Issuu

EE R F

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

It’s All About ‘We’ Coming Together

for Creative Change

Beyond Calcium Full-Spectrum Bone Health

JOYFUL GIVING How Generosity

Transforms Us

Eco-Pet

Healthy Holiday Recipes December 2019 | Chicago | NAChicago.com

TOYS What’s Safe and Smart

Seven years without a cold?

had colds going round and round, but not me.” Some users say it also helps with sinuses. Attorney Donna Blight had a 2-day sinus headache. When her CopperZap arrived, she tried it. “I am shocked!” she said. “My head cleared, no more headache, no more congestion.” Some users say copper stops By Doug Cornell nighttime stuffiness if used just before cientists recently discovered time. He hasn’t had a single cold for 7 bed. One man said, “Best sleep I’ve had a way to kill viruses and years since. in years.” bacteria. He asked relatives and friends to try Copper can also stop flu if used early Now thousands of people are using it it. They said it worked for them, too, so and for several days. Lab technicians to stop colds and flu. he patented CopperZap™ and put it on placed 25 million live flu viruses on a Colds start the market. CopperZap. No viruses were found alive when cold viruses Soon hundreds soon after. get in your nose. of people had Dr. Bill Keevil led one of the teams Viruses multiply tried it and given confirming the discovery. He placed fast. If you don’t feedback. Nearly millions of disease germs on copper. stop them early, 100% said the “They started to die literally as soon as they spread and copper stops colds they touched the surface,” he said. cause misery. if used within 3 People have even used copper on In hundreds hours after the first cold sores and say it can completely of studies, EPA sign. Even up to prevent outbreaks. New research: Copper stops colds if used early. and university 2 days, if they The handle is researchers have confirmed that viruses still get the cold it is milder than usual curved and finely and bacteria die almost instantly when and they feel better. textured to improve touched by copper. Users wrote things like, “It stopped contact. It kills germs That’s why ancient Greeks and my cold right away,” and “Is it picked up on fingers Egyptians used copper to purify water supposed to work that fast?” and hands to protect and heal wounds. They didn’t know “What a wonderful thing,” wrote you and your family. about microbes, but now we do. Physician’s Assistant Julie. “No more Copper even kills Dr. Bill Keevil: Copper quickly kills deadly germs that Scientists say the high conductance colds for me!” cold viruses. of copper disrupts the electrical balance Pat McAllister, 70, received one have become resistant in a microbe cell and destroys the cell in for Christmas and called it “one of the to antibiotics. If you are near sick seconds. best presents ever. This little jewel really people, a moment of handling it may Tests by the EPA (Environmental works.” keep serious infection away. It may even Protection Agency) show germs die Now thousands of users have simply save a life. fast on copper. So some hospitals tried stopped getting colds. The EPA says copper still works copper for touch surfaces like faucets People often use CopperZap even when tarnished. It kills hundreds of and doorknobs. This cut the spread of preventively. Frequent flier Karen Gauci different disease germs so it can prevent MRSA and other illnesses by over half, used to get colds after crowded flights. serious or even fatal illness. and saved lives. Though skeptical, she tried it several CopperZap is made in America of The strong scientific evidence gave times a day on travel days for 2 months. pure copper. It has a 90-day full money inventor Doug Cornell an idea. When “Sixteen flights and not a sniffle!” she back guarantee. It is $69.95. he felt a cold about to start he fashioned exclaimed. Get $10 off each CopperZap with a smooth copper probe and rubbed it Businesswoman Rosaleen says when code NATA15. Go to www.CopperZap.com or call gently in his nose for 60 seconds. people are sick around her she uses “It worked!” he exclaimed. “The cold CopperZap morning and night. “It saved toll-free 1-888-411-6114. Buy once, use forever. never got going.” It worked again every me last holidays,” she said. “The kids ADVERTORIAL

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Contents

MEET YOUR

25 THE GENEROUS HEART How Giving Transforms Us

26 BALANCING BODY

TRY FOR FREE!

AND BRAIN

Helps Reduce Holiday Stress

28 THE EMERGING POWER OF ‘WE’

Awakening to the Evolution of Community

30 REFRESH HOLIDAY TRADITIONS

Making the Old New and Green

32 THE MERRY VEGAN

People-Pleasing Holiday Sweets

38 WASTE-FREE FEASTING How to Reduce Holiday Food Waste

40 CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS

Beginning and advanced birders contribute to science while getting fresh winter air

‘TIS THE SEASON! Welcome to the largest holistic, conscious, spiritual and green network of dating sites online. We invite you to become a member and feel the energy on our site from the moment you first log in.

42 CULTIVATING

The Next Generation of Conservationists

44 THREE SIMPLE WAYS to Reduce Holiday Stress

46 BEYOND CALCIUM Full-Spectrum Bone Health

48 INHALING THE JOY OF LIFE

Conscious Breathwork

Join now at NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com

50 PERFECT PET PRESENTS Safe and Eco-Smart Toys

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Natural Awakenings is a family of more than 70 healthy living magazines celebrating 25 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

28 48

WILL CHANGE EVERYTHING

50 Are You Experiencing Any Of The Following Symptoms? Bladder Leakage Dryness & Laxity Loss of Sensation

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 847-858-3697 or email info@NAChicago.com. Deadline for complete and finalized ads: the 14th of the month. EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Amy@NAChicago.com. Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month.

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CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Submit online at: NaChicago.com/events/new or email Calendar Events to: Calendar@NAChicago.com. Deadline for calendar: the 8th of the month. REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets! Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets, call 847-858-3697.

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December 2019

publisher’s letter

t’s definitely been a fall to confuse our senses. Chicagoans experienced snow on Halloween (a day which included an incredible migratory rufous hummingbird stopping at my backyard feeder in the midst of the snowfall), record low temperatures, snow a week later and more unseasonably cold weather and cloudy days. A few eager homeowners are already stringing up holiday lights, amaryllis bulbs and poinsettias are on display at local garden centers, and the airwaves are filled with seasonal shopping ideas and the occasional holiday song. Yet at the same time, a few trees are still largely filled with leaves, the last of the birds are migrating through… and as of this writing, I somehow have yet to plant my hard neck garlic and the last of the muscari bulbs.

Peggy Malecki

As we get in the spirit of holiday season with this month’s Natural Awakenings Chicago, we’re focusing on creating community and how we can work together to solve the issues that affect us all. Communities and grassroot efforts show up in many forms, be they formal organizations, school teams, environmental organizations, singing groups, yoga studios, community gardens or myriad other opportunities that join us for a common goal and purpose. In our main feature article, author Linda Sechrist provides a compelling argument that collective wisdom, the power of collaborative change and the need to evolve from a culture of “me” to a culture of “we” may be a major key to addressing the global challenges that confront humankind. Of course, to have the ongoing strength to nourish the greater good for all, we must also nourish ourselves, our friends and families with healthy, tasty and nutritious food. We’re happy to include many great recipes this month from local experts to add to your celebrations, relax over on a quiet evening at home or easily prepare on a busy weeknight. December always seems to fly by in an instant, and I hope you’ll find some time to be mindful of the world around us as the season unfolds. Although we’ve had snow, there’s still lots to explore in our gardens, parks, forest preserves and natural areas. One traditional December event is the annual Christmas Bird Count that occurs each year from December 14 through January 5. It’s the ideal chance for beginning birdwatchers and seasoned birders alike to learn more about our winter avian friends and contribute as a citizen scientists. To learn more and sign up for a count near you, check out Sheryl DeVore’s article in our Green Living department. Whatever your outdoor interests, I encourage you to spend time while walking the dog, an extra 15 minutes at lunch, a weekend day or whatever moments you have available observing our Midwest landscape as it finishes the transition to winter. Sign up for an outdoor event, volunteer for a stewardship day or enjoy a short hike at a natural area. If the weather is not to your liking, there are many indoor events focused on our natural world to enjoy at museums, libraries and other institutions. Who knows, you may even still hear and see some sandhill cranes high overhead on a crisp, sunny day.

Wishing you a joyful holiday season, and a peaceful and healthy new year. 6

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HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

CHICAGO EDITION PUBLISHER Peggy Malecki CIRCULATION MANAGER Jim Irwin SALES & MARKETING Peggy Malecki Sondra Brigandi Heidi Hetzel OPERATIONS Amy Hass Kyle Hass EDITORS Marty Miron Theresa Archer Randy Kambic WRITERS Carrie Jackson Linda Sechrist Megy Karydes Sheryl DeVore DESIGN & PRODUCTION Suzzanne Siegel Martin Friedman Stephen Blancett Josh Pope

CONTACT US Natural Awakenings Chicago P.O. Box 72, Highland Park, IL 60035 Ph: 847-858-3697 • Fax: 888-858-3107 Info@NAChicago.com • NAChicago.com Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $29 (for 12 issues) to the above address.

NATIONAL TEAM CEO/FOUNDER Sharon Bruckman COO/ FRANCHISE SALES Joe Dunne NATIONAL EDITOR Jan Hollingsworth MANAGING EDITOR Linda Sechrist NATIONAL ART DIRECTOR Stephen Blancett ART DIRECTOR Josh Pope FINANCIAL MANAGER Yolanda Shebert FRANCHISE SUPPORT MGR. Heather Gibbs WEBSITE COORDINATOR Rachael Oppy NATIONAL ADVERTISING Kara Cave © 2019 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. 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. Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment.

Natural Awakenings Magazine is ranked 5th Nationally in CISION’S® 2016 Top 10 Health & Fitness Magazines

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Libertyville

is the New Home of

The Tummy Whisperer.

Reneé S. Barasch, LDH S , Certified Digestive Health Specialist, is now exclusively at ADIO Chiropractic Clinic in Libertyville; teaming up with Dr. Danny McLane at 316 Peterson Road. Set up your appointment today to discuss any digestive and health concerns you may have. Let’s get you feeling better.

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December 2019

ntalee Wellness Spa, in Glenview, will host a Glo Skin Beauty Makeup event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., December 6, with complimentary makeovers provided by a Glo professional makeup artist. Participants receive 15 percent off all Glo skin beauty products, plus free brushes, oils and more gifts with purchase. Refreshments and salads will be provided by Antalee Café. There’ll also be an Eminence Organics Skincare event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., December 14, with a trainer and educator of the company. Attendees receive complimentary product application knowledge, exclusive full-size gifts with purchase and discounts on products.

Location: 1836 Glenview Rd. For more information or to RSVP for Dec. 6 event, call 847-486-1130 or email Info@Antalee.com by Dec. 4. See ad on page 13 and in the Community Resource Guide.

Dancing in the Sky

erial Dance Chicago will present Road to the Sky, an intimate evening of short dance works created by 10 of Chicago’s most celebrated choreographers, at 7 p.m., December 7 and 8. The first production of the company’s 20th anniversary season sees the return of an audience favorite from 2006, comedic harness duet, On Leash, by choreographer Nadia Oussenko. Artistic Director Chloe Jensen premieres two new works— a vertical pas de deux, Singularity, in which dancers Libby Westra and Dani Bitout are bound together by a single, looped aerial silk; and Entanglement, a group work with four aerial silks sparked from reading quantum entanglement theories.

Tickets are $25 and $30 at AerialDanceChicago.org/events-and-tickets/road-to-the-sky. Location: 4028 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago.

From Grieving to Finding Meaning with David Kessler

avid Kessler, an expert on grief, will conduct a workshop from 7 to 9 p.m., December 9, at the Infinity Foundation, in Highland Park. Participants will be informed about the insights, collective wisdom and powerful tools to help those experiencing loss. Finding meaning is a critical component in the grief process. Kessler will discuss his groundbreaking new work from the recent release, Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief.

David Kessler Admission: $35. Location: 1280 Old Skokie Rd. For more information and to register, visit InfinityFoundation.org. See ad in the Community Resource Guide.

Research is creating new knowledge. ~Neil Armstrong

Chicago

NAChicago.com

Family-Friendly Holiday Fun at Nature Museum

he Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is one of Chicago’s most family-friendly science museums for children and adults. Every year the Nature Museum plans special programs during the holidays to help inspire kids to enjoy science and nature, including the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven. Complete with serene pools of water, flowers, tropical trees and 1,000 butterflies, it always feels like summer in the Butterfly Haven. The facility’s featured exhibit, Amazing Pollinators, will close on January 12. Through this immersive exhibit, visitors of all ages discover the roles bees, butterflies and other creatures play in our everyday lives and leave with a new sense of appreciation of them. Location: 2430 N. Cannon Dr., Chicago. For more information, visit NatureMuseum.org.

Visiting our Advertisers? Be sure to mention you found them in

Photo by The Chicago Academy of Sciences / Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

Have Great-Looking Skin for the Holidays

Photo courtesy of Aerial Dance Chicago

news briefs

Gen Kelsang Zamling

Kadampa Offers Events for the Holidays

adampa Meditation Center Chicago offers a retreat, Eight Steps to Happiness, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., December 27 and 28, ($30 for one day, $45 for both days) at 2010 W. Pierce Avenue, in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood, with Kadampa Buddhist monk Gen Kelsang Zamling. The retreat is based on the teachings of the renowned Buddhist meditation master Bodhisattva Langri Tangpa, who composed the famous “Eight Verses of Training the Mind,” which describe stepby-step methods to develop the special, inner qualities of loving-kindness, universal compassion, patience and wisdom. Kadampa will also present a Prayers for World Peace and New Year’s Eve Celebration (free admission if bringing a dish to share) from 6 to 8 p.m., December 31, at 13 Harrison Street, in Oak Park. This event includes a brief, inspiring talk, prayers for world peace and universal compassion and a festive potluck with non-alcoholic refreshments. For more information, visit MeditateInChicago.org. See ad in the Community Resource Guide.

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December 2019

news briefs Photo by Veronica Hinke, USDA Forest Service

Declutter for the Holidays and Beyond

egan Spillman, owner of Peace and Tidy, will schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation to discuss the challenges of clutter with those feeling overwhelmed by the holidays or thinking ahead to a fresh start for the new year. After that, in-home sessions are $75 per hour with a three-hour minimum. Payment is due after each session, either by check or electronic method. There is a 10 percent discount for clients that book 10 or more hours. Megan Spillman Included in the hourly fee is one dropoff to donation centers for discarded items, so clients won’t have to worry about having to take them to donation. She says, “I take them for you, and save the donation information for you.” An organizer trained in the KonMari Method, Spillman helps people move through clutter challenges by setting intentions and focusing on gratitude as they implement a plan to enjoy a more peaceful home. She is located in Oak Park and services the western suburbs of Chicago and beyond. For more information, call 708-275-0110, email Megan@PeaceAndTidy.com or visit PeaceAndTidy.com. See ad in the Community Resource Guide.

Film Festival With a Mission Seeks Advisory Members

he One Earth Film Fest, to be conducted from March 6 through 15, 2020, is seeking individuals to serve on the Youth Advisory Council. It meets once or twice a month to review, evaluate and select films, discuss strategies for incorporating environmental issues and attract youth to the festival. The One Earth Film Festival Youth Advisory Council is being funded as part of It’s Our Future, a project developed by Seven Generations Ahead in collaboration with community partners as part of the Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation’s BIG IDEA competition. It’s Our Future was selected as one of five projects to make a live Shark Tank-style pitch on March 13, 2019, and won the $50,000 award. Partners include the OPRFHS Environmental Club; the One Earth Film Festival; and the Doris Davenport Radio Show. The impetus behind the project is that adults have created an environmental mess that is wreaking havoc on our planet and its inhabitants, and many will be long gone when the damage gets to be catastrophic. The people that will be around to bear the brunt of current decisions and lack of action on the issue of climate change are the children, their children and beyond. It’s Our Future is designed to alert our youth to this reality, build their leadership skills and equip them to take action. Applications are due by Dec. 31, 2019. For more information, visit OneEarthFilmFest.org.

Chicago

NAChicago.com

Get a Glimpse of Native Ecology in Chicago Exhibit

ative Illinois prairie plants on loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, in Wilmington, will be exhibited through January 11 as Unraveling Modern Living, by Mexico City-based Tatiana Bilbao Estudio. It’s all part of the 2019 Chicago Architecture Biennial at the historic Madlener House. Hours are from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, excluding holidays. The seeds and plants represent three prairie habitat types: wet, dry and mesic. Wet: brown fox sedge; prairie sundrop; dark green bulrush; Culver’s root; and swamp milkweed. Dry: glade onion; side-oats grama; pale purple coneflower; porcupine grass; and marbleseed. Mesic: big bluestem; golden alexander; prairie dropseed; blue-eyed grass; and Ohio spiderwort. These are just a few of the more than 275 different species of native Illinois prairie plants that volunteers, partners and staff are working with at Midewin—3,000 acres of land that was once the Joliet Army Arsenal, now undergoing active restoration and enhancement. Location: 4 W. Burton Place, Chicago. For more information, call 312-787-4071 or email Info@GrahamFoundation.org.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Raden Wellness Offers IV Therapy to Help Stay Healthy Over the Holidays

he winter holiday season is filled with tasty food, parties, people, joy, sorrow, stress and unfortunately, colds and flu. To help stay healthy and enjoy this time of the year, add an Immune Booster IV from the Raden IV Center, in Highwood. Unlike taking extra vitamins that must be digested, an IV is a direct administration of nutrients into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive tract altogether, a practice which is well known to be crucial for rapid delivery of medicines and nutrients. An IV delivery of blood concentrations produces therapeutic effects and demonstrates its effectiveness in correcting intracellular nutrient deficits. One popular 30-minute IV infusion is the Raden IV proprietary push of vitamin C, magnesium, calcium, selenium and B vitamins (including B12). Glutathione, one of the most potent antioxidants available, is often added to help support the immune system. They also offer supplements such as Andrographis paniculata (KalmCold) to boost the immune system. Location: 200 Green Bay Rd., 2nd Fl. For more information or to make an appointment, call 847-964-0326 or visit Raden Wellness and Raden IV Center on Facebook.

Three Weeks of Profound Workshops at Cabo Breath Fest

n celebration of Natural Awakenings’ commitment to promoting higher consciousness during the last 25 years, the Cabo Breath Fest will offer many life-changing workshops plus other activities from February 1 to 21, in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico. Some of the 20-plus international experts offering workshops include event founder Dan Brule, author, breathwork pioneer the creator of Breath Therapy; Stig Avall Severinsen, champion free diver and author of the bestselling book Breatheology – The Art of Conscious Breathing; Dr. Jim Morningstar, author and founder of the School of Integrative Psychology; and Lena Kristina Tuulse, Breathwork pioneer and author of Passion for Life who introduced conscious breathing to much of Europe. As this historic event is a co-creation of the trainers and guests, attendees are also invited to make presentations during some of the 100 available sessions. There’ll also be yoga on the beach, drumming circles, concerts, social gatherings, great food, dances, art and other enriching activities. Tickets: $100 for any or all workshops. For more information, tickets and cheap accommodations, call 800-568-7957 or visit CaboBreathFest.com or Facebook.com/cabobreathfest.

Chicago

NAChicago.com

Dr. Rodney Soto

LifeWorks Wellness Center Welcomes New Doctor

r. David Minkoff, founder of LifeWorks Wellness Center, is proud to welcome Dr. Rodney Soto and the Neurology Division to his medical clinic. Soto is a board-certified neurologist and is also board-certified in integrative medicine and anti-aging. With more than 30 years of medical experience, including 15-plus years in functional and holistic medicine, Soto specializes in treating Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injuries, dementia, migraines, ALS and strokes. He states, “I want to ‘empower’ my patients with the proper education about their condition so they can learn how to heal themselves. I am always researching new, natural options to help the body heal naturally.” Soto strives to provide the root cause of clients’ neurological problems. Do you want to know the root cause of your neurology problems? Dr. Soto has answers. Call today to schedule an appointment. Location: 301 Turner St., Clearwater, FL. For more information, call 727-466-6789 or visit LifeWorksWellnessCenter.com. See ad page 27. SPONSORED CONTENT

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Maintain a Healthy Diet and Weight to Lower Cataract Risk A recent study published in The Journal of Nutrition used adherence to dietary guidelines and total diet scores to assess the effects of diet on cataract risk. The researchers followed 2,173 older Australians for five and 10 years in two phases. They found that maintaining a healthy body mass index (BMI) of less than 25, combined with a healthy diet, reduced the risk of developing cataracts.

Eat a Better Diet to Improve Gut Bacteria Researchers at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center tested stool samples of 858 men and 877 women in Los Angeles and Hawaii with a mean age of 69â€”regarded as an ethnically diverse study population with varied food intakes. The study found that those with higher quality diets also had significantly better gut bacteria diversity, a factor linked to reduced risk for a variety of diseases. Diet quality and a reduced risk of developing chronic disease is strongly associated with fecal microbial diversity. 16

Chicago

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New research offers potential paths for treatment for the nearly 20 percent of patients with high blood pressure that donâ€™t respond well to medications. University of Florida College of Medicine researchers, testing 105 volunteers, found that the populations of gut bacteria differed between hypertensive individuals with depression and those without depression. A second study by Italian researchers found that patients with heart attacks had different bacteria in their guts than patients with stable angina.

Hong Vo/Shutterstock.com

Researchers followed more than 36,000 Japanese men older than 40 for an average of 13.2 years. They found that those that consumed culinary mushrooms three times a week had a 17 percent lower chance of developing prostate cancer compared to those that ate mushrooms less than once a week. Participants that ate mushrooms once or twice a week had an 8 percent lower risk. The trend was even greater for those men over the age of 50 and was unrelated to other dietary habits.

SK Design/Shutterstock.com

Eat Mushrooms to Lower Risk of Prostate Cancer

Reduce Blood Pressure and Heart Attacks With Better Gut Bacteria

Train Students in Mindfulness to Reduce Stress and Improve Grades Sixth-graders that received mindfulness training each day for eight weeks experienced lower stress levels, less depression and improved academic performance compared to their peers in a control group that studied computer coding, report Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers. In addition to that 100-student study, researchers surveyed 2,000 students in grades five through eight and found those that showed more mindfulness tended to have better grades and test scores. They also had fewer absences and suspensions.

Daxiao Productions/Shutterstock.com

health briefs

JAZZ

TIME TO DANCE

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Joyful classes designed for people age 55 and over FIRST CLASS ATTENDED IS FREE

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With all the sugary treats that’ll be offered, our oral health may surely suffer this holiday season. Here are some simple tips to keep those pearly whites healthy: n Don’t forget to brush. Even though you may come home exceptionally late, make brushing and flossing a priority, especially at night. At night, we don’t produce as much saliva, so our natural protective mechanism doesn’t take place, leaving our teeth more vulnerable to bacteria and decay. n If you’re doing the cooking, opt for natural sweeteners such as stevia, monk fruit and coconut sugar. Try glutenfree recipes to decrease the carbs. It’s not just sugar that can ruin teeth. Carbohydrates turn into sugar, so make sure to limit them. n Some sweets are better than others. Even though dried fruit is very natural, check your teeth also your kids’ teeth after eating them. Dried mangoes and goji berries, although delicious, are especially sticky and can remain on teeth for hours. The longer food is left on teeth, the higher the chance for getting cavities. n Stress Less. Stress plays a big role in overall health. The less you stress, the healthier you’ll be throughout the season. n Schedule a cleaning and checkup appointment. Many people want to make sure they use their dental insurance benefits, HSA or Flex spending accounts. The end of the year is a great time to check in with a dental office for a cleaning or any outstanding treatment that’s needed. Bernice Teplitsky, DDS, is the owner of Wrigleyville Dental, located at 3256 N. Ashland Ave., in Chicago. For more information or to make appointments, call 773-975-6666 or visit WrigleyvilleDental.com. See ad in the Community Resource Guide.

Find the perfect dentist for you in

Chicago

NAChicago.com

Extreme Weather Events Affect Mental Well-Being People that experience storm and flood damage to their homes are about 50 percent more likely to experience depression and anxiety, British researchers report. Surveying more than 7,500 people after the 2013-2014 season of severe weather, they found that those with homes damaged by wind, rain, snow or floods had mental health risks similar to living in a disadvantaged area. This occurred even when the effects of the extreme weather were relatively minor and did not force people to leave their homes.

dencg/Shutterstock.com

by Bernice Teplitsky

Wedlock tends to stave off dementia, according to a new Michigan State University study. Analyzing 14 years of data on 15,000 people older than 52, researchers found those in all unmarried groups—cohabiting, divorced, separated, widowed and never married—had significantly higher odds of developing dementia than their married counterparts. The differences were most acute for those divorced, separated or widowed—about twice as prone as married people to develop dementia, with the men faring worse cognitively than the women.

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Dental Health Pointers for a Healthy Holiday Season

Marry to Halve the Risk of Dementia

Eat Nuts to Reduce Odds of Death From Heart Disease Adults that ate nuts two or more times per week had a 17 percent lower risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke, reports an Iranian study that followed 5,432 adults for 12 years. The research was presented in August at the European Society of Cardiology. “Nuts are a good source of unsaturated fat and contain little saturated fat,” says study author Dr. Noushin Mohammadifard, of the Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute. “They also have protein, minerals, vitamins, fiber, phytosterols and polyphenols which benefit heart health.”

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December 2019

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global briefs

Making Meat Without Animals

Five major food technology companies have converged to form the Alliance for Meat, Poultry and Seafood (AMPS) Innovation, which seeks to create real meat from animal cells without the need to slaughter animals. The founding members of the coalition are both cell-based seafood companies BlueNalu and Finless Foods and meat makers Fork & Goode, San Francisco-based JUST Inc., and Memphis Meats. AMPS Innovation (ampsinnovation.org) intends to tackle obstacles presented in the cellular agriculture industry and bring products to the consumer faster with transparency and proper regulatory frameworks for cell-based products. Each member company has made significant strides in the development of these products with the hope they will soon be options in the everyday diets of individuals, as well as a nutrition source for a human population projected to grow to 10 billion by 2050.

A new study based on the National Land Cover Database of 3,086 of the 3,103 counties in the continental U.S. published in the journal Urban Forestry and Urban Greening found that increases in forest and shrub cover corresponded to decreases in Medicare health care spending, even when accounting for economic, geographic or other factors that might independently influence healthcare costs. Urban and rural counties with the lowest socioeconomic status appeared to benefit the most from increases in forests and shrubs. University of Illinois graduate student Douglas A. Becker, who led the new research with Matt Browning, a professor of recreation, sports and tourism, says, “It occurred to me that low-income communities are getting the biggest bang for their buck because they probably have the most to gain.” Other studies have shown that people in intensive care units recover more quickly and have fewer complications after surgery if their hospital rooms look out over trees rather than parking lots and that forest walks can influence potentially health-promoting hormone levels or anti-cancer immune cells in the blood.

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Lab Steak

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Forests and Shrubs Lower Medical Costs

Charge It

The RS Automotive gas station, in Takoma Park, Maryland, has been around since 1958, and Depeswar Doley has been running it for 22 years. Now, frustrated by the complicated rules, requirements

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and contracts of oil and gas companies, he has completely transitioned away from offering petroleum and become the country’s first exclusively electric vehicle (EV) charging station. Because there has been a shortage of EV charging stations in the state, the station’s changeover was partially funded by the Baltimore-based

Electric Vehicle Institute and the Maryland Energy Administration. Its new 200-kilowatt electrical system will now be able to recharge up to four vehicles at a time while drivers wait inside. Doley says, “It’s not something that I expect to become rich overnight or something like that, but it’s a good cause [and] good for the environment.”

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Electric Vehicles Get Their Own ‘Gas’ Station

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December 2019

Biosolar Leaf Purifies Air in London

A 2016 study at the University of British Columbia revealed that air pollution is the fourthleading cause of death worldwide, with at least 5.5 million air pollution-related fatalities every year. A new cultivation system developed by researchers from Imperial College London collaborating with the startup Arborea have created the world’s first Biosolar Leaf technology to purify and improve the air in London. They hope it’ll boost environmental outcomes not only in the UK, but all over the world. The process works by purifying the air through photosynthesis of microscopic plants, which removes the greenhouse gases from the environment and generates breathable oxygen at the same time. The startup’s innovative cultivation system can facilitate the growth of microalgae, phytoplankton and diatoms on large, solar panel-like structures that can be installed on buildings and other infrastructure to improve the quality of the atmosphere. Arborea’s cultivation system also creates a sustainable source of organic biomass from which nutritious food additives can be extracted for plant-based food.

Government Order Reduces Animal Testing

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler has signed a directive reducing the animal testing that the agency has long required on such animals as dogs, birds, rats and fish to gauge the toxicity of chemicals before they can be bought, sold or used in the environment. The agency also authorized $4.25 million in funding for five universities to research the development and use of alternative test methods and strategies that reduce, refine or replace vertebrate animal testing. He says, “Today’s memo directs the agency to aggressively reduce animal testing, including reducing mammal study requests and funding 30 percent by 2025 and completely eliminating them by 2035.” Any mammal studies requested or funded by the EPA after 2035 will require administrator approval on a case-by-case basis. It directs leadership and staff in the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention and the Office of Research and Development to prioritize and direct existing resources toward measurable impacts in the reduction of animal testing while ensuring protection of human health and the environment.

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global briefs

Heave Ho Fast-growing lemna, or duckweed, a flowering green plant that blooms on the surface of still and slow-moving bodies of water that is often mistaken for algae, is finding new utility as a protein source. Californiabased Plantible Foods claims that duckweed, traditionally the enemy of pond owners, is superior to other alternative proteins like pea, wheat and soy. The unusual crop naturally contains higher amounts of the complete protein RuBisCo and is easier to digest than some other popular plant proteins. It can be used as a substitute for egg white, is free of the top eight allergens and has a neutral color and taste. Due to its rapid growth, duckweed is less vulnerable to climate change. Plantible Foods co-founder Tony Martens says that duckweed grows reliably and can typically be harvested daily, no matter what the weather may be. 22

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As a result of its partnership with Just Goods, Inc., the Norwegian Cruise Line will replace single-use plastic bottles across its fleet by January 1, 2020, beginning with the Norwegian Encore. The company’s ships will feature JUST, which is 100 percent spring water in a plant-based carton made of 82 percent renewable materials from trees grown in responsibly managed forests. The cap and shoulder are made from a sugarcane-based plastic. It’s refillable and recyclable. Just Goods, located in Glen Falls, New York, has a global presence with bottling facilities in New York, Northern Ireland and Australia, allowing the company to meet demand around the world without shipping water from a single production source. It plans to replace more than 6 million single-use plastic bottles every year. CEO Ira Laufer says, “The company is pushing the boundaries of what’s always been done because it knows we all need to do better.”

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Pond Plants Offer Protein Strategy

Cruise Line Abandons Plastic Bottles

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Burn Notice

Safe and Sustainable Fireplace Practices

One of the charms of winter is enjoying the warmth and glow of indoor fireplaces and wood stoves. It also emphasizes the need for sustainable, safe and healthy practices—especially when it comes to maintaining air quality. Try to buy wood from providers that use good forest management practices such as harvesting during sustainable months, reports WoodHeat.org. Environmentally sound woodlot operations include thinning out dying, less desirable and damaged trees, and including a blend of species. “Have a high-efficiency, properly installed stove that meets local building codes that’s sized for the area to be heated,” says Brad Harr, senior environmental scientist and president of Summit Environmental Inc., in Boise, Idaho. “Use dry, 10 to 12 percent wood moisture. Water sucks up heat to get to combustion temperature. Run at

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high heat, generally over 1,000° F in the firebox, to effect complete combustion of the wood and gases.” Denser woods such as ironwood, rock elm, hickory, oak and sugar maple burn longer and conserve resources. Use a higher British thermal unit (BTU) per cord of wood to maximize heat production. (WorldForestIndustries.com has tips per region.) Harr adds, “Don’t starve the fire to extend burning time, as smoldering can cause incomplete combustion.” This leads to more carbon monoxide and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) being released that can cause flu-like symptoms, and at high levels, unconsciousness and even death. To help maintain proper airflow and prevent soot buildup, shovel excess ash into a covered metal container, store it outside and dispose of it in a few days. Smelling smoke can indicate the fireplace may be backdrafting and needs to be inspected. Harr also suggests checking periodically for potential cracks or rusting in the joints of a stovepipe. Make sure children and the elderly don’t accidentally touch the stove while in use and keep furniture a suitable distance away. Periodic inspections by a professional can address potentially dangerous creosote (tar deposit) accumulations, assure the catalytic converter is operating correctly and detect trapped debris in escape shafts that can force toxic gases back into the home and clog spark-arresting screens on tops of stovepipes or chimneys. If buying a new unit, make sure it’s U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-certified, which requires two-thirds less wood to generate heat and emits fewer harmful particles—two to seven grams per hour—compared with 15 to 30 grams for models manufactured before 1992, according to MotherEarthLiving.com.

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eco brief

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inspiration

The Generous Heart

Be Happy, Joyous, and Free!

How Giving Transforms Us by Cindy Ricardo

ne of the ways we come into balance and connection with each other and with life is by giving from the heart. When we give to others, whether it’s an act of kindness, generosity or compassion, it helps us live from the heart instead of the ego. Living from the ego is painful and exhausting. It’s like feeding a hungry monster that’s never satisfied. Ego craves, pursues and clings to status, approval, material wealth and control. It views the world through the eyes of fear—constantly evaluating, judging and acting in ways that are self-centered, defensive and protective. Like with Scrooge, ego closes our heart and makes us small, fearful and contracted. By contrast, generosity requires that we open our hearts to the world and each other. We allow ourselves to be vulnerable. In doing this, we open ourselves fully to life, love and relationships. We let go of striving and pursuing things. When we stop striving, we begin to see, value and respond to what’s happening in the present moment in ways that are healthy and healing. Our priority shifts from acquiring things to appreciating what we have and being open to sharing with others. Generosity is a quality of kindness, of living from a place of abundance. We see the world through a clear lens that isn’t clouded by fear, wanting or clinging. When we interact with others, our connection is

genuine. We see people instead of judgments or labels. Being generous arises from the heart, not the wallet. We don’t need to have material wealth in order to be generous. The only requirement is a willingness to open our hearts, to see life as it is and to interact with others from a place of compassion and love. Some examples of generous acts are: n Doing a household chore without being asked. n Setting aside what we’re doing and listening to someone in need of emotional support. n Telling loved ones what we appreciate about them. n Listening to children and trying to see the world through their eyes before offering advice. n Smiling at a stranger.

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n When asking, “How are you?” looking into the person’s eyes and taking time to truly listen with an attitude of curiosity and compassion. Generosity awakens goodness in the heart, and this helps us open to life, love and relationships. Cindy Ricardo is a Coral Springs, Floridabased psychotherapist who blogs at ACaringCounselor.com.

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December 2019

business spotlight

Balancing Body and Brain Helps Reduce Holiday Stress by Carrie Jackson

hen our ing,” she explains. body and Klocko will often our brain assess brain waves if are out of balance, our the person is struggling health suffers. The huwith neurological issues man body was designed or mood disorders. If for self-regulation and there are significant healing, but lifestyle, variances there, then environmental stressors neurofeedback can be and genetics can affect used with excellent sucthat process. As the cess to help with these founder and director conditions. “Neurofeedof Health His Way Inc., back has emerged as in Wheaton, Kristin a non-surgical, nonKlocko, Pharm.D, RPh, invasive option to mediPSc.D, utilizes alternacation, yielding positive tive health approaches Kristin Klocko, Pharm.D, RPh, PSc.D results for many people to help bring equilibrium with debilitating neuand healing to the body. “Comprehensive rological symptoms,” says Klocko. The testing allows me to assess the body’s curtreatment is a type of biofeedback which rent imbalances and utilize natural methods uses quantitative electroencephalography to help a person maintain or regain their (QEEG) to provide a signal used to meahealth,” she says. sure information about brain activity, and Klocko launched her medical career essentially rewards the brain for adjusting when she received a doctorate in pharmaits behavior for the better. cology from the University of Illinois. She During a session, the computer monithen began pursuing education in function- tors brainwaves while the patient watches al medicine, becoming certified in reversing a movie and sends an alert when they are cognitive decline with Dr. Dale Bredesen’s outside the normal ranges. The cues are reReCODE program, functional genomic ceived by the brain, which subconsciously analysis and nutrition, hyperbaric oxygen adjusts itself back to a normal pattern to therapy (HBOT), neurofeedback, immumake the cue stop. With enough repetition nology, herbal medicine and the causes of of this feedback process, the brain eventuillness. “I utilize homeopathy, whole food ally learns to stay in the normal ranges on nutrition, herbs and supplements to help its own without the computer, and the perbring balance to the body,” she says. son’s complaints or symptoms will resolve. Klocko uses her extensive background The brain’s ability to change and bein testing to discover what is out of balance, come regulated again through neurofeedtoxic or not functioning properly at the cel- back is especially effective for people struglular level. “No two people have the same gling with anxiety, depression, learning cause of their health problems, so you have problems, post-traumatic stress disorder to know what to test for to find what needs (PTSD), memory issues, recovering from to be worked on and supported. Often, it is a stroke or traumatic brain injury, or other a multipronged approach that brings healneurodegenerative disorders. 26

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In order for the brain and body to heal, it requires oxygen at the cellular level. The hyperbaric chamber is used to increase that. “The human body is highly energetic and depends on a constant supply of oxygen to help generate enough cellular energy called ATP for all of its metabolic needs. The human body cannot be expected to heal properly without adequate oxygen,” Klocko explains. During a treatment session, which lasts about an hour, the person enters a private chamber fully dressed. They are encouraged to listen to music or just relax as the chamber floods the tissues, brain and essential organs with filtered, pressurized air. HBOT sessions can be used to help with cerebral palsy, fibromyalgia, arthritis, autism, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, stroke, traumatic brain injury, chronic fatigue syndrome and ALS. “HBOT helps increase tissue oxygenation and decrease inflammation, and enables the body plasma to absorb additional oxygen in the cells, tissues, glands, organs and every other part of the body,” says Klocko. There are numerous toxic factors to which we are exposed on a daily basis that are responsible for many chronic health issues. “I encourage people to find ways to manage stress, get quality restorative sleep, reduce inflammation and decrease their exposure to electromagnetic frequencies and toxic substances. These simple steps help support functionality on a cellular level and significantly helps the body balance and heal as it is programmed to do. My goal as a wellness and healthcare provider is to help people maximize the vehicle God has given them to accomplish what he has for them in this world,” says Klocko. Health His Way is located at 1492 Pebblestone Cove, in Wheaton. For more information, call 630-254-0766, email HealthHisWay@yahoo.com or visit Health-His-Way.com. See ad on page 11 and in the Community Resource Guide. Carrie Jackson is an Evanston-based writer and frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings magazine. Connect at CarrieJacksonWrites.com.

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December 2019

Awakening to the Evolution of Community by Linda Sechrist

en master Thich Nhat Hanh’s suggestion that the next Buddha would likely not take form as an individual but rather as a sangha, a community practicing mindful living, led many people to ask, “Why a community?” The author of more than 100 books that explore the Buddha’s core teachings on mindfulness, kindness and compassion, Hanh clarified the meaning of sangha as a good community necessary for helping individuals learn how to encounter life in the present moment, resist the unwholesome ways of our time, go in the direction of peace and nourish seeds of enlightenment. Even the best intentions, he noted, can falter without such a group of trusted family, friends and co-practitioners experiencing mindfulness together.

A Migration to Forming Community

Today’s trend toward collaborative processes and opportunities for transformation through online communities is made easier by the availability of affordable video conferencing providers such as Zoom, Skype and Mighty Networks, as well as online platforms like Facebook and MeetUp. 28

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Although many groups form for marketing, political, civic or social purposes—allowing participants to share values and common interests—thousands more gather as online intentional communities associated with personal growth and spiritual awakening. Myriad individuals have been able to experience some aspect of community through international organizations such as MindValley, Hay House, the Shift Network and Dr. Deepak Chopra’s Jiyo, a wellness-focused mobile app intended to extend the reach of his ideas on health and social transformation from millions of people to more than 1 billion. In MeetUp, spiritual awakening groups recently comprised 1,113,972 members in 3,631 groups worldwide. Additionally, co-housing communities, spiritual residential communities and eco-villages continue to form around the intention of designing and implementing pathways to a regenerative future.

The Old Story Versus the New Story

The increased interest in intentional communities may hint at a possibility that the

human desire for community might be nature’s evolutionary nudge toward a collective leap that helps us to survive a changing climate and Earth’s potential sixth mass extinction. If so, this possibility needs a new supportive story that includes humans as part of nature, with its evolutionary impulse as a guide for body, mind and soul. With our modern scientific worldview, when people talk about nature, they typically mean animals, plants, geological features and natural processes, all happening independently of humans. A more suitable new story is cultural historian Thomas Berry’s moving and meaningful narrative in The Great Work: Our Way Into the Future, in which humans aren’t above nature by virtue of superior intellect, but instead are equal partners with all that exists in a materially and spiritually evolving universe. From Berry’s perspective, humans are the eyes, minds and hearts through which the cosmos is evolving so that it can come to know itself ever more perfectly through us. Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell shared Berry’s perspective. Traveling back to Earth after walking upon the lunar surface, Mitchell gazed out of the spacecraft

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THE EMERGING POWER OF ‘WE’

window, whereupon he was flooded with an ecstatic awareness. “I was a part of the universe I was observing, and I became aware that everything that exists is part of one intricately interconnected whole,” recounts Mitchell, who founded the groundbreaking Institute of Noetic Sciences to explore the nature of human consciousness.

A Guiding Light

Seijaku Roshi, the abbot and founder of the Pine Wind Zen Community, aptly named for its location in a pine forest in Shamong, New Jersey, advises, “People are searching and hungering for community, which is number one on my agenda. If we aren’t talking about community, we’re squandering the moment. Whether it’s an evolutionary nudge or not, it appears that our tragic world situation is pushing us towards an alternative vision for living a meaningful life that meets the needs of people, society and the environment. We are awakening to the fact we’re interconnected, interdependent and need community, which is the spirit and guiding light whereby people come together to fulfill a purpose, to help others fulfill their purpose and to take care of one another.”

Conscious Evolution

Craig Hamilton, the guiding force behind the movement known as Integral Enlightenment, is the founder of the telecourse training program Academy for Evolutionaries. His spiritual guidance and teachings reach a growing international online community spanning 50 countries. “Transforming ourselves in the deepest possible way is, in fact, an evolutionary imperative, and we need to be able to identify the indicators of emergent shifts and participate creatively with change as an evolutionary force. Evolution up to this point has been playing out unconsciously. We’re now waking up and realizing that we can collaborate and participate in an emerging future.” Hamilton’s experience is that where humans awake to the one that is expressed through the many, they also begin to engage together. “Practicing community isn’t as simple as it seems. In online communities, a lot less can go wrong. The stakes aren’t as high. People come and go, share and engage as they like.”

A Community of Sisterhood

Laurie McCammon, author of Enough! How to Liberate Yourself and Remake the World with Just One Word, feels certain that humans are evolving. “We were last to the party with our big brains, and now we’re trying to intellectualize our way to an uncertain future without important feminine values such as feeling, intuiting, nurturing, interdependency and vulnerability,” says McCammon, who is deeply involved in the circle movement, in which women gather in small groups to empower each other. A regular participant in Gather the Women Global Matrix, a worldwide sisterhood that connects thousands of women sharing meaningful conversations and celebrating the divine feminine with the intention of bringing about personal and planetary transformation through cooperation and collaboration, McCammon says, “No one of us can bring about large-scale transformation alone. It’s time to tell the new story wherein our lives and actions demonstrate that together we are enough. Non-hierarchical circles that encourage authentic communication are part of this new story.” Citing other important circle communities such as Tree Sisters and The Millionth Circle, McCammon suggests that women tap into The Divine Feminine app, which allows them to find circle communities and events anywhere in the world.

Co-Creating With the Intelligence of Nature

Teacher and futurist Peter Russell writes books that are focused on consciousness and contemporary spirituality. His lectures help humans free themselves of limited beliefs and attitudes that belie many of humanity’s personal, social and global problems. The author of The Global Brain: The Awakening Earth in a New Century, Russell posits that the evolutionary process naturally draws humans together. “Humans are social creatures that need community, which I find very energizing,” says Russell, who cites the Findhorn Foundation eco-village, in Scotland, as a dynamic experiment in community. “Although residents went through hard times, they recognized the need for

honest communication so they could attune to one another in loving ways that would allow everyone to work through their difficulties. Today, life at Findhorn is guided by the inner voice of spirit, and residents work in co-creation with the intelligence of nature,” he says.

The Collective Wisdom of Community

An uncertain future is emerging, making it necessary for new and more intuitive methods and spiritual practices for developing collective wisdom, human potential and the skills for practicing community. “I’m in the process of finalizing 118 chapters from 90 different authors for a Collaborative Change Library: Transforming Organizations, Revitalizing Communities, Developing Human Potential,” says associate editor Carole Gorelick, who clarifies that spiritual practices are now playing a part in bringing about collaborative change. She notes that several chapters are updated versions of The Change Handbook: The Definitive Resource on Today’s Best Methods for Engaging Whole Systems (2007 second edition), which included modalities such as World Café, Open Space Technology, Art of Hosting, Appreciative Inquiry and many others. A living handbook for developing human potential and the skills to practice community, Fred Eppsteiner has been teaching Buddhism for 23 years. A student of Hanh’s since the 1960s, he is the founder of the Florida Community of Mindfulness, in Tampa. Eppsteiner sums up why the next Buddha could be a community: “A better future will be created by people who are living the values they want for the world, not just abstractly using only the intellect. In community, we ask ourselves, ‘Can I be what I want to see in the world? Can I practice these things mindfully in community with love, acceptance, deep listening, compassion and kindness?’ These are values that every Buddha has lived for centuries, and certainly ones we need to evolve from a culture of, ‘It’s all about me’ to a culture of, ‘It’s all about we’.” Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Connect at LindaSechrist.com. December 2019

Refresh Holiday Traditions Making the Old New and Green

by Ronica A. O’Hara

elebrating classic holiday traditions the same way we always have—and maybe the way our parents and grandparents did—is part of the rich family heritage we pass on to our children. These family rituals are binding, grounding, memorable and much more, says Saul Levine, M.D., professor emeritus in psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego. A survey of 50 years of family research published in the American Psychological Association’s Journal of Family Psychology found that family holiday rituals, as well as everyday routines like family dinners and bedtime stories, build stronger family relationships, enhance children’s health and academic achievement, help teenagers’ sense of personal identity and even boost marital satisfaction. It’s also natural and perhaps inevitable that these traditions undergo changes over the years. “If people from only five or six generations ago could see our modern Christmas, they’d barely recognize it,” says Brian Earl, host of the popular Christmas Past podcast that chronicles holiday traditions. “New trends and customs become traditions in time; every generation has its opportunity to add new chapters to the narrative and continue the story.” For Elizabeth Newcamp, Christmas 30

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festivities took an eco-turn for her military family of five when they were living for a few years in the Netherlands, where “Sinterklaas” traditionally delivers gifts in reusable burlap bags. “In an effort to reduce wrapping paper, we now use the sacks on Christmas,” says Newcamp, who blogs about family travel at DutchDutchGoose.com.

created. “We had a blast; we didn’t stop laughing all night,” she says. “We saved hundreds of dollars and we had a lovely time.” Lighting red, green and black candles while focusing on principles like unity, selfdetermination or purpose are key in the seven-day Kwanzaa celebrations; but, “Instead of just lighting the candle amongst friends and family and discussing, I want my family to spend that day exemplifying the principle,” says Vanessa Davis, executive director of the nonprofit African Village International, in Jacksonville, Florida. Now her children meditate, journal and practice mindfulness to learn about self-determination; volunteer or pick up trash outdoors to learn about collective work and responsibilities; and buy something at a locally-owned store and discuss future finances for cooperative economics. “I was inspired to change because Kwanzaa isn’t really a religious holiday, but it is a darn good way to reflect on the past year and goal-set for the future,” she says. “Giving children more hands-on experiences for Hanukkah and taking the emphasis off of ‘What am I going to get?’ makes the holiday more meaningful for the kids,” concurs Pamela Morris, early childhood education director at the East Valley Jewish Community Center, in Chandler, Arizona. Each Hanukkah evening, her family of five lights a menorah and says

New trends and customs become traditions in time; every generation has its opportunity to add new chapters to the narrative and continue the story. ~Brian Earl She and her husband Jeff also ask for and give experiences as gifts whenever possible; their 7-year-old son asked if he could organize a little library for their Navarre, Florida, neighborhood. Anyone that wants to send gifts to their sons is asked to find them used. “I don’t think we’ve lessened any of the fun of the holidays, but hopefully we are eliminating some of the waste,” she says. For many years, Ginny Underwood’s family in Bluffton, South Carolina, would dress up and go to a restaurant on Christmas Eve, exchange gifts and then return home to watch a movie or play board games. Last year, they tried something new: staying home, putting on pajamas, eating cottage pie and playing handmade “Minute to Win It” games that Underwood, a professional organizer who blogs at VirginiasEasyLivingSolutions.com,

traditional prayers while also volunteering to wrap food packages at a local Feed My Starving Children event, crafting personal menorahs at a pottery studio, going to see Phoenix ZooLights and gathering to make the traditional potato latkes or jelly donuts. “Each night is a focus on family time and welcoming friends to join us,” she says. By observing and evolving traditions, family bonds can strengthen through time, relates Earl: “By participating in holiday rituals, children are learning about who they are. And by passing them down, parents reaffirm what’s important to them and keep the connection to the past intact.” Ronica A. O’Hara is a Denver-based natural-health writer. Connect at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

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INSPIRATION . COMMUNITY . HEALING

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Resources for your spiritual journey, and your physical, mental & emotional well-being

Holiday Cheer

Find them at

. Christian Science Reading Rooms . Local events . Online podcasts . Community worship services on Wednesdays and Sundays

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by Isabella Dussias

hat is cherished the most by teens during the holiday season? Of course, we love our time off from school to relax with family and friends. It’s a nice break to pull away from what often feels like over-scheduled lives and take time to realize what matters most to us. However, in polling some of my friends, I found that teens have a lot of pride in what makes them unique in how they celebrate the holidays. There are many families that carry on traditions that have been handed down through generations. Learning how to make those cherished family recipes is important to us as young adults because someday we will be handing these down to future generations. Teens have pride in what we have learned from those who have come before us and taught us about our heritage. Whether it is making a special meal or going to a certain holiday event each year, it makes us feel special and have a greater sense of connection to our family as a whole. There are certain things my friends look forward to annually. Without them, the holiday season would not feel the same. So, this year, if you think your teen isn’t interested in that traditional family activity or that maybe they’ve outgrown it, think again. We are just waiting for the custom that we have become used to—the song we always sing or the cookies we always bake or crafts we always make—that embodies holiday cheer. Home is where the heart is—this is what we cherish. Those special times with family and traditions that we have learned have made us who we have become. Someday we will be the ones ensuring that these endure, that the fabric of our family is maintained and that we build a home full of warmth and happiness. So, here’s to a season full of love, family, traditions and holiday cheer! Hope it’s a good one for you and yours! Isabella Dussias is a 16-year-old singer-songwriter/composer from New Jersey. She enjoys writing about issues that are important to today’s youth, and she believes music is an important outlet to connect people and share messages through the creativity of lyric and melody. For more information, visit IsabellaDussias.com.

Bialy's Wellness Foundation Helping Special needS animalS

www.bialyswellnessfoundation.org December 2019

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~Pamela Reed

THE MERRY VEGAN

People-Pleasing Holiday Sweets by Julie Peterson

he holidays may send too many sugar plums and frosted gingerbread figures dancing in the heads of people with dietary restrictions. Anyone that chooses to avoid highly processed flours or sugars, artificial ingredients and loads of butter will typically be presented with all of this and more at social gatherings this time of year. They arrive on visually appealing cookie platters that tempt with their cute shapes, vibrant colors and sparkle. Some, like the gingerbread and reindeer cutouts, will beckon with glazed eyes: “Just one,” they whisper. But one can turn into nine and make someone that may normally avoid sugar or gluten feel bodily regrets. Someone that is vegan or allergic may feel they can’t have treats. Making healthier choices about food is difficult for reasons many don’t understand. “People have relationships with food—involving family, comfort and traditions—and they don’t want to give that up,” says James Brandon, of Tampa, founder of Facebook’s Vegan and PlantBased Beginner’s Community. Brandon says that holiday treats are tough to resist, but staying true to health goals is most important in the long run. The best defense to avoid frustration at social food events is to bring a dish to

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share that meets your dietary needs, says Megan Gilmore, the author of No Excuses Detox: 100 Recipes to Help You Eat Healthy Every Day and a blogger at Detoxinista. com. “That way, you can introduce something delicious to your friends, family or co-workers and be sure you’ll have something to eat!” A batch of simple, delectable, visually appealing and healthful cookies can be that plate to share, a gift to give or something to keep on hand for guests. Keep the focus on simple, advises Pamela Reed, who blogs at BrooklynFarmGirl.com. There are plenty of recipes that will satisfy the sweet tooth and decorate the holiday buffet (until they’re all eaten, that is). Don’t increase holiday stress by trying a new recipe at the last minute. “Stick with your favorite recipes that you know are going to be a success and are going to leave everyone’s taste buds happy,” she says. Transitioning to a more conscious way of eating isn’t about deprivation or leaving tradition behind. Bring on the new and healthful cookie recipes and name one after your grandma. Julie Peterson writes from her home in rural Wisconsin. Contact her at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

Oh-So-Healthy Holiday Treats Peanut Butter Cookies (Vegan, Gluten Free) Yields: About 18 cookies 1 cup creamy peanut butter ½ cup coconut sugar ½ cup brown sugar 2 tsp vanilla ⅔ cup oat flour 1 tsp baking soda ¼ tsp salt ¼ cup almond milk Additional sugar to roll cookies in

Petrovich Nataliya/Shutterstock.com

Stick with your favorite recipes that you know are going to be a success and are going to leave everyone’s taste buds happy.

Preheat oven to 350° F. In a large bowl, cream together peanut butter and sugars with a hand mixer. Once combined, add vanilla and continue mixing. Add flour, baking soda, salt and almond milk into the bowl and mix for a few seconds, until combined. The cookie dough will be a little crumbly.

photo by Pamela Reed

conscious eating

photo by Megan Gilmore

Bake cookies for 12 minutes. Once out of the oven, allow to cool for 15 minutes. This is important, as the cookies will be very soft when they come out of the oven, but they will harden up as they cool. Store in an airtight container or freeze. Recipe courtesy of BrooklynFarmGirl.com.

No-Bake Pecan Snowballs (Grain-Free, Vegan) Yields: 12 balls

photo by Megan Gilmore

Chocolate Topping: ¼ cup cocoa powder ¼ cup melted coconut oil 3 Tbsp pure maple syrup

Prepare 2 cookie sheets with silicone baking sheets or spray with nonstick spray. Roll the dough into large balls, and then gently roll in sugar to cover them. Use a fork to gently press down on each cookie a little bit—not too much, or they will crumble.

Line a standard loaf pan with parchment paper and set it aside. In a medium bowl, stir together the chocolate crust ingredients until a moist dough is formed. Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the lined loaf pan and place it in the freezer to set. Note: If you’d prefer to roll the balls in coconut sugar or shredded coconut, roll them in one of those options before freezing, so the coating will stick better. Store in the fridge in a sealed container for up to two weeks for best texture. Source: Detoxinista.com/no-bake-pecansnowballs-paleo-vegan

1 cup pecan halves ½ cup shredded unsweetened coconut 1 cup soft Medjool dates, pitted (about 10 dates) 1 Tbsp coconut oil ½ tsp sea salt ½ tsp vanilla extract ½ cup arrowroot or tapioca starch Extra arrowroot for dusting, or coconut sugar

No-Bake Peanut Butter Cup Bars (Vegan, Gluten Free)

Place the pecans and shredded coconut in a large food processor fitted with an “S” blade, and process until the pecans are broken down and crumbly. Add in the rest of the ingredients and process again, until a sticky dough is formed. (It should stick together when pressed between two fingers.)

Peanut Butter Filling: ½ cup creamy natural peanut butter 3 Tbsp pure maple syrup 1 Tbsp melted coconut oil Pinch of sea salt

Scoop the dough by rounded tablespoons and roll the dough between your hands, forming balls. Arrange the balls on a plate or baking sheet lined with parchment paper, then place them in the freezer to set, about 1 to 2 hours. For a “snowball” look, roll the balls in additional arrowroot or tapioca starch—just a light coating will do—since the starch will not enhance the flavor. It’s just for looks!

Chocolate Crust: ¾ cup ground almond meal 2 Tbsp cocoa powder 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup 1 Tbsp melted coconut oil Pinch of sea salt

To prepare the filling, you can use the same bowl to stir the peanut butter, maple syrup, coconut oil and salt. Depending on whether you’re using salted or unsalted peanut butter, consider adding more salt to taste. Store-bought peanut butter cups are quite salty, so I like to add a generous pinch of salt to mimic that flavor. Remove the crust from the freezer and pour the peanut butter filling over the top, using a spatula to spread it out evenly. Return the pan to the freezer to set. Rinse the mixing bowl and use it again to make the final layer. Combine the cocoa powder, melted coconut oil and maple syrup, whisking well to break up any clumps. Once the mixture has become a smooth chocolate sauce, pour it over the peanut butter layer, and return the pan to the freezer to set until firm, about an hour or two. Once the bars are firm, grab the edges of parchment paper to easily lift the solid bar from the pan, and use a sharp knife to slice the bars into your desired size. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks, or in the freezer for up to a month. (The bars become very firm if frozen for too long, so I prefer serving them from the fridge after the initial firming-up time.) Source: Detoxinista.com/no-bake-peanutbutter-cup-bars-vegan

December 2019

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recipe from the gluten-free kitchen

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uring the holiday season, it has always been a family tradition of mine to make allergy-safe cookies and put plates together to share with the neighbors and community. This tradition is something that started with my grandmother, cousins and me. We would all spend a week in my grandmother’s kitchen making hundreds of cookies. These sugar cookies hold a special place in my family’s heart and I hope you can enjoy them too!” says Tiffany Hinton, a mom, business owner, author, speaker, functional medicine-certified health coach and founder of GF Mom Certified.

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Yields: 1 dozen cookies 1 stick butter (or equivalent non-dairy substitute) ½ cup sugar 1 egg (or equivalent egg substitute) 1 tsp vanilla extract 1⅛ cups gluten-free, all-purpose flour Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

CONNECT

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together with an electric mixer on medium speed.

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Add the egg and mix well. Add vanilla extract. Add flour on low until combined.

with our online community at

Gluten-Free Holiday Sugar Cookies

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Royal Icing 1 cup powdered sugar 3 tsp almond milk 2 tsp corn syrup ¼ tsp almond extract Food coloring (optional) In a medium bowl, combine powdered sugar and almond milk until they are smooth. Add the corn syrup and almond extract. Mix until all the icing is smooth and glossy. Divide the icing into bowls if you are adding different colored food coloring. Stir in food coloring if you are using it. Scoop icing into a pastry bag and decorate cookies. Make your designs and let dry. To flood or drizzle the icing onto the cookie add 2 tsp of corn syrup to thin the icing. Recipe courtesy of Tiffany Hinton, GF Mom Certified. Connect on social media @gfmomcertified.

Refrigerate dough for 1 hour. Roll out using flour and cut with a cookie cutter.

Baking cookies is comforting, and cookies are the sweetest little bit of comfort food. They are very bite-sized and personal.

Bake for 12 minutes. Top with Royal Icing.

~Sandra Lee

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this month at the market Spinach and Orange Festive Winter Salad

inter farmers’ markets have started across Illinois, where you will find salad greens, honey and onions. Oranges aren’t ever local, but it is the best time of year for the best tasting citrus. Try this salad around the holidays, adding vibrant color and a crisp and refreshing taste to your menu. Farro is a wheatbased ancient grain, rich in fiber and vegetable protein and full of nutrition. It is typically available in grocery stores”, says Janie Maxwell, executive director of the Illinois Farmers Market Association. This recipe is vegan, but not gluten-free.

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You can now order your Holiday Organic Vegan Meals or enjoy these dishes when dining in at our restaurant!

We offer holiday favorites with a healthy twist, including Green Bean Casserole, Tofu Roast, Lentil Loaf, Stuffed Squash and Pumpkin, Pumpkin Pie, Apple Pear Cobbler, Chocolate Cakes, and much more. We only use organic, non-GMO, wholesome, whole plant-based ingredients. All items are vegan, most dishes are also soy-free and gluten-free, with paleo and keto options available. We can also cater to raw diets, plus oil-, nut-, garlic- and onion-free needs. Sweet Gift Boxes, Natural Living Gift Boxes, Gift Cards, Meal Plans and Nutritional Consultations are available and make awesome gifts.

Salad 2 oranges, peeled and cut lengthwise 1 purple onion, sliced 5 oz fresh spinach or other winter greens 2 Tbsp dried cherries or cranberries ½ cup cooked whole grain farro, (cook according to package directions) Make a trip to the farmers’ market or farm stand for the freshest, seasonal produce. Cook farro according to package directions, let cool. Remove stems from greens, wash and pat dry. A salad spinner is recommended. Prepare oranges and onions.

For the Dressing 4 Tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice 4 Tbsp olive oil 4 Tbsp white wine vinegar 2 Tbsp local honey ⅛ tsp cayenne powder, optional Kosher salt and pepper to taste

Delivery is available - please ask! We are looking forward to being part of your Holiday Cheer this year!

Combine all the dressing ingredients in a jar with a lid. Shake until well blended. Set aside. Assemble salad and serve. The Illinois Farmers Market Association (ILFMA) supports local food and food systems by giving Illinois farmers’ markets and producers access to resources, education and connections in order to grow healthier and economically vibrant communities. For more information, visit ilfma.org.

(224) 223-7133 341 E. DUNDEE ROAD, WHEELING FACEBOOK.COM/PURPLESPROUTCAFE WWW.PURPLESPROUT.COM December 2019

Celebrate Winter Squash This Holiday Season

he squash family brings comfort to the winter weather that we dread. Pumpkin and other squashes bring heartiness and warmth to the upcoming colder days. In the holiday season, something about the hearth that keeps burning either in one’s home or at their friend’s house, the smell and aroma of cooking and baking, the action of stirring a good meal while it is cooking, brings people together. Sharing what one cooked or enjoying the cooking of another symbolizes a season of togetherness and community. With homes becoming the gathering places for such togetherness, the holiday season perks up. For those of you that are seasoned cooks to those who would rather not look at the stove, here is a simple, go-to dish that you can make,” says plant-based chef Uma Vaiyapuri.

“

1 in 6 Children face hunger.

1 in 6 children face hunger. There’s more than enough food in America for every child who struggles with hunger. Help get kids the food they need by supporting Feeding America, the nationwide network of food banks. Together, we can solve hunger™. Join us at FeedingAmerica.org

There’s more than enough food Warm Acorn Squash Salad in America Note: This recipe is free of nuts, corn, glufor every child who ten and dairy. Add roasted chestnuts to the struggles with hunger. mixture to make it holiday worthy. Help get kids the Yields: 4 servings food they need 1 small to medium acorn squash 2-3 stalks celery by supporting 1 medium bunch of chard Feeding America, onion (any kind you like) 1 in 6 children1 medium face hunger. ren face hunger. 3-4 cloves of minced garlic the nationwide network There’s in America for every child gh food in America for every more child than enough food 2-3 Tbsp finely chopped chives food banks.with hunger. Help who get kids the food they ger. Help get kidsof the foodstruggles they 1 sprig of thyme need by supporting the nationwide eding America, Together, the nationwide we can Feeding1America, Tbsp coconut oil (or any other oil) network of food banks. Together, we can solve hunger™. Together, we can solve hunger™. ½ tsp salt or to taste solve hunger™. Join us at FeedingAmerica.org rica.org Join us at FeedingAmerica.org

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Preheat oven to 400° F.

Wash the acorn squash and cut open into two halves, and remove the seeds and fibers from the center of the squash. Drizzle ¼ tsp of oil on each half and spread it over the insides of the squash. Sprinkle a little bit of salt and pepper to taste.

Fill a baking dish about ⅓ full of water and place the squash in the dish facing up. Bake for about 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, pull it out and stick in a knife to see if it is cooked. The knife should easily slide into the squash. Once it cools, chop into bite sized pieces, or reserve the squash in its shell to stuff with vegetable mixture. While the squash is cooking, wash the veggies and herbs. Chop celery into bitesized pieces. Remove the greens from the chard, chop the stems to small sized pieces and cut ribbons with the leaves. Dice the onions, mince garlic. Place a heavy-bottom pan on medium heat and add oil. Once the oil is hot, add the onion, garlic, celery and the chard stems, sprinkle on about ¼ tsp of salt and sauté. Cook for about 7 to 8 minutes with a closed lid. Occasionally stir so that it doesn’t burn. Turn the heat off and add the chard leaves and another ¼ tsp of salt and give a nice stir. The chard will cook in the heat of the pan and does not need the stove to be on. Add the chopped squash into the mixture and gently stir. Alternately, stuff the mixture into the squash and serve. Uma Vaiyapuri is a plant-based chef and an author of the The Lion’s Wisdom, a channeled text. She teaches cooking and creates plant-based meals that follow the Medical Medium protocol by Anthony Williams. For more information, call 312-933-1621 or visit UmaShankari.com.

recipes from a farm kitchen

Photo by Prairie Wind Family Farm

Holiday Celebration Recipes

n winter, I cherish the additional warm, quiet family and hobby time after an extremely busy outdoor growing season. I also long for fresh food, personal connections and hard work like those we have in the summertime. Growing and eating locally year-round keeps us in tune to the rhythms of the season and looking ahead to the new year,” says Jen Miller, of Prairie Wind Family Farm, in Grayslake.

“

Farm Fresh Ginger Cocktail This is our New Years’ Eve go-to cocktail! Yields: 4 servings

Garnish with a pinch of fresh ginger zest or slice of fresh ginger. Enjoy!

Refreshing Winter Salad This can be made vegetarian and paired with soup, or add a protein to serve as a main course for a simple, fresh dinner. Yields: 4 servings 6 cups salad mix ¼ cup fresh fennel bulb, sliced very thin 2 shredded chicken breasts (optional) Parmesan cheese (optional)

For the Dressing

1 bottle champagne, chilled (or non-alcoholic sparkling beverage) 2 bottles ginger beer, chilled 1 Tbsp fresh or frozen ginger – we use frozen ginger, grated on microplane zester 3 Tbsp sanding sugar

1 cup extra virgin olive oil 3 Tbsp local maple syrup 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar 1 Tbsp orange juice 1 tsp Dijon mustard 1 clove garlic, minced Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

In a small dish, mix 3 Tbsp sanding sugar with 1 Tbsp grated ginger and set aside. To rim champagne flutes, dip in ginger beer and then in the ginger-sugar mixture. Fill champagne flutes ⅓ full with ginger beer and then slowly top with champagne.

Combine the dressing ingredients in a mason jar. Screw on the lid tightly and shake until the oil and vinegar have combined evenly. Combine the greens and fennel in a large

Farm Fresh Ginger bowl. Pour dressing on top and toss to coat. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper. Place salad on four separate plates and add shredded chicken and grated parmesan cheese to each for extra protein and flavor. Recipes courtesy of Jen Miller, of Prairie Wind Family Farm, which grows a wide variety of certified organic vegetables and pasture-raised hens for eggs, and provides fresh fruit to CSA members, delivered to north and western suburban locations, and area farmers’ markets. For more information, a schedule of farm events and to sign up for the 2020 harvest, visit PrairieWindFamilyFarm.com.

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healing ways

Waste-Free Feasting How to Reduce Holiday Food Waste by Yvette C. Hammett

he heaping platters that cheerfully mark the holidays have an unfortunate downside: Americans increase their waste by 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The discarded food and packaging burden landfills with an additional 1 million tons of waste each week. That’s in addition to the 40 percent of food Americans typically waste each year— nearly half of all the food prepared at home or in restaurants. Monica McBride, senior manager of food loss and waste for the World Wildlife Fund, notes that squandered bounty is grown in areas that were converted from natural habitat into farm fields, so it’s also a waste of natural resources. “Once you start cooking, you realize the impact on the planet,” says chef and caterer Steven Laurence, owner of Vegan Commissary, in Philadelphia. “My grandmother was the kind of person who, if there was one pea left over, she put it in a container and some-

one ate it the next day. That kind of informs my cooking. The way I was trained, you didn’t waste anything. You used everything.” In individual households, small changes can have a big impact, especially during the holidays; all it takes is awareness and a plan. Frugal cooks can make room for a holiday waste reduction strategy by taking inventory of the pantry and boxing up a load for the local soup kitchen or food bank. Then, design a menu with the environment in mind, using portion control to avoid food waste and whipping up dishes that can easily be upcycled into new creations that can be used as appetizers in the coming days or tucked in the freezer for future enjoyment. Start with the Guest-imator at SaveTheFood.com, a great way to determine portions for a holiday party, says Cheryl Coleman, director of the EPA Resource Conservation and Sustainability Division in the Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery. The Guest-imator and Save the Food,

The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity. ~Leo Tolstoy 38

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a program of the Natural Resources Defense Council in conjunction with the Ad Council, tells cooks how much to make to keep guests happy and includes recipes for leftovers, such as Crispy Sheet Pan Hash, made with leftover roasted vegetables, and Ugly Vegetable Pasta, made with zucchini, tomatoes and eggplant. Spoilage is another way food finds its way into the garbage can, and that too, can be avoided, Laurence says, pointing out that most food goes bad because it’s not cooked properly or is mishandled in storage. “Mix animal protein with starches and grains in a container and it goes bad because of two different sorts of enzymes. It is a fuel for bacteria.” He also recommends using as many organic ingredients as possible for longer-lasting leftovers. “We guarantee all of our dishes for two weeks,” he says. Encouraging visitors to take home leftovers is another effective food-saving strategy, says McBride. “Have Tupperware or to-go boxes you could provide to your guests.” Reilly Brock, content manager at Imperfect Produce, in New York City, agrees. “Just like repurposing excess product requires creative thinking, food waste around the holidays requires out-of-the-box ideas to keep impact low,” says Brock, whose company delivers imperfect produce to customers’ doors for a cost savings. “Why end the fun when the meal ends? The best part about leftovers—and the holidays—is keeping the celebration going.” “Also, make sure you keep food safe,” McBride says. “The CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] has a really great overview of how to do that for parties. Standard guidance is not to leave food out for more than two hours. So, as a party planner, make sure you mentally note when you put food out.” Coleman recommends taking it a step beyond the holidays by joining a movement to cut food waste year-round. She suggests visiting FurtherWithFood.org to learn more. “Through that and additional outreach, we might be able to start to change,” says McBride. Yvette C. Hammett is an environmental writer based in Valrico, Florida. Connect at YvetteHammett28@hotmail.com.

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Christmas BIRD COUNTS Beginning and advanced birders contribute to science while getting fresh winter air

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Christmas Bird Counts there are fewer bird species present, and that gives them a chance to learn at a slower pace, Engel explains. “Most all Christmas Bird Counts welcome new birders,” Engel says. “Compilers of the count can put a beginning birder in touch with someone they can join in their area.” He typically does the Chicago lakefront count, always held on Christmas Day, the Evanston North Shore bird count, held sometime between Christmas and New Year’s Day, and another in southwest Wisconsin. A Waukegan Christmas Bird Count is always held on January 1. Other counts in the region are set annually on select days during the Christmas Bird Count period. “I love being out on Christmas Day on the Chicago lakefront,” Engel says. “It’s very quiet and there are very few people.” Joining others, he counts ducks and gulls on the lake, as well as inland birds such A year-round Chicago area resident, the black-capped chickadee, adds cheer to Christmas Bird Counts.

Photo by Steven D. Bailey

Dark-eyed juncos can be seen on Christmas Bird Counts in the Chicago region.

Photo by Sheryl DeVore

Dressed in warm clothing, birders search the lakefront during a Christmas Bird Count.

Myriad gulls and ducks of different species are counted along Lake Michigan during Christmas Bird Counts.

Photo by Steven D. Bailey

or birdwatchers, Christmas season lasts from December 14 through January 5. That’s when Christmas Bird Counts (CBC) are held throughout the Chicago region, the state, the nation and many other parts of the world. Dressed in layers to keep warm, hundreds of Chicago area residents enjoy this special time of year. They get out in the woods, fields and along the lakefront to share a love for the outdoors and to contribute to science. Those that have led and participated in Christmas Bird Counts over the years say it’s also the perfect chance for beginning birdwatchers to get their feet wet or get good use out of their snow boots to learn about the feathered creatures of winter. In the Chicago region, beginning birders can be overwhelmed by the diversity of birds in May and September, says Josh Engel, a science affiliate at The Field Museum (FieldMuseum.org) who has been attending Christmas Bird Counts since he was a teenager and owns Red Hill Birding (RedHillBirding.com). But in winter, during

Photo by Sheryl DeVore

by Sheryl DeVore

Photo by Ivan Petrov Photo by Steven D. Bailey

as black-capped chickadees and dark-eyed juncos, both commonly seen on Christmas Bird Counts. The chickadee is a year-round bird in the region; juncos spend winters here. The Christmas Bird Count may be the longest-running citizen science survey in the world. It began 120 years ago when Frank Chapman, a scientist and National Audubon Society (Audubon.org) member, suggested counting birds during the holidays instead of hunting them, which was then the norm. Chapman began the first Christmas Bird Count on December 25, 1900. Over the years, 15-mile-wide count circles have been set up in states and countries. Volunteers count every bird they hear or see within 24 hours in their assigned circle. They record data and give it to compilers that send it to the National Audubon Society. When combined with other surveys, the count provides a picture of how the continent’s bird populations have changed in time. Each person, beginner or advanced birder alike, that counts contributes to that data set. Tamima Itani began watching birds in her Chicago backyard several years ago. On Christmas Day 2016, she joined Engel and other experienced birders along the lakefront in Evanston for her first Christmas Bird Count. “While we were waiting for others to arrive, a gull flew by overhead and Josh immediately identified it as a herring gull,” Itani says. “I was bewildered he could do it from such a distance.” She asked him how he knew what it was, and Engel explained the two most common gulls in winter in the area are ring-billed gulls and herring gulls, and the larger ones are herring gulls. “Christmas Bird Counts can be very eye-opening to beginning birders,” Engel says. They learn that more than one species of gulls exists, that they’re not all just seagulls, and that many kinds of ducks besides mallards, such as mergansers, can be found in open water. Jeff Aufmann, a Cary resident who compiles the McHenry County Christmas Bird Count, says birders can see robins and bluebirds during the count. “People often don’t believe you,” he says. But those visiting trees and shrubs with lots of berries often find these birds on Christmas Bird Counts,” he says.

Engel notes, “We always have some crazy bird show up.” Once while counting birds on Navy Pier in Chicago, he noticed some sparrows eating crumbs. “Strutting by the sparrows was an ovenbird,” Engel recalls. “That time of year, an ovenbird should be in Belize or Costa Rica. They winter in a tropical environment. They’re insectivores, they eat exclusively insects.” Those that don’t known an ovenbird from a sparrow can help on bird counts by volunteering to serve as a scribe, says Aufmann. “A lot of people are shy to sign up,” he says. “But they don’t have to know all the birds. If they want to learn, they can just tag along and take notes.” And though some hardcore birders like Aufmann get up before dawn to search for owls and continue through the whole day counting birds until dark, it doesn’t have to be as rigorous as that. “You can just cruise through neighborhoods and see what’s at people’s bird feeders. You don’t have to go out the whole day if you don’t want,” he says. Engel says those that count birds are documenting rises and declines in certain species. “Overall, the trend is showing birds are wintering farther and farther north all the time,” he says. “It’s a sign of a warming climate, and the long-term data gathered on the Christmas Bird Counts can document that.” Christmas Bird Counts also have documented the fall and subsequent rise in population of bald eagles, which were once on the federally endangered species list. The banning of DDT helped the eagles and populations of other birds of prey bounce back. Birders from northern and central Illinois participate in a northern Illinois Christmas Bird Count, scanning a lake for some open water and ducks.

Those who know where to look can find robins on Christmas bird counts in the Chicago region.

Join a Christmas Bird Count

Christmas Bird Counts are scheduled from December 14 through January 5, 2020, in the Chicago region. For a list of counts and contact information, visit IllinoisBirds.org/ new-christmas-bird-count-cbc-map.

Here are some tips to enjoy the count: n Dress in layers for warmth. n Wear sturdy boots. n Bring water and snacks. n Be on time and at the designated place assigned by the compiler. n Bring a birding book, notebook and pen. n Don’t be afraid to ask questions or point out a bird for identification. After the count, birders meet at homes or restaurants to reveal what they documented. “We have fun talking about what we saw, having some snacks and a couple of beers,” Aufmann says. Engel says he enjoys birding and chatting with people he hasn’t seen since the last CBC, as well as meeting new birders. “The CBC is a great chance to meet other like-minded people and to enjoy a wonderful wintertime tradition,” he says. “It’s a great chance to force yourself to get outside. I never regret it, no matter how cold I get.” Sheryl DeVore has written six books on science, health and nature. She also writes nature, health and environment stories for national and regional publications. December 2019

Cultivating

THE NEXT GENERATION OF

by Ellicia Sanchez

n this era of Internet and social media, the younger generation is facing the realization that environmental concerns illuminated by the media will one day be their responsibility to solve. As the planetary climate crisis reaches new levels of complexity, employers in all industries are recognizing the need for specifically educated professionals to combat accumulating ecological issues. In both the nonprofit sector and private business, there is increased urgency for staff well-versed in conservation science. Collegiate academic institutions observe the same developing pattern in environmental studies and science departments. Such programs prepare students for positions that require comprehensive knowledge of sustainability, biology and political science. When Rick DiMaio first noticed alarming variations in the climate, he was working as a flight operations meteorologist at United Airlines during the late 1980s. As a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he witnessed firsthand how increasing temperatures 42

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Infrastructure such as Elmhurst College’s green roof educates students about tangible solutions to common environmental problems, from storm runoff management to energy efficiency. negatively affected flight procedures at the airport. DiMaio wanted to know more about why this was happening and how changing weather patterns influence humanity’s day-to-day practices. “I realized it was time to adapt and mitigate,” says DiMaio. After spending time working in Chicago TV broadcast media, he wanted an outlet where he could incorporate more teachable moments about the rapidly changing climate. In 1992, he began a career in environmental education at Columbia College Chicago (Colum.edu) filling in for meteorologist Tom Skilling. This catalyzed his journey as a professor of climate change and meteorology. “Corporations everywhere are trying to learn how to work within the ramifications of the environment. When learning how to do so early on, it saves money on the bottom line. School administrations are recognizing this,” explains DiMaio. Whatever the industry, there are incentives to operate in an ecologically responsible manner. Colleges and universities strive to meet the demands of the constantly evolving job

market. Through educating pupils in the principles of sustainability, environmental studies and science departments satisfy those demands. At Columbia College Chicago, DiMaio wanted to use his experience as a meteorologist to equip students with the skills necessary to navigate this relatively new territory. He thinks it is important that environmental science instructors are able formulate their curricula through the lens of their specific discipline. “It’s not just about teaching the science behind the environmental issues, but the real-life implications of how it will influence our economy and lifestyle,” DiMaio emphasizes. In September, Elmhurst College (Elmhurst.edu) welcomed the first class of students participating in the new environmental studies program. Upon receiving a grant from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations (AVDF.org), faculty began formulating a curriculum. Dr. Katrina Sifferd, interim acting director of the program, hopes to use her background in law and philosophy to help develop fresh

Photo courtesy of Elmhurst College

Conservationists

Photo courtesy of Elmhurst College

coursework. “We currently offer two different tracks: a policy-based major, as well as a science-based major. We’re also working on an environmental humanities minor,” notes Sifferd. She is looking forward to senior capstone classes, in which students from both tracks will collaborate with an off-campus nonprofit or company to tackle a real-world environmental issue. “We’re so excited to see our students use the tools they’ve acquired in their various courses to offer a solution,” says Sifferd. Sifferd notes that youth today exhibit a heightened concern regarding environmental issues compared with past generations. “This is about to become a problem that’s touching every avenue of human existence,” she states. It’s a trend seen at universities everywhere. Dr. Liam Heneghan, professor of environmental science and studies at DePaul University (DePaul.edu), also observes that his students enter the classroom quite enlightened when it comes to matters of conservation. He explains, “None of the major problems are unfamiliar to them. They come preequipped with a knowledge of the crisis.” Heneghan has taught environmental studies at the collegiate level since 1994. He claims that 20 years ago, the concept of environmental science was much more exotic. Now, his classes are “ripped straight from the

headlines.” Heneghan peruses myriad news sources every day and uses what he finds in the classroom. He believes the contemporary nature of the coursework influences students to join the environmental sector. Media attention to the global crisis is another avenue that drives students to pursue the conservation movement academically and professionally. Sifferd credits teenage activists for empowering their peers to involve themselves in the world of conservation. “I think someone like Greta Thunberg has made such a huge impact on the awareness of young people in their ability to facilitate change,” she explains. The next step for many of these aspiring activists is fine-tuning their skills in the classroom. In response to mounting pressure to enact “green” business practices, companies are seeking college graduates familiar with the tenets of sustainability. When institutions of higher education offer degrees in conservation science, their students are introduced to largely untapped sectors of the job market. In order to adequately defend the planet, environmentalists must become adept in these skills early in their careers. The transformation of becoming an accomplished activist begins on the college campus. Universities that offer programs dedicated to the natural sciences are creating a path for the next era of great environmental advocates. Not only will

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these individuals understand the complex nuances behind society’s changing ecological needs, they will be equipped with the knowledge to solve them. Ellicia Sanchez is a staff member with Natural Awakenings Chicago and The Mike Nowak Show, and a graduate of the Loyola University Chicago Institute of Environmental Sustainability. Contact her at Ellicia. Sanchez@gmail.com.

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ADVERTORIAL December 2019

Three Simple Ways to Reduce Holiday Stress by Briana Bragg

nervous system and reduce it. Just noticing Season’s greetings—laughter, delicious food and fond them can provide huge insight and even memories—promote good cheer, togetherness and sharing some relief. that will last a lifetime. Or so the advertisements go. We roll from a holiday of thanksgiving and gratitude to one of giving STEP 2: Mindful Breathing gifts to one of setting goals for the year ahead. Life must be When stress kicks in, the hormones cortisol perfect. and adrenaline are pumped through the

ut a totally stress-free holiday season is unattainable, and good cheer is not the feeling many people experience this time of year. Instead, feelings of sadness, additional pressure and dread set in. For them, it can be a lonely time of year, depending on how many close friends or family live in the area. For others, the pressure of cooking, shopping, gift-giving, traveling and family drama may cloud the “reason for the season”. There’s uncle Bill, who just can’t keep his mouth quiet about politics; and aunt Mary, who insists on putting in her two cents even if the opinions aren’t welcome. This begs the question of why we put so much pressure on ourselves this time of year. There is hope for combating holiday stress. Here are some simple, yet effective 44

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ways to reduce it as we move through the holidays.

STEP 1: Identify Stress Triggers One mindfulness technique is becoming aware of the reactions happening within the body. Take notice of a racing heart, sweaty palms, anxious thoughts, headaches, fatigue, upset stomach, irritability and muscle tension. These are a few of the ways that stress shows up. When uncle Bill starts spouting off about politics and our heart feels like it is pounding, this is a stress trigger. When thoughts become negative or anxious, this is a stress trigger. Once we become aware of stress triggers, specific techniques can be used to calm the central

body, known as the “fight-or-flight” response. Deep, abdominal breathing pauses the flooding of these two hormones and calms the central nervous system. Inhale and exhale through the nose, which speaks directly to the central nervous system, feeling the air fully fill the lungs. On the inhale, focus on the abdomen rising; on the exhale, focus on the abdomen falling. Repeat 10 times for immediate relief and step away if needed, to a quiet place.

STEP 3: Refocus the Mind Once stress is triggered within the body, racing negative thoughts may begin to take over. Creating a distraction from the situation at hand is a mindfulness technique that can be used anywhere at any time— not necessarily distracting the person

responsible for the situation, but creating a diversion within the mind, known as a refocusing technique. Instead of playing the conversation over and over, reinforcing the stress trigger, try this.

The Balloon Technique:

n A repeating negative thought can be hard to dispel. With closed eyes, see yourself holding the string of a green balloon, the balloon floating just above your head. n Now visualize the thought to the left of the balloon and see yourself as an observer instead of the judger of the thought. n Take the thought and put it inside the green balloon.

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n Inhale and exhale. On the exhale, release the string of the green balloon and watch the balloon and the thought float high into the sky, higher, higher, until both the balloon and thought are gone. n Inhale and exhale. n Repeat if necessary. Briana Bragg is a speaker, author and coach specializing in meditation and mindfulness. She is the founder of Vacation of the Mind, a guided meditation company. For more information, email Briana@VacationOfTheMind. com or visit VacationOfTheMind.com.

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What’s good for muscles is good for bones. ~Susie Hathaway

BEYOND CALCIUM Full-Spectrum Bone Health by Marlaina Donato

ur bones are the Osteoporosis can be facing a high risk of fracture from this debilitating foundation that prevented, and I’ve condition. supports our seen many patients Fortunately, it’s never bodies and the quality of our lives. Unlike the brick reverse osteoporosis. too early or too late to do right by our bones. and mortar and bedrock ~Leat Kuzniar “Osteoporosis can be of a building, the human prevented, and I’ve seen skeletal system is living tissue that breaks down and rebuilds; many patients reverse osteoporosis,” this constant remodeling demands much says Leat Kuzniar, a Nutley, New Jersey, more than just taking an obligatory naturopath. “It becomes more difficult calcium supplement. after menopause and if the bone density Compromised bone health is most is very low, but we can always make some often associated with postmenopausal improvements in bone health. We need women, but it can also impact men and to assess diet, exercise, gastrointestinal health, hormones, medications, pH and younger adults. Genetics, hormonal even stress levels.” changes and nutritional deficiencies can all foster bone loss. The National OsSynergy of Vitamins teoporosis Foundation reports that 44 and Minerals million Americans have low bone density Walter Willett, M.D., chairman of the Deand 10 million suffer from osteoporosis,

partment of Nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, argues that the daily recommended 1,000-to1,200 milligrams of calcium is based on inadequate studies, and advises half that amount. Other minerals may play an equally critical role. The body robs calcium from the bones when blood levels of this vital mineral fall too low; but taking a calcium supplement—especially without co-nutrients—can increase fracture risk. “Calcium supplementation is complex; more isn’t better. Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption, and vitamin K2 is essential for getting that calcium to your bones and keeping it out of your arteries,” Kuzniar says. Magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and potassium are also allies in calcium metabolism. Vitamin C, too, is a key player in bone health, promoting collagen synthesis. Nutrient absorption relies on integrity of gut health, so opting for probiotics is a wise choice across the board.

Bone Up on Superfoods Optimally, the quest for stronger bones begins with a nutrient-dense diet. “Plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, protein and some fats create a physiology in the body to support optimal bone health. Avoiding too much sodium and animal protein also helps,” says Mary Jane Detroyer, a New York City-based nutritionist and certified dietitian. She underscores the importance of mineral-packed kale, collards, mustard greens, bok choy and broccoli, but warns against oxalateladen spinach and chard, which inhibit calcium absorption. “Other calcium-rich foods like tofu, edamame, yogurt, kefir and cheese are also good, as well as milk substitutes fortified with calcium.” Omega-3-rich chia seeds, walnuts and other tree nuts are heavy hitters that boost both calcium absorption and collagen production essential for bone strength.

The nitrogen in our DNA, the calcium in our teeth, the iron in our blood, the carbon in our apple pies were made in the interiors of collapsing stars. We are made of starstuff. ~Carl Sagan 46

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healing ways

A 2016 Brazilian study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that a diet with excessive sweets and caffeinated beverages negatively impacts bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Soda consumption also amps up the risk of fractures. An analysis of female subjects spanning 30 years published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2014 reveals a 14 percent increased risk for fractures with each daily serving of soda, including diet beverages.

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Get Moving High-impact activities like jumping rope and jogging build strong bones in our youth, but as we age, low-impact exercise is easier on the joints. Mayo Clinic recommendations include walking, gardening, dancing, stair-climbing and elliptical training. Resistance also yields significant results. A 2018 Korean study published in the journal EnM reveals that exercise employing free weights, weight machines and elastic bands increases muscle and bone mass in both women and men. American College of Sports Medicinecertified personal trainer Susie Hathaway, in Fairfield, Iowa, explains why. “What’s good for muscles is good for bones. When a muscle contracts, it gives a beneficial pull on the adjacent bones, stimulating the bone-building cells to be more active.” Hathaway highlights safety and the importance of bearing weight on the feet. “Gravity is important for bone health. Weight-bearing aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking, provides a mild stimulus for your bones and helps slow down bone loss.” Kuzniar reminds us that with the right care, our bones can carry us through life. “Once we know what factors are at play in the patient, we can address the underlying causes.”

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Many people have found that a regular breathing practice has helped them increase energy and decrease anxiety.

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES ISSUE

Coming Next Month

Healthy Immune System Plus: Age-Defying Habits

~Rachael Walter

INHALING THE JOY OF LIFE

Conscious Breathwork

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by Marlaina Donato

ur first breath is instinctual and belly-deep, but as we grow into life, everyday stress and trauma can bring us into the shallows. Mindful breathing can help guide our breath back to its original, healthy rhythm. Both the brain and organs benefit from increased oxygen, and the vagus nerve that connects the two—prompted by changes in the body’s pH levels—releases acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter responsible for lowering heart rate. Breathwork can improve vagal tone, a major component in a wide range of conditions like depression, pain syndromes, sleep disturbances, anxiety disorders and chronic inflammation. A 2016 study by the Medical University of South Carolina published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine shows a lower number of proteins associated with inflammation in the saliva of participants that employed breathing exercises. A study that appeared in the journal Psychophysiology in 2015 found that 20 minutes of mindful breathing at bedtime fostered a good night’s rest for people with insomnia.

Breathing Breaks

From traditional rebirthing techniques using circular breathing to Middendorf Breath Work for somatic awareness, there are many styles of conscious breathing. The gentler approaches best suit everyday needs and taking a breathing break can actually provide more refreshment than one featuring coffee. “Many people have found that a regular breathing practice has helped them increase energy and decrease anxiety. It is a powerful tool to reset the nervous system when we’re overwhelmed and stressed,” says Somatic Breath Therapy (SBT) practitioner Rachael Walter, owner of Breathe-HereNow, in Keene, New Hampshire. Like many forms of breathwork, SBT bridges the chasm between mind and body. “Conscious breathing can also help people access and understand their emotions,” notes Walter. Pranayama, an ancient technique of yoga that focuses on breath control and employs alternate nostril breathing, can be performed while lying down, seated or on the yoga mat. Kundalini yoga teacher Melissa Crowder, owner of 4 States Yoga, in

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JANUARY

Joplin, Missouri, advises students to start out slowly, three to six minutes a day, and then work up to a longer practice. “Alternate nostril breathing is a great practice for everyone. As little as six minutes of yogic breathing, as needed, can make a profound difference in decreasing pain and stress,” she says.

and in turn, presses upon the stomach and helps to churn the gastric juices. For this reason, it can aid earlier stages of digestion.” When used in conjunction with other modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy, diaphragmatic breathing might be beneficial for irritable bowel syndrome.

Belly Benefits

Breathing Into Feelings

The American Lung Association recommends a variety of exercises, including diaphragmatic (belly) breathing, for conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Engaging the diaphragm is key in breathing to fullest capacity. Walter explains, “An open, healthy breath is one in which we use the diaphragm to initiate the breath, followed by the belly expanding and the breath moving into the chest.” Most of us unconsciously fall into shallow and sometimes self-conscious breathing patterns at an early age. “During my training, I read that by age 6, we pick up on cues telling us to tuck in our tummies. This simple, bad habit begins a cascade of physiological responses. Upper chest breathing can create anxiety symptoms and poor digestion,” explains Colleen Breeckner, owner of Colleen Lila Yoga, in New York City. “Diaphragmatic breathing causes the diaphragm to become flat and wide,

The depth and quality of the breath can help us to become aware of emotional states that include “holding patterns”. “Conscious breathing is a doorway into deep meditation, which can help alleviate anger and insecurities. It can also be helpful in dropping addictions,” says Crowder. “Linking pranayama with physical movement [asanas] helps to release tension and emotions that can be held in the body’s soft tissues.” Breeckner agrees, “Developing this awareness can help us to move unpleasant and stuck emotions through the body.” Well-being can be just a breath away, says Walter. “When we open up our breath, we open ourselves to a fuller experience of being human. It has the capacity to bring us into the present moment to access our joy and our life’s purpose.” Marlaina Donato is an author and a composer. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

Noteworthy Breathwork Styles Clarity Breathwork: Developed from the groundwork of Leonard Orr, with a focus on accessing the subconscious mind for self-awareness Holotropic Breathwork: Developed by psychiatrist Stanislav Grof, M.D., and his wife Christina and employs deep, rapid breathing to initiate an altered state of consciousness; training in the Grof method is required Integral Breath Therapy: Gentle technique for an altered state of consciousness that works with the body’s natural healing capacity Middendorf Breath Work: Named after German-born Ilse Middendorf, a gentle technique that does not include forcing the breath to promote healing Rebirthing Breathwork: Pioneering and well-known form of breathwork that was also developed by Orr with a focus on releasing unconscious energy blocks imprinted during the birth process Shamanic Breathwork: Uses specific breathing methods, chakras or energy centers, music and movement to overcome emotional blocks for deep-level healing Transformational Breath: Developed by Dr. Judith Kravitz using uninterrupted breathing, Kundalini yoga and other elements of physical and energetic healing; recommended by Dr. Christine Northrup and Dr. Deepak Chopra

Go-to Breathing Exercises From Rachael Walter: The Three-Breath Sigh Place one hand on your lower belly and the other on your chest. Breathing in through your nose, let your breath start in the belly and move up to the chest. Then exhale through your mouth while making an audible sighing sound. Repeat two more times. The Four-Eight Relaxing Breath Place one hand on your lower belly and the other on your chest. Using a belly breath, inhale to the count of four and exhale to the count of eight, making your exhale twice as long as your inhale to facilitate relaxation. Feel free to play with how fast or slow you count to find a comfortable breathing pace. Repeat for six to 10 times as needed. Breath Walk This is an excellent exercise to do while at work, school or a public place to give your nervous system a break, even when the world is crazy-busy around you. Walk at a slightly slower pace than normal and breathe in for one step; breathe out for the next step, counting three or four for each breath/step. Continue as you walk, being mindful of your breath, counting and surroundings.

For further inquiry, Melissa Crowder recommends these Kundalini yoga breaths: Shabad Kriya for promoting deep restful sleep Sitali Pranayama for lowering a fever or cooling off a hot temper Breath of Fire for improved brain circulation, stimulating digestion and weight control Right nostril breathing for afternoon slumps Left nostril breathing to quiet mind chatter at bedtime December 2019

A New Generation Spurs Change

Safe and Eco-Smart Toys by Julie Peterson

he pet aisles are so full of squeaking, plush and colorful toys it can make a dog or cat parent’s head spin like a Frisbee. Add blinking lights, flavors, promises of higher intelligence or cleaner teeth; then toss in concerns about sustainably sourced materials, potentially toxic ingredients and varying degrees of quality. The choices are complex. It would be nice to look for that gold seal of approval from the Pet Toy Regulatory Agency. But don’t bother: There is no such thing. It’s all up to the consumer to figure it out.

The Problem Is Real

Concern regarding toxicants in children’s toys and the realization that they posed a risk of chemical exposure led to regulatory protections. “Similar safeguards do not exist for pets, even though they exhibit similar chewing and mouthing behaviors,” says Philip N. Smith, Ph.D., associate professor of terrestrial ecotoxicology at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. “Owner education is key to limiting unintentional chemical exposure.” According to a 2013 study co-authored by Smith and published in the journal 50

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Chemosphere, common endocrine-disrupting chemical toxins in plastics can enter a dog’s body through saliva. Concentrations of leachable chemicals can increase in older, degraded toys, according to the National Institutes of Health. For anyone that has ever had a pet destroy a toy faster than it takes to calculate the cost per second, durable construction may be the highest concern. After all, if the toy is vigorously ripped to shreds, pieces may be swallowed. The most immediate issue becomes intestinal blockage. This is a common problem for cats and dogs with a propensity to eat garbage, plants and holiday decorations. But when we spend good money on actual toys, we would like to think that it won’t lead to surgery. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee. Poorly constructed toys have required many pet owners to watch for the parts to pass through the animal or, worse yet, make a trip to the vet. Even if a toy seems sturdy, it’s best to observe the animal with the toy. Charlotte Easterling, a graphic designer in Madison, Wisconsin, learned this from her

Shopping for Safety

Experts offer some guidelines for ways consumers can choose harmless toys: 4 Be suspicious of toys manufactured overseas or cheap ones made in the U.S. 4 Contact the manufacturer and ask if toys contain phthalates, BPA, arsenic, bromine, chemical dyes, chromium or formaldehyde. 4 Look for toys made with ingredients from nature (hemp, leather or wool). 4 Find a pet supply store that has natural, safe and sustainably sourced products. 4 Inspect toys periodically for loose parts and watch the pet with new toys. 4 If a pet plays with a toy and then acts oddly, contact the vet. Julie Peterson writes from rural Wisconsin. Connect at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

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Perfect Pet Presents

The American Pet Products Association (APPA) National Pet Owners Survey provides insight into the demographics, buying habits and other traits of dog, cat, bird, small animal, reptile, fish and horse owners. The 2019-2020 survey shows that about 85 million U.S. homes, or 67 percent, include a pet. This leads to a lot of money flowing into the pet toy and care community. Annually, dog owners spend about $124 and cat owners spend about $89 on treats and toys. The survey also indicates that Millennials are the largest pet-owning demographic. “The pet care community is doing a great job of meeting the demands of a new generation by offering a range of products made from sustainable, recycled and upcycled materials,” says Steve King, CEO of APPA, in Stamford, Connecticut. King notes it’s expected that as Gen Z pet owners begin to assert themselves in the marketplace, we will see more products based on sustainability and transparency.

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cat, Hazel, who choked on a common cat toy. “She was playing with a glitter ball and then started meowing kind of frantically, scrambling around and pawing at her face. I jumped up and pulled the ball out of her mouth,” recalls Easterling. Hazel only gets big glitter balls these days.

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into the bloodstream through a condition called “leaky gut syndrome,” which often leads to more serious conditions like Crohn’s Disease, colitis, and other autoimmune disorders.

Environmental irritants also affect digestion.

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The environment can also produce irritation and inflammation. Everyday, airborne toxins — perfumes, cleaning products, smoke, automotive exhaust, indoor dust, and springtime pollen— find their way into our bloodstream (in less than 20 seconds!) and cause digestive organs to work overtime. A runny nose, itchy eyes, and red and blotchy skin often result in a trip to the allergist, when a digestive imbalance may be contributing.

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December 2019

calendar of events SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1 World Aids Day

Malcolm Smith Healer – Dec 1-3. By appt only. $90/ session. The Edgar Cayce Holistic Center and Bookstore, 259 E Central Rd, Des Plaines. For appt, Julie: 847-299-6535 or AREChicagoCenter@gmail.com. HolisticCenterChicago.com. Christian Science Lecture – 3-4pm. Learn to Pray and Heal (A Spiritual Adventure) with Nate Frederick. Chicago Lake Shore Hotel, 4900 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago. CSMetroChicago.org.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 2

See NAChicago.com for latest events.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3

Int’l Day of Persons with Disabilities Go Green Highland Park Monthly Meeting – 6:30pm. 1st Tues. If you want to be involved, but can’t attend our meetings, please contact us. You can also check out our website to stay up to date on upcoming activities and get information on how to live more sustainably. Curt’s Cafe, 1766 Second St, Highland Park. GoGreenHP.com.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4 Green Drinks McHenry County – 5-7pm. 1st Wed. Come talk about “greening” the future with others. Special presentations each month on a timely environmental topic or green business. Duke’s Alehouse & Kitchen, 110 N Main St, Crystal Lake. GreenDrinks.org/IL/Crystal Lake. Healthy Skin – 5:30-6:30pm. With Dr Kalli. Learn about the body’s largest organ, and learn to support it from the inside out, from head to toe. Free. Fruitful Yield, 168 E Golf Rd, Schaumburg. 847-882-2999. FruitfulYield.com.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5 Healthy Bones and Beyond – 5:30pm. An informative and educational talk on the benefits of calcium beyond bone health. Mark Mallette, educator and representative from Jarrow formulas, will host the discussion and answer questions on calcium supplementation. Free. Fruitful Yield, 7230 W North Ave, Elmwood Park. 708-395-7880. FruitfulYield.com.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6

Nat’l Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women Glo Skin Beauty Makeup Event – 11am-3pm. Complimentary makeovers by a Glo professional makeup artist. 15% off all Glo skin beauty products plus free brushes, oils and more gifts with purchase. Antalee Wellness Spa, 1834-36 Glenview Rd, Glenview. RSVP by Dec 4: 847-486-1130 or Antalee.com. Mineral Fusion – Dec 6 & 7. 11am-4pm. Looking for a cleaner, more natural makeup line? Look no more. Nourishing, high-performance cosmetics that are clean and EWG certified. Make-up artists offering on-site consultations. Fruitful Yield, 155 N Randall Rd, Batavia. 630-897-3490. FruitfulYield.com.

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Healthy Skin – 5:30-6:30pm. With Dr Kalli. Learn about the body’s largest organ, and learn to support it from the inside out, from head to toe. Free. Fruitful Yield, 425 N La Grange Rd, La Grange Park. 708-788-9103. FruitfulYield.com. Shinrin-Yoku Free Friday – 5:30-6:30pm. Enjoy an introductory Shinrin-yoku walk guided by a Certified Forest Therapy guide to discover this restorative practice that emphasizes soaking in the sounds, scents and sights of nature for slowing the body, stilling the mind and opening the heart. Sindt Woods, 912 Honorary Sindt Memorial Ct, Naperville. Pre-registration required: TheResiliencyInstitute.net.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7 Faith in Place Winter Farmers’ Market – 9am1pm. Market offers meat, eggs, honey, salsa, jam, bread, pastries, tea, seasonally available produce and more. Grace Lutheran Church and School, 7300 Division St, River Forest. FaithInPlace.org. Divine Love: Rumi and Kabir – 9am-4:30pm. Andrew Harvey, a world-renown scholar of Rumi’s work, will discuss his latest release, Turn me to Gold: 108 poems of Kabir. Experience 3 life-changing practices from the core of the Hindu and Sufi traditions. CEUs available. $110. Infinity Foundation, 1280 Old Skokie Rd, Highland Park. 847-831-8828. InfinityFoundation.org. Pre-Certification EFT Workshop – 9:30am-5pm. Experience and learn EFT basics. Counts as day 1 or day 2 of 12 hrs required for certification. Full certification requires 2 full days plus practice sessions. Class for someone new to EFT and for professionals. $95. Heaven Meets Earth Yoga, 2746 Central St, Evanston. 847-475-1500. EFT-Tom.com. Letting Go of Holiday Stressors – 10, 11am, 12pm. Don’t let holiday stress drain your energy, joy and motivation. De-stress old reactions so you can reclaim vitality and remember and choose what is important to you. $25. Inspired Living, 350 Pfingsten Rd, Ste 109, Northbrook. Preregistration required: Tinyurl.com/Holiday-Stressors Forest Therapy Wellness Walk: Winter – 1011:30am. Take time to improve your health, reduce your stress during the busy holiday season, and experience pleasure while on a guided leisurely walk in nature on the farm. We may warm up by the fire, or end inside for some nature treats. $25/walk, $80/ series of 4. The Resiliency Institute, 10S404 Knoch Knolls Rd, Naperville. 630-477-9910. Pre-registration required by Nov 27: TheResiliencyInstitute.net. Taste and Learn Workshop – 11am-12pm. Glutenfree, dairy-free and low-glycemic recipes that are easy enough to make at home. Featuring pumpkin cheesecake and chocolate mint cookies. With Sharyn Tondu. Free. Fruitful Yield, 229 W Roosevelt Rd, Lombard. 630-629-9242. FruitfulYield.com. Angel Day – 1-5pm. Join us for a day of Angelic connection with 3 practitioners. $55/nonmember, $50/member. Private sessions also available by appointment only. The Edgar Cayce Holistic Center and Bookstore, 259 E Central Rd, Des Plaines. 847-299-6535. HolisticCenterChicago.com. Road to the Sky – Dec 7 & 8. 7pm. Presented by Aerial Dance Chicago. An intimate evening of short dance works created by 10 of Chicago’s celebrated choreographers. $25-$30. Aerial Dance Chicago, 4028 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago. AerialDanceChicago.org.

30 Calendar

There’s always something to do at

NAChicago.com/calendar SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8 Bodhi Day (Zen Buddhism)

The Spiritual Forum – 10am. We are everyday people exploring spiritual themes in our everyday lives. Each gathering is recorded as a podcast, but you can come and just listen if you want. A meditation group meets at 9am and A Course in Miracles group meets at 11:30am. The Patty Turner Center, 375 Elm St, Deerfield. TheSpiritualForum.org. Crystal Ranch Holistic & Energy Expo – 10am5pm. Includes more than 80 vendors, 27 speakers and workshops on Akashic readings, reiki, crystals, ceremonial drums, aura photos, New Age books and oracle cards, naturopathy, chiropractic, essential oils, supplements, handmade healing crystal and mineral jewelry, tarot and angel readings, DNA activations, holistic bath and body products, CBD, life coaching, henna, channeling, medical intuitives, massage, qigong, hypnosis and intuitive art readings. $7/online, $10/door, free/kids under 12. Clarion Inn Elmhurst-Oakbrook, 933 S Riverside Dr, Elmhurst. Tinyurl.com/y6hpr7yz.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9 Beginning Zen Shiatsu – Dec 9-13. 10am-5pm. Learn how to give a basic 1-hr shiatsu treatment that you can share with friends and family. Course is a stand-alone offering; also the first 30 hrs of our complete shiatsu certification programs. $450 plus books. Zen Shiatsu Chicago, 825A Chicago Ave, Evanston. 847-864-1130. ZenShiatsuChicago.org. From Grieving to Finding Meaning – 7-9pm. David Kessler, an expert on grief, will discuss his groundbreaking new work from the recent release, Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief. Get informed about the insights, collective wisdom and powerful tools to help those experiencing loss. $35. Infinity Foundation, 1280 Old Skokie Rd, Highland Park. 847-831-8828. InfinityFoundation.org.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10 Int’l Human Rights Day

Green Drinks Libertyville – 6:30pm. 2nd Tues. Like-minded people meet to discuss issues of environmental importance and build awareness. O’Toole’s Pub, 412 N Milwaukee Ave, Libertyville. For more info: Facebook.com/greendrinkslibertyville or GreenDrinks.org.

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11 Healthy Skin – 5:30-6:30pm. With Dr Kalli. Learn about the body’s largest organ, and learn to support it from the inside out, from head to toe. Free. Fruitful Yield, 155 N Randall Rd, Batavia. 630-897-3490. FruitfulYield.com.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12 See NAChicago.com for latest events.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13 Women Wellness Professionals – 10-11:30am. A kind space for networking, sharing and mutually supporting yourself and others in the healing profession. Join the Dec meeting to be part of this group co-creating our next steps moving forward. Guided Path Psychological Services, 201 E Dundee Rd, Palatine. Sarah Karnes: 262-745-8362. Meetup. com/Spiritual-Nourishment-Chicagoland. Psychic Holistic Fair Weekend at Enlightened Balance – Dec 13-15. 10am-5pm, Fri; 9am-6pm, Sat; 9am-4pm, Sun. Readings, body balancing, artist trunk shows, classes. Free to enter; classes starting at $10, private sessions starting at $20. Enlightened Balance Chakra Spa, 30 N Williams St, Brink Street Market, Ste F, Crystal Lake. 815-307-1180. EnlightenedBalance.com. “Get Your Gift On!”: A Live Instagram Event – 1pm. To watch, simply go to our Instagram@Fruitful Yield page for our live stream at our very own Fruitful Yield store. FruitfulYield.com. Healthy Skin – 5:30-6:30pm. With Dr Kalli. Learn about the body’s largest organ, and learn to support it from the inside out, from head to toe. Free. Fruitful Yield, 360 Randall Rd, South Elgin. 847-8880100. FruitfulYield.com.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14 Healthy Style Wellness Workshop – 9-11am. Come for a state-of-the-art spinal assessment and functional movements with Dr Dave Herlihy and stay for a workout. Free. 1622 E Algonquin Rd, Unit D1, 2nd Fl, within Iso Fitness, Schaumburg. GetFitEGV.com. Forest Therapy Wellness Walk: Winter – 1011:30am. Take time to improve your health, reduce your stress during the busy holiday season, and experience pleasure while on a guided leisurely walk in nature on the farm. We may warm up by the fire, or end inside for some nature treats. $25/walk, $80/ series of 4. The Resiliency Institute, 10S404 Knoch Knolls Rd, Naperville. 630-477-9910. Pre-registration required by Nov 27: TheResiliencyInstitute.net. Eminence Organics Skin Care Event – 10am1pm. Join an Eminence Organic Skincare Trainer and educator. Complimentary product application and product knowledge. Exclusive full-size gifts with purchase and discounts on products. Antalee Wellness Spa, 1834-36 Glenview Rd, Glenview. 847-486-1130. Antalee.com. Chicago IANDS – 2-5pm. Support/study/resource forum for near-death, out-of-body and spiritual experiences, losses. Guest speaker: Yvonne Kason, MD, 4 NDEs, author, dramatic plane crash in the Arctic, from Toronto. $20 donation. Evanston Hospital, Frank Auditorium, 2650 Ridge Ave, Evanston. 847-251-5758. ChicagoIANDS.org. Root Chakra Crystal Meditation & Sound Journey – 7-9pm. Clearing this chakra can create a sense of solidness and stability and provides a foundation

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for higher chakra work. The holiday season can be challenging and this grounding work can help. Each participant will use a Red Jasper root chakra crystal. Be guided through a Root Chakra-Clearing Meditation leading into a unique Sound Journey. $40/ day of, $33/advance. Soul Energy, 3323 N Pulaski, Chicago. 773-609-3466. SoulEnergyWeb.com.

Practical Self-Care for Kinder Holidays – 7-8:30pm. Experience meditation, dialog and tangible actions for a more compassionate and loving relationship with yourself: body, mind and spirit. Donation. Inner Balance, 350 Pfingsten Rd, Ste 107, Northbrook. Sarah Karnes: 262-745-8362. Meetup. com/Inner-Balance-Meditation.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21

The Spiritual Forum – 10am. We are everyday people exploring spiritual themes in our everyday lives. Each gathering is recorded as a podcast, but you can come and just listen if you want. A meditation group meets at 9am and A Course in Miracles group meets at 11:30am. The Patty Turner Center, 375 Elm St, Deerfield. TheSpiritualForum.org. Wild Mother-Daughter Circle – 11am-12:30pm. Cultivate a shared experience between mother (female caregiver) and daughter to nurture bonding and connection while deepening your relationship. Per mother-daughter pair: $30/1 circle, $75/3 circles. The Resiliency Institute, 10S404 Knoch Knolls Rd, Naperville. 630-477-9910. Pre-registration required: TheResiliencyInstitute.net. Wild Woman Project Circle – 2-4:30pm. Participate in a gathering of women where the focus is on taking time to support yourself and being supported by other women. The Wild Woman Project is a world-wide movement of circles, spiritual gatherings, during the new moon. $25/circle, $65/3 circles. The Resiliency Institute, 10S404 Knoch Knolls Rd, Naperville. 630-477-9910. Pre-registration required: TheResiliencyInstitute.net.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16

See NAChicago.com for latest events.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17 Hacking Your Health Meet-Up – 6:30-8pm. Dry Skin Solutions. Special guest presenter Elizabeth Anthony Gronert will discuss tips for improving health using wellness strategies. Free. Purple Sprout Cafe and Juice Bar, 341 E Dundee Rd, Wheeling. Tinyurl.com/tno48ak.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18 Int’l Migrants Day

Complimentary Functional Medicine Informative Presentation – 6-7:30pm. Our providers will give an overview of the therapies offered at thriveMD, as well as explain what sets us apart from traditional medicine and how functional medicine can improve your health. thriveMD, 1355 Remington Rd, Ste I, Schaumburg. 312-600-5070. thriveMD.com. Acupuncture & Reiki Relaxation Hour – 7-8:30pm. Take time to chill out and breathe deep. Join us for a mini acupuncture session designed to provide relaxation and deepen your calm, learn a reiki meditation, and experience a mini reiki session. Calandra Center for Health and Wellness, 47 W Polk St, Ste M-5, Chicago. 312-796-3965. CalandraAcupuncture.com.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19 Mineral Fusion – Dec 20 & 21. 11am-4pm. Looking for a cleaner, more natural makeup line? Look no more. Nourishing, high-performance cosmetics that are clean and EWG certified. Make-up artists offering on-site consultations. Fruitful Yield, 168 E Golf Rd, Schaumburg. 847-882-2999. FruitfulYield.com.

Winter Solstice Yule

Forest Therapy Wellness Walk: Winter – 1011:30am. Take time to improve your health, reduce your stress during the busy holiday season, and experience pleasure while on a guided leisurely walk in nature on the farm. We may warm up by the fire, or end inside for some nature treats. $25/walk, $80/ series of 4. The Resiliency Institute, 10S404 Knoch Knolls Rd, Naperville. 630-477-9910. Pre-registration required by Nov 27: TheResiliencyInstitute.net. Exploring Your Life Mission – 2-3:30pm. Why am I here? What am I here to do? Who am I here to become? If these questions are relevant you, join us for the continuing Life Mission Sessions. Each session is custom created for, and with, those in attendance. Donation. Inner Balance, 350 Pfingsten Rd, Ste 107, Northbrook. Sarah Karnes: 262-745-8362. Meetup. com/Spiritual-Nourishment-Chicagoland.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22

Chanukah begins at sundown (Judaism) The Spiritual Forum – 10am. We are everyday people exploring spiritual themes in our everyday lives. Each gathering is recorded as a podcast, but you can come and just listen if you want. A meditation group meets at 9am and A Course in Miracles group meets at 11:30am. The Patty Turner Center, 375 Elm St, Deerfield. TheSpiritualForum.org. Hyde Park Handmade Bazaar – 12-4pm. Meet dozens of vendors while listening to Hyde Park’s finest DJs spinning jazzy, soulful soundtracks to your shopping. Promontory Restaurant, upstairs lounge, 5311 S Lake Park Ave W, Chicago. 312-801-2100. Facebook.com/HydeParkHandmade.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 23 Reiki Share: Midwest Reiki Community (MRC) – 7-9pm. Share reiki energy healing in a warm, welcoming environment. If not already initiated into reiki, you may attend once to “try it out” and see if you are interested in learning reiki. All others must be attuned at Reiki Level 1 or above. Suggested donation $10. Soul Energy, 3323 N Pulaski, Chicago. 773-609-3466. SoulEnergyWeb.com.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24

See NAChicago.com for latest events.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25 Christmas (Christianity)

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26 Disáh – Moon of Little Long Night

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27 Eight Steps to Happiness Retreat – Dec 27-28. 10am-4pm. The renowned Buddhist meditation master Bodhisattva Langri Tangpa composed the famous Eight Verses of Training the Mind. These verses describe step-by-step methods to develop the

special, inner qualities of loving-kindness, universal compassion, patience and wisdom. This retreat will progress verse by verse and engage in simple yet profound meditations to awaken your spiritual potential. With Kadampa Buddhist monk Gen Kelsang Zamling. $30/1 day, $45/both days. Kadampa Meditation Center Chicago in Wicker Park, 2010 W Pierce Ave, Chicago. MeditateInChicago.org.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28 Customer Appreciation Day – 10% off total purchase. Kankakee Natural Foods, 1035 Mulligan Dr, Bradley. 815-933-6236. KankakeeNaturalFoods.com. Festivus for the Restivus: A Post-Holiday Workout – 9-11am. Come one, come all for a group workout with brunch to follow afterwards. $25/nonmembers. 1622 E Algonquin Rd, Unit D1, 2nd Fl, within Iso Fitness, Schaumburg. GetFitEGV.com. Pre-Certification EFT Workshop – 9:30am-5pm. Experience and learn EFT basics. Counts as day 1 or day 2 of 12 hrs required for certification. Full certification requires 2 full days plus practice sessions. Class for someone new to EFT and for professionals. $95. SoderWorld Wellness Center, 16 W 501 Nielson Ln, Willowbrook. 630-455-5885. EFT-Tom.com.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29

See NAChicago.com for latest events.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 30

See NAChicago.com for latest events.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31 New Year’s Eve

Prayers for World Peace & New Year’s Eve Celebration – 6-8pm. Join us for an evening of community, inspiration and reflection as we ring in the new year with a brief, inspiring talk, prayers for world peace and universal compassion, and a festive potluck with non-alcoholic refreshments. All welcome. $15 or free if bring a dish to share. Kadampa Meditation Center Chicago in Oak Park, 13 Harrison St, Oak Park. MeditateInChicago.org.

savethedate TUESDAY, JANUARY 7

SATURDAY, JANUARY 11

Beginning Zen Shiatsu – Tuesdays, Jan 7-Mar 10. 11am-2pm. 10-wk course. Learn how to give a basic 1-hr shiatsu treatment that you can share with friends and family. Course is a stand-alone offering; also the first 30 hrs of our complete shiatsu certification programs. $450 plus books. Zen Shiatsu Chicago, 825A Chicago Ave, Evanston. 847-864-1130. ZenShiatsuChicago.org.

Feng Shui Tips, Crystals, Stones, Meditation – 9:30am-12pm. Plus Year of the Rat information, and a few surprises. It’s all about making your year sing with joy and beam with energy. We will also review the Welcoming the Gods of Wealth. $30. Double Tree Oak Brook, 1901 Spring Rd, Oak Brook. 630-279-8870. TheFengShuiSchoolOfChicago.com.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9

SUNDAY, JANUARY 12

Chinese New Year 2020: The Year of the Metal Rat – 6:30-7:30pm. Learn how to make the best of the year of the hardworking energetic rat. Learn what to do to harmonize your animal sign with the rat and make this a successful, abundant year as we practice how to welcome the Gods of Wealth into your home. Free gifts for all, raffles. $21. Equilibrium Energy, 850 S Wabash Ave, Chicago. RSVP: 312-786-1882. TheFengShuiSchoolOfChicago.com.

Empowering the Chinese New Year – 1:304:30pm. Learn how to energize your Year of the hardworking metal Rat with individual information coordinated to your zodiac animal. Also learn how to energize the 3 areas of command, and how to welcome the Gods of Wealth into your home. Enjoy a representation of the foods served during the new year. Free gifts for all, raffles, as well as crystals and stones for purchase. $60. Infinity Foundation, 1280 Old Skokie Rd, Highland Park. 847-831-8828. InfinityFoundation.org.

Beginning Zen Shiatsu – Thursdays, Jan 9-Mar 12. 7-10pm. 10-wk course. Learn how to give a basic 1-hr shiatsu treatment that you can share with friends and family. Course is a stand-alone offering; also the first 30 hrs of our complete shiatsu certification programs. $450 plus books. Zen Shiatsu Chicago, 825A Chicago Ave, Evanston. 847-864-1130. ZenShiatsuChicago.org.

To place a Classified listing, submit your content online at NAChicago.com. AKASHIC CONSULTATION AKASHIC RECORD READING – Open the record of your soul’s journey to find information to support you in your life right now, heal your past and help you into your future. Heal. Grow. Investigate. Find direction. Lin Ewing: 847-609-0034. AstrologicalDetails.com.

ASTROLOGY

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NAChicago.com/calendar

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9 Christian Science Lecture – 1-2pm. “Love Without Limit, Life Without Fear” with Fujiko Signs. Park Center, 2400 Chestnut Ave, Glenview. CSMetroChicago.org.

classifieds

THURSDAY, JANUARY 2 2020! Intentionally Create Your New Year – 7-8:30pm. Now is the time to get very clear on what you want and choose to create in 2020 so you can consciously take the steps to manifest it. Join us for guided imagery, a joyful mapping practice so you can bring a new attitude to moving forward. Donation. Inner Balance, 350 Pfingsten Rd, Ste 107, Northbrook. Sarah Karnes: 262-745-8362.

savethedate

ASTROLOGY – Understand yourself, your motivations, your feelings. Recognize your talents, strengths, successes. Overcome difficulties and confusion. Astrology can help pull it all together. Relationships. Career. Plan the future. Serious astrology for serious seekers. Private, personal consultations. Lin Ewing: 847-609-0034. AstrologicalDetails.com.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES YOUR LISTING CAN BE HERE – Visit Submit. NAChicago.com/CHI/Magazine-Classifieds.

HELP WANTED ARE YOU HIRING? – Find your next team member. Call 847-858-3697 or submit online at Submit. NAChicago.com/CHI/Magazine-Classifieds. MEDIA SALES: CHICAGO & SUBURBS – Excellent opportunity for flexible full- or part-time work with great rewards. Natural Awakenings Chicago is seeking a self-motivated professional with strong interpersonal and communication skills to introduce businesses to the benefits of advertising in print and digital. Ideal candidate must be self-motivated, organized and creative in sourcing suitable clients and events to target in Chicago and suburbs. You must enjoy conversing on the phone and in face-to-face meetings, as well as enjoy working both from your home and from the road throughout the metropolitan area, and have previous relationship-based ad sales experience. You’ll need at least 20 flexible daytime hours per week to prosper. Occasional weekend and evening time needed to attend events and network. Pay is generous commission, plus bonuses. Email your info, a brief description of your experience and your phone number to Editor@NAChicago.com. VOLUNTEER MEETING COORDINATOR – The International Association for Near Death Studies is looking to hire a spiritually minded meeting coordinator for their popular monthly lectures at Evanston Hospital. Checkout our YouTube videos. Marcia: 847-778-4688. ChicagoIANDS.org.

December 2019

ongoing events To ensure we keep our community calendar current, ongoing events must be resubmitted each month. DEADLINE: All listings must be received by the 10th of the month prior to publication. Calendar events must be submitted online at NAChicago.com.

monthlyspecialoffers Bioregional Herbalism Course Level 1 Registration – Begins Mar 15, 2020. Registration now open. Meets 1 Sun/mo for 9 mos. A pathway to natural wellness. Build your personal resilience by discovering how to engage with bioregional plants as allies and develop personal intuition and connection for yourself and the natural world. The Resiliency Institute, 10S404 Knoch Knolls Rd, Naperville. 630-477-9910. TheResiliencyInstitute.net.

Edible Wild Plants Certificate Course Registration – Begins Feb 22, 2020. Registration now open. Meets 1 Sat/mo for 10 mos. Learn over 200 edible wild plants that grow in our bioregion through classroom, field and home study, but most importantly by eating or preparing recipes with them every class. The Resiliency Institute, 10S404 Knoch Knolls Rd, Naperville. 630-477-9910. Preregistration required: TheResiliencyInstitute.net.

Declutter for the Holidays – Thru Dec. Megan Spillman, owner of Peace and Tidy, will schedule a complimentary 30-min consultation to discuss the challenges of clutter with those feeling overwhelmed by the holidays or thinking ahead to a fresh start for the new year. In-home sessions: $75/hr with a 3-hr min. 10% discount for clients that book 10 or more hrs. For more info: 708-275-0110, Megan@PeaceAndTidy.com or PeaceAndTidy.com.

Meditation Teacher Training Program – Enrollment is ongoing, students may register and work through the program at their own pace. Learn different meditation techniques to assist you in finding greater happiness and meaning in everyday life. Learn methodology of how to teach meditation to others. $1,580-$1,700. Temple of Kriya Yoga, 2414 N Kedzie Blvd, Chicago. 773-342-4600. YogaKriya.org.

sunday The Mike Nowak Show Radio Program – 9-11am. Live weekly local radio show focused on gardening and the environment, with lots of humor to wake us up. Author and master gardener Mike Nowak and cohost Peggy Malecki feature a variety of guests and weather/climate scientist Rick DiMaio in live show on 1590 WCGO AM, also available in podcast on MikeNowak.net, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and podcast apps, and streaming live on MikeNowak.net, TuneIn radio app and on Facebook at @The Mike Nowak Show. Meditation for Kids and Families – 10-10:45am. An introduction to Buddha’s teachings, emphasizing the value of kindness and cultivating a good heart. For families with children of all ages; best suited to ages 4-11. Includes a guided meditation, teaching and fun activities. $6/child. Kadampa Meditation Center Chicago in Oak Park, 13 Harrison St, Oak Park. MeditateInChicago.org.

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Permaculture Forest Gardener Certificate Course Registration – Begins Feb 8, 2020. Registration now open. Meets 1 Sat/mo for 9 mos. Course will introduce you to permaculture and teach you the basics of forest garden design through in-class lecture and hands-on projects. Learn how to transform your own yard, school, workplace or park into an edible forest garden. The Resiliency Institute, 10S404 Knoch Knolls Rd, Naperville. 630-477-9910. TheResiliencyInstitute.net.

Time to Dance: Jazz – 2pm. With Kate Wagner. CBG Institute for Dance and Health, 505 Laurel Ave, Highland Park. Register: 847-510-3357 or CBG-Institute.org. Therapeutic Yoga Class – 4-5:30pm. Receive personal attention, grounding and centering, therapeutic approach, strength, flexibility and extension, focus on inner work breath, mindfulness and meditation. $108/series of 4 classes, $30/drop-in. Heart of Transformation Wellness Institute, 1618 Orrington Ave, Ste 206, Evanston. RSVP: 847-425-9355, LalTabak@mac.com. BodyMindMedicine.com.

tuesday Acupuncture Special – If you’ve never tried acupuncture at Nirvana Naturopathics, but are curious, try it for only $54. Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine will check your pulses and insert tiny little needles in your ears. You will be relaxed for 25-30 mins while listening to music. Nirvana Naturopathics, 707 Lake Cook Rd, Ste 100, Deerfield. 847-715-9044. NirvanaNaturopathics.com. Cupping Special – A Chinese technique used for generations is the use of suction cups to bring tension and toxins to the surface of the skin from deep layers. Cupping provides excellent relief for back pain, asthma, colds and more. New patient special: 3 cupping sessions for $99. Nirvana Naturopathics, 707 Lake Cook Rd, Ste 100, Deerfield. 847-715-9044. NirvanaNaturopathics.com. Facial Acupuncture Special – The reportedly safer alternative to surgery or Botox. This cosmetic treatment is an extension of traditional acupuncture. It’s said to naturally help make the skin look younger, smoother, and all-around healthier. And unlike injection procedures, Mei Zen facial acupuncture addresses not only signs of aging, but also the skin’s overall health. Try it for $120. Nirvana Naturopathics, 707 Lake Cook Rd, Ste 100, Deerfield. 847-715-9044. NirvanaNaturopathics.com.

The Edgar Cayce Bookstore Open – 10am-1pm. Also 3rd Fri, 6-9pm. Bookstore is always open during scheduled events. The Edgar Cayce Holistic Center and Bookstore in Unity Northwest Church, 259 E Central Rd, Des Plaines. 847-299-6535. HolisticCenterChicago.com.

Light School – 9-10:15am. Weekly gathering with Heather Faun Basl on various spiritual topics and subjects. Have tea with Heather and expand your soul. 675 Station Blvd, Aurora. Topics & info: HeatherFaunBasl.com.

Time to Dance: Ballet – 10:30-11:30am. Also Tues, 1:30-2:30pm & Thurs, 12:30-1:30pm. A class for people age 55 and over. First class free. Drop-ins welcome; pre-registration requested. CBG Institute for Dance and Health, 505 Laurel Ave, Highland Park. Register: 847-510-3357 or CBG-Institute.org.

Beginning Mat Pilates – 10-11am. Amanda Kantor, Certified Pilates Instructor, leads a beginninglevel mat Pilates exercise class. Limited enrollment. $100/4 wks. re:fit, 901 Waukegan Rd, Glenview. For more info & appt: 847-657-0881. ReFitInc.com.

monday SentinelWatch Podcast – 24/7 online. New audio podcasts filled with thought-provoking ideas posted each Monday. Contributors tackle topics relevant to daily life and inspiring prayers for the world. CSMetroChicago.org. Gluten-Free Monday – 10am-8pm. All gluten-free grocery items 10% off all-day long. Free. Earthly Goods Health Foods, 6951 Grand Ave, Gurnee. 847-855-9677. Earthly-Goods.com.

Time to Dance: Beginning Tap – 12-12:40pm. CBG Institute for Dance and Health, 505 Laurel Ave, Highland Park. Register: 847-510-3357 or CBG-Institute.org. Plant Clinic Hours – 12-3pm. Held year-round. Gardening or houseplant questions? Our horticulturist can help. Bring in photos or a sample of your plant for identification or disease diagnostics. Complimentary houseplant-potting service available, for a suggested donation. You provide the plant and pot and we provide the soil and expertise. Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield St, Oak Park. 708-725-2400. pdop.org.

Stay Free of Allergies for Life – Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Techniques, or NAET, is a dramatic new treatment for the cure of allergies (and sensitivities). It is a specific treatment procedure formulated by combining chiropractic and Chinese Medicine principles applied through spinal manipulation, acupuncture, kinesiology, acupressure and nutrition. Come in for an initial visit to get reverse your allergy today. Nirvana Naturopathics, 707 Lake Cook Rd, Ste 100, Deerfield. 847-715-9044. NirvanaNaturopathics.com.

Complimentary Consultation – 1-5pm, by appt. Are you feeling older than your age? Brain fog or stress turning you into a zombie? Come and sit down for a 30-min complimentary consultation with one of our board certified physicians to discuss your health and formulate a plan to uncover the real causes of your symptoms. ChiroMend Natural Health Center, 1834 Glenview Rd, Ste 2W, Glenview. For appt: 847-730-3988. More info: ChiroMend.com. Time to Dance: Ballet – 1:30-2:30pm. See Sun listing. CBG Institute for Dance and Health, 505 Laurel Ave, Highland Park. Register: 847-510-3357 or CBG-Institute.org. Time to Dance: Tap – 2:40-3:20pm. CBG Institute for Dance and Health, 505 Laurel Ave, Highland Park. Register: 847-510-3357 or CBG-Institute.org. Silent Meditation Service – 6pm. Led by Anita Stehmeier. Spending 45 mins in meditation can make a powerful impact on your well-being and quality of life. Being supported by a group makes meditation much easier. Free-will offering. Unity Northwest Church, 259 E Central Rd, Des Plaines. 847-297-0997. UnityNorthwest.org. Qigong – 6-8pm. 2nd Tues. Discover the healing abilities of the ancient practice of qigong. Free qigong and taiji classes for the inexperienced; also a space for experts to practice their skills. Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, 65 E Wacker Pl, 17th Fl, Chicago. 773-477-4822. CBD/CBG Oil Benefits Introduction – 7pm. Learn what all the buzz is about with CBD oil. Hear about the new science and research on the benefits of phytocannabinoids and why CBD oil may be the missing link in your health journey. We will introduce you to a professional-grade broad spectrum phytocannabindiol hemp oil that doesn’t require a medical card. Free. Natural Remedee Heath Solutions, 830 E Higgins Rd, Ste 116, Schaumburg. RSVP: 630-309-3409. Shiatsu Student Clinic – 7 or 8pm. Also Thurs, 11am or 12pm. Receive a 45-min session from an advanced Zen Shiatsu student. Sessions are performed in a group setting with instructor observation. $35/45-min or $90/3 treatments. Zen Shiatsu Chicago, 825A Chicago Ave, Evanston. Availability limited; for appts: 847-864-1130. ZenShiatsuChicago.org.

wednesday Prayer Meeting – Time varies depending on location. Informal weekly gatherings with inspirational readings, song, prayer and time to share healings & inspiration. Meetings held at more than 24 locations of Churches of Christ, Scientist in the metro Chicago region. Locations: CSMetroChicago.org. A Glimpse of Native Ecology – Thru Jan 11. 11am6pm, Wed-Sat; excluding holidays. Native Illinois prairie plants on loan from the USDA Forest Service Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, in Wilmington, on exhibit as Unraveling Modern Living, by Mexico City-based Tatiana Bilbao Estudio, part of the 2019 Chicago Architecture Biennial at the historic Madlener House. 4 W Burton Pl, Chicago. 312-787-4071. Info@GrahamFoundation.org.

Community-Style Acupuncture Clinic – 5-7:45pm. By Pacific College of Oriental Medicine Interns. First come, first serve. $10/treatment; $5/ vets. Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, 65 E Wacker Pl, 21st Fl, Chicago. 773-477-4822. Let’s Talk CBD/CBG Oil: The Therapeutic Benefits and Business Opportunity – 8pm. Learn how to become part of this revolution in health. Hop online to learn more about this work-from-home business opportunity. We will present a brief 15min overview. RSVP: 630-309-3409. Meeting ID: 630-309-3409. Zoom.US.

thursday Shiatsu Student Clinic – 11am or 12pm. See Tues listing. Zen Shiatsu Chicago, 825A Chicago Ave, Evanston. Availability limited; for appts: 847-8641130. ZenShiatsuChicago.org. Time to Dance: Ballet – 12:30-1:30pm. See Sun listing. CBG Institute for Dance and Health, 505 Laurel Ave, Highland Park. Register: 847-510-3357 or CBG-Institute.org. Time to Dance: Modern – 1:30-2:30pm. A class for people ages 55 and over. First class free. Drop-ins welcome; pre-registration requested. CBG Institute for Dance and Health, 505 Laurel Ave, Highland Park. Register: 847-510-3357 or CBG-Institute.org.

friday Mindfulness & Wellness: Managing Stress, Creating Health, Encouraging Balance – 1:15-2:30pm. With Archana Lal-Tabak, MD, and Jim Lal-Tabak. Learn about mind-body connection and variety of mindfulness exercises. Experience natural stress reduction strategies and tools. Each class is selfcontained and a new wellness-educational topic and mindfulness technique presented every week. Series of 4 classes or individual class. Scholarships and work study available. Drop-ins welcome. Heart of Transformation Wellness Institute, 1618 Orrington Ave, Ste 206, Evanston. RSVP: 847-425-9355, LalTabak@mac.com. BodyMindMedicine.com.

saturday Join the Centennial Volunteers – Sat & Sun. Be a part of forest and river revitalization by joining an inspiring movement of volunteers gathering to restore 7 special sites along the Chicago and Calumet rivers. To find a group, Ilana Federman: 312-356-9990 or Ilana@fotfp.org. Dates & locations: fotfp.org/event/centennial.

Mighty House Radio Program – 7-10am. Funny, friendly experts with answers and ideas to help with all of your home improvement projects. Join Ron Cowgill, Robbie Ehrhardt, Rich Cowgill and the Mighty House team each Saturday morning to get help with all your home improvement and repair issues. On 1590 WCGO AM, 1590WCGO.com and MightyHouse.net. Palatine Indoor Farmers’ Market – Thru Apr. 8am-12pm. 1st & 3rd Sat. Inside Palatine Train Station, 137 W Wood St, Palatine. 847-358-1649. Palatine.il.us/663/Farmers-Market. Green City Indoor Market – Thru Apr. 8am-1pm. Some months not every week; see website for details. Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N Cannon Dr, Chicago. GreenCityMarket.org. Tai Chi Class – 9am. Also Tues, 8:15pm. Reduce stress; increase flexibility and balance; improve muscle strength and definition; increase energy; stamina and agility. Wear flat-soled shoes and loose fitting clothes. $10/class. Whole Health Acupuncture, 50 Turner Ave, Elk Grove Village. 847-357-3929. WholeHealthPrograms.com. Ki-Hara Resistance Stretching Class – 9-10am. Stretch and strengthen your hips and shoulders using the revolutionary flexibility method, Ki-Hara. Increase range of motion and decrease pain in half the time of yoga. $5 for first class. Stretch Chi, 410 S Michigan Ave, Ste 841, Chicago. Advance registration required: 773-750-5031. StretchChi.com. What is The Third Testament? – 10-11am. Introduction to The Third Testament, the life work of Martinus. Live stream with chat questions. Free. Info@ TheThirdTestament.info. TheThirdTestament.info. Winter European Farmers’ Market – Apr 11. 10am-2pm. 2nd Sat. Get your farmers’ market fix during the off season. Visit favorite farmers and producers, and maybe meet a new favorite. Sugar Beet Food Co-op, 442 S Grove, Oak Park. 708-9487656. SugarBeetCoop.SquareSpace.com. Plant Chicago Indoor Market – Thru May. 11am3pm. 1st Sat. The only farmers’ market in Chicago where you’ll find small batch coffee, microgreens, kombucha, naturally leavened bread and fresh vegetables being sold in the same space they’re produced. The Plant, 1400 W 46th St, Chicago. 773-847-5523. PlantChicago.org. Introduction to Heartland Meditation – 2-3pm. Learn how to meditate using a guided technique of reflecting and cleansing. Join us for an eye-opening session that shows how the human mind works, what to do to tackle stress, and how you can find your true self through meditation. Free. Heartland Meditation, 1444 S Butterfield Rd, Mundelein. Advance registration required: 224-433-6338. HeartlandMeditation.com.

December 2019

community resource guide Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care & green living in our community.

ACUPUNCTURE AND TRADITIONAL ORIENTAL MEDICINE LANA MOSHKOVICH, LAC, ND, MSOM Nirvana Naturopathics 707 Lake Cook Rd, Ste 100, Deerfield 60015 847-715-9044 NirvanaNaturopathics.com

We use acupuncture to help you get immediate relief from acute or chronic pain. Combining Western and Chinese Medicine, we can treat and resolve insomnia, anxiety and women’s health issues, plus chronic conditions. Major insurances accepted. Schedule your initial appointment on Nirvana Naturopathics.com. Get a healthier and alternative approach to your chronic health conditions. See ad on page 17.

AESTHETIC AND ANTI-AGING MEDICINE DR. JOSIE TENORE, MD, MSC, BCIM

Specializing in Anti-Aging Beauty & Wellness FreshSkin Medical Spa & Wellness Center 595 Elm Pl, Ste 208, Highland Park 60035 847-681-8821 • MyFreshSkin.com Dr. Josie’s journey has taken her to multiple countries and has given her the unique experience of witnessing how medicine is practiced all over the world. Her passion in family medicine and aesthetics has led her to advocate a program of eating well, exercising and aesthetics for patients who are passionate about having the best quality of life. See ads on pages 5 and 45.

ALLERGIES

MIDWEST ALLERGY RELIEF CENTER 3365 N Arlington Hts Rd, Ste D, Arlington Hts 60004 847-392-7901 MidwestAllergyRelief.com

Dr. Amanda Thiry, DC, BSN, uses Advanced Allergy Therapeutics (AAT), a non-invasive alternative technology that’s effective and safe for all ages, to identify and treat specific allergen elements that affect your quality of life. Discover how you can eat foods, be near pets and use products again that you now avoid, and experience a new lease on life. See ad on page 13.

BODYWORK NATIONAL LYMPHATIC CENTERS

Sharon M Vogel, LMT, CLT, BCTMB, MFR 5002a Main St, Downers Grove 630-241-4100 • Lymphatics.net Sharon Vogel is referred to by Mayo Clinic practitioners, national surgeons and physicians. She offers 27 years’ experience and is Nationally Board Certified, specializing in oncology massage, lymph drainage MLD and myofascial release JFB MFR—all to help assist clients in regaining health. Free consult and treatment the second Sunday of each month, 12-2 p.m. with RSVP.

ROTH STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION

Diane Roth, BCSI Highland Park, 60035 847-533-3213 • RothSI.com Structural Integration (SI) realigns, rebalances and re-educates the body through manual therapy and movement education. Chronic pain, bad posture, tired and achy bodies are signs that the body is out of balance. SI benefits include decreased pain, injury rehabilitation, improved posture, ease in movement, and increased flexibility and stamina.

CALANDRA CENTER FOR HEALTH & WELLNESS

Acupuncture, NAET Allergy Elimination, Reiki, Classes/CEU Located in Chicago’s South Loop & Schaumburg 312-796-3965 CalandraAcupuncture.com CCHW offers: acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, NAET Allergy Elimination, reiki, Access Consciousness Bars and a variety of classes. Classes are available for adults, children and CEU for acupuncturists. We believe that when someone has the tools to help themselves that the possibilities are endless.

Chicago

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WHOLE BODY KINETICS

Brendan Gibbs, Certified Rolfer®, PMA®-CPT, LMT, PTA 5301 Clark St, Fl 2, Chicago 60640 773-963-2358 WholeBodyKinetics.com Structural Integration-Rolfing®, Pilates and Movement Education help to realign and balance body in space and in movement. Improve postural and movement patterns to move freely, stand taller and straighter, reduce pain, injury rehabilitation, have more energy and feel younger.

ZEN SHIATSU CHICAGO 825 Chicago Ave, Evanston 60202 847-864-1130 ZenShiatsuChicago.org

You’ll feel the stress melt away like the snow in spring through our relaxation-focused shiatsu massage practice, which offers the same energizing benefits as acupuncture combined with the restorative power of yoga poses. Dress in cozy threads, shiatsu is performed on fully clothed clients. Professional and student therapists available. See ad on back cover.

ZERO BALANCING WELLNESS CENTER

Mary H. Murphy, LMT, CZB, CST-D 809 Ridge Rd, Ste 200, Wilmette 60091 847-920-9292 • ZBWellness.com Zero Balancing (ZB) works with the flow of chi through the skeletal system. Gentle, and energizing, a ZB session leaves the client with a wonderful feeling of body-mind integration and energized relaxation. ZB can help relieve body pain, emotional distress and boost well-being. Received clothed, ZB addresses the whole person.

CBD / HEMP OIL NATURAL REMEDEE HEALTH SOLUTIONS Dee Bayro, CHHC NaturalRemedee.com LetsTalkHempOil.com

The research is overwhelming on the benefits of using phytocannabinoids from hemp. As a certified holistic health advisor, let me help answer your questions and see if hemp oil extract is right for you. Over thousands of studies support the therapeutic benefits of phytocannabinoid diols for over 250 health conditions. I offer the world’s best, one-of-akind hemp extract that has the power of intravenous therapy within a convenient oral, liposomal delivery system. Visit our website or attend a local presentation to learn more about this new science. Get involved with this revolution in health. We are looking for professionals and influencers to work with contact me for more info. See ad on page 19.

Visiting Our Advertisers? Be sure to mention you found them in

HEALTHY LIVING INTERNATIONAL Susan Heinemann 847-769-3547 (call/text) GetReliefWithHempOil.com

We’re expanding our team globally. Looking to partner with businessand health-minded people who want to incorporate the world’s finest hemp extract CBD products into their 2019 revenue plans. Call to schedule an online virtual coffee meeting and learn more about this forward-thinking business opportunity. No parties, no monthly meetings, work at your own schedule to meet personal financial goals.

CBG INSTITUTE FOR DANCE & HEALTH North Shore School of Dance 505 Laurel Ave, Highland Park 60035 DanceForJoy16@gmail.com CBG-Institute.org

Discover the healing art of dance in ballet-based classes. Dance is proven to have both physical and psychological benefits. Two current classes: Dance for Joy for cancer survivors, and Time to Dance for those 55 years or older. Taught by dancer teacher Lisa Gold and Lynne Chervony Belsky, MD. See ad on page 17.

COACHING & COUNSELING SUSAN CURRY

InteriorWerx 312-479-7893 Info@InteriorWerx.us InteriorWerx.us Are you feeling unfocused and desire to get your life back on track? Seeking solutions for health issues or emotional balance? Susan is an emotional frequency intuitive using her empathetic skills to help. Call Susan a call for a 15-min complimentary phone consult and see if it’s a good tool for you!

CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY ONE MIND AND BODY CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY

Carol G. Sherby, BS, LMT, BCST 22W550 Poss St, Glen Ellyn 630-205-1075 OneMindAndBody.com

DECLUTTERING / ORGANIZING MEGAN SPILLMAN

708-275-0110 Megan@PeaceAndTidy.com PeaceAndTidy.com Clutter adds stress and drains time and energy. Megan supports individuals, families and business owners in decluttering spaces. She is trained in the KonMari Method™ which focuses on joy and gratitude. Contact Megan to schedule a complimentary 30-minute call to learn more about creating a plan to confront clutter.

DIGESTIVE HEALTH SPECIALIST RENEÉ S. BARASCH, LDHS

LAURIE PAWLI, CERTIFIED FENG SHUI CONSULTANT The Feng Shui School of Chicago LauriePawli@gmail.com CreateTheFeeling.com TheFengShuiSchoolOfChicago.com

You can now learn feng shui in the Chicago area. The Feng Shui School of Chicago is recognized as a Gold Level School, the highest standard established by the International Feng Shui Guild. We teach basic “Feng Shui in a Day” classes, as well as a comprehensive 77-hour “Certified Feng Shui Consultant Training Program.” A “layering” approach is taught using Form, Best Personal Direction, and Front Door Bagua placement. Laurie is a student of Grand Master Professor Lin Yun, Katherine Metz and Denise Linn.

FLOAT THERAPY FLOTSTONE

57 E Scranton Ave, Lake Bluff 60044 847-482-1700 Flotstone.com Floatation therapy is quickly being recognized as a very safe and effective way to shift into the parasympathetic state of total relaxation. Floating cradles you in its graceful healing waters optimizing your body’s ability to do what it does best, heal! Float effortlessly in over 1,250 lbs of Epsom salt. See ad on page 25.

316 Peterson Rd, Libertyville 60048 847-207-2034 DigestiveHealthSolutions.com

Carol Sherby uses gentle CranioSacral Therapy to help treat pain and dysfunction associated with a wide range of medical issues, including concussions, migraines, neck and back pain, torticollis, autism, chronic fatigue and more. She takes a holistic approach to healing, and how constrictions to nerve fibers can arise in response to physical injury, stress or emotional trauma. Through CST technique, massage and reflexology, balance can be achieved, promoting wellness in mind, body and spirit.

Digestive problems? Acid Reflux/ GERD, IBS, Crohn’s, colitis? Let us help you naturally achieve nutritional balance, feel better and enhance the quality of your life. Improve digestion while reducing discomfort and bloating so you can eat the foods you love again. Certified digestive health specialist/enzyme therapist. See ads on pages 7 and 51.

Your Business Directory Listing Could Be

Call 847-858-3697

HERE!

FENG SHUI

DANCE FOR HEALTH

to join us next month

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE MARNY TURVILL, MD

Outside the Pill Box, Ltd Evanston 60201 847-644-8540 DrMarny@OutsideThePillBox.com OutsideThePillBox.com Tired of feeling like crap? Looking for real solutions instead of pharmaceutical disease management? Dr. Marny helps adults and children reverse most mystery symptoms and chronic health problems. The key is identifying the root causes through testing (not guessing) and treating them with a personalized health plan and VIP support. Are you ready to feel great and get back to doing what really matters to you? Take our free online Health Assessment to get started.

December 2019

GYMS & FITNESS FACILITIES GET FIT EGV

Rowena Dziubla, Owner 773-849-4990 CoachRo@GetFitEGV.com Facebook | Instagram RX your workout at GET FIT EGV located at 1622 E. Algonquin Rd, just west of Moretti’s Schaumburg in the Park Place Shopping Center. Group classes available 7 days a week: barbell/Olympic training, HIIT, bootcamp and more! Check out my website, FB, IG and Twitter for more information.

HEALTH & WELLNESS COACHING INTEGRATIVE WELLNESS STUDIO

Heidi Smith, CINHC, CCWS, CMP 312-259-7585 HeidiSmith@IntegrativeWellnessStudio.net IntegrativeWellnessStudio.net Personalized health coaching programs to help you reach sustainable health for life through better nutrition and lifestyle changes. Areas of specialty include Celiac disease, autoimmune disorders, women’s health and weight management. Understanding. Encouragement. Support. Accountability.

K. BOEHM, DDS, & ASSOCIATES

1585 N Barrington Rd, Ste 106, Hoffman Estates 60069 847-884-1220 1440 Maple Ave, Ste 2A Lisle 60532 630-810-1280 KBoehmDDS.com

Offering state-of-the-art holistic dental care in a relaxed environment, Dr. Boehm and his staff are ready to meet all your dental needs in either of his two locations. Bio-compatible materials and an extensive knowledge of the correlation between oral and overall health are his specialty. Services include safe mercury removal, electrodermal screening for materials compatibility and tooth viability, crowns, bridges, dentures, zirconia implants, homeopathy, cranial osteopathy, orthodontics, ozone therapy, CT/3D imaging, and laser treatment for both gum disease and decay.

CONTOS SMILE CENTER

6428 N California Ave, Chicago 60645 773-973-0531 ContosSmileCenter.com You always take top priority in our comfortable, relaxed state-of-theart dental office. You’ll feel empowered to take control of your oral health care with the guidance of Drs. Aristides, Peter and Maria Contos and our highly trained staff. We research and offer the most advanced treatment options. Free parking. Most insurance accepted. See ad on page 27.

WRIGLEYVILLE DENTAL

HOLISTIC DENTISTRY DR. ALLA AVER, DDS

2400 Ravine Way, Suite 400, Glenview 60025 847-998-5100 GlenviewSmiles.com Stay healthy with a whole-body, preventative care approach. We use non-fluoridated ozonated water, periodontal herbal treatments, and gluten-free herbal paste. Restorative options include: safe amalgam removal, BPA-free fillings and sealants, non-metal crowns and bridges, sleep apnea and TMJ appliances, and non-acrylic night guards, partials and dentures. Our conservative approach includes: digital X-rays and intraoral camera, non-surgical gum therapies including laser and ozone, and herbal irrigation. Material reactivity testing, saliva pH and microscopic plaque analysis are available. Our natural approach includes dental homeopathy, CranioSacral Therapy and nutritional counseling. Dental discount plan available and PPO insurance plans accepted. See ad on page 23.

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Dr. Bernice Teplitsky, DDS, PC 3256 N Ashland, Chicago 60657 773-975-6666 WrigleyvilleDental.com In addition to state-of-the-art technology and methods offered by most holistic dentists (microscopes, ozone therapy, etc.), we treat you as a partner. We thoroughly explain your unique situation, provide treatment options and keep you comfortable with Netflix, music and paraffin wax treatments. Located off the Brown line. Free garage parking.

What a ! e e s o t e sit the new NAChicago.com

HOLISTIC HEALTH PRACTITIONER KINTSUGI WELLNESS

Jill Briska, DC 1263 Highland Ave, Ste 1A, Lombard 630-412-1852 Kintsugi-Wellness.com Are you still suffering with a chronic health condition and have tried “everything?” It’s time to activate your body’s own frequencies to heal itself with Biocybernetics. Cyberscan technology is based on quantum physics and addresses food allergies, dementia, ADHD, pain, lack of energy, addictions or “mystery illnesses” by balancing your frequencies and improving your immune system by 149%. Certified Class 2 medical device, used for diagnosis and treatment in over 27 EU countries, FDA-approved and used at the worldrenowned cancer clinic Hope4Cancer in Mexico and the Hippocrates Health Institute in Florida. Helps dogs, cats, horses and more, too!

DR. KRISTIN KLOCKO, PHARMD, RPH, PSCD

Health His Way, Wheaton 60189 630-254-0766 Health-His-Way.com Dr. Kristin provides natural solutions to GI issues, autoimmune, infection, hormone imbalance, anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, sleep issues and more. She specializes in DNA/genetic analysis, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, neurofeedback with photostim, neurotransmitter and endocrine system analysis. She is certified by the Institute for Functional Medicine in Reversing Cognitive Decline (The Bredesen Protocol). See ad on page 11.

LIVE POWERFULLY AYURVEDA

22W550 Poss St, Glen Ellyn 60137 630-460-1211 WeLivePowerfully.com Christy Studant is an Ayurveda practitioner, yoga/Pilates teacher and Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant. Through pulse and tongue assessment, she uses some of the most profound natural techniques to help rebalance the body systems, mind and spirit through herbal and nutrition detoxification, Shirodhara, chakra balancing and healing energy yoga for rejuvenation, as well as life coaching.

WHOLE LIFE SPINE & SOFT TISSUE Christopher Codina, DC 33 W Higgins Rd, Ste 735 South Barrington 60010 WholeLifeChiroHE.com

Constantly foam rolling or taking meds to get through the day, just for it to come back? Learn how something that is easily treated and commonly found in the body may be the reason for your pain. Schedule your free consultation today to learn more Conveniently located and insurance accepted.

HYPNOTHERAPY DR. FUNDA KAHN, CHI

Inner Child Connection Ltd 847-971-1221 FundaKahn@gmail.com InnerChildConnection.com Having unique training and experience, Dr. Funda Kahn offers myriad techniques customized for individuals and groups to create peace and harmony in their lives. Trained as an oral surgeon, she committed her life to healing souls. Teaching hypnosis, self-hypnosis, EFT, and “inner child connection” are only the beginning of what she can provide. “Feelings buried alive never die.” – Karol Truman. See ad on page 21.

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE HEAL N CURE MEDICAL WELLNESS Meena Malhotra, MD, ABIM, ABOM 1122 Willow Rd, Northbrook 60062 847-686-4444 HealNCure.com

Specializing in medical wellness, weight loss, hormone balancing, diabetes, fibromyalgia, and anti-aging using integrative and functional medicine. We find and resolve the root cause of medical conditions and achieve outstanding, lasting results for our patients, many of which had almost given up on wellness goals. Free educational seminars. PPO insurance and Medicare accepted for covered services.

NEW VITALITY MD

20771 N Rand Road ,Ste I-2, Kildeer 60047 847-585-9700 NewVitalityMD.com Newly expanded services under new owner/operator thriveMD. Specializing in bio-identical hormone replacement therapy for men and women, medical and supplement-based weight loss, aesthetic services such as Botox, Juvéderm and PRP; and now adding IV therapies, including nutritionals, NAD, Exosomes, Amino Acids, Glutathione and Stem Cells, plus B12 and Vitamin D injections.

thriveMD – OPTIMAL HEALTH

Dr. Greg Seaman 1355 Remington Rd, Ste I, Schaumburg IL 60173 312-600-5070 Info@thriveMD.org

Using IV therapies, PRP, weight management and other natural programs we help conditions like fatigue, brain fog, hormone imbalance, pain, injury, weight gain, decreased performance, tick born disease and more. After an initial consultation, we design your custom program to obtain true optimal health, which includes living a healthy lifestyle and being committed to yourself. See ad on page 3.

INTEGRATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY ELLEN KATZ, MS, LMFT

Clinical Director, Inner Balance Northbrook, Chicago, Palm Springs 847-224-0244 InnerBalanceNow.com Ellen’s 30 years of experience as a psychotherapist integrates a conscious approach to healing old patterns through a mix of trauma and mindfulness-based psychotherapies, HMR, Lifeline, The Work (Byron Katie), energy medicine and somatic awareness. Join Meetup.com “Inner Balance Meditation” for updates on her events, and visit her at EllenKatz.net.

INTUITIVE CONSULTATION MICHELE HEATHER

847-509-8289 MicheleHeather1@yahoo.com Get clarity, direction and empowerment as we release old patterns and blockages that keep you feeling stuck in life. Using Soul Memory Discovery, Michele helps you work with your angels and guides to practice new inner processes and expand into your highest good and true self. Michele is also intuitive and a Reiki Master Teacher.

INFINITY FOUNDATION

1280 Old Skokie Rd, Highland Park 60035 847-831-8828 • InfinityFoundation.org Offering more than 200 Courses for Life in personal, professional and spiritual growth and development. December 7, Divine Love: Kabir and Rumi with bestselling author Andrew Harvey, daylong workshop, December 9 From Grieving to Finding Meaning with bestselling author, Daivd Kessler. Call or email for a free course guide. CEUs available for 14 professionals.

THE SPIRITUAL FORUM GATHERING & PODCAST 10am most Sundays (check website for schedule) Patty Turner Center, 375 Elm St, Deerfield TheSpiritualForum.org

Each week Rev Carol Saunders delves deeply into all things spiritual with everyday people who are committed to spiritual living. Intimate, authentic and practical, this is not your usual gathering. It is a community of people creating a new conversation in the world—one of spiritual deepening and personal accountability.

MEDITATION CENTER LIFELONG LEARNING & PERSONAL GROWTH CHRISTIAN SCIENCE IN METRO CHICAGO CSMetroChicago.org

Resources for your spiritual journey… Events, online podcasts, community worship services, Christian Science Reading Rooms. See ad on page 31.

THE EDGAR CAYCE HOLISTIC CENTER AND BOOKSTORE

At Unity Northwest Church 259 E Central Rd, Des Plaines 60016 847-299-6535 • AREChicagoCenter@gmail.com Full-service bookstore, Cayce remedies, spiritual growth study groups, monthly programs, workshops and holistic fairs, intuitive skills development training, knowledgeable seekers, intuitives, healers and more. Call for hours.

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KADAMPA MEDITATION CENTER CHICAGO 13 Harrison St, Oak Park 60304 2010 W Pierce Ave, Chicago 60622 708-763-0132 MeditateInChicago.org

Meditation and modern Buddhism. Everyone welcome. We offer an array of drop-in classes, weekend events, and retreats open to everyone and suitable for all levels of experience. A nonprofit, all-volunteer organization, we’re dedicated to sharing the practical wisdom of Buddha’s teachings with Chicagoland through meditation and mindfulness practices.

NATUROPATHIC CONSULTATION DR. ALLA ARUTCHEVA, MD, PHD, ND

Associate Professor, Rush University Med. School Antalee Wellness 1836 Glenview Rd, 2nd Fl, Glenview 60025 847-486-1130 • AntaleeHolistic.com Have gut problems? Suspect leaky gut? Do not give up! We have a solution for you! Our key strategies are “DetermineRemoveRepairRestore” that address the gut health and integrity of the intestinal wall. Special individual program will be created and help your gut be happy again. Learn more about leaky gut and our therapeutic strategy at AntaleeHolistic.com. See ad on page 23.

December 2019

JANUARY

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES ISSUE

Coming Next Month

AgeDefying Habits

Plus: Healthy Immune System

REFLEXOLOGY JASMIN REFLEXOLOGY Norridge, IL 773-979-5351 BloomN2Wellness.com

Since the time of the pharaohs, reflexology has helped people of all ages by restoring balance to the body’s systems. A natural pain/stress reliever, reflexology also addresses more serious health concerns. You deserve a restorative, calming and healing experience that facilitates “blooming into wellness.” Highly qualified, professional, Certified Reflexologist.

REGENERATIVE MEDICINE CARING MEDICAL REGENERATIVE MEDICINE CLINICS Dave Woznica, MD Danielle Steilen-Matias, MMS, PA-C 715 Lake St, Ste 600, Oak Park 60301 708-462-6377 • CaringMedical.com

Specialists in stem cell therapy, PRP and H3 Prolotherapy: the most scientifically curative regenerative injection method for chronic pain, sports injuries and arthritis. Since 1993, we’ve helped patients who have plateaued with other pain “management” treatments to permanently resolve their pain, nerve entrapments and disabling symptoms without surgery or medication.

SOUND HEALING

THERMOGRAPHY AND THERMOMETRY SCANNING NORTHWEST HEALING CENTER Erica Cody Lake Barrington 60010 224-600-3216 NorthwestHealingCenter.com

Northwest Healing is your destination for practical knowledge for your important healthcare decisions. Forefront modalities such as thermographic imaging and the AO Scan, a bio-resonance device used to detect abnormalities in cells, tissues, and organs throughout the body and reset your system to optimal frequencies, detect health concerns before they become a medical emergency. Northwest Healing also offers hypnotherapy sessions. Experience all that Northwest Healing has to offer to help you live your best life. See ad on page 9.

WELLNESS EMPOWERED

2177 Shermer Rd, Northbrook 60062 847-963-6094 YourWellnessEmpowered.com Whole Body Thermometry (WBT) is a safe, accurate, prevention-centered way to assess functional changes in the body. This infrared scanning device is accurately and efficiently driven by sophisticated mathematical algorithms. WBT works by identifying specific temperature patterns coming from internal organs, before and after the body is exposed to a cooling stress.

SOUL ENERGY

Mary Ellen Azzi 3323 N Pulaski, Chicago 60641 773-609-3466 SoulEnergyWeb.com Enhance your healing journey by releasing stress and stagnant energy. Receive Vibrational Sound Therapy (VST) utilizing pure bronze Himalayan bowls, reiki, and other energy modalities to release in whatever way your higher consciousness is ready. Offering private sessions, group events and energy classes in a kind, caring, supportive and safe space.

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WELLNESS & WEIGHT LOSS ULTIMATE LIGHT FAT MELT SYSTEM 2177 Shermer Rd, Northbrook 60062 847-963-6094 UltimateLightNow.com/how-it-works

Are you ready for a safe, painless, program to lose stubborn fat and unwanted inches from those problem areas that nothing seems to help with? If so, then check out the Ultimate Light Fat Melt Program now offered at Wellness Empowered in Northbrook. Call now for a free consult and pricing.

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Raise your bar! YOUR RADIO JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT SMARTER! Chicago’s SmartTalk® is now at

1590AM and 95.9FM!

Smarter Weekdays Small Business Advocate Dave Ramsey • Kate Dalley Del Walmsley • The Sports Circus The Hard Question with BQ Citizen Kelly • Coast2Coast

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Beginning Zen Shiatsu

Rooted in universal principles of change and balance, the study of Zen Shiatsu enriches your life while you learn to help others. Learn to relieve aches and pains through acupressure and assisted stretching while also listening to the deeper messages our bodies have to tell us. Try an entry-level class and decide if our program is the one youâ€™ve been looking for.

5 day intensive session

Dec 9-13, Monday-Friday 9am-4pm

10 week sessions

January 7 - March 10, Tue 11am-2pm January 9 - March 12, Wed 7-10pm

2 weekend intensive session

Feb 21-23 & 28 - Mar 1 Fri 7-10pm, Sat/Sun 9am-4pm or try one of our

Free Introductory Workshops December 12, Thursday, 7:00-9:30pm January 15, Wednesday, 10:00am-12:30pm To view more class times visit zenshiatsuchicago.org/schedule/

E-mail info@zenshiatsuchicago.org or call 847-864-1130 to sign up today!

www.zenshiatsuchicago.org CEs Available

Approved by the Division of Private Business and Vocational Schools of the Illinois Board of Higher Education

825 Chicago Ave., Evanston, IL