See ad, page 23.

SOMATIC PRACTITIONERS

CONSCIOUS MOVEMENTSBuffy Owens, Feldenkrais MethodAt Albany Total Wellness130 Everett Rd, Albany518-629-5664ConsciousMovements.com

Offering group classes and private sessions for those interested in meditation & mindfulness, women moving through pregnancy and for families who have children with special needs & extraordinary gifts. See ad, page 16.

NUTRITION COACH

DAVID SPINA, RPHInspiring Wellness Solutions1-888-581-5526Info@InspiringWellnessSolutions.comInspiringWellnessSolutions.com

Holistic health, lifestyle and nutrition coach with extensive experience in the pharmacy field. Specializing in the needs of men in mid-life and weight concerns for men and women. See ad, page 23.

ORGANIC SALON

PURE ELEMENTSAN ORGANIC SALON & WELLNESS SHOP1724-1728 Western Ave, Albany518-608-5405 or 518-621-7984Pure-Elements-Salon.com

Providing a healthy alternative to the traditional salon and spa experience using only the highest quality natural and organic products in our services. Let us help you look beautiful and feel your best while nurturing your health. See ad, page 10.

PET CARE

THE PAMPERED PET415 US Hwy 9, Schodack Landing 518-732-2724 • [email protected]

We love pets and are certain your cat or dog will leave our salon happy, healthy and looking great. Holistic pet food also available. See ad, page 37.

WAKEUP WITH MAKEUPLaura Spratt518-688-1490AwakeUpWithMakeup.com

Permanent makeup using organic, hypo-allergenic pigments. Areola pigmentation and scar camouflage. Eyebrows, eyeliner, lips. Now you can have the confidence of knowing you look your very best every morning, without having

done a thing. See ad, page 17.

NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS

BACK TO NATURE FAMILY WELLNESSDr. Amy Cole, ND77 Troy Rd, Ste E, East Greenbush 60 Benmont Ave, Ste 30, Bennington, VT 518-701-4587 • [email protected]

P r o v i d i n g n a t u r o p a t h i c consultation integrating science and nature. Plans include nutrition, h e r b s , h o m e o p a t h y a n d hydrotherapy. Exploring all aspects of a person including mind, body and spirit.

NEW AGE RETAIL

PEACEFUL INSPIRATIONS384 Kenwood Ave, Delmar518-439-7039PeacefulInspirations.net

Your local, holistic and wellness store dedicated to enriching the spirit, mind and body. Gifts for all ages, workshops and Psychic, Crossover (Medium) and Intuitive Animal Communication readings available by appointment. See ad, page 13.


classifiedsFor fees and info on placing classifieds, email [email protected]. Deadline is the 10th of the month.

SPIRITUAL GROWTH

NEW THOUGHT NEW YORKRev. Joanne McFadden, Minister 2 Imperial Ln, [email protected]

Inner peace. Joy. Abundance. This spiritual community offers the tools and support to change your l i f e . C la s se s , workshops , meditation, book discussion groups and spiritual cinema.

THERMOGRAPHY

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

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

WELLNESS

INSPIRING WELLNESS SOLUTIONS1-888-581-5526Info@InspiringWellnessSolutions.comInspiringWellnessSolutions.com

Specializing in disease prevention and management, Inspiring Wellness Solutions offers Corporate Wellness Programs, Individual Counseling and Group Nutrition Coaching to support their clients to live a healthy and fit lifestyle. See ad, page 23.

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

Full-service wellness facilities offering non-drug solutions for your health care concerns. Our practitioners each have over 25 years experience in the field of holistic health. See ad, page 19.

WORKSHOPS/RETREATS

BONA FIDE BUTTERFLIES518-532-0275BonafideButterflies.com

Empowering workshops and rejuvenating retreats for women. Unveil your authentic self, explore your dreams and create the joyful life you were meant to live. Workshops held in the

Adirondacks or at your location. It’s time to spread your wings.

HELP WANTED

TRADER JOE’S, COLONIE – Hiring Store Crew. There will never be a dull moment in the day. All that’s needed is a passion for people and a fervor for food. Complete an application in person or apply online. 79 Wolf Rd, Colonie.

MAIL ORDER

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

PET CARE

MARY BETH JOHNSON, RN – No ticks, no fleas, no chemicals. 518-466-8127. PetProtectorNY.com.

SALES OPPORTUNITY

LOOKING FOR HOLISTIC PRACTITIONERS & ENTREPRENEURS – To be pioneers & launch our brand of Neal’s Yard Remedies (NYR) in the U.S. This is an award-winning, family-owned, ethi-cal company with an established 32-year-old brand and reputation for excellence worldwide. To learn more, Lisa: 518-755-2170.

SPACE FOR RENT

RECENTLY RENOVATED RETAIL SPACE FOR LEASE – Open floor plan. Located in prime location at busy intersection near Crossgates Mall in Guilderland. 1726 Western Ave, Albany. Tom Carins: 518-466-0726.

VACATION RENTAL

ADIRONDACKS VACATION LOG CABIN RENTAL – 3 bed, 2 bath, fully equipped. Centrally located to Whiteface Mountain, Lake Placid or a day trip to Montreal. 1-800-715-1333 x 3292.

VOLUNTEER

UPCOMING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES – At The Arts Center in Troy. Alana: 518-273-0552 x 221.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – Peaceful Acres Horses needs volunteers to prepare for winter months. Nanci: at 518-887-3178.

WEB DESIGN

ROGER LIPERA WEB DESIGN & CONSULT-ING – Guilderland. 518-248-4175. Lipera.com.

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

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

YOGA

IRENE (RENIE) CRONINInspiring Wellness Solutions1-888-581-5526Info@InspiringWellnessSolutions.comInspiringWellnessSolutions.com

Renie is a certified yoga instructor who teaches beginner and exper ienced yoga c lasses , specializing in alignment and mind, body, spirit principles. See ad, page 23.

KEY 2 JOY, INC.145 Vly Road, Ste 6, Shaker Pine Plaza, Colonie518-598-6968 • Key2Joy.net

Lose weight, stop smoking and release stress with hypnosis. Certified Hypnotist Shannon Keyes can help you

get results now. See ad, page 19.

SOLUNA YOGA STUDIO2317 Balltown Rd, Niskayuna518-429-1455SolunaYoga.com

Offering private and group yoga lessons for all abilities and ages. Soluna focuses on education, individual attention and providing a safe environ-ment to enhance each student’s personal and physical growth

in their yoga experience. See ad, page 22.

YOGA THERAPY

EBB & FLOW YOGAEuropa Baker-BrathwaiteDelmar & Troy518-522-2740 • [email protected]

Discover a fulfilling practice that will build your strength and self-trust. Work one-on-one with Europa to begin, deepen or refine your yoga practice.

Natural Awakenings of the NY Capital District - November 2013

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