August 2009 Issue - Natural Awakenings Magazine Charlotte
Transcription
August 2009 Issue - Natural Awakenings Magazine Charlotte
HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET feel good live simply laugh more SPECIAL CHILDREN'S ISSUE Calming Anxious Lives A Holistic Parenting Approach Smart Snacks A Child’s Place Helping Charlotte’s Homeless Children AUGUST 2009 Greater Charlotte-Edition | www.awakeningcharlotte.com FREE AwakeningCharlotte.com | 1 Melt away extra weight, overcome stress, develop incredible energy – and gain lasting confidence and peace of mind! Relaxing TAI CHI Harmonizing YOGA Explosive Calming KUNG FU MEDITATION Authentic classes will get you into the best shape of your life as you cultivate your mind and spirit to the highest levels, attaining greater harmony, wisdom and satisfaction. Classes 7 days a week ● Programs for adults, children and teens ● Authentic lineage curriculum ● Clean and spacious studios ● Dedicated, certified instructors ● Beginners and advanced students welcome ● Tailored programs for any level of fitness or health condition ● Outdoor gardens and training areas ● “I lost 50 pounds during the first six months of starting classes at the Peaceful Dragon. I am stronger, more confident and healthier at 33 than I was at 23.” Frank Tippett, 33, Investor, Charlotte, NC “Classes at The Peaceful Dragon have improved my life considerably. I appreciate the great environment and people.” David Block, 50, Sales, Charlotte, NC SUMMER SPECIAL SUMMER SPECIAL FREE “Thanks to The Peaceful Dragon, getting older really does mean getting better! I’m stronger, more coordinated, and more flexible than I was 20 years ago. Master Sbarge is a model of patience and relates to every student at his or her own level. The Peaceful Dragon is the Harvard of martial arts schools, with one of the most beautiful facilities in the country.” Orientation and Two FREE Semi-Private Introductory Classes -- A $95 Value! Good thru 9/30/09. Not valid with other offers. New students only. Kathy Crowe, 60, graphic/web designer, Charlotte, NC “The best thing I ever did for myself was start classes at The Peaceful Dragon.” “The Peaceful Dragon is not just a place where people go to learn the physical aspects of the Martial Arts but there is also the philosophy that reinforces the physical aspects. To put it plainly the student gets the whole package of mind, body, spirit development. —Robert Beaver, 26, Surveyor, Charlotte, NC “There are very few things that you could do to change your life for the better than taking classes at The Peaceful Dragon. I have achieved energy and vitality and I am less stressed.” Wes Adams, 33, Financial Advisor, Indian Trail, NC Keith Burnett, 34, Charlotte, NC Call (704) 504-8866 today or visit www.ThePeacefulDragon.com to schedule your first FREE lesson. The Peaceful Dragon 12610 Steele Creek Rd (Hwy 160), Charlotte 2 | August 2009, Charlotte Edition 704-504-8866 www.ThePeacefulDragon.com AwakeningCharlotte.com | 3 4 | August 2009, Charlotte Edition CONTACT US Publisher Rebecca Jeffery Fowler letterfromeditor Raising a Green Teen [email protected] There’s a sharp contrast between my lifestyle as a teen in the late 70’s and early 80’s and my daughter’s today. Doing a book report involved spending hours at the library pouring through encyclopedias and periodicals and then mindfully plucking away on my Smith Corona typewriter. She can find out anything she wants to know in seconds on Google. Editor Lisa Moore [email protected] Accounting Cara Banash [email protected] Graphic Design and Layout Melissa Oyler Designs melissaoyler.com Ad Design Aubrey Derk Advertising Sales [email protected] Deadline: 12th of month Kana Duplak Jan Riebe Calender of Events [email protected] Deadline: 12th of month 360 N. Caswell Charlotte, NC 28204 Mailing Address PMB 174 - 9716-B Rea Road Charlotte, NC 28277 704-499-3327 © 2009 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback. SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $24 (for 12 issues) to the above address. Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink. I didn’t talk much to my friends on the landline after school; mom didn’t like me gabbing on the phone. She networks with hundreds of friends on Facebook and texts faster than she can talk. To relax, I would ride my horse or curl up with a book. She has Wii and Rockband. Back then, I was excitedly trading my 8-track tapes in for “hi-tech” cassette tapes and listening to my favorite static-filled radio station. To see a band perform, I’d go to Carowinds and stand in the hot sun to catch a glimpse of Jefferson Starship. She is a music aficionado and has hundreds of songs on her ipod, and she knows the lyrics to every song from my generation to hers. To see her favorite bands, she’s got You Tube and MTV. About the only thing in common about our teen years are that the clothes I wore then are back in style. Being a teen, no matter the era, is challenging, but today teens are bombarded with excessive stimulation and distractions from every direction. They are technologically savvy and socially advanced. With so much going on, how do we instill in them the power they have to make the world a better place for themselves and their children? After all, there is no Planet B for them to escape to. The key to tuning teens into the environment is awareness about issues and problems and then education. Kids follow by example and parents who have adopted a green lifestyle are perfect role models. They instill green values and influence children to understand and live a sustainable life so they can pass it on to future generations. An average teen uses between 15 and 25 products a day containing some 200 chemicals. From petrolatum in lipsticks to butyl acetate in nail polishes to coal tar in hair dyes and creams, teens have a lot to protest in the beauty industry. If they were educated about safer products, perhaps they would make better choices for personal and environmental health. Living green means adopting ways of thinking and living that will impact our lives on personal, environmental, social and economical levels. They all interconnect and have tremendous impact and long-term consequences. By giving our kids tools for positive action, they can advocate for greener alternatives, human rights, animal welfare and laws to protect health so someday the world truly will be a better place to live in. But until then, keep yelling at them to turn the lights off and to stop putting things in the trash that belong in the recycling bin! Peace, Lisa Moore, Editor AwakeningCharlotte.com | 5 Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more balanced life. Our mission is to provide insights and information to improve the quality of life physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. 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. awakeningcharlotte.com INSIDE THIS ISSUE DEPARTMENTS newsbriefs 7 Group Therapy 16 Helping Charlotte’s Homeless 18 Beneficial for Chronic Pain globalbriefs briefs 11 PG. 16 Children Stay in School by Lisa Moore healthbriefs briefs 14 Parents of Allergic Kids 22 Swing Dance 26 Calming Anxious Lives 28 Polite Leash Walking 32 Movie Review 34 Smart Snacks 38 School Lunch Programs 40 by Lisa Moore moonmagic 20 PG. 34 Your Way to Fitness by Lisa Moore healthykids 22 A Holistic Parenting Approach by Lisa Marshall fitbody 25 by Erica Pytlovany naturalpet 32 PG. 18 consciouseating 38 PG. 26 calendarofevents 42 community resourceguide 48 PG. 22 Food, Inc. by Lisa Moore by Elisa Bosley A Prime Opportunity to Serve Up Improvements by Aimee Witteman © 2009 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback. 6 | August 2009, Charlotte Edition Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soy- based ink. newsbriefs Ivy’s Diaper Service Happy butts make a healthy planet! Today more parents are seeking ways to raise their children naturally. Ivy’s Diaper Service offers earth-friendly cloth diapers that are easy to use and inexpensive. Simply leave your bag of dirty diapers outside your front door once a week and Ivy’s comes by and replaces them with clean, soft, sanitized diapers. Made from 100% unbleached cotton, Ivy’s diapers contain no harsh chemicals like disposable diapers and they help prevent diaper rash. In 1955, before disposable diapers were even invented, it was estimated that only 7% of babies suffered from diaper rash. In 1991, after disposables had taken over the market, that number jumped to an alarming 78%. Cloth babies potty train an average of six months earlier than disposable babies. With cloth diapers your child is able to understand the cause and effect relationship, which helps potty train him or her faster. Every disposable diaper ever used in this country is still in a landfill somewhere and will be for at least another 150 years. Two and a half years worth of disposable diapers for one child will use up 20 trees and 420 gallons of petroleum. Cloth diapers are guilt-free! For more information visit www.ivysdiaperservice.com. Southeast Women’s Herbal Conference Emphasizing Wise Woman Tradition Women of all ages, shapes and stripes will gather to learn, connect, and deepen at the 5th annual Southeast Women’s Herbal Conference on October 2-4, 2009 in Black Mountain, NC. Special guest will be Susun Weed, known as an extraordinary teacher with a joyous spirit, a powerful presence and an encyclopedic knowledge of herbs and health. She is the voice of the Wise Woman Tradition, and an internationally renowned author of four books on herbs and women’s health. Susun Weed Fifty classes offered by over thirty teachers will include: herb walks, tea blending, herbal skin care, herbal baths, menstrual health, menopause, women’s wellness, nutrition, phytochemicals, HPV, shamanic breathwork, talking stick, self esteem, as well as art, dance, yoga, and poetry - all based in the Wise Woman Tradition. The Wise Woman Tradition involves simple living, earth-based healing and local plants. “Women are hungry for this knowledge. The conference offers an opportunity for them to steep themselves in these teachings for an entire weekend,” says conference Director Corinna Wood. For more information visit www.sewisewomen.com or call 877-SEWOMEN. Acupuncture Center for Balance & Healing Offering Bioset Allergy Elimination Tina Berisha, Licensed Acupuncturist and owner of Acupuncture Center for Balance & Healing in Davidson, is offering a new technique to create and maintain an improved state of health and wellness. Bioset is based on energetic medicine and utilizes meridian therapy, acupressure, immunology and homeopathy along with muscle testing. Bioset gets to the root of an illness and is comprised of three aspects - organ and tissue specific detoxification, enzyme therapy and a unique sensitivity desensitization. “I use Bioset along with acupuncture for optimal results. It can help with seasonal allergies, food sensitivities, hormone imbalances and auto-immune issues,” says the mother of two who used Bioset to overcome her intolerance to milk. The technique can be safely used on infants, children and adults. Berisha strives to educate her clients on the wide variety of alternative modalities available for optimal healing results. “I look at all aspects of healing for each client individually with quality care and compassion,” she concludes. The Acupuncture Center for Balance & Healing is located at 709-20 North East Drive in Davidson. For more information contact (704) 6812634 or acupuncture-tina@hotmail. com or visit www.bioset.net. AwakeningCharlotte.com | 7 The Ivey Adult Day Care Wide-Ranging Care at a Low Price Ayurvedic Vegetarian Cooking Workshop Dr. Aruna Patki, an Ayuvedic Physician and owner of Ayurveda Healing Spa, will hold a workshop on Ayurvedic cooking on Sept 5-7. Ayurveda is a 6,000 year-old holistic, natural system of health and healing from India. Ayurvedic food is nourishing, energizing and incorporates the six tastes of foods (sweet, salty, sour, bitter, pungent and astringent) in simple ways to enhance health and provide a tasty, satisfying meal. With a holistic approach to diet, digestion and nutrition, participants will learn how to prepare authentic recipes and the principles of Ayurvedic food preparation. The workshop menu includes: Ginger-Lemon-Honey Appetizer (Nectar), Chapathi (flat yeast-free whole wheat bread), mixed vegetable curry, Pakora (onion-lentil fritters), Dal (lentil) soup, saffron rice and Coconut Kheer. The workshop will be held Sept 5 and 6 from 10am-5pm and 9am-noon on Sept 7 at 1980 Woodstream Drive in Harrisburg. Cost is $210 and lunch and dinner are included. Info: 704-808-0708 or AyurvedaHealingSpa.com. 8 | August 2009, Charlotte Edition The Ivey, the adult day care in South Charlotte founded by Lynn Ivey, is now a not-for-profit organization. The Ivey has lowered its fees while maintaining a remarkable array of services for older adults in a gorgeous lodge setting. For only $60 a day, The Ivey provides a warm, home-away-from-home for adult loved ones. The Ivey serves older adults affected by Alzheimer’s and other types of memory loss, social isolation, or physical frailty due to stroke, Parkinson’s, and other similar illnesses. Each client benefits from an individualized care plan that includes socialization, medical supervision, personal care, nutritious hot meals and stimulating activities. The center’s family programs provide hope, guidance, support and education to caregivers. “ W e b e c a m e not-for-profit in response to the economy and our desire to serve a broader range of people. These services should not just be for high-income individuals. Everyone deserves the best when growing older,” Ivey says. “Plenty of research shows that increased socialization enriches the quality of life for every senior. Combined with our array of services, we strive to maintain or possibly improve your loved one’s functioning and life ex- pectancy. ” To schedule a personal tour, call The Ivey at 704-9092070 or visit www.theivey. com Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act Introduced Could Provide Health Insurance Access In January, Congressman Maurice Hinchey of New York introduced HR 646, The Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act of 2009. Passage of HR 646 would amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of qualified acupuncturist services under Part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance Benefits for the Aged and Disabled) of the Medicare Program. It would also amend Title 5 of the United States Code to provide for coverage of such services under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. Passage of the bill would open the door for other insurance companies to cover acupuncture and enable greater access to this ancient healing art across the country. The American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAAOM) is conducting a grassroots campaign asking for support in the passage of HR 646. The AAAOM is also lobbying for a companion bill to HR 646 to be introduced in the U.S. Senate. The AAAOM asks HR 646 supporters to send a letter to their representatives by visiting www.RallyCongress.com/aaaom and clicking on “Contact Congress.” Fill in your ZIP code to identify your representative. The automated form letter can be sent as written or personalized. For more information go to www.AAAOMOnline.org. Healthy Products for People and the Planet At The Boulevard at NoDa The Boulevard at NoDa, a unique fashion, art, craft and gift marketplace located in the heart of NoDa, Charlotte’s historic arts district, is offering an array of healthy, earth-friendly products. Monique Velez of NoDa Kids carries G-Diapers that are flushable and only take 50-150 days to break down. These ecodiapers are made of materials that are “neutral or beneficial” to the earth and help to offset the approximately 50 million diapers going to the landfill daily and an average decomposition time of 500 years. Velez also offers Green to Grow bottles that are free of BPA, a common chemical found in most plastics that may have toxic, harmful health effects. Jill Cooper supplies ecofriendly baby products including onsies and bibs made with 100% unbleached certified organic cotton that protects babies from skin allergies. She also carries Naked Bee products that are paraben, dye and pigment free and not tested on animals. Natural ingredients like honey, palm and coconut oils, beeswax are used. Animal advocate Cindy Harris, owner of Meow and Fetch, believes pets should be eating a healthier diet and offers pet lovers holistic, natural pet food such as Wysong and Canidae. To further spread the spirit of environmentalism, she placed a recycling container outside of the shop so pedestrians and shop girls can reduce waste. For more information visit www.blvdnoda.com. AwakeningCharlotte.com | 9 Energy Medicine Classes Offered Based on Donna Eden Methods Classes based on the methods of Donna Eden, one of the world’s most renowned practitioners of energy medicine, will be offered in Concord starting in September. The program has two options: A Wellness Track for those wanting to learn to maintain and enhance their own health and well-being and that of friends and family, and a Certification Track for those wanting to professionally practice Eden Energy Medicine. In energy medicine, the body heals by activating its natural healing energies and also by restoring energies that have become weak, disturbed, or out of balance. Energy Medicine is both a complement to other approaches to medical care and a complete system for self-care and self-help. It can address physical illness, emotional or mental disorders, and is also used to promote high-level wellness, peak performance and joyful living. Classes will be conducted by Sarah Owen, MS, LPC and Senior Faculty with the Eden Energy Medicine Institute. Students note her classes are powerfully transformative as well as informative and filled with humor and heart. The series of 4 classes held one weekend in Sept, Nov, Jan and March completes Year 1 of the EEM Certification Program. Each class is a pre-requisite for the following class. Students are then eligible to go on to Year 2 of the main CP which is held quarterly in Phoenix AZ. Info/registration: Sarah Owen at (910) 538-8115, [email protected] or healinginyourownhands. com. Bedtime Stories Fairy Tales Replaced with Gentler Narratives ACUPRESSURE CALMS CHILDREN BEFORE SURGERY University of California anesthesiologists have found that applying an acupressure treatment to children undergoing anesthesia tends to lower their anxiety levels and reduce the stress of surgery for the young patients and their families. Source: University of California – Irvine, 2008 10 | August 2009, Charlotte Edition Controversy is cooking as some parents find classic fairy tales too dark for storytelling to little ones. The Telegraph reports that a poll of 3,000 British parents showed that a quarter of the mothers reject some of the classic tales today, even if they grew up reading them. Cited concerns in the UK about their being un-PC are joined by questions in the United States about their perpetuation of gender and beauty myths. More recent favorite bedtime stories on the Telegraph’s list are: The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Mr. Men, The Gruffalo, Winnie the Pooh, Aliens Love Underpants, Thomas and Friends from The Railway Series, The Wind in the Willows, Charlie and Lola, and What a Noisy Pinky Ponk! globalbriefs News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that works for all. Green Lunchrooms University Cafeterias Show How to Cut Waste Dozens of universities are doing away with lunch trays as a keystone in cutting cafeteria waste. A recent survey of 25 schools by Aramark, a food-service provider for some 600 institutions of higher education, found that trayless dining reduced food waste by an average of 25 to 30 percent per person. Seventy-five percent of the 92,000 students surveyed at 300 colleges said they were in favor of the change. Accompanying changes typically include the recycling and composting of food waste and using eco-friendly serviceware. A separate study by the University of Illinois, which serves 1,300 students a day, noticed a 40 percent reduction in food waste. Kristen Ruby, an assistant director, explains that because students couldn’t carry as much, they didn’t take more than they could eat. “Not having trays [also] saves 516 gallons of water a day,” says Ruby, who counts the consequent dishwashing detergent saved in an academic year at 473 pounds less. The same principles apply to food operations in businesses, convention centers, sports arenas, entertainment venues, government agencies, correctional institutions and assisted living facilities. Source: The Christian Science Monitor Safe Kids Saliva Test Detects Lead Levels in Children Confirm BioSciences recently released the first non-invasive test, a saliva screening kit, that parents can use to discover if their kids have been exposed to excessive levels of toxic lead. Industrial areas, with older housing incorporating lead pipes and old paint, are of special concern. Children often get lead poisoning by eating lead-based paint chips or breathing in lead paint dust, but a range of consumer goods have produced lead recalls in recent years, as well. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that lead poisoning is the leading environmentally induced illness in children, yet one of the most preventable. Nearly a million children under the age of five now have lead levels that experts consider dangerous. Lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities, slowed growth and developmental delays. Also, Occupational Safety and Health Administration statistics report that at least a million U.S. adults, in some 100 different jobs, are exposed to lead daily. For more information, kit availability and related articles, visit LeadTestConfirm.com. AwakeningCharlotte.com | 11 Good Food New Farm Bill Favors Sustainable and Organic Farming Sexting Survey National Campaign Alerts Parents to Harmful Trend A survey by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy has found that one in five teens and one in three young adults aged 20 to 26 have sent nude or semi-nude pictures of themselves via phone or posted them online. The practice is known as “sexting.” Campaign spokesman Bill Albert says he believes those numbers are low because they were self-reported. A separate survey by WiredSafety.org, an Internet educational nonprofit, reported that 44 percent of teen boys said they have seen at least one naked picture of a female classmate. “A lot of the kids feel anonymous online, so they feel more comfortable doing inappropriate things because they think they won’t be linked back to them,” observes one 11th-grader who has advocated cyber-safety since the eighth grade. The campaign’s survey also found that the majority—66 percent of girls and 60 percent of boys—say they thought of sexting as “fun” or “flirtatious.” Yet, 70 percent recognized it could have serious, long-term consequences for their careers or social standing. Albert notes that despite a rising number of pornography court cases stemming from the phenomenon, “Legal consequences were low on their list of concerns.” Source: The Christian Science Monitor 12 | August 2009, Charlotte Edition For most of its 70-plus year history, the term ‘farm bill’ has conjured vast acreages of uniform rows of subsidized corn and soybeans stretching toward the horizon. Once the purview of a few farmers and fewer big agriculture lobbyists, today, everyday people have started to notice that federal farm legislation is also about the quality of our food and the environment. The attention of these conscientious eaters is making a difference. Last May, the most recent farm bill—the $300 billion Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008—was signed into law. The good news is that this new bill gives greater support than ever before to sustainable farming and food systems. Yes, additional measures are still needed to make healthy food and sustainable farming practices a more central focus of legislation. But organic farming has received a big boost, thanks to grassroots efforts. Jim Crawford, who has owned and operated New Morning Farm, in southcentral Pennsylvania, since 1972, sees the recent changes as a good thing. “The cost of certifying organic can be prohibitive if you are a begin- ning farmer,” Crawford explains, “when, for three years, you are using organic methods, but still getting paid conventional prices.” He says that is the reason why many of his neighbors ultimately decide not to convert. Crawford considers helpful new farm bill programs as imperative in ensuring that U.S. producers can meet consumers’ rising demand for organic foods. Among other provisions, the current farm bill provides individual producers up to $750 to offset the average $1,000 cost of certifying organic. Another new program provides up to $20,000 a year in financial assistance to support conservation practices related to the transition from conventional to organic systems. This, according to Crawford and others, goes a long way toward making the conversion to organic tenable for farmers. It all means that more healthy, sustainably produced food will be available to the public. To learn more, visit Sustainable Agriculture.net and check out the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition’s Grassroots Guide to the 2008 Farm Bill. Learn a complete system of healing and transformation driven by a shift in perception and a groundbreaking new consciousness technology developed by DR. RICHARD BARTLETT Ethical Era Generational Shift in Management Philosophy Nearly 20 percent of Harvard’s 2009 master’s of business administration graduating class have signed “The MBA Oath,” acknowledging that the goal of a business manager is to “serve the greater good.” It’s their public vow that they will act responsibly, ethically and refrain from advancing their “own narrow ambitions” at the expense of others. The New York Times reports that top business schools have witnessed an explosion of interest in ethics courses and in student activities about personal and corporate responsibility. The student-driven idea is to view business as more than a money-making enterprise. “Rather, they will think about how they earn their income, not just how much,” says Bruce Kogut, director of the Sanford C. Bernstein & Company Center for Leadership and Ethics, at Columbia. This new generation of activists promises to consider a corporation’s affect on its community and the public, its workers and the environment. At Columbia Business School, all students must pledge to an honor code that states in part: “I will not lie, cheat, steal or tolerate those who do.” The code, in place for three years, came about after discussions between students and faculty. Smokeless Home Adults’ Example Influences Youth Tobacco Use Research conducted by Umeå University, in Sweden, has determined that its country’s teenagers are more positive today towards their parents’ attempts to discourage them from smoking than in the past. The finding holds true whether or not the young people smoked. The research, which included 15 years of public health data and 13,500 adolescents, concluded that the most effective actions parents can take are not smoking themselves and not allowing their children to smoke at home. Unsurprisingly, younger children responded more positively to these approaches than older children. Other influences dissuading young people from smoking likely include changes in national legislation and the decreasing social acceptability of smoking. Source: MedicalNewsToday.com Dr. Bartlett teaches Matrix Energetics©, a consciousness technology for insight, healing and spiritual growth. Join Dr. Bartlett in a playful, possibility-expanding journey that shatters preconceptions of the seemingly “solid” universe and how unlimited our potential to change it truly is. If you are ready to embrace a reality where anything goes, miracles happen and nothing is beyond your reach, then you are ready for Matrix Energetics©. Teachable & transferable, Matrix Energetics© is accessible to everyone from a ten-year-old child to a medical professional. During this life-changing weekend, we will learn the art of rewriting any rule of our reality—about our health, happiness or even our understanding of what is physically possible. Richard Bartlett, DC, ND is the author of Matrix Energetics: The Science and Art of Transformation (Atria Books/Beyond Words) and The Matrix Energetics Experience (April 2009, Sounds True). Chicago, IL Lvl 1&2 Apr 17-20 Toronto, ONTARIO Lvl 1&2 Jun 19-22 Whizard’s Training Plus Dr. Garcia San Francisco May 16-18 SEATTLE, WA May 29 - June 1 Level 1&2 with PC Training Practitioner’s Certification June 2 San Diego, CA - Back-to-Back 1&2 & 3 On the Beach, Aug 21-27 www.matrixenergetics.com 800.269.9513 AwakeningCharlotte.com | 13 healthbriefs Nature’s Prescription for ADHD A new study by the University of Illinois shows that a dose of nature—a simple and inexpensive remedy—can make a great difference in the lives of children who find it difficult to complete tasks that require focus and concentration, such as doing homework or taking a test. That’s good news for the up to 2.4 million youngsters that might have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), diagnosed or not. Researcher Faber Taylor explains. “From previous research, we know there might be a link between spending time in nature and reduced ADHD symptoms.” In 2008, he explored the idea by taking children on walks in different settings—one especially “green” and two less green. He found that after a walk in the park, children generally concentrated better than they did after a walk in the downtown area or the neighborhood area. Taylor concluded that the physical environment in which children play and spend time matters, and that the greener the space, the more their attention spans improve. Hairspray and Birth Defects Pregnant women who are exposed to hairspray containing phthalates have more than double the risk of a son being born with the genital birth defect hypospadias, which involves malformation of the uretha, says new research published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. MOST MEDICATED POPULATION American children are about three times more likely to be prescribed psychotropic medication (altering perception, emotion or behavior) than European children. A new study led by Julie Zito of the University of Maryland’s School of Pharmacy suggests that regulatory practices and cultural beliefs about the role of medication in emotional and behavioral problems likely account for the difference. Source: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 2008 THE LOWDOWN ON AD GLUT A ban on fast food advertisements in the United States could reduce the number of overweight American children by up to 18 percent, according to a new report in The Journal of Law and Economics. Source: Lehigh University, 2008 14 | August 2009, Charlotte Edition Tea Helps Keep Teeth Healthy W ith refined sugars and citric acids found in sodas and some fruit juices permanently eating away our teeth’s protective enamel, an alternative drink is needed. Brewed tea, according to a recent report in the peer-reviewed journal of the Academy of General Dentistry, can help protect teeth. Apart from taste, tea has many health benefits, such as helping to decrease the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The authors of the study recommend green tea over black due to its higher content of antioxidants. Tea may be served hot or cold, as long as it’s home-brewed, simple and pure. The researchers recommend that we avoid adding milk, lemon or sugar, because these additives decrease the tea’s benefits. They further suggest that people stay away from prepackaged iced teas, because they usually contain citric acid and high amounts of sugar. The Beet Goes On T here may be more to blood-red beets than meets the eye. A recent study from St. Bartholemew’s Hospital (Barts) and The London School of Medicine found that consuming two cups of beet juice a day can significantly improve cardiovascular health. The study monitored the blood pressure of 14 participants who drank two cups of either pure beet juice or water. Professor Amrita Ahluwalia and her team reported 10 millimeters of mercury (mmHg, the standard unit used to measure blood pressure) reductions in systolic blood pressure levels two and a half hours after consumption and 8 mmHg drops in diastolic pressure levels three hours after consumption. Researchers believe that the beneficial agent countering hypertension is the dietary nitrate found in beetroot, which is converted to nitric oxide, a compound that opens blood vessels in the body. Beet juice is available at most health food stores, but it is also easy to make. At the market, select beets that are small and firm, with deep maroon or burgundy coloring and unblemished skins. Remove the tops, boil the roots, cool, peel and juice, adding a little water or vegetable or fruit juice to dilute. Flavor by serving over ice, with a twist of mint or lime. Source: Queen Mary, University of London, 2008 AwakeningCharlotte.com | 15 By Cary Collins Beneficial for Chronic Pain A ccording to the American Pain Foundation, there are more that 80,000 Americans suffering from chronic pain, which can lead to hopelessness, depression, anger, grief, loss of self-esteem and anxiety disorders. Living with this day-to-day pain can affect life on many levels. Sufferers may lose their jobs, experience financial hardship, lose interest in normal activities and have increased stress within their families and personal relationships. They may also have to contend with the unpleasant side effects of pain killers and other medication and experience digestive upset, weight gain and lethargy. It is easy to feel isolated, judged and out of control. Research has shown that group therapy can be effective in managing all types of chronic pain. Oftentimes family, friends and colleagues do not understand what it’s like to live with chronic pain. When people come together with a similar issue, it can be a huge catalyst for healing. With a social support system, friendships are formed and hope can be found by benefiting 16 | August 2009, Charlotte Edition from others’ stories. These powerful connections can allow pain sufferers to become vulnerable in a safe, non-judgmental environment where they can express thoughts, feelings and concerns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Changes Thoughts Research also indicates that psycho-educational groups using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy greatly reduces pain levels as well as depression, anxiety and disability, compared to control groups. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy involves identifying, evaluating and changing negative, unrealistic and unhelpful thoughts, beliefs and images. Chronic pain sufferers may have detrimental beliefs about their pain, such as “I can’t control my pain” or “If my pain increases I must be doing further permanent damage to myself.” They may also view themselves as weak, unlovable or incompetent. When people come together with a similar issue, it can be a huge catalyst for healing. Group therapy allows me to share my story with others who have suffered greatly in a safe, supportive environment. Group therapy helps pain sufferers to change their negative thoughts in relation to their pain, the effects it has on their life and other stressors. It can enhance communication and problem-solving skills so relationships can be healed and new ones formed. People with chronic pain can gain empathy for others and become more compassionate toward themselves. Being a part of a group affords encouragement and motivation from others and a myriad of solutions. anaOne Charlotte woman says working with a group of people with similar problems has helped her live a happier and useful life. “Group Therapy allows me to share my story with others who have suffered greatly in a safe, supportive environment,” she says. “It helps me understand that neither I nor my problems are unique and that I am not struggling alone. When I share my problems, others in the group share their experience, strength and hope with me. They have differing viewpoints, and may have already found solutions for the problem I am facing. In the rare event that I encounter an issue not previously faced by others in the group, they willingly help me to know I don’t have to walk through difficult situations alone.” Group therapy assists patients in mastering skills for pain management and stress and learning how to mobilize those skills during periods of increased stress and pain. They are encouraged to set and discuss the goals they hope to achieve. The group can help them identify unrealistic expectations and engage them in taking the first steps towards self-efficacy. Chronic pain sufferers can begin to gain control of their lives again by giving and receiving in the group environment. With less anxiety, depression and pain, increased socialization can occur. Supportive group therapy is cost and time efficient as well. Group sessions generally last longer than individual therapy sessions for approximately half the cost. Cary Collins is the owner and the psychotherapist at Seasons of Healing Counseling Services in Southeast Charlotte. She can be reached at 704-860-6944. For more information visit www.seasons-of-healing.com. AwakeningCharlotte.com | 17 communityspotlight Helping Charlotte’s Homeless Children Stay in School By Lisa Moore August means back-to-school shopping for thousands of students in Charlotte. But for Mecklenburg County’s homeless children, a trip to the store to select the latest backpacks, markers and lunch boxes is not a reality. One local organization is dedicated to erasing the impact of homelessness on children and their education. A Child’s Place, a collaborative effort between the local community and Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, seeks to provide support services to enhance academic opportunities for homeless students and to provide services to families to ensure long-term stability and self-sufficiency. The number of homeless children in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has increased 20% this past year, with nearly 3,000 school age children identified as homeless and an estimated 600 preschool children. Because of the shame and guilt that accompanies homelessness, there are likely many more. A Child’s Place (ACP) provides homeless children with stable, appropriate education in a mainstream setting. Comprehensive and timely assessments ensure that students receive the instruction and services they need. Children who are homeless may move up to 2-3 times 18 | August 2009, Charlotte Edition during a school year. Changing schools each time they moved would hurt them academically. Executive Director Annabelle Suddreth says it is important for kids to stay in the school they attended when they had a home. “For children without a permanent home, school becomes the most stable part of their day,” she says. “It’s where they see the same teacher, they sit in the same seat and play with the same friends.” Suddreth has seen a change in the types of needs families are experiencing this year. With increasing prices and the loss of jobs or hours, many are not able to make ends meet and other community agencies are not able to meet all of the community needs. “We found that families were not able to provide food for their families. So we started a food pantry and were able to provide food at times when children are out of school and not able to get free breakfast and lunch,” she states. For homeless students who are in need of extra support in order to achieve academic success, food, clothing, personal hygiene products and school supplies are distributed. Volunteer professionals provide medical, dental and counseling services. Volunteer tutors and “lunch buddy” mentors also offer academic and emotional support to children coping with stress, fear and other emotions resulting from homelessness. Through its Family Advocacy program, A Child’s Place provides parents connections to the employment, housing and education opportunities that can lead to a life of stability. Links to crisis counseling, budgeting and financial assistance programs are also available, along with emotional support and encouragement. Nadia’s family was assisted by ACP earlier this year. She was “For children excited to get her own without a room after permanent home, living with her mother school becomes and broththe most stable ers for a full part of their day.” school year in one motel room. Her mother, who does not own a car, struggled to get her children to school every day and herself to her full-time office job. ACP coordinated the provision of after-school tutoring, help with transportation and the transition to the family’s own house. A Child’s Place is 100% privately funded and receives no federal, state or local tax dollars. There is no endowment or business on the side to generate revenue. The organization relies on donations to stay afloat and has seen their numbers drop this year. Beyond monetary gifts, ACP is in need of items like school supplies, toiletry items, school uniforms, socks, underwear and snacks. “We try to put a nutritious snack in every child’s backpack each day in case they don’t get dinner that night,” says Suddreth. With A Child’s Place services needed now more than ever, she wants to be able to provide assistance, turning no one away. Volunteers are needed as lunch buddies, tutors, snack providers, birthday sponsors and classroom assistants. Suddreth says that serving for just an hour a week can make a dramatic difference in a child’s academic success. “You wouldn’t believe what a big impact that small investment in time can make! For more information visit www.achildsplace.org. AwakeningCharlotte.com | 19 MOON MAGIC Astrological Timing for Success – August 2009 This Sun-ruled month of Leo begins with Lughnasa, the Celtic festival of the Sun god, Lugh. Also known as Lammas or Loaf-mass, it is the traditional time to share bread of the first harvest. The Moon is growing toward Full on Aug 5 when we have yet another eclipse, the 3rd in 4 weeks! An eclipse brings opportunities to eclipse or eliminate whatever needs to be let go from our world. As old psychic patterns break down, energy is freed for a new creation. August The energies released from the July 21 Total Eclipse of the Sun will be re-constellating around any new purpose or initiative we bring forward the next few months. Following a total solar eclipse the next solar gate is most important for powering on the new creation. Lammas marks the cross-quarter of Summer, the mid-Leo ‘power gate of fire.’ The Lammas festival begins August 1 and the cross-quarter date is August 6-7 when the Sun is exactly halfway between Solstice and Equinox. August Mid-August, shooting stars will be streaming brightly from the sword of Perseus while the great benefic Jupiter shines brilliantly in the evening sky. Jupiter is at opposition, closest to our planet, bringing celestial blessings. Saturn will just be fading from view as the Lord of the Rings makes a solar rendezvous and turns rings edge on toward the Sun for a once-in-30-years Spring Equinox. Spring time on Saturn is good news for planet Earth. August 1 July 2 4:11 a.m. thru August 3 3:54 p.m. MAGICAL NEW BEGINNINGS Lammas / White Rabbit Day Say ‘White Rabbit’ first thing for good luck through the month. The rabbit opens us to magic; the Rabbit in the Moon is our magical guide. RENOVATE YOUR INNER WORLD Moon Out of Bounds South As the Moon travels below the zodiac, our inner world becomes illuminated. Subconscious beliefs and behavior are revealed and more easily reformed. We may experience challenges where we’ve been blocked or hiding from ourselves. This is a time to go beneath the surface, do research, change habits or renovate our inner world. 4 5 5:21am Aug 6-7 BARACK OBAMA’S BIRTHDAY Now turning 48 and entering a first house year in astrology, it’s time to fully come on stage and this story is just beginning. The first house speaks to the realization of one’s ultimate potential and addresses one’s personality and presentation to the world. ILLUMINATION Sun in Leo Full Moon This is the Asala Full Moon when all the ascended enlightened leaders of the world gather in their spirit bodies to focus energy for planetary renewal. Special energies flow through for three days following Full Moon. Revelations may come in dreams, ‘chance encounters’ or sudden flashes of inspiration. POWER ON A NEW MYTHIC STORY Lammas Cross-Quarter Midpoint Leo, the power gate of fire, culminates the festival of Lughnasa (or Lammas) that began August 1. This cross-quarter brings opportunities to realize dreams and bring illumination. Dreams and portents predict what is to come in the Autumn season. Take note! Aug 6 is the Catholic Feast of Transfiguration celebrating the date when Jesus went up on the mountain to be illuminated. August COSMIC BALANCE TIME 8 Moon at the Equator / Lunar Zero Point North Lunar 0 Points are cosmic balance times for our creative imagination. Moon at the Equator moving North is like the 9:09 Spring Equinox, a time to envision. The magic window is to 10:09 p.m. open for about two hours from 9:09 – 10:09 pm. August 13 8:00 p.m. thru 17 1:48 p.m. OPEN-MINDED AND IMAGINATIVE Moon Out of Bounds North We enter ‘the higher world’ new ideas are more easily and successfully shared. It’s time to share new opportunities, make announcements, do a promotional or bring a new discovery to light. August 15 is most magical when the Moon is maximally Out of Bounds North sailing over Orion close by the planet Mars. MAKE A WISH 20 | August 2009, Charlotte Edition August 16 thru 18 Aug 19 until Sunset Aug 21 August 22 August 22 thru 25 Balsamic Moon This is a time for putting wishes on the air and bringing people to mind for healing. Empathic feeling brings healing. As we feel, we heal. August 27 7:42 am TIME TO LOOK WITHIN Dark of the Moon The ‘Dark of the Moon’ is a 3-day period starting the day before New Moon and ending when the crescent becomes visible. Although unfavorable for outward activities, this time is ideal for inner work. It is also a good time to sage the home for a new lunar cycle and clear space for magic. BE QUIET New Moon The prophet Nostradamus called the New Moon “the day of Diana, a time for silent rest.” Quiet at the New Moon opens our inner knowing and allows us to draw from the psychic well within. IDEAL FOR ALL NEW BEGINNINGS August 26 LET GO THE OLD, POWER ON NEW 1st Quarter Moon Tonight the Moon passes close by Antares, the star of death and rebirth. This is an opportunity to clear out the old and channel energy to the new. Breathe deeply and focus on the light overhead to make the ideal real. CHANGE HABITS Moon Out of Bounds South 12:15 p.m. As the Moon plows our inner world whatever has been hidden will thru be revealed. This is a time to go beneath the surface, do original re9:54 p.m. search, change habits or renovate your inner world. 30 Steve Nelson is a professional astrologer who uses tarot, name analysis, and traditional astrology to help clients understand personal myths and realize natural abilities. He may be reached at 704-3753759 or email stevenelson@ carolina.rr.com Crescent New Moon The next few days following the appearance of the lunar crescent are ideal for starting a new business or staging a successful public event. It is time to share new opportunities, make announcements or bring new discoveries to light. This Moon tide will energize whatever we bring forward. AwakeningCharlotte.com | 21 healthykids Parents of Allergic Kids Charlotte Supporting, networking, understanding by Lisa Moore P arenting is hard work, but raising a child with food allergies can present day-to-day challenges that can be overwhelming. Food allergy occurs in approximately 6 to 8 percent of children under the age of 4. From 1997 to 2007, the prevalence of reported food allergy increased 18% among children under age 18 years, according to the Center for Disease Control. Allergic reactions range from mild: rashes, itching, swelling and digestive upset to severe: trouble breathing, wheezing or loss of consciousness. In extreme cases, anaphylactic shock or death may even ocFrom 1997 to 2007, the cur. Food allergies can complicate the simplest childhood prevalence of reported activities -- from eating and attending school to birthday parties and sleepovers. Between chauffeuring kids to docfood allergy increased tor visits, researching treatment, making plans around their 18% among children allergies and creating an allergy-proof home, parents can become very burned out. Parents of Allergic Kids (PAK) Charlotte provides a supportive environment for parents of and the children who have serious food allergies. The group raises awareness and educates parents, caregivers, professionals and children’s peers about safely caring for those with food allergies. Formed in April 2006 by parents of children with food allergies, PAK is a free support group with a network of over 300 families in the Charlotte area. Dr. Maeve O’Connor and Dr. Gray 22 | August 2009, Charlotte Edition 90% of all food-allergy reactions stem from eight popular foods - milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat. Food allergies can complicate the simplest childhood activities Norris, Board-Certified Allergists from Carolina Asthma and Allergy Center, serve as medical advisers. Meetings, guest speakers and special events offer support and fun. The PAK message board helps parents communicate about allergy challenges and to coordinate meet ups. Because society is undereducated on the hardships of allergies, parents often have to be an advocate for their children. Teresa LeBlanc, who has a young son with allergies, says PAK has assisted her in many ways. “I network with people that can relate, offer advice, an ear and help me feel that I am too nice sometimes when it comes to protecting my son,” she says. “In some cases it reinforces my actions by seeing or hearing what ‘over the top’ behavior results in.” Blanc also says that PAK has helped her to become more educated on her rights for her son in the school system and challenges he may face when he gets older. With 90% of all food-allergy reactions stemming from eight popular foods - milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat - cooking for a child with food allergies requires extensive planning and creativity. Members learn about new foods and recipes from others that have similar food allergies. “It is through PAK that I learned many new foods to feed my son,” states LeBlanc. Parents of Allergic Kids are welcome to take part in upcoming events. On August 16th, PAK will sponsor its 4th Annual Food Free Zone at the Charlotte Knights Baseball game, welcoming all food-allergic families. The 4th Annual Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network Carolinas Walk for Food Allergy: Moving Toward a Cure will take place at Freedom Park on September 20th. Funds raised will go towards food allergy research and education. The next PAK meeting will be on September 25th at St. Matthew Catholic Church in Ballantyne. For more information, visit www. pakcharlotte.org. AwakeningCharlotte.com | 23 fitbody walking form. Their upper body tilts forward and their legs go out the back. Engage the body’s core. – Engaging your core muscles connects your torso to your legs and stabilizes the pelvis during movement. It also strengthens these muscles over time. This allows you to walk with your whole body. An unstable pelvis increases vulnerability to a host of ailments, such as lower back pain, hip bursitis and iliotibial band syndrome, which affects thighs and knees. ChiWalking Daily Steps to Focus, Strengthen and Energize by Katherine and Danny Dreyer E arlier generations recognized the amazing effects that walking has on health. G. M. Trevelyan, a noted English historian, wrote in the 1920s: “I have two doctors. My left leg and my right.” In those days, science had not yet documented how the traditional evening stroll exercises the heart, calms the mind and benefits one’s overall constitution. But today’s research shows that walking may be nothing short of a miracle cure. A recent study reported in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise shows that adults in their 50s and 60s who consistently walk are about 25 percent less likely to die in the next eight years than their sedentary counterparts. The University of Michigan Medical Center study further notes that, for smokers and others with high blood pressure or diabetes, the risk of death drops 45 percent. The myriad benefits of walking, as attested in studies published in The New England Journal of Medicine, The Journal of the American Medical Association and others, go beyond increasing bone density and improving mental acuity to lowering the risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Walking literally can make the difference between life and death. In our work with walking instructors and students around the country, we have found that applying some Tai chi principles to walking movements boosts benefits and makes walking a mindful practice. As in Tai chi, Pilates 24 | August 2009, Charlotte Edition and yoga, ChiWalking teaches you how to use the strong core muscles of your torso to walk, which helps prevent pain and fatigue. Learning and practicing ChiWalking connects you more deeply with your body as you listen and respond to its needs and rhythms. We call it “body sensing,” a centered awareness that allows you to align mind and body in a way that promotes healthy, effortless, steady and balanced movement. Eckhart Tolle, in A New Earth, writes of such awareness of the inner body as “anchoring you in the present moment.” Taking it a step further, we teach how projecting your energy forward to a point or object in the distance, with which you maintain a visual connection, leaves little room for distraction. Everything naturally falls into alignment, following the direction of the eyes. In Tai chi, this concentrated focus is called y’chi. ChiWalking involves five mindful steps Get aligned. – First, create great posture. Then, walk by keeping the shoulders in front of the hips, leveraging the pull of gravity to assist in forward momentum. This reduces the impact to the lower back and legs. Watch a small child walk, and you will see perfect Create balance. – Most of us thrust our hips forward when we stand or walk. This is what throws the whole body out of alignment and increases impact on the knees and lower back. Leading with the shoulders in ChiWalking relieves pressure on the lower back and allows you to walk with slightly bent, relaxed knees. Practitioners of ChiWalking, as those of Tai chi, learn to create balance from back-to-front, side-to-side and upper body-to-lower body. A state of physical balance supports a state of emotional balance. Make a choice. – The first three steps help establish a platform for daily making the kinds of positive choices that profoundly affect health and well-being. Walking is a good way to enhance and manage your energy. You can choose to calm yourself if you’re tense, get energized if you are tired or get focused if you are feeling scattered. Move forward. – The final step asks you to move forward into your life and your walking by being consistent with your practice. It is as simple as putting one foot in front of the other, and as important as choosing healthy foods to nourish your body. Because a consistent practice of healthy movement is the key to good health and vibrant energy, it’s among the best preventive medicines in the world. Katherine and Danny Dreyer are founders of parent company ChiLiving, and co-authors of ChiWalking and ChiRunning, out in a new edition this year. For more information visit ChiWalking.com and ChiRunning.com. ChiRunning Makes Running an Injury-free Joy by Katherine Dreyer “Humanity was born to run,” writes the Los Angeles Times, reporting a study by Harvard University and the University of Utah, in which scientists draw the stunning conclusion that, “The ability to run long distances was the driving force shaping the modern human anatomy.” Running does not hurt the body; it is the way that we run that causes the impact and injury for which running is infamous. When proper biomechanics are applied, running becomes a safe and healthy activity that can help us all stay fit and feel great. ChiRunning is based on the same principles as ChiWalking. This includes starting with good posture and leveraging gravity to make running easier and gentler on the body. As in the practice of Tai chi, the focus of ChiRunning is to move from your center, not solely from your legs. It’s learning how to use gravity to aid propulsion by relaxing your legs and gently falling forward in a steady cadence. Moving in this way turns running into a healthy, relaxing and safe form of exercise and adds a mindful element to the oldest sport in the world. 8/1/09 SEI - Charlotte 231-9187-NA-touch-4x3 Natural Awakening 4.75” x 3.25” MF 6/30 TouchÊlivesÊdaily Professional Clinical Massage Therapy Learn Neuromuscular Therapy and Swedish Massage Student Massage Clinic 50min Swedish Massage $25 Fri 9am - 8pm, Sat 9am - 4pm By Appointment Only! 4 Financial aid available to those who qualify 4 Placement assistance for graduates 4 Day or evening classes Call Toll Free Charlotte Main Campus 1.888.203.3613 5250 Seventy Seven Center Drive, Suite 100 www.SoutheasternInstitute.com AwakeningCharlotte.com | 25 Warning: Swing Dance may be addictive. Your Way to Fitness By Lisa Moore distinct culture and their own variations of every dance. The earliest forms of Swing Dance actually predate swing jazz music and began in African American communities. With the pressures of job and social obliThe music features the syncopated timing associated with gations pulling us in many directions, it’s West African and African American music and dance, but introduces changes in the way these rhythms were played, often hard to find time for exercise. And often with a distinct delay or relaxed approach to timing. when we do, the thought of jogging on the Zoë Whittaker, President of the Charlotte Swing Dance Society, says Swing Dance is great for all ages and ability treadmill or tossing around dumbbells can levels, and notes that her grandfather was still doing the seem like drudgery. Swing Charleston when he passed at age 93. Dance can help you dance “I have always contended that if you “Swing Dance comes from can walk you can dance,” she says. “Evyour way to physical fitness, a bygone era that still has erything in social dancing comes in pairs. social confidence and perIf you have two left feet then you can learn magic and power.” to have two right feet.” Beginners can exsonal happiness while hav- Zoe Whittaker, pect to be dancing by the end of their first Charlotte Swing Dance Society ing a blast. class, she claims. Swing Dance can keep you fit in a variety of ways. Depending on the step, it can burn anywhere Swing Dance refers to a group of dances that developed from 250 calories to 400 calories an hour — about the same simultaneously with the swing style of jazz music in the as a brisk half-hour walk on a treadmill. 1920s, ‘30s and ‘40s, including the Lindy Hop, Charleston, Dancing works muscles in various parts of the body and Shag, Balboa and Blues, West Coast Swing, East Coast Swing, Rock and Roll and Jive. The variety of styles offers dancers an sharpens coordination, agility and balance. Memorizing array of workouts from fast and jumpy to smooth and sensual steps and twirls flexes the mind — a crucial benefit for older Americans. or even acrobatic. Each local swing dance community has a 26 | August 2009, Charlotte Edition Anyone can swing dance as long as you feel the music and can listen to your partner. The tempo and pace of each dance is set by the music. Fast songs will provide an aerobic work out, while slower, bluesy tunes offer stretching and holding a line with your partner. “Swing dancers have notoriously developed stomach muscles because everything we do comes from our core or center,” says Whittaker. Dancing reduces stress and tension and also improves attitude, confidence and body awareness. “I’ve seen so many people bloom socially through dancing,” states Whittaker. “I can’t tell you how many shy people walk away from their first dance lesson grinning from ear to ear.” Swing dance offers couples a great way to spend time together, but no partner is required at classes. The Charlotte Swing Dance Society sponsors and promotes multicultural events that bring together community members to share the common experience of music and dance that transcends race, age, gender and creed. So grab your zoot suit and wing tips and give it a whirl, but consider one important disclaimer - Swing Dance may be addictive. For more information about classes and events visit www. CharlotteSwingDance.org. At right, Zoe Whittaker and Mike Eblen doing the Blango Nuevo photo by Dennis Goetz AwakeningCharlotte.com | 27 Calming Anxious Lives A Holistic Parenting Approach by Lisa Marshall For fourth-grader Skylar Shumate, a typical Tuesday looks like this. Rise at dawn for some toaster waffles and juice before sprinting to the bus at 7:15 a.m. Study for spelling en route to school. Embark on a seven-hour school day, filled with classes and quizzes. Head to cheerleading at 3:15 p.m., hip-hop class at 5 p.m., then return home to practice piano and do homework before grabbing dinner and heading to bed. In all, Skylar reports, she is a happy kid. “But sometimes, if I’m super stressed, I’ll go cry in my room,” she confesses. “I sometimes just wish there wasn’t so much pressure.” S uch a statement from a child is particularly chilling. But, according to a growing body of research and legions of concerned child development experts, Skylar is not alone. Troubling Trends According to a study by the Californiabased Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health, up to 70 percent of parents report that their 9- to 13-yearold children experience moderate to high levels of stress. In a recent poll of high school students by Stanford University, 65 percent admitted they were often or always stressed out. According to the National Mental Health Information Center, anxiety disorders affect 13 out of every 100 children ages 9 to 17. 28 | August 2009, Charlotte Edition Nationwide, healthcare providers report an increase in stress-related health problems like stomach aches, teeth grinding, sleep disorders and behavioral problems in children as young as preschool age. Some anxiety can be attributed to trouble at home, such as abuse or personal tragedy. But a more insidious culprit appears to have emerged: a culture of hyper-parenting, in which kids are overscheduled and academically overloaded, and adult role models—concerned about everything from terrorism to pandemics and the economy—are more stressed than ever. “We have stumbled into a unique moment in the history of childhood, a cocktail of cultural and historical trends that have intersected to create a perfect storm,” says Carl Honoré, a 41-year-old father of two and author of Under Pressure: Rescuing our Children from the Culture of Hyper-Parenting. He notes how anxious parents are feeling the need to prepare their kids for a tough job market. They have money to afford extracurricular activities, and because they are becoming parents later in life and raising fewer children, they have a tendency to dote on them and expect great things. “Children are the target of more adult anxiety and intervention today than at any time in history,” says Honore. Most troubling is the realization that too much childhood stress can have lifelong health consequences. According to a 2008 report by the Centers for Disease Control, chronic or severe childhood stress can disrupt the development of fragile brain circuitry, resulting in a “low threshold for stress,” throughout life. Excess stress hormones, like cortisol, can also damage the brain region responsible for learning and memory and impair the immune system, leaving kids vulnerable to asthma, allergies and other illness. The good news: Parents who take care to shield their children from excess stress and help them deal with inevitable stressors in a healthy way, can set them up for better long-term mental and physical health. “In a very real way, Mother Nature expects parents to be good parents,” says psychology professor Chris Coe, Ph.D., an immunology researcher at University of Wisconsin-Madison. “It helps to guide a child’s biology in the right direction.” What Parents Can Do The first key step, experts say, is for parents to learn to recognize when their kids are stressed out, and it can happen far earlier than many assume. “It starts to kick in around their first or second birthday,” says psychologist Charles Fay, Ph.D., president of the Golden, Colorado-based parenting organization, the Love and Logic Institute. Fay says toddlerhood (12 to 30 months) is particularly stressful, as kids go through potty training and learning to walk. For older preschoolers, changing schools, older siblings moving away or parents divorcing can all be stressful. While some stress can be beneficial, adults need to be vigilant about looking for signs that a child is experiencing too much stress, particularly if the child is too young to verbalize his or her feelings. Common signs include regression, temper tantrums, withdrawal and tummy, head or muscle aches. Hyperactivity Can Signal Stress “We see a lot of kids and families who are in a perpetual state of fight or flight and sadly, the kids get wrongly diagnosed with learning and behavior disorders, such as ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder),” says Fay. Holistic Solutions to Stress by Lisa Marshall A bit of childhood stress is inevitable, and can even be motivating when taken in small doses, experts say. But parents can do much to help kids better manage it. Set aside relaxation time: “There is such a thing as preventative mental health,” says Lawrence Shapiro, Ph.D., author of The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook for Kids. “You wouldn’t let your kids go a day without brushing their teeth. Don’t let them go a day without relaxing.” He recommends that children of all ages carve out at least 15 minutes each day for focused relaxation. Put on soothing music, ask them to breathe deeply and close their eyes, and then leave them alone. Sleep: Sleep produces the calming, feelgood brain chemical serotonin, while lack of sleep results in too much of the “fight-or-flight” brain chemical, cortisol. A child who doesn’t get enough sleep won’t handle stress as well. According to the National Sleep Foundation, toddlers need 12 to 14 hours and preschoolers 11 to 13 hours. Kids ages 5 to 12 do well with 10 to 11 hours of sleep and teens with about 9 hours. Nutrients: Brandy Webb, a naturopathic doctor in Tacoma, Washington, and adjunct faculty member at Bastyr University, says certain nutrients can go a long way in counteracting the physical impacts of stress. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fatty fish, flax seed, certain nuts and dietary supplements, can counteract the inflammatory response that comes with stress. This also helps fend off problems such as headaches and muscle aches, which can come with stressinduced inflammation. Stressed-out kids burn through critical nutrients, particularly calcium, so a balanced diet is critical. Magnesium supplements are known to help relieve anxiety and stress. Vitamins C and E boost immune function. Botanicals: Webb recommends calming herbal tinctures, such as catnip and pas- sionflower, for quieting a child in the throes of a stressful moment. Lavender, in either a tea or a bath, can be effective in reducing anxiety. Better yet, brew some tea and allow your child to sit in the bath with it for 20 minutes, breathing in the lavender-laced steam. Exercise: Shapiro and Webb both recommend at least 30 minutes of free, outdoor play per day. Limit screen time: Never allow your child to have a TV or computer in their room, advises parenting expert Charles Fay, Ph.D. Also, keep screen time to an absolute minimum for youths under 2 years old. Keep the volume down (loud noises can aggravate stress) and be particularly wary of television if your child is already prone to hyperactivity. “If kids are predisposed to hyperactivity, too much TV will exacerbate that predisposition,” Shapiro notes. Also, overuse of electronic media—such as video games and Internet social groups—could be a warning sign that the child is stressed. “A lot of the most stressed-out kids I deal with gravitate toward those things as unhealthy coping mechanisms,” comments Webb. While social networking tools like Facebook, instant messaging and Internet chat rooms don’t necessarily cause stress, experts advise, a child who spends too much time with them may get behind on homework, adding to their stress. Worse yet, they’ll rob themselves of time spent playing face-to-face with friends outdoors in the fresh air. Watch any kid at play: There is no better stress reliever. AwakeningCharlotte.com | 29 Trees like to have kids climb on them, but trees are much bigger than we are, and much more forgiving. Another tip: Check your own stress level. “Kids take their emotional cues from the adults around them,” advises Fay. “A lot of high-achieving, perfectionist kids think mistakes are the end of the world, because they see their parents reacting that way.” He counsels parents to model positive reactions to stress. Take a moment to tell the kids a funny story about how you spilled coffee in your lap and had to run home to change—and the lesson learned. Instead of freaking out as you rush around the house looking for the car keys, say, “Oh well. It’s not the end of the world if I am a few minutes late.” Experts say overscheduling is another chronic source of stress, with many parents shuttling junior from story time to baby yoga to playdates. According to a 2001 study by University of Michigan researchers, children ages 3 to 5 have eight fewer hours per week of free play time than they did in 1981. Kids ages 6 to 8 enjoy 13 fewer hours of free time. An easy solution: “Remind yourself that it is okay for kids to be bored,” says Fay, noting that boredom fosters creativity and prepares kids for a “real life” that is not always action-packed. If you find yourself often eating in the car en route to endless pursuits, your child throws a fit or falls asleep on the way to a practice or he or she doesn’t talk much about an activity (a sign of genuine interest), it could be a wake-up call. Ask your child to make a list of his or her favorite interests, in order of priority, Fay suggests, and trim off the bottom. On the flip side, Fay counsels that too little structure at home can be stressful for kids; they look to their parents to demonstrate assertiveness and provide the boundaries that make them feel safe. “If you have anxious kids, one question to ask is, ‘Am I setting enough limits and sticking to those limits?’” School-age Solutions - Diane Frolov & Andrew Schneider 30 | August 2009, Charlotte Edition By far, the most common cause of school-age anxiety (particularly amid middle-to-upper-income suburban kids) is academic stress. Numerous studies show that adolescents place schoolwork above friend problems, bullying and trouble at home when ranking stressors. One recent Stanford University poll of 496 high school students in California’s Bay Area found that when students were asked to list what causes the most stress in their lives, 68 percent cited schoolwork. Nearly 78 percent reported having experienced stress-related physical problems like headaches, weight gain, insomnia or stomach problems. In some cases, excess stress turns to depression and tragedy can strike. “Kids are more stressed than in the past for a whole host of reasons, and it is a big problem,” confirms education researcher and Stanford lecturer, Denise Pope. “There is more emphasis on testing, and kids feel the pressure from their teachers. Homework levels have gone up significantly. They feel like they are the hope for the future, and the pressure is on.” Research supports Pope’s conclusion, including a 2004 University of Michigan survey of more than 2,900 students that found the time it takes kids to complete their homework has increased 51 percent since 1981. In response, Pope, a mother of three, founded the Stressed Out Students Project (now called Challenge Success) in 2007. The national organization teaches parents and teachers how to minimize academic stress. “People have this vision that their child has to get straight As and involve themselves in every extracurricular activity in order to get into a good college: Not true. There is a college out there for every student who wants to go to college.” ~ Education researcher and Stanford lecturer, Denise Pope HHM.1/2Vert The first step, she says, is for parents to clearly define their own vision of “success” for their child. Is it really attendance at an Ivy League school? Or, is it participating in an enjoyable college environment that enriches their life? “People have this vision that their child has to get straight As and involve themselves in every extracurricular activity in order to get into a good college: Not true,” states Pope. “There is a college out there for every student who wants to go to college.” If a parent gets the sense that their child’s homework levels are excessive, they need to be proactive and call the teacher, says Pope. As a general rule, kids should have no more than 10 minutes of homework per grade level (10 minutes for first-graders, 30 for third-graders, two hours for high school seniors, etc.). Pope asks her child’s teachers to send work home in advance in weekly packets, so they can distribute it over the week around other commitments. “I know kids who do different, multiple sports each season after school, then come home every day, eat dinner and start in on homework at 8 or 9. We are asking them to put in longer days than most adults do,” Pope remarks. 3/12/09 12:27 PM Page 1 THE AREA’S BEST HEALTH FOOD MARKET Let Kids Be Kids Honoré, a London author who has made a living writing books about how to slow down and lead a less frenzied life, says he too, found himself falling into the “hyper-parenting” trap. When his son’s art instructor suggested his 7-year-old might have a gift for art, he found himself sifting through catalogues, looking for just the right afterschool course or summer class to nurture his budding Picasso’s special talent. When his son got the news, he looked at his father, dumfounded, and asked, “Why do grownups have to take over everything?” “I realized I had lost my bearings as a parent,” Honoré says. He backed off and ended up writing a book about it. He now takes care to ask himself what his motives are before guiding his son toward an activity: Is it for me, or is it for him? Meanwhile, this grassroots researcher is optimistic that “The pendulum is beginning to swing back,” and that a backlash against hyper-parents and stressed-out kids is upon us. In 2008, Toronto became one of the first jurisdictions in North America to crack down on excess homework, all but eliminating it in elementary grades and banning it during weekends and holidays. Meanwhile, communities across the United States have begun to host “Ready, Set, Relax” days, where all homework and extracurricular activities are canceled. On a smaller scale, experts say the revolution toward less stressed-out kids can begin when parents look at their kids in a new light. As Pope puts it: “We need to love the kid before us, not the kid we want them to be.” Lisa Marshall is a freelance writer and mother of four in Colorado. Healthy Home Market is the place to come for healthy foods, nutritional supplements, natural & homeopathic remedies and 4 FREE HEALTH SEMINARS a week! • The Area’s Biggest Selection Of Top Brand Vitamins & Supplements • Knowledgeable Vitamin Consultants • Herbal, Homeopathic & Natural Remedies • Local Organically Grown Produce & Natural Meats. • Bulk Natural Foods (Nuts, grains, flours, herbs etc.) • Area’s Largest Inventory of Health & Special Diet Foods (Gluten-free, Vegan, Diabetic etc.) • Naturally Delicious Deli with Smoothie/Coffee Bar 3 Area Locations: HISTORIC SOUTH END 2707 South Boulevard 704.522.8123 EPFX Quantum Biofeedback 5410 E. INDEPENDENCE BLVD. (@ Idlewild Road) 704.536.4663 LAKE NORMAN at DAVIDSON 261 Griffith St. (I-77 Exit 30) 704.892-6191 Visit Our Website For Healthy Info And A List Of Upcoming Seminars & Events. www.hemarket.com Sessions Available! Call Joy Fanning at 704.522.8123 For An Appointment Find The Stressors To Your Health & Wellness. EVERY TUESDAY IS VITAMIN DAY! Save 10% On Any Regularly Priced Supplement. AwakeningCharlotte.com | 31 naturalpet POLITE LEASH WALKING by Erica Pytlovany “Dogs don’t come speaking English, and they don’t read minds. Communicate less with your voice and more with your body (like dogs do), and your dog will understand you better.” ~ Patricia McConnell, Ph.D. A re you walking your dog, or is your dog walking you? A dog pulling on a leash is a common, but curable problem. You can teach your dog how to walk politely on a leash, using firm, positive approaches. Even 8-week-old puppies can learn; no special collar or tool is needed. METHODS If your dog pulls and you take one step forward, you have rewarded the pulling. The one consistent message your dog learns in all of the following approaches is that pulling does not get him where he wants to go. (Our trainers do not recommend employing leash pops and collar-jerking, because of the emotional fallout that sometimes accompanies these methods when performed improperly.) Be a Tree: When your dog pulls on the leash, stop, as though you are rooted in place. Do not take another step forward until the dog has released pressure on the leash. Your dog needs to learn that pulling equals stopping. Consistency and timing help a dog learn quickly. One variation on this technique is to use a word or phrase to signal your dog that he is pulling and you are going to stop. Speak in a happy voice, because you are not scolding; you are simply giving your dog information. Some use “whoops!” Others use “uh-oh!” If, when you stop walking, your dog dances around you in circles or runs to the end of his leash in every direction, gradually shorten the leash until there is nowhere interesting left to go. This makes the wrong choice (ignoring you) boring for the dog, and it is much easier for him to make the right 32 | August 2009, Charlotte Edition choice, which is relaxing on the end of the leash, looking up at you. Penalty Yards: When your dog starts to pull toward something, stop movement in that direction and go backwards. Depending on the dog’s level of excitability, take two or three steps, or up to 20 feet, in the opposite direction. This is useful when your dog is pulling toward a specific target (another dog, a favorite bush, the swimming hole). You are letting the dog know that pulling gets him the opposite of what he wants. You also are increasing the distance between him and the exciting thing, which helps him gather his selfcontrol. Once he stops pulling, he gets to go see the dog or sniff the bush as a reward. Zigzag and Circling: When your dog begins to pull, start walking in a broad, zig-zag motion. Alternatively, curve off to the right or left, in a wide circle. This deflects some of the pulling into a sideways motion and reminds the dog that, smart as he is, he doesn’t know which way you’re going to go, so he’d better pay attention. Clicker and Treats: Using food can be a highly motivating way for a dog to learn polite leash walking. Carry a pouch of pea-sized treats and use a clicker (sold at local pet stores), or pick a consistent word to say, like “Yes!” Capture a moment that your dog is behaving the way you want and click or say “Yes!” After that, offer a treat. Your dog will associate the click or the word “Yes” with getting a treat and begin to understand that the moment you click is the moment he earned the treat. Do not get the food out until after the click. The dog should be thinking about how to earn the reward, not trotting after the food. Initially, you will reward frequently, at least several times a minute. As the behavior becomes a habit, continue to praise the dog for good behavior, but phase out the treats. HOW LONG IT TAKES Young or energetic dogs require more training than mature or calm dogs. Dogs that don’t get out of the house much require more training than dogs that see the world on a regular basis. To maintain the momentum of the learning process, make sure the animal gets plenty of exercise. Be consistent. Never allow the dog to get somewhere by pulling; all family members need to be on board with this. Above all, have patience. Some days it may feel like your dog will never learn, then suddenly, one day you will look back and have to think hard to remember how he or she used to pull. Erica Pytlovany is a certified pet dog trainer with WOOFS! Dog Training Center, in Arlington, VA. Learn more at WoofsDogTraining.com. MORE EXPERT ADVICE Teach your dog not to pull while you are both standing still by holding the leash firmly with both hands and refusing to budge until your dog slackens the leash. Not a single step! Hold on tight and ignore every leash-lunge. As soon as he or she sits, say “Good dog,” offer a food treat, and then take one large step forward and stand still again. Repeat this sequence, advancing to two steps, then three steps, until your dog walks calmly forward on a loose leash and sits quickly when you stop and stand still. ~ Dr. Ian Dunbar, DogStarDaily.com AwakeningCharlotte.com | 33 moviereview Food, Inc. Are you hungry for change? By Lisa Moore Food Inc., a film more frightening than The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, should cleanse your palate of Big Agriculture and make you forever frown on Happy Meals. Director Robert Kenner explores the industrial food revolution from the 1940’s McDonalds-inspired fast food archetype to our present day supermarkets stocked with engineered “food.” Any romantic notion of your food coming from beautiful, pastoral farms replete with bright red barns and John Deere tractors is soon erased as Kenner shines the spotlight on the handful of corporations that greedily control the growth, processing and distribution of food in the US. It’s stunning to learn how food industry lawyers and lobbyists have taken over the government agencies responsible for policing the same companies for whom they worked. The documentary features narratives by nutrition activists Eric Schlosser (author of Fast Food Nation) and Michael Pollan (author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma) that are interspersed with interviews from farmers and ranchers. The use of creative and informative graphics make it easy to take in a wealth of varied information. You may think twice about sinking your teeth into a mouth-watering KFC drumstick after seeing how inhumanely chickens are treated. Bred to be top heavy for their coveted white meat, they have a lifespan of only 6 weeks – growing “We put faith in our government to protect us, and we’re not being protected at the most basic level.” -- Barbara Kowalcyk, whose 2 1/2 year old child, Kevin, died from E. coli. 34 | August 2009, Charlotte Edition so fast they can’t walk in their dark, cramped conditions. Don’t choke on your genetically modified popcorn when you see that Bessie the cow is no longer grazing on grass in a green pasture. Instead she is fed government-underwritten corn while standing ankle-deep in manure in an overpopulated cattle farm, increasing our risk for E. coli, which makes 73,000 Americans ill each year. Kenner follows Barbara Kowalcyk on a day of lobbying at the Capital for passage of a law named after her twoand-a-half-year-old son, Kevin, who died ten days after eating an E. coli tainted burger. “Kevin’s Law” would give the FDA the power to close meat processors that distribute contaminated meat--a power it unbelievably doesn’t have. Monsanto, a former chemical company that invented Agent Orange, has a patent on an herbicide-resistant custom gene in 90% of America’s soybeans, thus forcing farmers to buy seed from them each season. If a farmer grows soybeans outside Monsanto’s jurisdiction and some of the altered genes drift into his crop from neighboring fields, Monsanto will sue him for patent infringement. And because they have the money they will win, mercilessly breaking the lives of small farmers. Health concerns don’t seem to be at the forefront of Big Agriculture, with obesity and diabetes reaching alarming rates. An estimated 1 in 3 Americans born after 2000 will contract early onset diabetes. There’s a reason why a Big Mac costs less than a head of broccoli – and it has absolutely nothing to do with nutrition. The Orozco family, workers exploited in the corporate food system, is forced to eat the very food it produces. Though they yearn for fresh vegetables and fruit, they don’t have the money or the time to eat it. Their fast food lifestyle has forced the father to spend hundreds of dollars each month on drugs for diabetes, and the youngest daughter is on her way to succumbing to Big Pharma as well. Despite the gloom and disappointment, Food, Inc. does offer hope. Forward-thinking farmer Joel Salatin, “I found it necessary to get up at 3 or 4 in the morning before the (private) investigators are on the road following me.” – Moe Parr, pushed out of the seed business by Monsanto. owner of Polyface Farm in Virginia, insists he can produce “the best food in the world” as economically as largescale farming. And Walmart, swayed by consumer demand, is stocking its shelves with organic products - an excellent reminder of the power we, as consumers, have. The moral of this story is to take an active role in the food you consume. Know that every time you hear the blip of the supermarket scanner, you are casting a vote. Going for local, sustainable, slow food encourages the food industry to put the emphasis back where it belongs - on health. For more information, visit www. foodincmovie.com. AwakeningCharlotte.com | 35 doyourpart Healthy Choices Begin With The Three ‘R’s Sending Kids Back To School In Healthy Style The choices we make while gearing up for school can make a big impact on our children’s health and the health of our planet. My family and I have fun this time of year by finding interesting ways to reduce our waste, reuse items, and recycle what we can’t. One of my children is 13. Need I say more? She wants the latest fashion and you can find them at Plato’s Closet; a resale shop catering to children and young adults. It’s a bit overwhelming at first but you can really find some steals. Plus, my daughter can trade in outgrown items for cash or store credit. The same is true at resale shops for the younger set. You can find newborn to youth sizes at many resale stores including Once Upon a Child. It’s a great way to get gently used to practically new items for the ages that grow so fast. This is a great lesson for your kids in reusing and you’ll spend a lot less money. School lunches are a biggie when it comes to a healthier lifestyle. I found a cool lunch bag made from recycled water bottles (ReusableBags. com). My family has a daily goal of packing 100% waste-free lunches. So, 36 | August 2009, Charlotte Edition we ditched the non-recyclable plastic baggies for plastic containers that we’ve been stockpiling in the pantry. And we use a “Wrap-N-Mat” (also at ReusableBags.com) that keeps any size sandwich fresh and doubles as a placemat. Packing a reusable water bottle is essential and reusable utensils and a cloth napkin finish off the waste-free lunch. I don’t have worry about my kids accidentally throwing them away because they never need to go to the trashcan –everything goes back in the bag! Think about it this way - every child generates about 67 pounds of lunchtime trash each year. Do Your Part to reduce what your child tosses in the trash. Don’t forget what goes inside the lunch bag. Buying snacks in bulk will cut back on packaging waste. Items like crackers or pretzels are available that way and your kids won’t be throwing away those small, individual packages. Organic and locally grown fruits and vegetables are another smart choice. Pack a little dip too! That’ll encourage kids to eat up. Buy seasonal fruits and vegetables from local growers and you’ll be supporting your community’s economy and farmers while significantly reducing your eco-footprint. You can also make a statement that you’re working toward a healthier planet by stocking kids’ backpacks with eco-friendly supplies. Folders, dividers, composition books, pencils and pencil packs made of recycled content are easier to find. One local company, Carolina Pad, recently launched a new line of recycled paper products called “Sasquatch: leave nothing but tracks” available at Target, Wal-Mart and Walgreens. Supporting the recycled-content industry is another way to Do Your Part. These simple choices about what your kids take to school can drastically reduce your family’s eco footprint. It also is a good opportunity to have important conversations with your kids about what we all can do to tread lightly on our planet. Terri Bennett is an earth scientist and mom. Visit her website at www.doyourpart.com or contact her at doyourpart@ terribennett.com. AwakeningCharlotte.com | 37 Coming in September consciouseating Smart Snacks by Elisa Bosley The kids just walked in the door, ravenous, and headed straight for the fridge. They grab an apple or a few mini-carrots and a big glass of organic milk. Sound hard to believe? Why fuss if they go for cookies or chips instead? CREATIVE EXPRESSION Look for creative inspiration to express your divine gifts in new ways in the Natural Awakenings September edition. For more information about advertising and how you can participate, call 704-499-3327 38 | August 2009, Charlotte Edition Because, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture research, snacking has increased fourfold in the past 25 years. Snacks now contribute 26 percent of total calories consumed by kids ages 2 and older—with sugar stealing the show from vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. “T hese days, kids have 5,000 activities that they are doing after school, on weekends or before school, and they really need to be fueled properly,” says Bonnie TaubDix, a registered dietitian and mother of three from New York City, who has served as a national spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. “It’s important that you think about what your kids are eating.” Cookies, fish crackers and “juice” pouches, while easy to grab, lack the good stuff a child’s body needs, she says. The trick is to provide choices that are quick, irresistible and healthy. Here’s how to mind the munchkins’ munchies with smart-snack strategies. Be a model. – As with all things, children imitate what they see, so we can’t expect our child to eat healthy snacks if we’re noshing on junk. Start by eliminating unhealthy nibbles from the house. Instead, keep bowls of grapes, cherries or plums out on the counter, and be sure that the kids catch their parents eating them. Give everyone a time out. – Offer food in a relaxed environment, away from the television. A 2006 study published in the International Journal of Obesity found that increased TV time directly correlates to increased intake of sugary drinks and empty-calorie snacks, as well as lower vegetable intake. Have worthwhile bites ready and mindfully keep the to-do list from demanding attention while the family enjoys a snack together. Choose satisfying combos. – “The most important approach [to snacking] is to combine protein and whole grain carbohydrate,” says Taub-Dix. For example, offer whole grain crackers or toast, spread with nut butter. If a child insists on something sweet, add a little honey or cinnamon. For times when the kids go straight from school to an activity, “You can make them a sandwich; it can be kept in their backpacks,” advises Taub-Dix. paired with hummus or a yogurt-based dip. (Taub-Dix recommends Greek yogurt, which tastes more like sour cream.) If it has to be chips, buy varieties made with whole grains and baked. Go easy on the juice. – Although juice can be a good source of vitamins, it also delivers concentrated calories. Rather, focus on water or sparkling water, livened up with a splash of vitaminrich lemon, cranberry, blueberry or pomegranate juice. Think accessible and quick. – What’s ready and in plain sight is what’s likely to get eaten, so make wholesome snacks easy to find at all times. Try string cheese or yogurt for calcium and protein; raw food fruit and nut bars for fiber and vitamins; unsalted nuts, trail mix with dried berries, and whole grain granola or organic breakfast Os for antioxidants and good carbs. Teach youngsters to be label savvy. – Just because something is labeled “natural” doesn’t mean it’s the best choice. “Take your kids to the market and look at the labels with them,” suggests TaubDix. “Compare two products that are similar and ask, ‘Why is this one better than that one?’ Emphasize cause and effect: When you teach a child that calcium is going to make bones strong for doing all those fun things that kids do, they understand the ‘why’ of healthy eating.” Dip it. – Offer vegetables such as sugar snap peas, mini-carrots, sliced cucumber, red bell peppers or zucchini, Elisa Bosley is a freelance writer and a food editor who also develops and tests recipes. Have Healthy Snacks at Hand ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Apples and cheddar cheese Graham crackers crumbled into cottage cheese Yogurt dip with fruit slices String cheese and whole grain crackers Salsa with baked chips Whole grain, low-sugar cereal and milk Raw food fruit and nut bars Whole grain pretzels and almond butter Cinnamon graham crackers and peanut or cashew butter Guacamole or hummus with jicama sticks Smoothies with yogurt, milk, frozen berries and bananas Organic dried veggies AwakeningCharlotte.com | 39 legislationwatch School Lunch Program A Prime Opportunity to Serve Up Improvements by Aimee Witteman T he United States deserves an F on any national report card on children’s nutritional health. One out of three of our children are overweight. During the past 30 years, the rate of obesity has quadrupled for children ages 6 to 11 and tripled for those ages 12 to 19. As a result, it is now predicted that one in three children will develop diabetes in their lifetime. Our education system has traditionally held that reading, math, science and English classes form basic building blocks for success. But what lessons are our children learning daily in their school cafeteria? Why School Lunch is Vital For many of America’s children, a school lunch is the most important meal of their day, constituting a third to half of their nutritional intake. As childhood obesity and Type 2 diabetes skyrocket, Congress is re-examining what shows up in school lunches and exploring ways to get healthier, locally grown foods served up to our nation’s kids. Admittedly, school lunch programs are just one of several areas that need to be addressed to reverse the current unhealthy trend, but many experts think that it’s one of the most critical. 40 | August 2009, Charlotte Edition Studies have shown that the nutritional quality of lunches is lacking in many schools, as they mirror the national trend toward overly processed foods that are low in fiber and high in fat and salt. The Department of Agriculture’s School Nutrition Dietary Assessment, which collected data from 130 school districts across the country, determined that only 6 to 7 percent met all nutrition standards in the federal government’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Most of the meals had too much fat or saturated fat or too few calories. Farm to school programs connect schools (K-12) with local farms. Goals include serving healthy meals in school cafeterias, improving child nutrition, supporting local and regional farmers and educating the public about the links between agriculture, health and nutrition. Lobbying for Change This year, Congress plans to reconsider the Child Nutrition Act—federal legislation that authorizes the school lunch program—and a grassroots effort is underway to improve the state of affairs in school cafeterias. Specifically, good food advocates would like to see $50 million in mandatory funding for Farm to School programs. The farm to school concept has been broadly defined as a school-based program that connects schools (K-12) with local farms. Goals include serving healthy meals in school cafeterias, improving child nutrition, supporting local and regional farmers and educating the public about the links between agriculture, health and nutrition. Already, independent farm to school initiatives have begun cropping up around the country. If Congress mandates such programs through the Child Nutrition Act, these programs could flourish in every part of the country. This would help children to start naturally building healthier eating habits and connect them more closely with where their food comes from. Too many of today’s kids are shocked to see that the milk they drink from cartons came from an animal. One young girl visiting a farm couldn’t believe that lettuce exists outside of a plastic bag. Parents may question whether their child would choose baked butternut squash over a butter-slathered biscuit. In all seven studies of existing farm to school programs compiled in the report Bearing Fruit by the Center for Food Justice at Occidental College, participating students chose more fresh fruits and vegetables, regardless of the alternative meal option. Community Payback It’s not just the kids who benefit. Farm to school programs regularly translate to more money going to schools because they spark increased participation in school lunch programs and schools are paid on the number of lunches served. Local farmers realize more income, which in turn strengthens local economies and creates jobs. Ecotrust, a nonprofit based in Portland, Oregon, has published an analysis of the impact of investing school food dollars in the local food economy. The study found that for every food dollar spent locally by two school districts in the Portland area, an additional 87 cents was spent in Oregon. Deborah Kane, vice president of Food and Farms programs for Ecotrust, in Portland, says the research confirms that these programs are a viable investment. “Farm to school programs can make an immediate impact on nearly every sector of our state’s economy,” she says. “We knew the effort would likely benefit the Oregon agricultural community and, of course, Oregon’s children. We were encouraged to learn that the benefits extend far beyond the most obvious.” Because there is more to your story. You wrote the manuscript … Let us give it the cover it deserves. melissaoyler.com 704 560 9212 modern original design Visit FarmToSchool.org for program details. Help ensure farm to school is a pivotal provision in the reauthorized Child Nutrition Act by calling members of Congress through the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121. Aimee Witteman is the executive director of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. Support the mission at SustainableAgriculture.net. AwakeningCharlotte.com | 41 Organic oils and linens - of course. More importantly, an organically tailored massage to meet your living needs. Book online at 360 N. Caswell Rd., Charlotte | 704-808-9977 | breatheorganicmassage.com Mention this ad for $25 off your first 1 hour massage. calendar Saturday, August 1 Charlotte Art League’s July Exhibit – Free. This annual exhibit showcases the many talents of our members with no set theme. 1517 Camden Road. www.charlotteartleague.org. Lammas Celebration - $10. Potluck at 6pm and sharing of “Lammas Bread.” Talk about Lammas Celebration & current eclipses 7:30-8:30pm by Steve Nelson. Drumming in the yurt 8:30-9:30pm led by Dr. K. Fire Drum under the stars at Sacred Grove’s stone circle 9:30-10:30pm. Celebrate this day to bring across change and power on your “new” story. Sacred Grove Retreat/Bed and Bike Inn. Info/ Register: 704-463-0768 or www.sacredgroveretreat.com. Sunday, August 2 Change Your Story, Change Your Life -10:30am. Sunday service. Rev. Learn how the story we constantly tell ourselves impacts our life and how we can change it to live the life we always wanted. Unity of Charlotte, 401 E. Arrowood Rd. Info: 704-523-0062 or www.unityofcharlotte.org. Marjorie Thompson House Concert in the Yurt 4pm. $10. With bass accompanist Greg Franklin, Marjorie will perform her repertoire of original songs plus traditional blues and roots.Marjorie was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show in February 2008. Potuck follows. Sacred Grove Retreat/Bed and Bike Inn. Info/Register: 704-463-0768 or www.sacredgroveretreat.com. Monday, August 3 Oneness Blessing- 8:30pm. Love offering. Oneness Blessing is the transfer of Divine Energy, which can quiet the constant chatter of the mind, open the door to higher states of awareness and help us awaken to oneness. Unity of Charlotte, 401 E. Arrowood Rd. Info: 704-523-0062 or www.unityofcharlotte.org. Friday, August 7 Fire Ceremony at Munay Spirit Center - 7pm. Arrive by 6:45pm.Gratitude offering. Honor this powerful elemental force with focused meditation. Get new ideas and insights and release that which does not serve you. Join in the service of healing the oceans (both physical and cosmic). Info: www.MunaySpirit. com or 704-263-5323. Moonlight Kayak Trip - 6:30-10:30pm. $99. Experience anticipation, excitement, surprises, fulfillment and even romance. Includes guided kayak trip, kayak rental, wine & cheese reception. Sacred Grove Retreat/Bed and Bike Inn. Info/Register: 704-463-0768 or www.sacredgroveretreat.com. Saturday, August 8 Meditation for the Beginner the “Practical Mystic” – 10am-12pm. $39, includes lunch. Workshop leader, Dr. K (Saleef Kafajouffe Ph.D), discusses how to obtain inner peace by reclaiming your natural inclination to self-actualize. Soar inwardly beyond mysticism and become a “practical mystic”. Sacred Grove Retreat/Bed and Bike Inn. Info/ Register: 704463-0768 or www.sacredgroveretreat.com. Out of the Drum We Come - 1-4:30pm. $49. Dr. K presents a Djembe-Jam drumming workshop. Individual personal growth & meditative drumming. Free practice CD provided. Drum rental $10. Sacred Grove Retreat/ Bed and Bike Inn. www.sacredgroveretreat.com. Register: 704-463-0768. Balance and De-Stress Now - 3:30-5 pm. Free. Ayurvedic Physician Aruna Patki shares simple methods 42 | August 2009, Charlotte Edition and remedies for self-care. Healthy Home Market, 2707 South Blvd. Register: 704-522-8123. www. healthyhomemkt.com. Moonlight Kayak Trip - 6:30-10:30pm. $99. Experience anticipation, excitement, surprises, fulfillment and even romance. Includes guided kayak trip, kayak rental, wine & cheese reception. Sacred Grove Retreat/ Bed and Bike Inn. Info/Register: 704-463-0768 or www.sacredgroveretreat.com. Sunday, August 9 Drumming in the Yurt - 3-5pm. $5. Experience the magic of drumming in the yurt with Dr.K. Bring your drum, percussion instrument or dancing feet and have some fun. Drum rental $5. Sacred Grove Retreat/Bed and Bike Inn. www.sacredgroveretreat.com. Register: 704-463-0768. Moonlight Kayak Trip - 6:30-10:30pm. $99. Experience anticipation, excitement, surprises, fulfillment and even romance. Includes guided kayak trip, kayak rental, wine & cheese reception. Sacred Grove Retreat/ Bed and Bike Inn. Info/Register: 704-463-0768 or www.sacredgroveretreat.com. Tuesday, August 11 Strength Training and Diet Meet Up - 6:30-7:30pm. Free. Build your better body and stronger mind now. Join Fit4Life and have The Total Package Certified Personal Trainers, Darrell Terrell and Alisa Plymale. Healthy Home Market, 2707 South Blvd. Register: 704-522-8123 or www.healthyhomemkt.com. Wednesday, August 12 Women’s Health- 6:30-7:30pm. Free. Find out the most up-to-date health research relating to women. Learn how to improve thyroid problems, osteoporosis and leave with info on anti-aging remedies. Upper Cervical Health’s Dr. Chad McIntyre. Healthy Home Market, 2707 South Blvd. Register: 704-522-8123 or www.healthyhomemkt.com. Sacred Circle of Women - 6:30-pm. $20. This twice monthly gathering provides a safe and sacred space for women to awaken to their authentic Selves. Each woman is celebrated and nourished to manifest the wise woman within. Consciousness Gathering Room, 5200 Park Rd. Info: 704- 989-1830 or www.christineodell. com or www.consciousnessgatheringroom.com. Thursday, August 13 Vortex Based Mathematics - 6-7:30 pm. Free. Math to back up sustainable technology. Randy Powell is back to discuss healing and energy technology. Healthy Home Market, 2707 South Blvd. Register: 704-5228123 or www.healthyhomemkt.com. Want to mark the calendar? We reserve the right to edit for space and clarity. Deadline: 12th of the month prior to publication. Submit to: [email protected] 704-499-3327 Cost: $10 per listing. No charge for community events. AwakeningCharlotte.com | 43 Saturday, August 15 Human Relations Workshop - 10am-4:30pm. $79, includes lunch. Enhance your ability to maintain casual, professional, and intimate relationships. Dr. Saleef Kafajouffe has an interdisciplinary Ph.D degree which includes Educational Pschology and Human Ecology and has delivered workshops and seminars for over 20 years. Sacred Grove Retreat/Bed and Bike Inn. www.sacredgroveretreat.com. Register: 704-463-0768. South African Sweat Hut & Intro to Thokoza Sangoma Traditional Healing – 3pm. Suggested donation $20. Intro about the South African Thokoza Sangoma tradition w/ Q & A. Discussion to include African sweat hut, Mandau and Manguni, water spirits, ceremonies, medicines and personal experiences in the tradition. Traditional sweat hut folows at 5pm using sangoma medicines. Munay Spirit Center. Info/register: 704-263-5323 or [email protected]. Bring a dish for the feast. Monday, August 17 Gluten-free Bread -- 6-7pm. Free. Health and Nutrition Coach Robin Ives will lead a food-prep demo and tasting of a delicious, nutritious glutenfree bread. Earth Fare South Park, 721 Governor Morrison Street. RSVP: 704- 749-5042. Shamanic Journey-7pm. $20. Explore an ancient method to safely contact the spirit realms for guidance, insight and healing. Drumming is used to shift consciousness and strengthen intuition. No experience necessary. Harmony Yoga in South Charlotte. RSVP: 704-277-3887. www.HarmonyYogaNC.com. Tuesday, August 18 Charlotte Green Team Meeting – Free. 3-4:15pm. A consortium of organizations with a goal to pave the way for improving the environment through 44 | August 2009, Charlotte Edition sustainable events and business practices. Special events should leave a lasting impression on you, not on the earth! Charlotte Convention CenterRoom 213. Info: 704-339-6039 or www.charlottegreenteam.com. Matrix Energy Class – Free. An introduction to a new pathway of healing. Blue Ridge Healing Arts Academy, 9 Union St N, 4th Floor, Concord, NC. Info: www.blueridgewellnesscenter.com or 704-794-7478. Wednesday, August 19 An Introduction to Feng Shui - 6:30pm. Free. Steve Kodad of The Feng Shui Cure will present an introduction to the basics of Feng Shui, the art of placement and balance. Give your home or office that ‘special’ feeling! Griffin Room, Monroe Library 316 E Windsor Street in Monroe. Info: 704-283-8184 ext. 232 or 704-843-4740. www. union.lib.nc.us. Friday, August 21 End of Summer Detox Retreat – 9am- 6pm. 60$. Take a moment to detox with a Full Body Dry Brush Treatment, Reflexology session & NADA Acupunture (ear detox treatment.) The Wellness Center at Blue Ridge, 9 Union St N, Concord. Info/ Appt. 704-794-7478 or www.blueridgewellnesscenter.com. Drumming Circle - 7-8:30pm. Love offering. Drumming and sacred ceremony. Bring your drum and /or rhythm instruments. Unity of Charlotte, 401 E. Arrowood Rd. Info: 704-523-0062 or www.unityofcharlotte.org. Saturday, August 22 Drum Making Workshop - 10-5pm. $150/includes lunch and materials. A magical birthing process to create your sacred instrument. The workshop concludes with a naming ceremony of each drum. Register by Aug 12. Class size is limited. Info/ register: 704-263-5323 or email [email protected]. Watercolor Class - 10am-4:30pm. $69. Dr. K (Saleef Kafajouffe, Ph.D) teaches how to paint utilizing both hemispheres of the brain. Beginners and novices welcome. Bring paper & paint. We’ll provide a productive and beautiful environment in which to work. Class size is limited. Sacred Grove Retreat/Bed and Bike Inn. www.sacredgroveretreat.com. Register: 704-463-0768. Natural Hair - 2-3pm. Free. Discover the truths and misconceptions about living without chemicals for wonderful coiling strands of hair. Learn the history on the relaxer and drop it forever. Healthy Home Market, 2707 South Blvd. Register: 704-522-8123 or www.healthyhomemkt.com. Sunday, August 23 “From Chaos To Clarity” Workshop – 10am-5pm. $90.Tools to promote wellness and coherence in these challenging times. An experiential workshop to learn to balance physically, emotionally and mentally using simple techniques to come back to focus on a moment to moment level. Register: 704-263-5323 or Robbie@MunaySpirit. com. www.munayspirit.com. Monday, August 24 Pandemic Protection- 6-7:30 pm. Free. Protect your family if a legitimate viral threat comes your way. Robert Bell, nationally recognized D.A. Homeopath, will discuss silver hydrosol, vaccinations, selenium, chromium and more. No reason to fear the flu. Healthy Home Market, 2707 South Blvd. Register: 704-522-8123 or www.healthyhomemkt.com. Emotional Wisdom - 7-8;30 pm. Love offering. Emotional Wisdom, an introductory talk with author Ruth King. Discover how our emotional disturbances can teach us how to be more emotionally wise. Unity of Charlotte, 401E. Arrowood Rd. Info: 704-523-0062 or www.unityofcharlotte.org. Tuesday, August 25 Sacred Circle of Women-10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $20. This twice monthly gathering provides a safe and sacred space for women to awaken to their authentic Selves. Each woman is celebrated and nourished to manifest the wise woman within. Consciousness Gathering Room, 5200 Park Rd. Info: 704- 9891830 or www.christineodell.com or www.consciousnessgatheringroom.com. SAVE THE DATE September 5-7 Ayurvedic Vegetarian Cooking For Mind, Body And Soul -$210. A weekend workshop on cooking and home remedies. Ayurveda, a traditional, holistic, natural system of health and healing from India, has been teaching how to live a healthy, balanced life for over 5,000 years. Ayurveda Healing Spa, 1980 Woodstream Drive, Harrisburg, NC. Register: 704-808-0708. www.AyurvedaHealingSpa.com. September 10-12 Thursday, August 27 Home Staging with Feng Shui Certification- In Raleigh, NC, at the Courtyard Marriott. Seating is limited to 12 students. Download course information from www. TheFengShuiCure.com. 704-408-8274. Fresh Herbs in Season- 6:30-7:30 pm. Frree. Info-share, foodprep and tasting to explore amazing flavor and health benefits of fresh herbs. Healthy Home Market, 2707 South Blvd. Register: 704-522-8123 or www.healthyhomemkt.com. Saturday, September 12 Saturday, August 29 Herb Day at the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market – 7:30am – 12pm. The Charlotte Herb Guild presents herbal food samples, herbal craft demonstrations and advice. Fresh hand-tied tussie-mussies made on site, lavender wands, herb wreaths, herbal jellies and baked goods, homemade potpourri, handmade lavender sachets and more. Info: www. geocities.com/charlotteherbguild. The Wise Woman Within Workshop, Trusting Your Inner Voice-10:30 am.-2:30 pm. $45. Are you ready to change your life from the inside out? Learn to trust your inner voice and your feminine wisdom to fuel your deepest passions. Consciousness Gathering Room, 5200 Park Rd. Info: 704- 9891830 or www.christineodell.com or www.consciousnessgatheringroom.com. “A Family, A Fair”- 10 am - 2 pm. Free. A Parenting Festival at the Lake. Children’s activities, exhibits, raffle and silent auction. Sponsored by LLL, Town of Davidson, and Wooden Stone. Davidson Town Green. Info: 828-777-2969. Energy 101 - 1pm-5pm. $49. Learn energy healing. Beginners only. Led by Tim Beebe who learned energy healing techniques after a healing crisis. Class sized is limited to 6. Sacred Grove Retreat/Bed and Bike Inn. www.sacredgroveretreat.com. Register: 704-463-0768. Eden Energy Medicine Class 1 of the Certification Program- $495. $100 discount for registration before September 1.Learn energy testing (including surrogate testing); a 5 minute routine to keep your energies humming and 4 different powerful energy medicine treatments. Sarah Owen MS LPC [email protected], (910) 538-8115, www. healinginyourownhands.com. Sept 25 - 27 Sunday, August 30 October 2-4 6th Annual LJCC Health Fair – Free.The LJCC Health Fair will have various free screenings and education. Levine Jewish Community Center. Info: 704-944-6871. 5th Annual Southeast Women’s Herbal Conference – Held in beautiful Black Mountain, NC, with special guest, author, and internationally renowned herbalist Susun Weed. A weekend for women to learn, connect, and deepen into the Wise Woman Tradition through herbal education, nourishing foods, empowerment, and community. More than 30 teachers and 50 classes. www.sewisewomen.com. 877-SEWOMEN. AwakeningCharlotte.com | 45 ongoingevents Sunday Center for Positive Living Sunday Service- 9:15am meditation. 10am – 1st Service, 11:30am -2nd Service. Embrace the diversity and co-creative power within as we change our lives through the powerful spiritual principles of the Science of Mind teaching. Center for Positive Living, 6101 Idlewild Rd., Ste. 332. 704-531-7993. www.CPLcharlotte.com. Charlotte Whole Life Center – 11am. Sunday Spiritual Gathering, Join us every Sunday at our new location - The Bag Lady, 1710 Kenilworth Avenue. An interfaith spiritual group that honors all spiritual paths. Unity of Charlotte Sunday Service- 10:30am. Unity honors the many paths to God and the Divine in each person. Our mission is to empower and inspire spiritual living in an awakening world. Our vision is to co-create a world that works for all. 401 E. Arrowood Road 704-523-0062 or www. unityofcharlotte.org. Tai Chi, Yoga, Kungfu and Meditation Classes – Cultural center open 7 days a week. The Peaceful Dragon, 12610 Steele Creek Road (Hwy. 160), Charlotte. (704) 504-8866. www.thepeacefuldragon.com Monday Yoga for Cancer Classes-Free. 6-week series. Presbyterian Cancer Rehab & Wellness Center offers classes for anyone diagnosed with cancer. 125 Baldwin Ave., Ste. 100. Info: [email protected] or 704-384-6953. Yoga Bliss - 10am. A fusion of breathing techniques, gentle poses, meditation and live drumming for rejuvenation and exploration. All levels, beginners welcome. Harmony Yoga in South Charlotte. www.HarmonyYogaNC. com or 704-277-3887. Beginners Chen Tai Chi- 6:30-8pm. Learn the original style of Tai Chi. Chen Tai Chi is a fitness exercise and internal martial art that develops the Chi within the body for health enhancement, self-defense and mind-body balance. Tao Healing Arts, 14136 Lancaster Hwy. 704-542-8088. Exploring Holistic Healing Series -7-8:30pm. Love Offering. New speakers, topics and activities each week. See schedule at www.unityofcharlotte.org. 401 E. Arrowood Rd. 704-523-0062. Spiritual Growth Book Club- 7-8pm. Reading and discussing empowering books and learning powerful spiritual principles. All denominations welcome. Open to the public. Love offering. Organic Marketplace (downstairs) 1025 S. New Hope Rd, Gastonia, NC. Supportive Psychotherapy Group for Chronic Pain-7 pm. $45/90 min. For physical, emotional and/or spiritual pain. Seasons of Healing Counseling Services in Southeast Charlotte area. Info: Cary at 704-860-6944 or Celia at 704-999-1930. www.seasons-of-healing.com. Tuesday Got stress? Get Yoga-5:30 & 7pm. Breathing techniques, gentle poses and meditation to peacefully bring you into the present moment. All levels, beginners welcome. Harmony Yoga in South Charlotte. 704-277-3887 or www. HarmonyYogaNC.com. Elixir Qigong Energy Healing Certification - 6:30-8:30pm. Learn one of the most profound and complete methods designed to awaken the healing elixir within the body for self-healing and healing others with Qi. 250 hours certification program, level one. Tao Healing Arts, 14136 Lancaster Hwy. 704-542-8088. The Secret Code of Success -7-8:30 pm. Love offering. A series of sure-fire techniques to unleash the secret code to long-term happiness, wealth, and success. Unity of Charlotte, 401 E. Arrowood Rd. 704-523-0062 or www. unityofcharlotte.org. Wednesday Yoga Bliss - 10am. A fusion of breathing techniques, gentle poses, meditation and live drumming for rejuvenation and exploration. All levels, beginners welcome. Harmony Yoga in South Charlotte. www.HarmonyYogaNC. com or 704-277-3887. Supportive Psychotherapy Group for Chronic Pain-1:30pm. $45/90 min. For physical, emotional and/or spiritual pain. Seasons of Healing Counseling Services in the Southeast Charlotte area. Info: Cary at 704-8606944 or Celia at 704-999-1930. www.seasons-of-healing.com. Holistic Moms Network-7pm. 3rd Wed of the month. Earth Fare.12235 N. Community House Rd. Cady @ 704-542-3993 or www.holisticmoms. org. Thursday Yoga Classes with Vicky – 12-1pm. $12. Discount packages available. All levels- beginners welcome. Blue Ridge Healing Arts Academy,9 Union St N, 4th Floor, Concord. (704)794-7478 or www.blueridgewellnesscenter.com. Lake Norman Green Drinks – 5:30pm. Free. New Chapter of GreenDrinks in Lake Norman. Info: www.lkngreendrinks.com or 704-258-2567. 46 | August 2009, Charlotte Edition Original Chen Tai Chi: 6:30-8pm. Learn the original style of Tai Chi. Chen Tai Chi is a fitness exercise and internal martial art that develops the Chi within the body for health enhancement, self-defense and mind-body balance. Intermediate level class. Tao Healing Arts, 14136 Lancaster Hwy. 704-542-8088. Reiki Healing Circle-7pm. 1st and 3rd Thurs. Unity of Charlotte, 401 E. Arrowood Road 704-523-0062 or www.unityofcharlotte.org. Quantum Touch Healing Circle – 7pm. 2nd and 4th Thurs. Unity of Charlotte, 401 E. Arrowood Road 704-523-0062 or www.unityofcharlotte.org. Charlotte Drum Circle-7pm. For beginner or advanced hand drummers: djembe, bongos, conga, etc. Info: www.drumcircle.meetup. com/256/. Yoga Classes with Vicky – 7-8:15pm. $12. Discount packages available. All levels- beginners welcome. Blue Ridge Healing Arts Academy,9 Union St N, 4th Floor, Concord. (704)794-7478 or www. blueridgewellnesscenter.com. Cardio & Culture: West African Dance Class-7:40-9pm. $10. Experience authentic West African choreography and live drumming! Just Dance Studio - 5221 Equipment Drive, Charlotte. Info: LeShea at (704) 293-2462. Friday Body & Soul Yoga-10am. Breathing techniques, gentle poses and meditation to nurture and restore you. Beginners welcome. Harmony Yoga. 704-277-3887. South Charlotte. www.HarmonyYogaNC.com. Drum Circle- 5:30-7pm. Free. All ages. Drumming at the red caboose in downtown Huntersville. Saturday Moms Only Saturdays- Moms, take a little time to care for yourselves and get acupuncture at a huge discount at St John Acupuncture in the Park South Professional Center, 10430 Park Rd, Ste 200. Info/ appts: 704-541-7177 or www.stjohnacupuncture.com. Free Intro to T’ai Chi - Yang Short Form – 9:30am, 1st and 3rd Saturdays. Learn Relaxed Awareness. Blue Ridge Healing Arts Academy, 9 Union St N, 4th Floor, Concord. (704)794-7478 or www. blueridgewellnesscenter.com Yoga Bliss- 10:15am. A fusion of breathing techniques, gentle poses, meditation and live drumming for rejuvenation and exploration. All levels, beginners welcome. Harmony Yoga in South Charlotte. www. HarmonyYogaNC.com or 704-277-3887. Yoga Classes with Vicky- 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. $12. 10:30am. Discount packages available. All levels, beginners welcome! Blue Ridge Healing Arts Academy, 9 Union St N, 4th Floor, Concord, NC (704)794-7478 or www.blueridgewellnesscenter.com. Free Chinese Medicine Health Screening -11am-3pm. Walk in and get your Qi checked by an acupuncturist at St John Acupuncture, Park South Professional Center, 10430 Park Rd. Ste 200. Details: 704-541-7177 or www.stjohnacupuncture.com. to submit calendar listings: To ensure we keep our community calendar current, ongoing events must be submitted each month. Deadline: 12th of the month prior to publication. Submit to: [email protected] AwakeningCharlotte.com | 47 communityresourceguide … connecting you to leaders in holistic & environmental businesses in our community Reach 70,000+ readers looking for your products and services. Ad deadline: 12th of the month. To place a listing: [email protected] ACUPUNCTURE ACUPUNCTURE CENTER FOR BALANCE & HEALING Tina M. Berisha L.Ac 709-20 NorthEast Dr. (704) 681-2634, Davidson Licensed acupuncturist offering quality acupuncture and allergy elimination. Specializing in working with children, women’s health, infertility, digestive issues, food sensitivities, seasonal allergies.Wellness Packages Available! See ad pg 54. CHARLOTTE ACUPUNCTURE Hope Peek, LAc & Todd Trembula, L.Ac 700 East Blvd., (704) 333-8899 www.charlotteacupuncture.com Licensed acupuncturists using acupuncture, herbal medicine, and nutritional therapy to effectively treat many conditions including: infertility, women’s health, insomnia, depression, pain, stress, and weight management. See ad page 25. DARREN HOLMAN, L.AC. MAOM Acupuncturist and Oriental Medicine Practitioner 704-942-5300 Darren is a knowledgeable, compassionate general practitioner who strives to educate as well as heal his patients. He uses acupuncture and Chinese herbs to treat health concerns of all kinds. See ad page 33. GREEN CROSS ACUPUNCTURE Dr. Eddie Choi, L.Ac., OMD 6404 Carmel Rd., Suite 202, Charlotte (704) 540-6900 Offering Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Japanese style needle skills and alternative health services to provide the highest standard of health enhancement. www. gcacupuncture.com. See ad page 23. 48 | August 2009, Charlotte Edition ACUPUNCTURE ST JOHN ACUPUNCTURE Marston St. John, L.Ac. (704) 541-7177, Charlotte www.stjohnacupuncture.com Offering the highest quality health care to adults, children and infants. Feel healthy, be healthy, think positive and enjoy your life. See ad pg 17. TAO HEALING ARTS Camilo Sanchez, OMD. L. Ac. RYT (704) 542-8088 www.taohealingarts.net With 20 years experience in Acupuncture and Chinese medicine, Dr. Sanchez’s expertise is to identify the underlying root cause of health imbalances. He specializes in the treatment of pain conditions, women’s health, digestive disorders, sport injuries, stress, and chronic diseases. His approach to wellness is to empower people to awaken the healing medicine within the body. See ad page 15. WANG’S ACUPUNCTURE & HERBAL CLINIC Dr.’s Jeffrey Wang & Mary Ren, DOM, L.Ac (704) 968-0351 www.ballantyneacupuncture.com Acupuncture & herbal experts and professors from China with 27 years clinical experience now serving Charlotte. See ad page 42. ASTROLOGER STEVE NELSON [email protected] (704) 375-3759 Astrology in the Jungian tradition for understanding personal myths and realizing natural abilities. Cycles consulting, event timing, astrological forecasting, vacation, relocation and more. See ad pg 21. AYURVEDA DR. ARUNA PATKI, BAMS NCTMB, LMBT #6253 (704) 808-0708 www.massageayurveda.com www.ayurvedahealingspa.com Ayurvedic therapy involves establishing an individual’s mind-body constitution and nature of imbalance. Therapy consists of herbal remedies, massage therapies, dietary and lifestyle choices. See ad pg 19. COLONICS WELLNESS 2000 Center for Detoxification Darlene Barnes, CCT Wellness2000online.com (704) 921-0079 Member of International Association for Colon Hydrotherapy. “National Certification Level”. Changing lives by improving health with colon hydrotherapy and nutritional awareness for over 17 years. Also offering Ionic Footbath, Body Detox and Far Infared detox on the Biomat. www.biomat101.com. CHARLOTTE COLON HYDROTHERAPY Catherine & Paul Simard 942 W Hill Street, Charlotte NC 28208 www.charlottecolonhydrotherapy.com (704) 858-4802 Detox, Cleanse & Rejuvenate with COLONICS! Lifestyle and nutritional counseling included. Package pricing is available. We are conveniently located Uptown, behind the Bank of America Stadium. HURLEY WELLNESS CENTER www.HurleyWellnessCenter.com 1807 South Main Street, Kannapolis, NC 28081 704-938-1589 For the most comfortable, relaxing, and private colon cleansing experience , schedule your colonic with us today. Cleaned, purified, magnetized, warmed water for your safety. Packages available. See ad pg 9. COUNSELORS BELINDA HAVERDILL, M.A., L.P.C. 7810 Pineville-Matthews Rd. Suite 6 (704) 540-2855 [email protected] Promoting a holistic approach in exploring opportunities to deal with life’s struggles which go beyond focusing on symptoms. Belinda’s approach is empowering, compassionate and life changing. See ad page 47. LESLIE MAITRI, M.ED., LPC, CHT Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapy Cotswold area of Charlotte (704) 458-5561 www.BeingHome.info For those that are looking for someone that can listen well, respect your experience, and facilitate deep lasting change and transformation. Counseling and Psychotherapy services are reimbursable by most insurance companies. MANDORLA COUNSELING & CONSULTING Mandy Eppley, M.A., LPC Tammy A. Starling, M.Ed., LPC 1204 The Plaza, Suite 2 (704) 372-4010 www.mandorlacounseling.com and women’s issues. COUNSELORS RUTH KING, MA Leading Authority on Emotional Wisdom (704) 542-0737 www.RuthKing.net An opportunity to make emotionally wise choices that transform body and mind. Offering cognitive strategies and mindfulness practices opening you to your innate nobility and freedom. Serving individuals, groups, practitioners, and organizations. See ad on page 43. SEASONS OF HEALING COUNSELING Cary Collins, MEd., LPC Celia Waller, B. S. Southeast Charlotte Area (704) 860-6944 www.seasons-of-healing.com Supportive group and individual psychotherapy for physical, emotional and spiritual pain due to illness, injury or life transitions. Motivational consultation is also included as part of the therapeutic process. See ad page 37. DENTIST PAUL PLASCYK, DDS (704) 841-7358 South Charlotte www.ExcellentPatientCare.com Dr. Plascyk offers “minimally invasive” dental care as well as metal-free fillings and crowns. Natural and holistic disease prevention blended with state of the art equipment. See ad page 3. Make empowered choices! Counseling that includes compassionate support & practical feedback toward personal & spiritual growth. Specializing in relationship tools, infidelity, loss recovery, depression/anxiety MIRACLES, INC. HEALING AND COUNSELING CENTER Mooresville NC 704-664-1009 ext.11 www.miraclesinchealingcenter.com Are you struggling with your life or purpose? We are a group of supportive, heart centered, Licensed Counselors whose treatment philosophy address the whole self. Call for your FREE phone consultation. Services reimbursable by most insurance companies. ENERGY AUDIT ENERGY HEALING A RADIANT LIFE HEALTH CENTER for Body, Mind & Spirit FREE Intro to REIKI 704-280-1010 Reduce stress. Remove energy blocks. Guided meditations; therapeutic essential oils; DNA attunements; intuitive readings. Linda Backes, Reiki Master instructor, practitioner reikieducation.org, web.mac com/a_radiant_life . MATTERS OF THE HEART A Natural Pathway 438 Williamson Road, Mooresville 980-721-3101 Reiki Artisan, Donna Sharon, balances energies, assisting individuals to reconnect with their own unique design ... toward empowering their true nature. Aqua Detox - Ear Candling - Reflexology www. mattersoftheheart-ki.com FITNESS THE PEACEFUL DRAGON 12610 Steele Creek Rd. (Hwy. 160) Charlotte, NC 28273, (704) 504-8866 www.ThePeacefulDragon.com Tai Chi, Kungfu, Yoga, and Meditation. Traditional and authentic classes 7 days a week. Take control of your fitness, stress reduction, healing and selfdefense. Programs for kids aged 3 and up, through senior citizens. See ad inside front cover. FOOT CARE FOOT SOLUTIONS GREEN HOME Matt Coapman (704) 909-7913 greenhome-charlotte.com Call for an energy overview today. Save up to 30% on energy costs! See ad page 15. ENERGY AUDIT & RENOVATION GREENMODELING Energy Audits, Green Building and Remodeling, Residential & Commercial www.GreenmodelingNC.com (704) 999-4636 Lower utility bills and increase value, efficiency and sustainability of your property. Solar hot water, rainwater harvesting, weatherization, air and water purification, and so much more. Ken Zelin, Certified Pedorthist 704-540-4664 www.FootSolutions.com/Ballantyne Feet hurt? We can help. Offering comfort shoes, orthotics, diabetic foot care, running shoes, socks and more. All expertly fitted to your feet. Complementary foot analysis. GIFT SHOPS FREE SPIRIT GIFT SHOP Marie Hadden 2621 Weddington Road (704) 291-9393 Come in to experience all the peace and joy a spiritual shop can offer. We offer a wide variety of items for your enjoyment. http://clik. to/freespiritgiftshop. Now offering Meditation/ Shamanic journeys. See ad page 23. AwakeningCharlotte.com | 49 GIFT SHOPS MAMA BESSIE’S PLACE Botanica, Spiritual Supplies, Gifts & Books 3010 Monroe Road, Suite 104 Charlotte, NC 28205 (704) 632-9911 We offer spiritual readings by appointment and a diverse array of supplies, gifts and books representing a variety of religious/spiritual beliefs and practices. See ad pg 19. GRAPHIC DESIGN MELISSA OYLER DESIGNS Melissa Oyler (704) 560-9212 www.melissaoyler.com Melissa Oyler Designs creates books that are more than just photo albums. Everyone has a story to tell, and Melissa can tell yours in true fairy-tale fashion with a mixture of photos and words. Wedding, family reunion, or baby’s first year? All moments you’ll want to remember for a lifetime. See ad page 44. HAIR CARE PHENOMENAL HAIR CARE Applebaum Salon Rosedale Shopping Center (704) 947-2010 Offering paraben-free, 100% vegan, zerosulfate hair care products. Services: Cuts, Color, Straightening & more. Long hair specialist: Silk. Licenses: NC,GA,CA. Grade A Salon. HERBALS & SUPPLEMENTS CLARA’S CHOICE FOR HERBS Bringing Health to Life 590 Indian Trail Rd., Indian Trail NC (704) 821-5306 A retail store dedicated to bringing awareness through education and guidance to help you physically, spiritually and mentally achieve wellness through the body’s own healing ability. HOLISTIC HEALTH HOLISTIC HEALTH NETWORK Sponsored by the Charlotte Network of the American Holistic Nurses Association Belle Radenbaugh (704) 542-7040 www.ncholisticnetwork.com Interested in holistic healthcare? Join us at 6:45PM on the first Tuesday of the month, September to June, at Charlotte’s Presbyterian Hospital. Interesting topics by dynamic speakers. See calendar for details. 50 | August 2009, Charlotte Edition HOMEOPATHY MICHAEL T. SMITH, N.D. Carolinas Natural Health Center 1212 Mann Dr., Ste. 100, Matthews, NC 28105, (704) 708-4404 www.CarolinasNaturalHealth.com Providing whole family healthcare. Specializing in classical homeopathy and clinical nutrition. Treating people with conditions ranging from diabetes to ADHD. Restoring health naturally. See ad page 54. HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY CHARLOTTE METRO HYPERBARICS Huntersville, NC 28078 www.hboinfo/ncarolina.htm 704-875-7189 North Carolina’s premier outpatient hyperbaric therapy center. Incorporating space age technology to treat patients of all ages by saturating the body with oxygen. See ad pg 43. MASSAGE CLINIC ESSENTIAL THERAPY Laura Vokoun, LMBT, NC#5315 447 S. Sharon Amity, Suite 225 (704) 806-8380 [email protected] RELIEVE your pain, RETRAIN your muscles, REBALANCE your body, & RELAX and enjoy life. Massage Therapy for Pain Management, Injury Recovery/ Prevention, Stress Reduction, Relaxation. $10 off your first visit. MEDICINE WOMEN MUNAY SPIRIT CENTER Using Earth Medicine & Ancient Teachings www.MunaySpirit.com 704-263-5323 Release limitations and step into your power. Drum Healings, Releasing Ceremonies, Rites of Passage, Shamanic Journeys, Stone/Crystal Healings, House Cleansings, Medicine/Power Animal Readings. See ad pg 19. LIFE COACH ENERGYCONNECT COACHING, LLC Jackie Burleson (CPC, MBA) (704) 529-5287 www.eccoaching.com Certified Transformational Life Coach. Learn to appreciate who you truly are and experience more joy, inner peace and positive energy. Certified in Vibrational Healing and EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques). See ad page 37. MARTIAL ARTS THE PEACEFUL DRAGON 12610 Steele Creek Rd, HWY 160 Charlotte, NC (704) 504-8866 www.ThePeacefulDragon.com Tai Chi, Kungfu, Yoga, and Meditation. Traditional and authentic classes 7 days a week. Take control of your fitness, stress reduction, healing and self-defense. Programs for kids aged 3 and up, through senior citizens. See ad inside front cover. MIND-BODY INTEGRATION STEVEN J. CUDDY, M.S., LMBT Relaxing Body and Mind 8318 Pineville-Matthews Rd., Suite 271 Charlotte, NC 28226 (704) 930-6686 Don’t be a prisoner of limiting beliefs-Free Yourself! Sessions include: Emotional Freedom Technique, Touch for Health, Shiatsu and Bach Flowers. Free phone consultation. 15 years experience. NATIVE AMERICAN FLUTE INSTRUCTION CHRISTY SNOW (704) 516-7113 Listen & Purchase CDs: www.christysnow.com An intuitive, encouraging and patient instructor. Learn techniques that will give a voice to the flute song within you. Flutes provided for class and available for sale. NATUROPATH MICHAEL T. SMITH, ND Carolinas Natural Health Center 1212 Mann Dr., Ste. 100, Matthews, NC 28105 (704) 708-4404 www.CarolinasNaturalHealth.com Providing whole family healthcare. Specializing in classical homeopathy and clinical nutrition. Treating people with conditions ranging from diabetes to ADHD. Restoring health naturally! See ad page 54. DR. LORA HURLEY, ND, CTN ANCB Board Certified Traditional Naturopath Certified Live-Blood Cell Analysis Certified Brimhall Practitioner Certified Lymphatic Tissue Detoxification 704-938-1589 www.HurleyWellnessCenter.com With nearly two decades of clinical research as a healthcare provider and educator; Dr. Hurley is confident that no matter what your complaints are that she and her team at Hurley Wellness Center can help you with your Wellness Healthcare, Nutrition and Whole Body Detoxification. See ad pg 9. PSYCHIC CHARLOTTE’S PSYCHIC MEDIUM Mary Beth Wrenn (704) 566-8300 www.marybethwrenn.com In-Person, Telephone, Online Readings & Gallery/ Workshops. Aura, Tarot, Clairvoyant Visions of Past, Present, Future & Other Side. References Available — Over 20 Years Experience! QUANTUM TOUCH HANDS ON ENERGY HEALING Kimberley Stroncek Certified Quantum-Touch® Practitioner (704) 574-0210, Waxhaw [email protected] Practitioners use breathing techniques and energy awareness to direct life force energy to facilitate the client’s natural healing process. Therefore, it is beneficial for all conditions. REFLEXOLOGY ALTERNATIVES Jan Riebe 704-506-9986 Lake Norman and Ballantyne Offering reflexology (therapeutic foot massage), ear candling, reiki and ionic detoxing foot spas. Call for 10% off your first session. www.edmundcenter.com. REIKI Experience: Feeling “seen,” intrinsically valued and unconditionally loved. Profound stress and pain reduction and jump-start healing through gentle yet powerful Reiki. 18 years experience. See ad pg 52. SOUND THERAPY JENNIFER THOMPSON ACUTONICS® PRACTITIONER Om Enerji (minutes from uptown!) (704) 661-1606 www.OmEnerji.com A gentle therapy using sound vibrations to enhance relaxation, mental clarity, balance energy fields and yin/yang energies, open chakras, improve sleep, decrease pain, and change negative patterns of behavior. See ad pg 37. SPIRITUAL CENTERS CENTER FOR POSITIVE LIVING Co-Ministers: Renee LeBoa & Christy Snow 6101 Idlewild Rd., Ste. 332 Charlotte, NC 28212 (704) 531-7993 www.CPLcharlotte.com We are an ecumenical spiritual community recognizing and honoring the divine nature and innate goodness in every individual. We have ongoing events, classes, concerts and workshops. See ad page 44. RETREAT SACRED GROVE RETREAT Gold Hill, NC 704.463.0768 www.SacredGroveRetreat.com Eleven acres of sacred space for individuals or groups to heal, renew and evolve. Hiking Trails, cabins, labyrinth, bonfires, drum circles, concerts and workshops. The yurt is ideal to hold events of all kinds. Less than an hour from Charlotte. See ad page 52. SHAMANISM FREE SPIRIT GIFT SHOP Marie Hadden 2621 Weddington Rd. (704) 291-9393 CENTER OF LIGHT Rev’s Simone and Matthias Locke (704) 900-8594 [email protected] A welcoming spiritual community and school for training and development. In each of our 14 centers, we offer spiritual community, classes, services, seminars and individual instruction to all who seek it. See ad pg 42. UNITY OF CHARLOTTE Minister, Rev Nancy Ennis 401 E. Arrowood Rd., Charlotte (704) 523-0062 www.unityofcharlotte.org Call for appointment. Guided meditation/ visualization to meet your spirit guides and for assistance in all matters. FREE 15 min introductory sessions available. See ad pg 23. SOUL COACHING DIANE MONTGOMERY SoulCollage and SoulCoaching 803-323-7177 [email protected] Goal setting, release work, night out with the girls. Play or process, it’s about having fun! Workshops tailored to your needs. ad page 11. A supportive community that celebrates and recognizes the spirit of God present within each individual. A path for spiritual living using the Universal principles of truth. Offering classes and activities to support Spiritual Living. See SPIRITUAL INTUITIVE COACH AZIZA’S CENTER FOR INTUITIVE HEALING (704) 804-0956 Located in the Dilworth Community www.azizasonline.com Combining Intuitive Counseling & Intuitive Reiki to facilitate a personalized healing session for every client. Aziza works with Divine Spirit providing Alternative Healing Modalities for Adults and Children. See ad pg 37. AwakeningCharlotte.com | 51 TAI CHI/QIGONG TAO ENERGY ARTS Camilo Sanchez, OMD. L. Ac. RYT (704) 542-8088 www.taohealingarts.net Dr. Camilo teaches original Chen style Tai Chi and Inner Elixir® Qigong to develop the energy inside the body (Chi) for fitness, self-defense, healing and cultivation of the spirit. Classes held Monday and Thursday at 6:30pm. Call to register. See ad page 15. THE PEACEFUL DRAGON 12610 Steele Creek Rd, HWY 160 Charlotte, NC (704) 504-8866 www.ThePeacefulDragon.com Reduce stress, boost energy and develop top physical and spiritual well-being! Learn authentic and traditional tai chi and qigong at Charlotte’s #1 school for martial arts and health arts. See ad inside front cover. THERMOGRAPHY DILLON NATURAL HEALTH Dr. Jennifer Dillon, DC, CCN (704) 333-9991 www.dillonnaturalhealth.com Healthy breast tissue does not develop disease! We offer a holistic approach to health including acpuncture, chiropractic, clinical nutrition and thermography a noninvasive, no radiation, early detection screening for breast disease and more. See ad pg. 26. VACATION CLEAN STAY VILLA Promoting a Non-Toxic Environment (704) 236-2510 www.cleanstay.com Litchfield Beach just 12 miles south of Myrtle Beach. This 1150 sq ft villa sleeps six and includes an Air Purification System, Whole House Water Filtration, VOC-Free Paints and more! Less than 350 feet from the beach. Call to schedule your vacation today! See ad page 25. WELLNESS CENTER HAAS WELLNESS CENTERS Dr. Kenneth Haas, DC (888) 602-5883 www.DoctorHaas.com Compassionately treating the root cause of your condition using the latest technology, chiropractic and nutritional therapy. Call for Complimentary 15 Minute Consultation to start on your path to better health today! See ad pg 6. 52 | August 2009, Charlotte Edition WEIGHT LOSS ADVOCARE INTERNATIONAL Cindee Brown 704-307-8641 www.advocarechampions.net Since 1993, our world-class nutrition company has specialized in weight management, health and wellness. Call today for your personal consultation. Live YOUR best life! WELLNESS CENTER THE WELLNESS CENTER AT BLUE RIDGE 9 Union St. N, Concord, NC 28025 (704) 795-7478 www.blueridgewellnesscenter.com The area’s premier destination for holistic bodywork and alternative therapies. Offering massage, bodywork, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, T’ai Chi, Yoga, and Free community Classes. See ad pg 54. YOGA HARMONY YOGA Lisa Moore, Registered Yoga Teacher Located in South Charlotte (704) 277-3887 www.HarmonyYogaNC.com Yoga sends a signal to every cell of your body to relax, calming racing thoughts and clarifying your spirit. Small classes in a quiet, nurturing space overlooking nature. Gentle poses and breath work for all levels. Beginners welcome. See ad page 39. THE PEACEFUL DRAGON 12610 Steele Creek Rd, HWY 160 Charlotte, NC, (704) 504-8866 www.ThePeacefulDragon.com Authentic yoga for health, self-cultivation and enlightenment. Using postures and methods practiced for centuries in the Shaolin and Taoist traditions of China. See ad inside front cover. Be Your Own Boss... publish your own Natural Awakenings magazine Our Green and Healthy Living industry is growing. As a Natural Awakenings publisher, your magazine will help thousands of readers to make positive changes in their lives, while promoting local practitioners and providers of natural, earth-friendly lifestyles. You will be creating a healthier community while building your own financial security. You’ll work for yourself but not by yourself. We offer a complete training and support system that allows you to successfully publish your own magazine. Wo rk a t Ho me • Low In vestment • Financing Av ai e labl • G rea p t Su Team port • Meaningful New C aree r Now serving: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Birmingham, AL Huntsville, AL Mobile/Baldwin, AL Little Rock/Hot Springs, AR Phoenix, AZ Tucson, AZ Boulder, CO Denver, CO Hartford County, CT Fairfield County, CT New Haven/Middlesex, CT Daytona/Volusia/Flagler, FL NW FL Emerald Coast Ft. Lauderdale, FL Jacksonville/St. Augustine, FL Melbourne/Vero Beach, FL Miami & Florida Keys Naples/Ft. 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Steve Nelson, (704) 375-3759. StarMuses Astrological Services, 30 years experience. Kay Hall, www.starmuses.com CLEANING SERVICES Personalized home cleaning by Maria. Experienced, honest, professional with references available. $10 off first cleaning service! 704-6056915. OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE Individual suites available for small businesses. Located in the heart of Elizabeth near Plaza Midwood and Uptown. Renovated historic building in prime location! Ideal for wellness practitioners, sales professionals, etc. (704) 4082480. rent.awakeningcharlotte.com. PRODUCTS Great family shopping site-lots of green products, visit: www.shoptoearth.net/carlbecky. Please click on our picture at bottom for more info. REFLEXOLOGY Now accepting new clients in Ballantyne and Lake Norman. Also offering reiki, ear candling and ionic detox foot spas.10% off your first session! Jan Riebe, 704-506-9986. RETREAT CENTER Eleven acres of sacred space for individuals or groups to heal, renew and evolve. Hiking trails, cabins, labyrinth, bonfires, drum circles, concerts and workshops. Less than an hour from Charlotte. SacredGroveRetreat.com, 704-463-0768. Classifieds Rate: 50 cents a word | Call 704-499-3327 [email protected] 54 | August 2009, Charlotte Edition AwakeningCharlotte.com | 55 Learn, connect, and deepen at the 5th Annual Southeast Women’s Herbal Conference October 2-4, 2009 in Black Mountain, NC A weekend dedicated to the Wise Woman Tradition – simple living, earth-based healing, and local plants! with special guest teacher Susun Weed and 30 other exceptional presenters M@in Mt. Xpress Organicfest Asheville.com Hendersonville.com Natural Products Lab WNC Natural Awakenings Charlotte Natural Awakenings Upstate SC Natural Awakenings Southwest VA Natural Awakenings www.sewisewomen.com • 877-SEWOMEN 56 | August 2009, Charlotte Edition