natural awakenings magazine ~ october 2011

1natural awakenings October 2011

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

feel goodlive simplylaugh more

FREE

October 2011 | West Michigan Edition | NaturalWestMichigan.com

GREEN YOUR BUSINESS

With a Sustainable Bottom Line

Special EditionGREEN LIVINGBLUE PLANET

OUR PRECIOUS WATERDon’t Take it for Granted

Doing The Right Thing

A New ECO-Morality

2 West Michigan Edition NaturalWestMichigan.com

Naturopathy(Each year 600 hours)

Natural Health Educator .......................1st Year Natural Health Th erapist ......................2nd Year Natural Health Practitioner ................. 3rd Year Certifi ed Naturopath .............................4th Year

4th Year Graduates are Eligible for Doctor of Naturopathy National Test and Title

Massage Th erapy Th erapeutic Bodywork Practitioner ..1 Year

Holistic Labor ProgramDoula.......6 Months

All Classes Meet On WeekendsFri. 5 - 9 p.m., and Sat. & Sun. 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Naturopaths - 1 per month • Massage - 2 per month

Individual Classes:• Herbology • Aromatherapy • Nutrition

• Live Food Preparation • Light Healing Touch• Refl exology • Homeopathy • And More!

503 E. Broadway • Mt. Pleasant, Michigan • (989) 773-1714www.nite-mtp.com

Mt. Pleasant is 90 minutes North East of Grand RapidsAccredited by the American Naturopathic Medical Association

15 Years of Excellence


13

advertising & submissions

NaturalWestMichigan.com

How to AdvertiseTo advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 616-656-9232 or email: [email protected]. Deadline for space reservation is the 12th of each month prior to publication.

News Briefs & Article suBmissioNsEmail articles to: [email protected]. Dead-line for articles is the 5th of the month prior to publication. Sub-mit News Briefs online at NaturalWestMichigan.com. Deadline for news briefs is the 12th of the month prior to publication.

cAleNdAr suBmissioNsSubmit Calendar Events online at: NaturalWestMichigan.com. Calendar deadline is the 15th of the month prior to publication.

wHere to PicK uP NAturAl AwAKeNiNGsIf you enjoyed this magazine and would like to know where you can pick up a free copy in your area, please contact us at 616-656-9232 or email us at: [email protected]

BeyoNd our full “cArBoN NeutrAl”diGitAl issue eAcH moNtH...

Check us out and connect with us on Twitter & Facebook!twitter — Find us at NaturallyWestMIfacebook — Find us at Natural Awakenings of West Michigan

follow us online...

18 INDIVIDUAL INTEGRITY Embracing the Moral Imperative to Protect Earth by Kathleen Dean Moore

20 ALIGNING FOR FITNESS Chiropractic Care Prevents Injury, Boosts Performance by Linda Sechrist

22 HOW TO GREEN A BUSINESS Simple Steps to an Eco-Friendly Bottom Line by Derek Markham

24 WATCH THAT CAT Roaming Cats Make Life Hard for Birds by Morieka V. Johnson

26 WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE… But Will There Be Enough? by Sandra Postel

34 LOVING A SUSTAINABLE LIFE Actress and Activist Daryl Hannah by S. Alison Chabonais

36 GREEN KIDS CLUBS Highlighting Hope for the Future by Brian Clark Howard

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

10 globalbriefs

13 healthbriefs

17 ecotip

18 inspiration

20 fitbody

22 greenliving

24 naturalpet

34 wisewords

36 healthykids

10

26

17

contents

34

22

24

36


I love to welcome autumn with open arms. My heart sings with the arrival of cooler air; something

about the freshening smell makes me feel like I can accomplish anything. I am a cold weather woman. While the sun’s energy works wonders for most folks, for me, days like these when temperatures drop and it looks a bit gloomy outside make my energy levels soar. Adding to the bliss, we’re also looking forward to the extended holiday season. For me, Halloween tops them all. Just the thought of dressing up to play anyone I want to be for a day is thrilling. I love to dive into decorating for the occasion and revel in passing out

treats to little visitors. It’s also the one day I get to dress up my dog, Thai, because, as I explain to him, “This is what we do on All Hallows’ Eve.” I know that Thai would bark like crazy at every kid that shows up at our door holding out a bag, but when I put clothes on him he gets so mad that he just lies down and pouts all night. Kyle tells me it’s not fair to keep him quiet this way but I find it utterly hilarious. Our pooch has such personality. This month we also celebrate Green Living on a Blue Planet. I hope that you learn as much in reading our experts’ insights on what it will take to achieve local, national and planetary sustainability as we did in pulling the issue together. October is National Chiropractic Health Month as well, so please join me in supporting the many chiropractors that advertise with Natural Awakenings. You’ll find them listed in our Annual Directory, too; several will offer deals through our Natural Awakenings Network discount card due to launch soon (more details to come next month). I’m a big fan of chiropractic care and urge you to ask how it might help you tune up your own health. Chiropractic treatments have made a world of difference for me. After coping with migraine headaches, and back pain from extensive car travel for years, I went from having a migraine as many as three times a month to just once or twice a year. These days, I return for periodic back maintenance because my job still calls for a lot of driving when I’m not sitting at a desk. As the leaves start to turn their glorious hues, Kyle and I look forward to sharing in the awe-inspiring color tours as we travel this beautiful state of ours. May October be a joyous, healthy month for all!

Happy Halloween,

Amy Hass, Publisher

PublishersKyle & Amy Hass

EditorsS. Alison Chabonais

Scott GillisLinda Sechrist

Design & ProductionInteractive Media Design

Scott Carvey

PrinterStafford Media Solutions

Natural Awakenings484 Sunmeadow Dr. SEGrand Rapids, MI 49508

Phone: 616-656-9232

[email protected]

www.NaturalWestMichigan.com

© 2011 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing.

Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business.

We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

contact us

Subscriptions are availableby sending $30 (12 issues)

to the above address.

Natural Awakenings is printed on 100% recycled newsprint with soy based ink.

COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABILITY

Natural Awakeningsis locally owned and operated.

letterfrompublishers


Two Powerful Events – One Venue, One Weekend

Jamie Allison joins an Anusara Yoga week-

end workshop on Octo-ber 7-9th. She brings to her teaching the clarity gained from years on her yoga mat, introspection, self-inquiry and con-tinuous study with John

Friend and Dr. Douglas Brooks. Justin Allison has studied with Jamie Allison and John Friend since 1995. He received his Anusara Yoga® Certification in 2002. Justin continues his studies with John Friend and Dr. Douglas Brooks, Rajanaka Tantra Scholar. Justin, a world-class musician and skillful assistant, adds musical ambiance to Savasana and leads Kirtan. Together, Jamie and Justin, make an unbeatable team. Workshop cost is $195.00. On October 8th at 7:30pm, enjoy an evening with Benjy and Heather Wertheimer as they lead kirtan (sacred chanting) worldwide as the duo Shantala, with soul-stirring vocals, sacred lyrics and exotic instrumentation. The weaving of Benjy’s Indian classical singing and instrumentation with Heather’s soaring vocals is freshly original and profoundly moving. Together they create music with beauty, passion, and reverence. Explore the ancient practices of singing, de-votional chant, and rhythm at The Path of Kirtan Workshop on October 9th from 2-5pm.

For more information contact From the Heart Yoga, 714 Wealthy Street SE, Grand Rapids. 616-336-9642. See ad page 16.

Anticancer Fund

According to Stanford Medical School, “For

the more common cancer types, like breast and co-lon cancer, less than 10 percent are inherited”. So where do the other 90% come

newbriefs from? For help with understanding the need for more focus on prevention of cancer, Dr. Andrew Shafer will be hold-ing two classes, the first will be held on October 5th, 6pm at Schafer Chiropractic and Healing Spa located at 1801 Breton SE in Grand Rapids. The second class will take place on October 11th, 12pm at Keystone Pharmacy and will also review the information from the book Anticancer: a New Way of Life by author Dr. David Servant-Schrieber. Call 616-301-3000 to RSVP for either class. Complimentary snacks and refreshments will be provided. Dr. Schafer will also be participating in his first marathon on October 16th. His goal is to raise money for the Anticancer Fund so please consider donating by pledging money towards this worthy cause. All money will be forwarded to the Anti-cancer Fund to ensure future studies. For more information on the Anticancer Fund, visit www.anticancerbook.com/fund.

Contact Dr. Schafer at Schafer Chiropractic and Healing Spa, 616-301-3000. www.grchirospa.com. See ad page 21 & 45.

Bike the Kal Haven Trail

Join Kalamazoo Eco-Trek Series Leader

Kylie Schultz on Oc-tober 8th at 10am to bike on the Kal Haven Trail. Starting from Kal Haven Trailhead in South Haven we will offer an option to caravan from the Ka-lamazoo West Main Meijer Parking lot at 9 am. We will bike 1

hour out on the trail towards Kalamazoo and 1 hour back towards South Haven. A picnic lunch will follow at South Beach in South Ha-ven (bring a dish to pass) or Phoenix St Cafe for inclement weather/alternative lunch location. What to Bring: Mountain or Hybrid Bicycle, Helmet, Biking/Leather Gloves, Layers and or Rain Gear for weather. We will provide: First Aid Kit, Tire Patch Kit and Bike Tire Pump.

Visit EcoTrekFitness.com for more information. See ad page 27.


The Live Peace Process

Shannon Elhart is expanding her life coaching business under a new name, Green Heart. Elhart created The Live

Peace Process, a guide to living more peacefully, authenti-cally and with purpose. The Live Peace Process gathers wisdom and experience from many sources all over the world. In personal and meaningful ways, clients learn, grow, and become more peaceful, authentic and aware. Growth takes place through experiencing more compassion, connection, authenticity, emotional stability, healing of the past, and finding forgive-ness. This process is perfect for anyone who desires positive change in life, but is unsure where to begin. Aside from The Live Peace Process, Elhart offers ‘M.O.R.E. groups’ that focus on many different areas of personal ex-ploration. Topics vary: Creating More Conscious Intimate Relationships, Improving Sacred Time, Increasing Intuition, Creating a Life Experience Map, Healing Through Purpose and Trust, and Forgiveness Processes. Her BEaUtiful program is appropriate for young women transitioning into independent adulthood - who want to main-tain authenticity, confidence and strength of character. Elhart is also available to speak on a variety of topics for presentations or workshops. Topics include, but are not limited to: Quieting Self-Defeating Thoughts, Compassion, Coping with Emotions, Forgiveness, Emotional Healing, and Finding Hope. Other offerings include Reiki, meditation workshops, and a dynamic book study group, ROOTed, which includes coaching based on the genre of self-improvement.

Please check www.shannonelhart.com for more information or call Shannon at 616-403-2120. See ad page 5.

Building Cooperative Bridges at Circle Pines Center

Communities all over Michigan are bursting with cooperative activity and

interest in a creative response to economic scarcity. Circle Pines Center is exercising leadership in this movement by providing a forum for which this energy can be exchanged and shared. Attend the revival meeting of the Latter Day Society of Equitable Pioneers October 7-9th in Delton, MI. This group

is an informal think-tank dedicated to exploring cooperative ideas, history and experiences. Participants will range in age and experience, as we bring together seasoned co-op mentors and young, emerging co-op leaders. Inspirational cooperative enterprise and action in our region are driving new growth, so take advantage of this opportunity to network with and learn from other co-op activists in the region.

Whether you’re interested in joining us just for an afternoon or for the whole weekend, call 269-623-5555 or email: [email protected] to register. See ad page 9.

Rethink Healthy Expo

On October 13th from 10am-7pm, the 30th

annual Rethink Healthy Expo will bring the best and widest array of health, fitness prod-ucts, providers, services, information and experts directly to you and your family. Health care providers, businesses, and non-profit organizations will be on site providing thousands of dollars of free assessments, advice and information, tests, screenings and services. Experience exhibits, information and ideas for eating and exercising your way to good health. Find your fit-ness groove on the walking track, learn some new dance steps, or take a free exercise class. Get some new healthy recipes from our onsite dietitian and find out what new technologies and innovations are available to make your life more enjoyable. Dr. Michael Burcon from Burcon Chiropractic Research Institute will be doing free spinal exams and chair massages. Free DVDs, coupons for discount massages for new patients, and a newsletter about his Meniere’s disease and Trigeminal Neuralgia research will also be available. Dr. Burcon recently treated an 82-year-old woman with Glossopharyngeal neu-ralgia with spastic dystonia. She could not talk. She went to four neurologists over ten years that just pumped her full of drugs that turned her into a zombie. He fixed her with one adjustment. Burcon Chiropractic Research Institute is located at 3501 Lake Eastbrook Blvd., SE in Grand Rapids, MI. 616-575-9990. See his ad page 21.

For more information about the Expo call 616-248-3820 or visit www.afh.org.

Some Benefits of Colon Therapy are:• Remove toxic waste from ones body• Eradicate constipation• Removes stomach bloat• Increases ones energy

Colon HydroTHerapy

Mary a. delange C.C.T. C.M.T.

P: 616.456.5033 E: [email protected]

also offering Therapeutic Massage


2nd Annual Crocs for Christmas

Everyone knows about the January

12, 2010 7.0 earth-quake tha t k i l led 316 ,000 , in ju red 300,000, and made over 1,000,000 peo-ple homeless. Many people have traveled

to Haiti to offer their support. Christian Light Ministries (CLM) in Port-au-Prince has been visited multiple times by support groups from Grand Rapids, Michigan. This school supports 27 orphans, 200+ students, teachers and staff as well as the surrounding neighborhood referred to as “the ravine”. CLM teaches three languages; French, Creole, and English. Last year Amy Worst started the Crocs for Christmas fund-raiser that raised 67 pairs of shoes, and some personal items like toothpaste, blankets, toys, etc. Shoes are extremely important for the children as many of their streets are still littered with debris from the earthquake. The goal this year is to have every child receive a new pair of shoes for Christmas. All sizes, styles, and colors are welcome. They can be dress shoes, flip-flops, sandals, crocs, or tennis shoes. Two main drop off locations have been set up for your convenience: Aesthetica Image Group located at 2312 28th St. SE in Grand Rapids and Rockford Christian School/River Rock Church located at 6060 Belding Road in Rockford.

For more information about Crocs for Christmas contact Amy Worst at [email protected] or for more information about CLM, please visit www.christianlighthaiti.org. We thank you in advance for your kind donation of new and gently used shoes.

New Battle Creek EcoTrekSeries Leader

EcoTrek Fitness is thrilled to wel-come Wendy Rahn as the new-

est addition to the leadership team at EcoTrek Fitness, as Battle Creek EcoTrek Series Leader. Rahn’s childhood began on the east side of the state (Troy) where she lived with her mom Carol, dad Warren and her only sister Loree. Her family moved to the west side (Richland/Gull Lake area) in 1988. She has 2 children; Tristan and Savannah and currently lives in Battle Creek with her best friend and partner Josh. Rahn received her Personal Fitness Trainer Certification from the International Sports Sciences Association in 1998. Deciding to expand her knowledge and expertise, she went on to become a certified yoga teacher through YogaFit in 2001, her Mat Certification through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America in 2002, and her Nutrition Coach Certification through the National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association in 2008. She has managed the fitness centers of the Kellogg Company head-quarters for 6 years, and her current adventure, in addition to becoming the newest EcoTrek Fitness Series Leader, is expanding her personal training business, Imminent Physique LLC. EcoTrek sessions run 75 minutes and incorporate the ele-ments of cardio, strength training and stretching. Each leader adds their individual spin to the workout according to the location, which is different every time. This keeps it fun and interesting—yet effective, because EcoTrekkers will burn fat, increase lean muscle mass and improve their flexibility, all in one workout. Added bonus: in a group, you’re never alone!

All schedules, costs and location information, as well as easy online sign-up, can be found on the website www.ecotrekfitness.com. See ad page 27.

Wendy Rahn


Professional Golfer & Spokes-man for Ready To Focus

Ready To Focus is pleased to announce

that professional golfer, Andy Matthews, has be-come a spokesperson for the program! As a professional golfer, Andy Matthews fully under-stands the need to re-main calm, focused, and

undistracted while doing his job. Ready To Focus is helping Matthews achieve that and bring his professional golf game to a new level! Matthews began working with Ready To Focus clinical director Brad Oostindie approximately two years ago. He continues as a Ready To Focus participant to this day because of the help it has provided him. Matthews has achieved some of his best finishes over the past couple of years including a win at the Mexican Open in 2010. His earnings have improved and he is currently playing on the Canadian PGA tour where he is having his best year ever. PGA qualifying school begins in October and he will be working closely with Dr. Jeff Van Meter and Brad Oostindie to sharpen his mind, as well as his game, prior to Q school. In becoming a spokesperson, Matthews made this statement, “The type of focus I need on the golf course is the same type of focus your child needs in the classroom or an adult needs at work. There are so many benefits to the Ready To Focus program and I strongly encourage everyone to participate and realize the same benefits I have.” He goes on to say, “This program has changed not only my professional career, but my entire life in a posi-tive way! I can’t say enough for the team at Ready To Focus and the specialized neurofeedback program they provide. They are committed to each participant and to doing everything with excellence.”

For more information contact Ready To Focus at 1-800-850-0535. www.readytofocus.com. See ad page 29.

MAJIC Concert SeriesPresents Pachora

As reviewed in the New York Times as offering “cross-cultural rhythms amid relaxed chemistry,” the Brooklyn

based Balkan/gypsy/world-folk jazz instrumental group Pachora kicks off the annual MAJIC Concert Series at Bethle-hem Church, 250 Commerce Ave in Grand Rapids on Friday, October 7, 2011 at 7pm. Pachora is an internationally known instrumental quartet that formed in NYC in the 1990s. The quartet features guitarist Brad Shepik, clarinetist Chris Speed, drummer Jim Black and bassist Skuli Sverrisson. This MAJIC (Musical Arts for Justice in the Community) is a ministry of Bethlehem Church that underwrites all of its concerts in advance and then contributes 100% of the at-the-door donations to local justice oriented organizations. The 2011-2012 season donations go to the Heartside Fund and Heartside Music Together, both organizations that work to help the poor and homeless in Grand Rapids. A free-will donation of $10 per person is suggested at the concert. The event is presented by Bethlehem Church. The music starts at 7pm. A meet the artists’ reception follows.

For more information contact Carmen Maret at 616-406-9655 or [email protected].

Volunteer Email List

Since 1968, WMEAC has served as West Michigan’s

leading voice for environmental protection. WMEAC is committed to empowering West Michigan’s citizens, businesses, institutions and organiza-tions with the tools they need to become better stewards of our environment. WMEAC has created a new system for alerting interested parties to upcoming volunteer opportunities. WMEAC is sending out a schedule of volunteer events, projects and activities every other week to its list of active volunteers (unless they request otherwise).

To sign up for this list or to update your current preferences, please use their new online volunteer signup form at wmeac.org/about/volunteer.

Andy Matthews


www.renucellusa.comOr call Toll Free Renucell Customer Service: 1-888-400-6032

For testimonials and futher information please visit our website:

Safe, Proven, Natural, Drug Free

Solution for: Psoriasis Eczema Rosacea

Severe, DryDamaged Skin

100%Customer Satisfaction

Guarantee

Manufactured in West Michigan in a FDA Licensed Facility

Only $24.95Order online and receive

a 15% discount! At checkout enter code: natural

Grown with Love

Angela Macke, R.N, Founding Director, Light of Day Organ-

ics® is shown in the photo above harvesting Feverfew with an agricultural flower comb. Macke harvests over 1500 pounds of agricultural commodities annually for use in her unique blends including Light of Day’s award winning “Creamy Earl Grey” which features Michigan-grown Blue Cornflower, Lavender and Calendula petals. She harvests many other types of small flow-ers using this time-intensive method as well, such as Lavender, Chamomile, and Calendula. Angela Macke founded Light of Day Organics Tea Company in 2004. She owns and operates Michigan’s only Demeter certified biodynamic tea farm on 25 acres. Macke continues to blend original specialty award-winning Teas and Tisanes not available in the general marketplace, while educating others about the wonderful world of ‘Cha-Do’ with a creative, highly enjoyable and memorable Grassroots style. Visit the farm store located at 3502 E. Traverse Hwy in Traverse City. You can also experience the tea locally at Global Infusion located at 143 Diamond Ave in Grand Rapids. See their ad page 10.

For more information please contact Angela Macke at Light of Day Organics at 231-228-7234 or [email protected]. www.LightOfDayOrganics.com.

October Photo Contest WinnerCongratulations to Kent Measell of Grand Rapids, Michigan. His photo was captured while walking through Huff Park in Grand Rapids. Kent will be receiving 2 Free Tickets to the John Ball Zoo. A special Thank you to the team at John Ball Zoo for providing the tickets.

To submi t your

amateur photo, email

your untouched

photo to Publisher@

NaturalWestMichigan.

com. If selected, it

will be published in

one of our monthly

issues as well as on

our Facebook page.

Include your name

& address for us to

mail you a prize for

winning.


Environmentally Friendly Michigan Candle Company Since 2004

All Natural Wax Candles

Clean burning, no soot

100% pure natural wax, free of petroleum products________________________________

Order online at www.orchardharvestcandles.com

Orchard Harvest, LLC • (616) 443-0481

Enjoy fragrance oils without an open flame with Warming Lamps.

Nature inspired fragrances or Essential Oils to enhance your mood and enliven your senses.

Wholesale & Retail

GPS BikingMapnificent Will Show the Way

Want to know how far it’s possible to travel by biking or using public transit in under 15 minutes? There’s a map for that. Mapnificent shows the areas one can reach from any point in a city at any given time. Stefan Wehrmeyer, a Berlin-based software architect, has devel-oped a tool that uses public transit data to help users decide on where to live, work or meet up. Using data

from the GTFS Data Exchange and overlaying the extracted information on a Google map, Mapnificent visualizes the reach of public transport in the selected city. This becomes especially useful for decision-making purposes, rather than trip planning. “Let’s say you found a job in San Francisco and want to move there,” Wehr-meyer explains. “Where can you live so that you need less than 30 minutes to go to your work place? Mapnificent is able to answer that question.” Mapnificent is available in public beta and can be used for major cities in the United States.

Source: TheCityFix.com

News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a

healthier, stronger society that benefits all.

globalbriefs

Reef RequiemWorld’s Coral in Dire PerilThe world’s coral reefs are dying. It doesn’t take a trained eye to see the drain-ing of color that results when the coral, stressed by heat due to global warming, expels the algae they rely upon for food that also provides their signature hue. It’s a death knell as well for reef fish. Reefs have always grappled with destructive fishing practices, sediment and nutrient runoff, coral mining, tourism and coastal development. Scientists say the bleaching process is now accelerating. The World Resources Institute reports that nearly three-quarters of all ocean reefs are at risk of extreme degradation, on top of the 20 percent already lost or damaged beyond repair. Oceanographers think that all reefs will be at risk by 2050, because of increasingly acidified seas, the result of increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Coral reefs, covering less than 1 percent of the ocean floor, harbor 25 percent of the ocean’s biodiversity and are home to more than 4,000 species of fish. In de-veloping countries, reefs account for nearly 25 percent of all fishing areas, feeding millions of people. Scientists stress that it is more important than ever to control manmade factors such as overfishing and pollution to aid in coral’s survival.

Sources: The New York Times and U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Inappropriate EatsFish Consume Plastic from Human Trash

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, as dubbed by scientists, is a region of float-ing trash in the ocean that is twice the size of Texas. It comprises plastic debris that includes toys, cups, wrappers and bottles that slowly degrade from the sun’s rays and wave action into ever-smaller fragments until fish often mistake them for food. This finding, from a new study by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, could have

serious implications for the food chain. Scientists examined 141 fish across 27 species and estimated that small fish were eating as much as 24,000 tons of plastic waste each year, mostly tidbits smaller than a fingernail, and that nearly one in 10 fish in the region had plastic in its stomach. Most fish in the study were lantern fish, which dwell at depths of 650 to 3,200 feet during the day, but then swim near the surface at night to feed on plankton, where they often gulp plastic by mistake. Small fragments of plastic could leach toxins into the fish, stunt their growth, alter reproduction or even kill them. It is unclear what impact that small, plastic-affected fish have upon larger fish that eat them, and ultimately on hu-man fish-eaters.

Appliance AwarenessHome Electronics Getting GreenerGreenpeace has compiled their third annual survey of the “greenest” home electronics products from 18 compa-nies in seven categories—desktops, laptops, netbooks, mobile phones, tele-visions, monitors and smart phones—based on their environmental impact (tinyurl.com/23pxpsc). Considerations included hazardous substances, power consumption, product lifecycle (re-cycling potential) and innovation in marketing (carbon footprint). The survey found a significant overall reduction in the use of hazard-ous chemicals since last year, with more products made without toxic polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated fire retardant (BFR). The use of phthalates, beryllium and antimony (heavy metals) and their associated compounds also went down in every category. Almost all products submitted for the survey met or exceeded the current Energy Star standards established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. However, one conclusion of the report is that companies seemed to put more effort into improving the overall energy efficiency of operating their products rather than reducing the embedded energy, or carbon footprint, involved in manufacturing them. Lifecycle management continues to be the weakest eco-link when it comes to electronics production. The researchers found little use of recycled plastic, take-back practices, and mar-keting efforts aimed to prevent rapid obsolescence.

Source: Greenpeace

Water WizScience Project Saves a GusherOut of the mouths of babes sometimes comes great wisdom. Seven-year-old Mason Perez won a school science fair in Reno, Nevada, for his project address-ing water usage efficiency. Now, two years later, the principles he outlined have been used to save his city tens of thousands of gallons of water. The Reno Gazette-Journal reports that the boy’s inspiration came from an experience in a baseball field restroom, where he found the pressure of the sink’s faucet excessive. He turned it down and it still worked fine. For the project, Perez used a bucket and a stopwatch to mea-sure water flow at several residences. By reducing the pressure while maintaining usability, he recorded savings of up to 24 percent. He repeated his experiments at several local businesses with the same positive results. Because the default position for valves in new construction is often 100 percent open, it is a simple procedure to adjust them to achieve a more efficient rate. Perez convinced the ballpark’s man-ager to try it, resulting in a 20 percent water savings for the municipal facility. The local utility, Truckee Meadows Water Authority, is now assessing whether the idea can be implemented in other parks, public schools, casinos and private homes.

Source: Treehugger.com


Surprise PackagesRecycled Cardboard Holds

Hidden DangerThe scientific peer review journal Packaging Technol-

ogy and Science recently reported on a study in Zurich, Switzerland, showing that harmful mineral oils from printing

inks used on cardboard can migrate into food if recycled cardboard is used for food packaging. The oils may contami-nate food even if the recycled cardboard is used for the cor-rugated card transport box that holds individual packs.

Researchers found that food rapidly absorbed 10 times the recommended limit for concentration of these contaminating oils from a transport box. The food studied

had a two-year shelf life, so it is possible the absorbed amount could increase even more over time. Even if the food was contained

in new, clean paperboard boxes—printed with inks free of mineral oil and wrapped by a polyethylene film—mineral oils from the corrugated cardboard transport box far exceeded the limit deemed safe. Manufacturers could introduce functional barriers such as internal bags to prevent the migration of mineral oil, or line the boxes with special plastics. The technology and the recyclability of lined paperboard, however, still needs to be tested. Many companies have changed their packaging materials to fresh fiber paperboard printed with inks free of mineral oil, but are still using recycled card in the corrugated board transport boxes.

Source: Wiley

globalbriefs

No NukesGermany to Shutter All Reactors by 2022German Chancellor Angela Merkel has committed to shutting down all 17 of Germany’s nuclear reactors by 2022. Eight will be permanently switched off by the end of this year, including seven that were disconnected for safety inspec-tions in March. The country plans to compensate for the closures with a plan to reduce electricity consumption by 10 percent and double the share of renewable energy sources to 35 percent by 2020. A new report from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and the Internation-al Institute for Applied System Analysis revealed that Europe’s overall renewable energy capacity rose 30 percent in 2010. European Union Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger said that Germany could achieve its goals only if it also invests in better grid infrastructure, storage capacity and forward planning, as well as more renewable energies. Merkel de-fended the decision, saying, “Our energy system has to be fundamentally changed and can be fundamentally changed. We want the electricity of the future to be safer and at the same time, reliable and economical.”

Source: BusinessGreen.com

I AM A BIONEER

I AM A BIONEERConferenCe

oCt. 14-16, 2011Bioneers promote practical environmental solutions and innovative social strategies

for restoring the earth’s ecosystems and healing our

human communities.

food . film . families . music art . workshops . speakers

www.glbconference.org231.947.0312 [email protected]

G r e at L a k e s

bioneerst r a v e r s e C i t y


Household Chemicals May Pose Risk for Breast Cancer

A study recently published in the journal Environmental Health reports that frequent use of common household

cleaning products may increase a woman’s risk for breast can-cer. The study was undertaken by the Silent Spring Institute, a partnership of scientists, physicians, public health advo-cates and community activists dedicated to identifying links between the environment and women’s health, especially breast cancer. Researchers conducted telephone interviews

with 787 women diagnosed with breast cancer and 721 comparison women, questioning them about their product use, beliefs about breast cancer causes, and established and suspected risk factors. Executive Director Julia G. Brody, Ph.D., says, “Women who reported the highest combined cleaning product use had a doubled risk of breast cancer com-pared to those with the lowest reported use. Use of air fresheners and products for mold and mildew control were associated with increased risk. To our knowledge, this is the first published report on cleaning product use and the risk of breast can-cer.” The use of insect repellents was also associated with increased risk.

healthbriefs

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The Science Behind an Apple a DayAccording to Bahram H. Arjmandi, Ph.D., a

registered dietician and chair of the Depart-ment of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences at Florida State University, there is scientific truth in the adage, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” The nationally recognized nutrition researcher, a Margaret A. Sitton professor, maintains that apples are a “miracle fruit,” providing health benefits beyond fiber. Earlier animal studies have shown that the pectin and polyphenols in apples improve lipid metabolism and lower the production of pro-inflammatory mol-ecules. Arjmandi’s new study is the first to evaluate the long-term cardio-protective effects of eating apples daily. He randomly assigned 160 women, ages 45 to 65, to one of two dietary intervention groups: one received 75 grams of dried apples each day (the equivalent of four or five fresh apples); the other ate dried prunes. Arjmandi reports surprising results: “Incredible changes in the apple-eating women happened by six months—they experienced a 23 percent decrease in LDL [bad] cholesterol.” Daily apple consumption also led to lower levels of C-reactive protein, which is known to trigger inflammation in the body. In another unexpect-ed benefit, the apple-eaters lost an average of 3.3 pounds.

Source: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

CAUTIONARY NEWS ABOUT CALCIUMNew research published online in

the British Medical Journal adds to mounting evidence that calcium supplements may increase the risk of cardiovascular events, particularly heart attacks, in postmenopausal women. Many older women take calcium supplements to manage osteoporosis, but after re-analyzing data on 16,718 women participating in the seven-year Women’s Health Initiative Calcium/Vitamin D Supplementation Study, researchers at the University of Auck-land, in New Zealand, now urge reas-sessment of calcium prescriptions to maintain bone health. Their metastudy showed that postmeno-pausal women that took combined cal-cium and vitamin D supplements had increased risk of heart attacks.

SAFFLOWER OIL — GOOD FOR THE HEARTSafflower oil, a common cook-

ing oil, may help improve insulin sensitivity, lower inflammation and blood sugar levels, and elevate HDL (good) cholesterol in overweight women with Type 2 diabetes, accord-ing to new research from Ohio State University. The study also revealed that the oil helps reduce abdominal fat, which is linked to an increased risk of heart disease. The findings in-dicate that a daily dietary dose of one and two-thirds teaspoons is sufficient for a person to benefit from the oil’s health-protective effects.


Antibiotics not an Answer for Asthmatic KidsA new study led by researchers at the

University of California, San Francisco, reveals that some antibiotics may be over-prescribed for children with asthma. Of the 5,198 outpatient visits included in the analy-sis, antibiotics were routinely ordered during nearly one in six visits, although national health guidelines do not currently recom-mend them as a therapy. However, when best practices for treating asthma and preventing attacks were discussed by pediatricians during office visits, patients were less likely to re-ceive antibiotic prescriptions. The researchers suggest that doctors spend more time educat-ing their patients about alternatives, as well as potential side effects of the drugs. According to Dr. Kris De Boeck, from the University Hospital of Leuven, in Belgium, the side effects from overuse of antibiotics may include compromised immune systems, potentially worse asthma symptoms and the spread of antibiotic-resistant “superbugs.”

Source: Pediatrics and Reuters Health

GARLIC IS KIND TO CARTILAGENew research from King’s College

London and the University of East Anglia, in Norwich, England, reveals yet another healing benefit of garlic. The scientists discovered that women that consume a diet high in garlic and other allium vegetables, such as onions and leeks, experience less hip osteoarthritis.

PFCs Linked to Early Menopause

In the largest study ever done on the effects of per-fluorocarbons (PFCs) on women’s hormone systems,

West Virginia University researchers found in blood tests that higher levels of these manmade chemicals are associated with early menopausal symptoms in females aged 42 to 64. Premature menopause has been linked to a variety of health problems, includ-ing cardiovascular disease. Researchers collected data from 25,957 women, measuring serum concentration levels of PFCs and the female hormone estradiol, and reported a definite association between PFC exposure, decreased estra-diol and early menopause. Women with high blood levels of PFCs also had significantly lower concentra-tions of estrogen, compared with peers showing low levels of the chemicals. PFCs are found in many common household

products, including food containers, clothing, furniture, carpets and paints. Their broad use has resulted in widespread dissemination in water, air, soil, plant life, animals and humans, even in remote parts of the world. A probability sample of U.S. adults conducted by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found measurable concentrations of PFCs in 98 percent of the participants tested.

Source: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism

A SECRET TO LONGEVITYA review of more than 160 studies

has established compelling evi-dence that happy people tend to live longer and experience better health than their unhappy peers. One study that followed nearly 5,000 university students for more than 40 years found those that were the most pessimistic as students tended to die first. An even longer-term study that tracked 180 Catholic nuns from early adulthood to old age revealed that those that wrote positive autobiographies in their early 20s tended to outlive the nuns that wrote more negative accounts of their young lives.

Source: Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being.


NAN Members receive discounts from Network Providers. Memberships for NAN will be available later this month!!

Welcome New Network Providers

A Healing Touch Therapeutic Massage ~ Aesthetica Image Group/Amy Worst ~ Affordable Nutrition ~ Bellaroma Boutique ~ Burcon Chiropractic ~ Center for Healthy Living ~ Clear Connections Chiropractic

~ Curves for Women (Hart) ~ Depsyl ~ East West Karate ~ Elder & Sage ~ Fruitport Chiropractic ~ Healthy For Life ~ Holistic Health Options GR ~ Hop Scotch Children’s Store ~ Infinite Healthcare Partners, LLC (Renucell)

~ Integrative Nutritional Therapies ~ International Wellness Partners- Irv Marcus ~ Irv Marcus Acupuncture ~ It Works! ~ Jan Atwood, LLC ~ Keeki Pure & Simple ~ Ladybug Baby Organics, LLC

~ London Studios-Ashley Woods ~ Making Thyme Kitchen ~ MI Clinical Massage ~ Mom’s Healthy Market ~ Moxie Beauty & Hair Parlor ~ Natural Health 4 Today ~ Norwex- Stephanie Holleman ~ Orchard Harvest ~ Rehab Your Body ~ Self Realization Centre ~ Serendipidity Wellness ~ Seva Yoga ~ Soles of Michigan

~ Subtle Energies ~ Susan Pavlik ~ Teri Genovese Photography ~ The Chirofit Wellness Center ~ The Yoga Studio ~ Thrive Chiropractic Center, PLC ~ Thrive Coaching Alliance

~ Upper Cervical Chiropractic of Michigan ~ Warren Nutrition ~ Wholistic Kinesiology Health Services, LLC ~ Wilcox Family Chiropractic ~With Open Hands Therapeutic Massage

*Restrictions May Apply to Discounts* Visit www.NaturalAwakeningsNetwork.com for Discounts & Details.

dlh Concepts-$5000 off any new home construction

Global Infusion -$5 off a purchase of $25 or more

Happy Bums-10% off an order of $75 or more

Hazelnut Kids-10% off with code

Health Hutt:: 3 Locations-20% off supplements

Health Path-20% discount

Home Grown Hydroponix-10% off entire bill

Laketown Healing Arts- $10 off Massage Services of 60 or 90 Minutes. 20% off all Yoga Classes or Purchase a Pack-age of 4 or more Yoga Classes and get One

Class Free.

Midwest Massage & Salon II-15% off

Northland Counseling Center, PLLC-20% Discount on Reiki & Tibetan Bowl Healing

and on Workshops provided by Bonnie Cripe

Organic Element Salon-20% off Products and Services

The Health Store-10% off

Walker Ice and Fitness-5% discount on proshop purchases of $15 or

more. Buy 1 Get 1 Free Skate

We Care 4 U-15% off Regular 2 Hour or More Visits Provided

During 12 Consecutive Months

White River Yoga-20% discount on class fees


YogaMasters of

Call to be a part of this exclusive directory 616.656.9232

Pilatesand

www.expressionsofgraceyoga.com5270 Northland Drive NE | Grand Rapids, MI 49525 | 616-361-8580

Practice Yoga Overlooking Versluis Lake

yoga with a view

Third CoastYoga Studio

17403 Taft St. ♦ Spring Lake, MI 49456www.thirdcoastyoga.com

616•844•9074

Elevate Your Life!♦ Hatha & Kundalini classes♦ Gong Meditation♦ Teacher Training♦ Yoga Therapy Registered Yoga School

yogazumba®

pilatesmassage

8724 Ferry St. in Montaguewww.whiteriveryoga.com

231-740-6662


New classes

begin October 31

955 Cherry S.E.Grand Rapids, MI 49506

(616) 776-0836

for schedule & registration

www.gryoga.com

Ablution SolutionWater-Saving Bathroom TipsThere’s a regular waterworks in modern bath-rooms—sinks, commode, tub, shower—maybe even a bidet. All are necessary sanitation fixtures, but need to be used properly to avoid wasting pre-cious water and processing extra waste. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirms that bathroom activities account for more than half of indoor water use.

n First, find and fix any possible plumbing leaks from pipes, faucets, flappers, valves and drains that can run up the water bill, even when no one is home. Then consider replacing aerators on faucets to reduce water flow, but not pressure, for a tiny cost with big returns. An EPA WaterSense label indicates a wise choice.

n Toilets use 30 percent of bathroom water, so make sure household utility bills aren’t paying the high cost of an old-fashioned (1990s or older) 3.5- to 7-gallons-per-flush type; modern fixtures use about a gallon-and-a-half. Dual-flush toilets (for number one and number two) save even more. Universal conversion kits are affordably priced.

n Chuck the commode altogether and switch to a composting toilet. It may seem radical and expensive, but will also use less water and even process the waste onsite (more details at tinyurl.com/37swkz).

n A low-flow showerhead makes a big difference. Start with a test: Fill up a gallon bucket at full pressure; if it takes more than 20 seconds, it’s a low-flow device. Because nobody wants to walk into a cold shower, most people tend to wastefully let the water run a bit first. Fortunately, gadgets such as Showerstart are available that cut any water flow to a trickle as soon as it gets hot, which saves water and also signals that the water has warmed up.

n The EPA estimates that a shower uses 10 to 25 gallons, compared to 70 gal-lons for a bath, so save the more water-intensive rub-a-dub-dub for a special occasion—perhaps with some bath salts, candles and music.

n Alter personal habits to shower more quickly and turn off the tap between wet-ting and rinsing; the same goes for hand washing, tooth brushing and shaving.

Visit Water Sense online at tinyurl.com/y9b9j5b.

ecotip

We forget that the water cycle and the life cycle are one. ~Jacques-Yves Cousteau


inspiration

When we asked global moral leaders—“Do

we have a responsibility to leave for the future a world as rich in possibil-ity as our own?”—we received an outpouring of essays, articles, prayers and letters—all calling the world to action. The resulting book, Moral Ground: Ethical Action for a Planet in Peril, shares the compelling testimony of more than 80 visionaries—theologians and religious leaders, scientists, elected officials, business leaders, naturalists, activ-ists and writers—calling for a moral response to current climate change that is right, just and worthy of us as moral beings. The motives vary: for the sake of the children; for the survival of humankind; because justice demands it; because compassion asks it; because we are called to be stewards of God’s creation. Whatever world view, religion and values an individual brings to the question, there is reason to act. Consider the American Revolu-tion, the emancipation of slaves and the Civil Rights movement, each driven by deeply held and widely shared moral convictions. Today’s climate crisis cre-ates such a historical moment. But only if we grasp the moral urgency of the de-cision now upon us can we individually and collectively meet the challenge. We hear the arguments: I’m just one person; it may already be too late;

INDIVIDUAL INTEGRITYEmbracing the Moral Imperative to Protect Earth

by Kathleen Dean Moore

Climate destabilization and environmental degradation are scientific, technological and economic issues, to be sure. But they are also fundamentally and primarily moral issues that call for a moral response.

the forces against us are strong; there’s really no hope of making a differ-ence, so I won’t bother trying. But it’s a mistake to believe that we have only two options: to act in hope or to abdicate all moral agency in despair. Between the two extremes, a huge middle ground exists—call it integrity—where we have the power to shape

our lives to embody our most profound sense of what is right and worthy. There is joy and liberation in wak-ing up each morning affirming, “I have power over my decisions. I refuse to do what I know is wrong and will divest myself of the things I don’t believe in. By living with integrity and joining with others in communities of caring, I will create with my life a new definition of success and happiness.” We can’t count on inventors, scientists or politicians to save us. What will save us are our singular human ca-pabilities: to celebrate and to grieve; to love our children and the astonishing, beautiful Earth; to honor justice; and ultimately, to imagine how to live in a better way. We are called upon today to participate in the greatest global exer-cise of the moral imagination the world has ever seen.

Kathleen Dean Moore is co-editor of Moral Ground and author of Wild Comfort: The Solace of Nature. For more information, visit MoralGround.com.

Call Clara: 616.698.6148www.NaturalHealth4Today.com

http://claravanderzouwen.norwex.biz

Imagine using only water to clean your home! Chemical free cleaning

with Norwex products from Natural Health 4 Today.

October Special- 20% Off Window Cleaning Pack


A Lakota proverb says, “With all things and in all things, we are relatives.”

In 2006, a group of friends and families concerned about the impoverished Lakota Sioux of Pine Ridge Reservation took this sentiment to heart. They collected food, clothing and household goods and delivered them to Pine Ridge residents to help them get through the winter. This quickly became an annual event, and the Gathering Thunder Foundation (GTF) was formed. Based in Rockford, Michigan, the GTF’s goal is to promote the health and welfare of the Lakota, as well as working with the tribe to help preserve their Native American culture. Considering the dire conditions tribe members live under, it is shockingly apparent that their well-being and their sacred traditions are under siege. Established in 1868 with the Fort Laramie Treaty, Pine Ridge Reservation is located in southwestern South Dakota. As the second largest reservation in the country, Pine Ridge is approximately the size of the state of Connecticut with an estimated population of 40,000. Half are registered as Oglala Lakota Sioux tribal members. With few paved roads and no public transportation available, access to the outside world is extremely limited. The nearest large city - and the closest public airport and bus line - are 120 miles away. And while Pine Ridge’s 2.7 million acres include prairie, grassland hills and the stark beauty of the Badlands, the reservation has no natural resources. The alarming statistics for Pine Ridge serve as compelling motivation for all GTF volunteers. Roughly 97% of residents live below national poverty levels. Unemployment is 85% with an an-nual median income between $2600-$3500. The teenage suicide rate is 150 times higher than anywhere else in the nation. And since reservation schools place in the bottom 10% of U.S. Dept. of Education funding, it should not be surprising that Pine Ridge has a 70% school dropout rate. A teacher turnover rate 800% greater than the national average has only worsened these statistics. Health problems are of Third World proportions. Adequate medical treatment can only be found in distant urban areas, leaving far too many Pine Ridge residents with no health care at all. USDA Rural Development figures show that the Lakota have the lowest life expectancy of any group in the country: 48 years for men, 52 years for women. Pine Ridge’s rate of tuberculosis is 800% higher than the national average; its cervical cancer rate, 500% higher. Nearly half the adult age population suffers from diabetes. And infant mortality stands at 30%, the highest in North America. Although the sale and/or possession of alcohol have been banned on the reservation since the 1970s, the Nebraska border town of Whiteclay operates a lucrative business selling liquor. This has led to widespread alcoholism in Pine Ridge with an alcohol related death rate 300% higher than any other group in the U.S. Another critical threat to the lives of Pine Ridge residents is inadequate housing. A quarter of the population lives in deterio-rating mobile homes. The homeless seek shelter in tents or aban-doned cars. More than half of reservation houses are judged to be substandard; over a third are without electricity, running water or a sewage system. Even worse, an average of 17 people are estimated to live in a typical two bedroom Pine Ridge family home. Because so many houses are without central heating or sufficient insulation, the threat of hypothermia is ever present. Propane gas is the most

by Sharon Pisacreta

GATHERING THUNDER FOUNDATION

common form of heating, but its high cost often forces families to choose between food and heat. Due to the desperate need for adequate heating during the sub-zero winters, the GTF runs a program that helps families heat their homes and keep their electricity on. Because the GTC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, 100% of donor contributions to the Electric & Propane Program go directly to utility companies on behalf of the families. The GTF also works in conjunction with One Spirit Foundation to provide firewood for heating and to assist them with their Food Pantry for the Reservation. Donations to the food program enable delivery of food boxes to families and older residents who are in immediate need. The GTF further assists this effort by sending donations to One Spirit that help pay for monthly fresh fruit, meat and vegetable deliveries. Because every dollar donated to GTF goes directly to help the Pine Ridge communities, the Foundation’s board of directors absorbs all administrative costs. This past September, teams of volunteers from Michigan and Indiana worked together to fill a semi-trailer with school supplies, food, clothing, furniture and household goods for Pine Ridge. Cash donations helped defray the cost of fuel necessary for the truck’s annual ‘Run for the Rez’. The GTF’s mission is carried out with the help of tribal leaders and volunteers. Currently, the GTF is working with tribal elders and representatives to purchase a children’s safe shelter, which will be officially known as the Gather Our Children Home. Many babies and children must be taken from families where substance abuse, neglect or violence is endangering them, and a safe, loving, temporary foster home is desperately needed in the community. Another project the GTF is working to bring to fruition is the Rita Little Boy Cultural Center in the Porcupine District of Pine Ridge. When it is complete, the Center will provide medical care as well as substance abuse and suicide prevention counseling. As the first Cultural Center on the reservation, it will also serve as a place where the Lakota language, culture and spiritual traditions can be preserved and taught to future generations. And for the third straight year, the GTF is a sponsor for the 2011 Lakota Dakota Nakota Language Summit in Rapid City, South Dakota. Located a little over a hundred miles from Mt. Rushmore, the reservation is as hidden away and forgotten by the world as Mt. Rushmore is celebrated. But while Rushmore stands as a symbol of national pride, Pine Ridge is a shameful example of the failure of U.S. government Indian policy. By working to support the people of Pine Ridge, the Gathering Thunder Foundation exemplifies the Lakota proverb, which reminds us that we are, after all, members of one tribe, one family. To learn more about the Gathering Thunder Foundation, volunteer or make a tax-deductible donation, visit www.gather-ingthunderfoundation.org/ or call 888-407-7702. And for a vivid depiction of Pine Ridge, check out the website of award winning photojournalist Aaron Huey at http://www.aaronhuey.com/#/photo-galleries-1/pine-ridge/Rez_web_016.

Sharon Pisacreta is a long-time freelance writer who lives in Saugatuck-Douglas. She is also the editor of the online site lakeeffectliving.com. Sharon may be contacted at [email protected].


What do dis-tinguished athletes

like Jerry Rice, a Hall of Fame retired wide receiver and three-time Super Bowl champion, and Lance Armstrong, a former professional road racing cyclist and seven-time Tour de France winner, have in common? To withstand the rigors and intensity of each of their sports, these champions have both used the services of a chi-ropractic doctor skilled in chiropractic sports sciences and rehabilitation. As more athletes discover that chiropractic care goes beyond reha-bilitation benefits to further enhance performance, they are coming to rely on it as a tool to support the healthy structure and functioning of their skeletal and muscular system. A 2002 study pub-lished in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics noted that 31

percent of National Football League teams include chiropractors on their staff. Doctor of Chiro-practic Jeff Ludwick

assists players of the Harrisburg Stam-pede, a semi-professional Pennsylvania football team. “Improper spinal align-ment creates muscular imbalances and nerve interferences,” advises Ludwick, owner of Camp Hill Family Chiroprac-tic, in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. “With properly aligned skeletal and nervous systems, an athlete’s body doesn’t have to work as hard,” which is why team members receive spinal adjustments before hitting the field for this high-impact sport. Ludwick notes that football is known for stressing hip joints, because when a player’s hip turns out even a few degrees, especially from sudden changes in direction, falling or violent

contact with another player, tendons and muscles become tighter on one side than the other. “Chiropractic adjustments anticipate and prevent this, so that the body doesn’t have to waste energy compensating for imbalances,” he explains. Traditionally, chiropractic care is known for focusing on postural adjust-ments to minimize abnormal stresses and strains that affect the function of the nervous system and act on joints and spinal tissues. But active exercises and stretches, extension traction and ergonomic education are frequently added as preventive protocols to help athletes avert injury.

Cause and EffectsThe spinal cord operates like a switch-board for the body, transferring electri-cal impulses via a network of nerves. It works properly as long as there is no in-terference between the brain and tissue cells. But when nerve endings swell due to misaligned vertebrae, injury is more likely. Research reported in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine and The Physi-cian and Sportsmedicine indicates that chiropractic sports science helps find and correct the underlying causes, and thus helps prevent and heal injuries. During one research project, Chung Ha Suh, Ph.D., and his team at the University of Colorado demon-strated that even, “minuscule amounts of pressure on a nerve root (equal to a feather falling on the hand), resulted in up to a 50 percent decrease in electri-cal transmission down the course of the nerve supplied by that root.” The resulting biomechanical misalignment causes a domino effect: It exerts abnor-mal pressure on the nerve root, causes interference in the brain’s impulses to tissue cells, and alters the performance of any muscles and organs that the nerve serves. Chiropractic Physician Jay Swee-ney, owner of San Antonio Family Alternative Medicine, in Texas, uses functional neurology to “send a bar-rage of neurologically correct signals through the nervous system straight into the brain” in order to promote the balance, stability and coordination that enhance athletic performance and help prevent injuries.

AliGNiNG FOR FITNESSChiropractic Care Prevents Injury, Boosts Performance

by Linda Sechrist

fitbody

October is National Chiropractic

Health Month


Dr. Nicole Galiette, owner of Chiropractic & Rehabilitation Center, in Cheshire, Connecticut, believes that her expertise as a marathon runner helps to guard athlete clients from fatigue and stress that affect joints as a result of repetitive motions. “In any sport, there is a tendency to use one side, one joint or one movement more than others,” advises Galiette. For example, cyclists and runners’ repetitive stress injuries most often occur in the knees and back, while swimmers and baseball pitchers experience them in the shoulders. When Galiette treats cyclists that overwork their leg muscles and lean forward in an awkward spi-nal position for extended periods, she emphasizes strengthening exercises. “Injuries that heal properly are less sus-ceptible to future flare-ups,” she notes. “Anyone that pushes their body hard needs to be in proper alignment, to keep the muscular system balanced,” Galiette asserts. “Strengthening the muscles around body mechanisms that are most frequently used means that the integrity of the surrounding structures won’t be compromised and cause other problems.”

Linda Sechrist is a senior writer and editor for Natural Awakenings.

Life is like a 10 speed bicycle.Most of us have gears we never use.

~Charles M. SchultzFind us at NaturallyWestMI


greenliving

No business owner relishes spend-ing extra money for something that won’t immediately pay

for itself with increased revenue, and greening one’s operations is such an endeavor. However, one common misperception is that going green costs money that cuts into the bottom line, when in fact, some options will end up saving money, adding to profits or making it possible to offer lower-priced products and services than the competi-tion. Here’s how:

1Integrate green into the business plan: Start designing green elements

into any business from day one or as soon as possible.

2 Write an environmental mission statement: Craft a green mission

statement, display it prominently and

review it periodically. Having a clear vision helps to define being green and communicate it to customers.

3 Join green business groups: Use green business networks to learn

from others or to form partnerships or collaborate. In an effective network, any associated cost will likely pay for itself through increased knowledge, customers and collaboration.

4 Appoint a sustainability director: Make one person with authority re-

sponsible for coordinating green efforts, tracking results and being accountable for increasing sustainability.

5 Practice green marketing: Add digital messaging to the mix, using

social media, a blog and banner adver-tising. The Internet provides a real-time

How to GreeN A BusiNess

Simple Steps to an Eco-Friendly Bottom Line

by Derek Markham


© 2009 Robert Rose Inc.; all rights reserved.

network for communicating with busi-ness stakeholders.

6 Operate a green office: Take office supplies, materials and space to the

next green level by making eco-friendly choices, which may mean eliminat-ing some items entirely. For example, replace disposables with a durable or permanent equivalent.

7 Choose renewable energy: Power operations with renewable energy or

invest in alternative options.

8 Choose green communications: Explore obtaining telephone and In-

ternet services from a green or socially responsible company. Use teleconfer-encing or video calls to reduce trans-portation and explore the many free options available, such as Skype.

9 Implement paperless banking and billing: Choose electronic bank

statements, invoices and billing for sup-pliers and utilities. Use the computer to send and receive faxes instead of producing printed copies.

10 Green the air: Clean indoor air by using live plants. Install an air

filtration system to protect employees and customers.

11 Clean green: Purchase eco-friend-ly alternatives for cleaning and

maintaining the office and manufactur-ing sites; a greener alternative exists for just about any related need.

12 Build a culture that’s conducive to reusing and recycling: Making

both the norm means such initiatives will flourish without having to continu-ally change people’s habits.

13 Encourage alternative transpor-tation: Give employees incen-

tives to carpool or ride bikes. Provide telecommuting options.

14 Source from green suppliers: Investigate sourcing options and

give more weight to green businesses. Purchasing from a green business doesn’t always mean extra cost, and might make more sense overall.

15 Use local materials and services: Local sourcing helps eliminate

excess transportation, while also sup-porting the community.

16 Find new materials: Investigate non-obvious alternatives. The

greener option may not have a much higher cost, and might also be used as a green marketing hook.

17 Conduct a life-cycle assessment: Current manufacturing processes

might include unnecessary steps or materials; assessing product life cycles can identify cost or time savings.

18 Combine processes: Analyze how combining two or more

operations may save time, money and energy.

19 Maintain equipment at maxi-mum efficiency: Regularly clean

equipment fans and filters and stick to a maintenance schedule. Well-main-tained equipment delivers increased efficiency and prolonged life.

20 Use waste: Can any waste be used in any way as a resource?

21 Make something green: Take an everyday item and create a

green version of it. New niches pop up all the time.

22 Collect rainwater: Install recy-cling equipment to irrigate land-

scaping. Find used, 55-gallon drums instead of purchasing new containers, and practice xeriscaping to decrease water requirements indoors and out.

Going green in business can go hand-in-hand with making more money, through cost savings, increased sales or both. Communicating your green messages also helps create compelling arguments for customers to choose to do business with you, and might just lead to opening up new markets for your products or services.

Derek Markham is a regular contributor to GreenMarketing.tv, the basis for this piece. Connect through his website at NaturalPapa.com.


The American Pet Products Association estimates that about 33 percent of U.S. households own at least one cat, equating to more than 90 million potential pet predators, placing songbirds—and the people who love them—at a distinct disadvantage. Along with their musical contributions, songbirds provide natural pest control and help disperse seeds. Birds are also a source of food for natural predators. Placing domestic cats in the mix presents a cruel challenge that many birds simply are not prepared to handle. “The world’s wildlife population of birds hasn’t evolved to deal with domesticated cats,” confirms Toby Goldberg, pro-grams coordinator for the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, in California. “Songbirds don’t have many defenses against a cat, and cats are extremely adept predators.” Feral cats add another menacing threat to bird popula-tions. The National Audubon Society estimates that the United States is home to about 40 million feral or free-range cats, and a shaky economy may be contributing more homeless cats to that number. Audubon further estimates that birds constitute 20 to 30 percent of a feral or free-range cat’s diet; even well-fed feral cats treated in trap-neuter-release programs continue to negatively impact bird populations. To help protect bird populations, the American Bird Con-servancy (ABC) has created a Cats Indoors campaign (abcbirds.

org/cats) that targets domestic cat owners. The benefits for cat lovers who keep tabby inside include added protection from the risk of poisoning, disease and injury, including the threat of being hit by a car. For these reasons and more, keeping house cats indoors may add years to their lifespan. In an article for PetPlace.com, Dr. Dawn

Ruben reports that indoor cats generally live 12 to 18 years, compared to an outdoor domestic feline life span of about five years. Seabrook states that keeping cats indoors is the best advice, but admits that it isn’t always practical. As the owner of three indoor cats himself, Goldberg offers a few solutions. For cat owners who insist on letting their felines commune with nature, Goldberg recommends

attaching a bell to the cat’s collar as an early warning system and cat-proofing the yard. Hardware or gardening stores offer fence attachments that will prevent cats from escaping to neighboring areas. Adding a plant with thorns around bird feeders also may deter these lethal hunters. Sadly, she admits that most outdoor options provide only short-term relief. “In

the end, the cats are going to outsmart you,” Goldberg notes. “I had a cat that could silence her bell. I have no idea how she did this, but she repeatedly managed to sneak up on birds.” So, Goldberg chose to create fun indoor spaces to satisfy her cats’ need to wander about and pounce. “I live in a small, one-bedroom apartment, and my interior design style is Pampered Cat,” she smiles. “My cats are happy and healthy and they always have lots to do.”

Morieka Johnson is a freelance writer in Atlanta, GA. Reach her at [email protected].

Any cat owner who has received a “gift bird” on the doorstep has firsthand knowledge of the prowess of fe-line hunters. Beyond stalking indoor prey such as socks,

dust bunnies and balled paper, some pet owners indulge their pets with time outdoors. But that outside entertainment is often devastating to wild bird populations. While it’s difficult to determine exact numbers, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation estimates that domestic and feral cats likely kill hundreds of millions of songbirds and other avian species each year. According to foundation sources, about 25 percent of the nation’s 836 protected bird species are known to be at risk due to real estate development, rising use of pesticides and cats. Diminishing populations of well-known bird species have long caused concern among nature lovers around the country. “Housecats are regarded as one of the serious problems for birds, especially songbirds,” says Charles Seabrook, a nature writer and columnist with The Atlanta Journal-Consti-tution. As just one example: “About 40 years ago, you would often see field species like bobwhite quail and bobolinks around here. Now I don’t think Georgia birdwatchers have counted a bobwhite quail in years.”

wAtcH tHAt cAt!Roaming Felines Make Life Hard for Birds

by Morieka V. Johnson

encouraging a domestic cat’s wish to get in touch

with its wild side by letting it roam outside can have

a wretched downside.

naturalpet


newsbriefs

October 16 is National Feral Cat Day

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) estimates that there

are 50 million stray and feral cats, also known as community cats, in this country. Strays are former pets that es-caped their home or were left behind by people. Feral cats—the offspring of strays or other feral cats—are typically afraid of people. They may roam alone or live in groups populated in large part by related females. “Feral kittens that are younger than eight weeks have a good chance of being tamed and adopted,” advises Nancy Peterson, cat programs manager for the HSUS. “People can help stray and feral cats using a strategy known as Trap-Neuter-Return. TNR involves catching the cats in special no-harm traps, and then having a veterinarian vaccinate them against diseases and spay or neuter them, which keeps them from having more kittens,” says Peterson. She notes that the veteri-narian also clips the tip of one ear to indicate that the cat has already been spayed or neutered.

For helpful information and commu-nity events, visit HumaneSociety.org/issues/feral_cats and AlleyCat.org/nfcd.

Source: Cat and Crow – an Amazing Friendship, by Lisa Fleming


Cheap and seemingly abundant, water is so common that it’s hard to believe we could ever

run out of it. Ever since the Apollo 8 astronauts photographed Earth from space in 1968, we’ve had the image of our home as a strikingly blue planet, a place of great water wealth. But of all the water on Earth, only about 2.5 percent is fresh—and two-thirds of that is locked up in glaciers and ice caps. Less than one hundredth of 1 percent of Earth’s water is fresh and available. Across the United States and around the world, we’re already reaching or overshooting the limits of Earth’s natural replenishment of fresh water through the hydrologic cycle. The Colorado and Rio Grande rivers are now so over-tapped that they discharge little or no water into the sea for months at a time. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the massive Ogallala Aquifer, which spans parts of eight states, from southern South Dakota to northwest Texas, and provides 30 percent of the groundwa-ter used for irrigation in the country, is steadily being depleted. In much of the

For at least three decades, Americans have talked about our uncertain energy future, but we’ve mostly ignored another worrisome crisis—water.

world, we’re growing food and supplying water to communities by over-pumping groundwater. This creates a potential crisis in the food economy: We are meeting some of today’s food needs with tomorrow’s water.

The Changing Climate EquationDue to climate change, we may no lon-ger be able to count on familiar patterns of rain and snow and river flow to refill our urban reservoirs, irrigate our farms and power our dams. While farmers in the Midwest were recovering from the spring flood of 2008 (in some areas, the second “100-year flood” in 15 years), farmers in California and Texas allowed cropland to lie fallow and sent cattle to early slaughter to cope with the drought of 2009. In the Southeast, after 20 months of dryness, then-Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue stood outside the state capitol in November 2007 and led a prayer for rain. Two years later, he was pleading instead for federal aid, after in-

tense rainfall near Atlanta caused mas-sive flooding that claimed eight lives. This year again saw record regional precipitation, this time producing epic flooding in the Mississippi and Missouri river basins. Climate scientists warn of more extreme droughts and floods and changing precipitation patterns that will continue to make weather, storms and natural disasters more severe and less predictable. As a policy forum in the journal Science notes, the historical data and statistical tools used to plan billions of dollars worth of annual glob-al investment in dams, flood control structures, diversion projects and other big pieces of water infrastructure are no longer reliable. Yet today’s decisions about using, allocating and managing water will determine the survival of most of the planet’s species, including our own.

Shifting CourseFor most of modern history, water man-agement has focused on bringing water under human control and transferring it to expanding cities, industries and farms via dams, large water-transfer projects and wells that tap underground aquifers. Major water programs have al-lowed cities like Phoenix and Las Vegas to thrive in the desert, the expansion of world food production, and rising living standards for hundreds of millions. But globally, they have worsened social inequities as tens of millions of poor people are dislocated from their homes to make way for dams and canals, while hundreds of millions in downstream communities lose the currents that sustain their livelihoods. Such approaches also ignore wa-ter’s limits and the value of healthy eco-systems. Today, many rivers flow like plumbing works, turned on and off like

by Sandra Postel

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE…But Will There Be Enough?


Join our Natural Awakenings group

on facebook and we’ll directly alert you of

upcoming happenings and events.

Facebook is a registered trademark of Facebook, Inc.

Find us @:Natural

Awakeningsof West Michigan

water from a faucet. It’s tougher for fish, mussels, river birds and other aquatic life to survive; a 2008 assessment led by the USGS found that 40 percent of all fish species in North America are at risk of extinction. Meanwhile, many leaders and lo-calities are calling for even bigger ver-sions of past water management strate-gies. By some estimates, the volume of water relocated through river transfer schemes could more than double glob-ally by 2020. But mega-projects are risky in a warming world, where rainfall and river flow patterns are changing in uncertain ways and require costly power for pumping, moving, treating and distributing at each stage. Some planners and policymakers are eyeing desalination as a silver bullet solution to potential water shortages. But they miss—or dismiss—the perverse iro-ny: by burning more fossil fuels and by making local water supplies more and more dependent on increasingly expen-sive energy, desalination creates more problems than it solves. Producing one cubic meter of drinkable water from salt water requires about two kilowatt-hours of electricity, using present technology.

Water for People and NatureThus, a vanguard of citizens, communi-ties, farmers and corporations are think-ing about water in a new way. They’re asking what we really need the water for, and whether we can meet that need with less. The result of this shift in thinking is a new movement in water management that focuses on ingenuity and ecological intelligence instead of big pumps, pipelines, dams and canals.

These solutions tend to work with nature, rather than against it, making effective use of the “eco-system services” provided by healthy watersheds and wetlands. Through better technolo-gies and informed

choices, they seek to raise water produc-tivity and make every drop count. Communities are finding that pro-tecting watersheds is an effective way to make sure water supplies are clean and reliable; plus, they can do the work of a water treatment plant in filtering out pollutants at a lower cost. New York City is investing $1.5 billion to restore and protect the Catskill-Delaware Water-shed, which supplies 90 percent of its drinking water, in lieu of constructing a $10 billion filtration plant that would cost an additional $300 million a year to operate. Research published in Natural Resources Forum further shows that a number of other U.S. cities—from tiny Auburn, Maine, to Seattle—have saved hundreds of millions of dollars in capital and operating costs of filtration plants by instead opting for watershed protection. Communities facing increased flood threats are achieving cost-effec-tive protection by restoring rivers. After enduring 19 floods between 1961 and 1997, Napa, California, opted for this approach over the conventional route of channeling and building levees. In partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a $366 million project is reconnecting the Napa River with its historic floodplain, moving homes and businesses out of harm’s way, revital-izing wetlands and marshlands and constructing levees and bypass chan-nels in strategic locations. Napa

The United States withdraws more fresh water per capita than any other country, much of which we could save. The vast majority of demand does not require drinkable water.

Source: Pacific Institute


residents will ben-efit from increased flood protection and reduced flood insur-ance rates, plus new parks and trails for recreation, higher tourism revenues and improved habitats for fish and wildlife. Communities prone to excessive storm water runoff can turn existing struc-tures into water catchments. Portland, Oregon, is investing in “green roofs” and “green streets” to prevent sewers from overflowing into the Willamette River. Chicago now boasts more than 200 green roofs—including atop City Hall—that collectively cover 2.5 million square feet, more than any other U.S. city. The veg-etated roofs are providing space for urban gardens and helping to catch storm water and cool the urban environment. Parking lots, too, can be harnessed. Many communities are revitalizing their rivers by tearing down dams that are no longer safe or serving a useful purpose, thus opening up habitats for fisheries, restoring healthier water flows and improving aquatic quality. In the 10 years since the Edwards Dam was removed from the Kennebec River, near Augusta, Maine, populations of ale-wives and striped bass have returned in astounding numbers, reviving a recre-ational fishery that adds $65 million annually to the local economy.

Watershed MomentsConservation remains the least expen-sive and most environmentally sound way of balancing water budgets. From Boston to San Antonio to Los Angeles, water consumption has decreased via relatively simple measures like repairing leaks in distribution systems; retrofit-ting homes and businesses with water-efficient fixtures and appliances; and promoting more sensible and efficient outdoor water use.

But the poten-tial for conservation has barely been tapped. It is espe-cially crucial in ag-

riculture, because irrigation accounts for 70 percent of water use worldwide, and even more in the western United States. Getting more crop per drop is central to meeting future food needs sustainably. California farmers are turning to drip irrigation, which delivers water at low volumes directly to the roots of crops. According to U.S. Department of Agri-culture figures, between 2003 and 2008, California’s drip and micro-sprinkler area expanded by 630,000 acres, to a total of 2.3 million acres—62 percent of the nation’s total drip irrigation. Community-based education and rebates to encourage water-thrifty land-scapes can help. Las Vegas, for exam-ple, pays residents up to $1.50 for each square foot of grass they rip out, which has helped shrink the city’s turf area by 125 million square feet and lower its annual water use by 7 billion gallons. The water crisis requires us to pay attention to how we value and use water. Across the country, it’s essential that communities work to take care of the ecosystems that supply and cleanse water, to live within their water means and to share water equitably.

Sandra Postel is director of the Global Water Policy Project, a fellow of the Post Carbon Institute and a Freshwater Fellow of the National Geographic Society. She adapted this article, based on her chapter, “Water – Adapting to a New Normal,” in The Post Carbon Reader: Managing the 21st Century’s Sustainability Crises, edited by Richard Heinberg and Daniel Lerch, and a piece published in Yes! (YesMaga zine.org). For more information, visit GlobalWaterPolicy.org and National Geographic.com/freshwater.

Water managers in 36 states expect shortages by 2013.Source: The Wall Street Journal

Ways to Lighten Your Water Footprint

Eat less meat. A study published in Agricultural Water Management shows that if all U.S. residents re-duced their consumption of animal products by half, the nation’s total dietary water requirement in 2025 would drop by 261 billion cubic meters per year, a savings equal to 14 times the annual flow of the Colorado River.

Ditch bottled water. Per the U.S. Government Accountability Office, putting water in plastic bottles and shipping it just 125 miles uses 1,100 times more energy than producing tap water. The Pacific Institute calcu-lates that it takes three liters of water to produce one liter of bottled water.

Create eco-friendly landscapes. Statistics published in Environmental Management confirm that turf grass currently covers some 40.5 million acres in the United States—triple the space taken up by any single U.S. irrigated farm crop. Converting thirsty lawns into native, drought-tolerant landscaping significantly drops household water use.

Be water-wise at home. Visit the United States Environmental Protec-tion Agency’s online WaterSense page at tinyurl.com/3wqbz2p to learn simple ways to save water, energy and money.

Calculate personal water use at National Geographic’s tinyurl.com/274jo6v or H2OConserve.org.


More Invisible Water Costs

Sample Average H2O Foods to ProduceAlmonds 259.2 gallons per cupApple 18.5 gallons to growAvocado 42.6 gallons to growBeef 1,581 gallons per poundBlack tea 5.5 gallons per cupBroccoli 27.4 gallons per poundCheese 414.2 gallons per poundChicken 468.3 gallons per poundCoffee 37 gallons per cupCorn 108.1 gallons per poundGranola 65 gallons per cup (varies)Mango 81.9 gallons to growOats 122.7 gallons per poundPasta 230.5 gallons per poundSoybeans 224 gallons per pound

ActivitiesAll U.S. golf courses 3.1 billion gallons a dayOccupied hotel room 200 gallons a dayTypical ski resort 800 million liters per snow season

ClothingCotton dress shirt 975 gallonsCotton socks 244 gallonsJeans 2,866 gallons eachSneakers 1,247 gallons a pair

Household GoodsBook 42.8 gallonsCar 39,000 gallons Carpet 14,650 gallons per 1,000 sq. ft. syntheticComputer 10,556 to 42,267 gallonsPaper 3 cups per sheetPet bed 1,654 gallons (medium)Pet food 1,580 gallons per pound of meaty canned foodSoap 180.4 gallons per 3.2-ounce barTelevision 3,900 to 65,500 gallons (per make/model/size)

Source: The Green Blue Book, by Thomas M. Kostigen (Rodale Books; TheGreenBlueBook.com)


Massage Therapy Effective In:

Mastersof MassageRelieving Back PainBoosting Immune SystemReducing AnxietyLowering Blood PressureTreating Migraines

Decreasing Carpel Tunnel SymptomsEasing Post-Operative PainAlleviating Side Effects of Cancer

Of the Vine, llc holistic health

Nutritional Counseling

Medical/ Relaxation Massage

Susan J. McFarland, CMT, HHP

www.ofthevineholistichealth.com

616-510-0985

First 30 min. massage $15


503 E. Main • Edmore989-427-3457

Call Today!Health from the Inside Out.

FAMILY CHIROPRACTICHALSEY

Reflexologyand

MassageTherapy

Sanative Tranquility

www.sanativetranquility.com [email protected]

616-791-0472

Massage

Bodywork

Skin Care Therapy

FREE OFFER

Men

tion

thi

s ad

an

d ge

t 1/

2 hr

. ad

ded

to

your

fir

st 1

hr.

app

oin

tmen

t.

A great p

lace to rela

x,

you feel th

e stress o

f

life rele

ase as y

ou walk

through the door

Call616.656.9232

to be a par tof this

exclusivedirectory!

comiNG iNNovemBer

NEW ECONOMY

A fair economy works for people and the planet.

Read about it in Natural Awakenings’

November edition.

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

616-656-9232

creAtiNG A

Breton at 32nd Street616.648.7011

www.grcenterforthehealingarts.com

Affordable Wellness. . . Unparalleled Care.

Bodywork Manual MedicineNatural Healing

Spiritual Connection

3-Hour Massage Package just $99!


communityspotlightby Sharon Pisacreta

Some say that it takes a serious health crisis for one to really change their life; fortunately for the west Michigan commu-

nity, a health crisis for Amanda Geerts, certified Health Coach, is changing multiple lives. Geerts, who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2005, took her health into her own hands and sent her MS into remission with a lifestyle that includes a healthy diet, stress reduction and constant detoxification. Upon diagnosis by her doctor, Geerts quickly realized what allopathic medicine was offering, and determined that it was not a good fit for her. “My doctor said ‘here’s the drugs you go on’ and then handed me several more prescriptions to control the side effects from those drugs.” Geerts decided that wasn’t the healing path she was going to take. “I did a ton of research, traveled all over the country, seeing all kinds of different alternative practitioners to get the disease under control,” she said. “My mom and I were diagnosed at the same time and we wanted to not just feel better, but to get a couple of steps ahead of the disease.” Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease, which Geerts says is “frustratingly crazy” because each person experiences symptoms differently. Some symptoms include blindness, muscle spasms and incontinence; the list goes on. “When I was younger, the only person that I knew of who had MS was in a wheelchair and one of my co-worker’s sister just died from MS. It’s drastically different for everyone.” Fortunately, Geerts was able to get control of the disease and says that with the changes she’s made in her life, she’s actually healthier now than before she was diagnosed. Along her healing journey, she discovered the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and their Health Coach program and enrolled in their online learning program. She graduated this past spring. “After what I learned through the discovery and healing of my disease, I wanted to help people learn how to take control of their health,” Geerts said. “There are so many things people can do right now to make small changes in their lives. Many of my clients don’t have a lot of time, and I’m here to do the research and offer information, encouragement and support.” Within her practice, Geerts has chosen to focus on two different programs for her clients, the first of which is a de-toxification program. Geerts believes that detoxing from the toxins found in our food and environment is the key to health and longevity. “My detox program is for people who don’t have time to spend on themselves. They may have a muffin top, bags under eyes, or are chronic dieters,” said Geerts. It’s also for people who just want to lead a healthier life and don’t really know where to begin. For beginners and experts alike, Geerts can custom design a detox program for anyone. “I’ve done a one-day VIP program for

those who really don’t have the time, and also do three-month programs where I meet the client every week for check-ins. I can do groups as well, which are great for support and account-ability.” As part of the program, clients can expect to learn more about juicing and food combining for quick exit, in addition to looking at the client’s relationships, career and other outside factors that may influence ones life and eating habits. “I want to help people be the leader of their own lives and to guide and inspire them to move into a life that they want,” said Geerts. A large component of that is detoxification. “I work on detoxification with many people. You can detox in simple and easy ways, and easily incorporate it into your daily life. I think of it as a lifestyle cleanse and not a weekend cleanse.” Geerts suggests kinder and gentler ways to detox, which can then be included into our daily routines. “We really need to make it a part of our daily lives. Body brushing and rebounding are two very gentle ways to assist the body in the elimination of toxins. Health should not hurt,” she said. In addition to the long-term health benefits of detoxifying, clients can also achieve the body that they’ve always wanted. “Many have tried a zillion diets and they don’t work. My last client lost nine pounds in one week. I can make it easy and simple. We need to look beyond our diets to our lifestyles, relationships and careers.” One benefit of having a customized program available is that results can be achieved by anyone starting from any point. “I have clients ranging from ‘I eat McDonald’s seven days a week’ to ‘I give myself a colonic every day.’ Where you start is where you start. There are so many options out there, and my job is to help educate people.” Geerts can see the possibilities in all of her clients. “I hold that space open for them, the vision I have for them, and the vision that they can have for themselves.” The second program Geerts offers is a MS program, which is very customized. “Because the disease itself is so different for each person, no two MS programs will be alike. There are so many things going on with this disease that you need time to try things and keep things under control.” Geerts has three- and six-month programs and works directly with clients, giving them tools to use during and after the program has ended. Expecting her first child with her husband, Geerts is conducting her own, gentle detox on a daily basis. “I’m not concerned about being pregnant and having MS because of how well I’m feeling.” She’s planning on a home birth and is very excited.

To learn more, please visit www.amandageerts.com. See ad on page 5.

A married mother of two young children, Julie Hurley is a freelance writer with a strong interest in natural health and is the Director of Public Relations at Principia Media: www.principiamedia.com. Visit her personal blog at www.ourlunchbox.blogspot.com.

Amanda Geerts


727-399-1100


Biofuels can be an important part of the solution to the energy crisis we face, but even biofuels can be produced destructively. I co-founded the U.S. Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance to help people differentiate sustainable biodies-el from other, “bad news,” biofuels. In addition, I now own the Trans-Am car featured in the Kill Bill movie series. The car has been converted to run on 100 percent alcohol fuel, which can also be made from waste. Which other issues are impor-tant to you? In these times of environmental and economic crises, there are many things that call for our attention: I’m very concerned that global population has grown from about 3 billion people when I was born to nearly 7 billion now; we are also witnessing mass extinction of species worldwide; there are more enslaved human beings today than at any other time in human history. It can be overwhelming, but I try to do what I can and when I can, whenever I’m moved. Who typically visits your web-site, and how do others use it to make their lives better? I started dhLoveLife.com when I de-cided it was time to try to live by my beliefs—it’s an ongoing process. The site curates information on truly sustain-able solutions, based on my discovery that reliable information and resources for efficient and functional goods and services were not readily available. There was a bit of trial and er-ror in my own learning process, so I wanted to share what has worked for me. With today’s glut of green mar-keting, we may have lots of “green” options available, but now there’s a lot of greenwashing and the whole arena can be challenging to understand. People from all walks of life seem to be interested in commonsense solu-tions. So, whenever I learn something fascinating and helpful and catch myself saying, “Wow, I wish someone had told me that before,” I like to share it with others. S. Alison Chabonais is an editor of Natural Awakenings.

wisewords

Best known for her roles in such

popular films as Splash, Blade Runner and Kill Bill, actress Daryl Hannah is now busy shedding light on environ-mental issues and working hard to help improve the way people treat our planet. “It’s just com-mon sense to care about the environ-ment,” she says. “I’ve always under-stood and valued the interdependence of all life, the idea that whatever we do to the web of life, we do to ourselves.” Dwelling in a small community in the Rocky Mountains, Daryl attends to her ethical-lifestyle website and serves as a positive role model for living a simple, natural and healthy life. How did you go about designing and building an ecologically sustainable home? My home is a small, recycled barn that was about to be torn down to build a new post office. I salvaged the old barn and carefully had it relocated and bermed into the side of a hill, which faces southwest for optimal passive so-lar exposure. The sun passes high in the summer for shade and low across the sky in winter to warm the house. The south wall of the house is like a greenhouse, where spring water flows through and provides humidity in the dry, high-altitude air. We used stones gathered from the site for the fireplaces, bathroom and stairs. I’ve also used a number of moss-covered stones in a

“living” couch. I grow food in a garden that is wildly produc-tive when cared for. “Off the grid” is a new term for some people.

How do you define it? Off the grid literally means that an individual creates their own power and has access to rain, well, spring or ground water. I believe in being as self-sufficient as possible. Both passive and active solar energy provides my power and I’m very lucky to have a productive spring for water. What have been the most rewarding, as well as the most challenging, aspects of achieving your current Earth-friendly lifestyle? More and more these days, I admire and crave simplification. While film-ing the video blog for my website, dhLoveLife.com, I have found it incred-ibly interesting to learn how many gifts traditional knowledge holds and to discover amazing new innovations. The more I learn, the more I try to adapt to and adopt a simpler lifestyle. Why do you choose to drive a biodiesel car? I like opting out of the petroleum econ-omy as much as possible, and I love that I can drive on non-toxic waste.

Loving a Sustainable LifeHeartfelt Perspective from Actress

and Activist Daryl Hannah

by S. Alison Chabonais


For information about how to publish Natural Awakenings in your community, call

239-530-1377NaturalAwakeningsMag.com

• Low Investment

• Work at Home

• Great Support Team

• Marketing Tools

• Meaningful New Career

• Birmingham,AL*• Huntsville,AL• Mobile/Baldwin,AL• LittleRock/ HotSprings,AR• Phoenix,AZ• Tucson,AZ• EastBayArea,CA• LosAngeles,CA• SanDiego,CA• SantaBarbara/ Ventura,CA• Denver/Boulder,CO• Hartford,CT• FairfieldCounty,CT• NewHaven/ Middlesex,CT• Daytona/Volusia/ Flagler,FL• NWFLEmeraldCoast• Ft.Lauderdale,FL• Jacksonville/ St.Augustine,FL• Melbourne/ VeroBeach,FL• Miami&FloridaKeys• Naples/Ft.Myers,FL• NorthCentralFL*• Orlando,FL• PalmBeach,FL• PeaceRiver,FL• Sarasota,FL• Tallahassee,FL• Tampa/ St.Petersburg,FL• Florida’sTreasure Coast• Atlanta,GA• Augusta,GA• ChicagoNorth Shore,IL• Indianapolis,IN• Lexington,KY*• Louisville-Metro,KY• Lafayette,LA• NewOrleans,LA• MiddlesexCo.,MA• AnnArbor,MI• GrandRapids,MI• EastMichigan• Lansing,MI

• WayneCounty,MI• Asheville,NC• Charlotte,NC• Raleigh/Durham/ ChapelHill,NC• Monmouth/ Ocean,NJ• NorthNJ• NorthCentralNJ• Somerset/Middlesex Counties,NJ• SouthNJ• SantaFe/ Albuquerque,NM• LasVegas,NV• LongIsland,NY• Manhattan,NY• Rockland/ OrangeCounties,NY• Westchester/ PutnamCo’s.,NY• Cincinnati,OH*• OklahomaCity,OK• Tulsa,OK*• Portland,OR• BucksCounty,PA• Harrisburg,PA• LehighValley,PA• NortheasternPA*• RhodeIsland• Charleston,SC• Columbia,SC*• GrandStrand,SC• Greenville,SC• Chattanooga,TN• Knoxville,TN• Memphis,TN• Nashville,TN• Austin,TX• Dallas,TX• Houston,TX• NorthTexas• SanAntonio,TX• Tyler/Longview,TX• Richmond,VA• SouthwesternVA*• Seattle,WA• Madison,WI• Milwaukee,WI• PuertoRico

*Existingmagazinesforsale

Phenomenal Monthly Circulation Growth Since 1994. Now with 3.6 Million Monthly Readers in:

turn your passion into a business...

own a Natural Awakenings magazine!As a Natural Awakenings publisher, you can enjoy learning about healthy

and joyous living while working from your home and earn a good income doing something you love!

Your magazine will help thousands of readers to make positive changes in their lives, while promoting local practitioners and providers of natural, Earth-friendly lifestyles. You will be creating a healthier community while building your own financial security.

No publishing experience is necessary. You’ll work for yourself but not by yourself. We offer a complete training and support system that allows you to successfully publish your own magazine.

Be part of a dynamic franchised publishing network that is helping to transform the way we live and care for ourselves. Now available in Spanish as well.

To determine if owning a Natural Awakenings is right for you and your target community, call us for a free consultation at 239-530-1377.


Green clubs attract youth of many ages. In Needham, Massachusetts, elementary school students formed a Safe Routes to School Green Kids Newman Club

and promoted the concept of the Walking School Bus to help classmates walk safely to school as a group. “We started this group because we wanted more kids to walk,” Maya, a fourth-grader, explained to local journalists. They even made and posted appealing safety signs throughout the community. Stephen, another fourth-grader, said: “I feel like it’s doing something for the world. It’s teach-ing people to be safe, try and walk and try to save the Earth.” Students from New York City Public School 334, the Anderson School, organized a Power Patrol this year. “The kids would go around the school unplugging unused appli-ances, turning off lights and taking meter readings, so they could see how much they could bring down electricity use,” says Pamela French, a mother and school volunteer who is working on a documentary film about how the Big Apple’s schools can go greener. The students also participated in the citywide student-driven energy competition, the Green Cup Challenge, sponsored by The Green Schools Alliance. Another school initiative, Trash Troopers, had students monitoring their cafeteria’s recycling bins, ensuring that diners

properly sort milk cartons from compostable items. “They par-ticularly like painting monsters on recycling bins,” says French. At St. Philip the Apostle School, in Addison, Illinois, three middle school students founded Recycle Because You Care to encourage recycling by the larger community. The teens distribute recycling bins and show residents how to properly use them. A few years ago, students at Westerly Middle School, in Rhode Island, decided to do something about global warm-

GreeN Kids cluBs

healthykids

The goals of green kids clubs range from benchmarking environmental

progress to fundraising for local eco-causes. The kids not only have fun,

they feel empowered to make a difference in a scarred and scary world.

Highlighting Hope for the Futureby Brian Clark Howard

All

stud

ent p

roje

ct p

hoto

s ar

e us

ed w

ith p

erm

issi

on.


ing, so they formed a junior club of Westerly Innovations Network, a local student-led community service team. Under the banner, Project TGIF – Turn Grease Into Fuel, they placed a grease receptacle at the town transfer station, convinced 64 restaurants to donate used fryer oil, and enlisted an oil recycling facility to process it. With money earned from the activity, they purchased biofuel for area charities. They also held events to educate the public on the concept. By 2009, the award-winning program had recycled 36,000 gallons of waste oil, eliminating 600,000 pounds of carbon dioxide. MTV featured the project in its Switch Campaign.

Getting StartedMany schools already have green kids clubs, which can be easy to start. Interested students begin by contacting their principal or designated sustainability officer, an increasingly common staff position. Some libraries, museums and nature centers also host such clubs. They often have a specific core focus, such as cave or stream ecology. Local Audubon Society chapters, for example, may offer a Junior Audubon Club to introduce youngsters to bird watching. As National Audubon Society spokesperson Delta Willis notes, “It is vital to create new conservation stewards.” When famous alum Sigourney Weaver was recently honored with the organization’s Rachel Carson Award, the actress cited her own participation in the Junior Audubon Club as inspiration for her lifelong support of conservation. “She continues to go bird watching,” Willis adds. Green kids clubs may be bolstered by parent involvement. French serves on the Green Team at her children’s school, where she and other parents meet with administrators and students to help them accomplish their sustainable goals. “There is too much going on in a school day to ask for teachers to do more, so this is an area where parents can help,” she comments.

National Green Kids Club Resources

America’s Great Outdoors: AmericasGreatOutdoors.gov. Provides news of federal conservation and recreation initiatives and how local communities become involved.

EPA Environmental Kids Club: epa.gov/kids. Explores environmental information, games and activities.

National Audubon Society: Audubon.org/locations.Sponsors Junior Audubon Clubs.

National Geographic Kids: Kids.NationalGeographic.com/kids. Offers wildlife-related news, videos and games.

Richard Louv: RichardLouv.com. Features excerpts from his books, Last Child in the Woods and The Nature Prin-ciple, and other tools and resources to counter youngsters’ nature deficit.

Teens for Planet Earth: TeensForPlanetEarth.ning.com. Learn how the Wildlife Conservation Society supports and honors youth making a difference, from China’s Tetra Paks Recycling Team to Utah’s invasive species Plant Patrol.

Thinking globally, high school students in Pleasant Hill, California, formed Project Jatropha three years ago to encour-age struggling farmers in India to plant jatropha crops that can be turned into biofuel far more efficiently than corn. The teens have earned honors from both the Earth Island Insti-tute’s Brower Youth Awards and the Environmental Protection Agency’s President’s Environmental Youth Awards. Green kids clubs provide educational and entertaining activities that help young people get involved, and can even lead to a career or lifelong hobby. If there isn’t one locally, why not start one up?

Brian Clark Howard is a New York City-based multimedia journalist and the co-author of Green Lighting and Geother-mal HVAC: Build Your Own Wind Power System. Connect at BrianClarkHoward.com.

“Be flexible and don’t worry if a final [green project] outcome isn’t quite what you expected. It will work out if you make an effort.”

~ Cassandra, Westerly Middle School eighth-grader


communityspotlightby Kim Racette

When the brain is not operating properly, Brad Oostindie M.A. explains that it can be like a car traveling down

the highway at inappropriate speeds. “When the car is going too fast it isn’t safe, because it’s hard to slow down. Going too slow, it is not keeping up,” he says. “At our practice that translates to anxious states in the brain that may show up as insomnia or migraines or at the other end of the spectrum may include issues like ADD or autism. We retrain the brain to operate at the appropriate speed for that person to achieve optimum success.” Ready To Focus is lead by Oostindie, with an office in Norton Shores and two new offices open in the Chicago suburbs of Plainfield/Naperville and Geneva. Dr. Jeffrey Van Meter, Psy.D, has also joined the practice as a Senior Partner and Clinical Supervisor. With his background and training in Pediatric Behavior Psychology, Oostindie co-founded Hope 139 in 2004, and began offering his services. “Working at Hope, I trained with Linda Thompson in neurofeedback/biofeedback evaluation and treatment at the ADD Centre in Toronto, he explains. “Many of the parents of the children I was working with had approached me, looking for non-medicinal treatment options. Neurofeedback is a tool used to evaluate and treat brain wave activity and dysregulation. It is actually biofeedback of the brain.” After purchasing his first unit (a combination of an EEG and a laptop) he began treating participants for a variety of issues, including ADD, mood and behavior is-sues, anxiety, autism, and learning disorders. The response was immediate. “The word of mouth and referrals from the parents, and because we had begun to treat adults too, re-ally fueled the growth of our program,” he says. “We ended up taking that program into schools in the Grand Rapids area, then out regionally, then nationally,” he remembers. “It was a lot of travel; I was all over the country.” A lifelong west Michigander along with his wife who is an Audiologist

at Spectrum Health, Oostindie decided it was time to open Ready To Focus in Norton Shores in 2009, and focus his at-tention in this area. Even though participants come from far and wide, with remote technology that is not a hindrance to treatment. With all participants, the program begins with an education in neurofeedback. “The first step I recommend is to visit our website to see how this works,” he says. “It takes commitment for them to begin the program and see it to the end.” Often times though, he finds those coming to Ready To Focus are highly motivated. “If someone is suf-fering from insomnia, for example, they want to make it go away,” he says. “These are very real issues that are impact-ing their daily life, and they need a solution.” Brain based research has become easier for participants to access and understand, and the possibility of a successful treatment that doesn’t involve medications, and can be accomplished in a relatively short time, has helped fuel the acceptance of this option. “The second step is an intake consultation, where we hook them up to equipment to see the resting state of the brain,” he explains. “What kind of state do they “park” in?” he says with a smile. Retraining the brain to go at 70 miles an hour - back to the highway metaphor - involves a very simple system of rewarding the brain to retrain itself to travel at appropriate speeds. “Engaging in the program is the third step of our program. An EEG measures in real time what is happening in the brain,” he says. “Even in a brain that is operating fast or at a high arousal wave there are mo-ments of calm, and then those moments are rewarded.” The program rewards them with a movie when the moments of calm are recorded, providing what Oostindie calls Operant Conditioning. “The really cool thing about this is that we can help to actually carve new pathways in the brain that last, retraining it to operate at the speed necessary for that person to achieve optimum performance,” he explains. Optimum performance is another angle that Oostindie has expanded, and Spokesperson Andy Matthews is spread-ing the word that not only can neurofeedback help treat issues that may be holding back someone, but it can also propel them forward. A professional golfer, Matthews began working with Ready to Focus about two years ago. Since beginning to work with Oostindie, Matthews has shown some of his more impressive finishes, including winning the Mexican Open in 2010. His earnings have increased, and he is having one of his best years ever on the Canadian PGA Tour. Oostindie says that one of the things he likes the most about working with neurofeedback is that everyone can benefit. “The stigma of seeking treatment is lessening too, because it is used by both those needing treatment for specific issues and folks who are using it to maximize their life experience,” he says.


Engaging in the program can be done in the office or at home. “Typically 20-30 hours of total training is required by the participant, which is usually completed over the course of 3-4 months of training in the home, or 4-6 months of training in the office,” says Oostindie. He finds that participants are usually very diligent about their treatments. “The first five hours really just involve getting started, but that next 5-15 hours most can see good changes occur,” he says. “After 15-30 hours it really locks in, the more they do it the more they see success.” Oostin-die points out though, that not every issue can be solved through neurofeedback. “Not everyone responds super positive,” he says. “Usually between 20-25 % will still struggle with their issues. Compare that though to the 70-80 % who respond well.” Of that percent, he says that in 70-80 % of those the treatment will stick. “That is a very high hit rate, compared to those using stimulant medications that only work 60% of the time in resolving their issues.” Oostindie and his team of five profes-sionals also offer this treatment to those who cannot afford to pay a fee, or only at a reduced rate. “Our Mission Unit is using up to 10% of our resources, and it’s been a neat opportunity for us to give back. We are donating our clinic time, and have expanded from 1 to 3 units with generous donations, to help those who otherwise would not be able to receive it,” he says. “We are working with a family in Bosnia right now, a new distance record for our offices!” When not working, Oostindie enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters. An avid pilot, he is working on getting his Instructor’s License. “Both Andy Matthews and I fly,” he says with a smile in his voice. “That helps with head-ing over to Chicago.” Ready To Focus can be reached at 1-800-850-0535, or visit www.readyto-focus.com. Offices located at 800 E Ellis Road Norton Shores, MI, 3033 Ogden Ave Lisle, IL, 13242 Illinois 59 Plainfield, IL and 321 Hamilton, Geneva IL. See ad page 29.

Kim Racette lives in Kentwood, and writes for many local publications, as well as DressMeDaddy.com. She can be reached at [email protected].


by Wendy L. Cullitan

Lake Trek: Saving Our Great Lakes, One Mile at a Time

What began as a mid-life crisis turned into a mid-life ad-venture, not only benefiting

Loreen Niewenhuis, author of A 1,000 Mile Walk on the Beach, but also helping to preserve the Midwest’s breathtaking “third coast.” When Niewenhuis set out to walk around the perimeter of Lake Michi-gan, she did not intend to become an activist, but her lengthy trek around the Great Lakes exposed her to not only long stretches of pristine beaches, but to sec-tions of such devastation that she became more keenly aware of the need to protect our waterways. “I stay on top of policy a lot more now. It was surprising to discover that the lake is so battered and blundered,” says Niewen-huis. “The lakes’ delicate ecosystems are being challenged unnecessarily on a daily basis. I didn’t set out to write an environ-mental book, but those threads are in the book because the problems are there.”

Lake is the challenge: not the trekWhen Niewenhuis began her walk at Navy Pier on March 16, 2009, in Chi-cago, the first 72 miles took her through Chicago’s Southside, as well as through Gary and Whiting, Indiana. “The low point of the trek for me occurred in these industrialized areas, where man has contorted shorelines and put up massive industrial buildings,” she says. Many people think that the Clean Water Act, passed in the 1970s, protects our “blue planet,” but Niewenhuis dis-covered many areas that not only endan-ger our lakes and wildlife, but threaten our health, as well. In Whiting, Indiana, for example, the BP Oil Refinery is al-

lowed to dump toxic sludge and ammo-nia into the water. “It bothers me that one of the most profitable companies in the world is legally able to deposit this waste into the lake instead of storing it, so as not to cause damage to the environment,” says Niewenhuis with frustration. “BP is essentially in violation of a national law.” Niewenhuis prepared her body for the long hike, but never expected the sights of damage she saw up close and personal to be more bothersome than the physical challenge of the trek itself. “Be-fore I began the trek, I knew that certain areas of the Great Lakes were in danger, but now I have a more holistic view of the lakes and understand fully that the problems we face are much broader.”

Fixing a complex problemAccording to Niewenhuis, this is a com-plex problem, with a few commonsense solutions. “First, we need to treat all ballast water from foreign ports. When large vessels cross oceans from foreign territory, they expel water into the Great Lakes and disrupt the lakes’ ecosystems. The colonization of the zebra mussel resulted because there are no mandates or regulations designed to keep foreign water life from being dumped into our lake,” she says. “Without checks and balances in place, the lake will continue to be destroyed.” Secondly, she says, we need to halt all dumping of untreated sewage into lakes. “During heavy rains, cities often have to dump sewage into rivers and lakes, which in turn fertilize algae, which then bloom out of control. When the algae dies, dead zones are created in the lake and anaerobic bacteria—like the one that creates botulism toxin—thrive in these areas. Mussels and fish can take in the toxin and birds feeding on these food sources are often poisoned and die,” adds Niewenhuis.

Beauty all aroundEven though parts of her journey show-cased the harm man has caused, larger portions of her adventure were exqui-site. Niewenhuis’ favorite place to walk

was the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, in the northwest corner of the lower peninsula of Michigan, re-cently voted “The most beautiful place in America,” by Good Morning America (see tinyurl.com/3qkzqfy). “I had been there before, but this time, I got to hike most of the 35 miles of coastline in the park. The geology is very unique. The tallest dunes—over 450 feet—anywhere in the world on fresh water are along this shore,” adds Niewenhuis. “There are living dunes there that still migrate with the winds, and perched dunes formed on top of ancient glacial moraines. The hand of the glaciers that formed the Great Lakes is clearly evident in this gorgeous stretch of shoreline. It is truly amazing.” She was also impressed with the two largest cities on the lakeshore, Chi-cago and Milwaukee. “Both cities have sprawling parks and pathways along the lake, preserving the lakeshore as a wonderful recreational swath, with wide access to the water’s edge. “In addition, most of Michigan’s lower peninsula’s western shoreline is sandy. It is one of the longest ‘sunset shorelines’ in the nation. All along this edge, you’ll find wonderful towns that embrace their relationship with the lake by having parks and beaches and mari-nas along the shore. Some of my favorite towns along this stretch—if I was forced to choose only four—are St. Joseph, South Haven, Saugatuck and Petoskey.”

What you can do to save the Great LakesNiewenhuis has the following sugges-tions to help preserve the Great Lakes.

1. Write your state representative and ask them to support the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GreatLakesRes-toration.us). This is the largest invest-ment being made in our Great Lakes in two decades and provides a five-year plan to fund programs to improve the health of our lakes.

2. Join the Alliance for the Great Lakes (GreatLakes.org). This organization pro-vides opportunities on the grassroots


sAturdAy, octoBer 1Satya Yoga Yard Sale -10:00 am-3:00 pm. Bella Sage Jewelry, Hand-made Mala bracelets, Yoga Apparel, Organic Skin Care, Naturopathic Supple-ments, Handcrafted Goods, Organic Cotton Kurtas, Yoga Mats, Props, Raw Foods, and more!! Satya Yoga Center. Saugatuck. satyayogacenter.net

moNdAy, octoBer 3Story and Music Time: Numbers Everywhere- 10:30 am. We’ll be singing songs and reading books that will have your kiddos counting forwards, backwards, and maybe even sideways! Join us for a morning of learning and FUN! Ideal for toddlers and preschoolers. FREE. Hop Scotch Children’s Store. Grand Rapids. 616-233-4008. hopscotchstore.com.

wedNesdAy, octoBer 5Book Review Class- 6:00 pm. Reviewing the book “Anticancer: A New Way of Life by Dr. David Servant Schrieber. Also, besides raising awareness of cancer prevention, I am taking pledges for a marathon I am running in to benefit the Anticancer Fund. Schafer Chiropractic and Healing Spa. Grand Rapids. RSVP by calling 616-301-3000.

Herbal Remedy Basics Class- 6:00 pm-7:30 pm. Learn some of the easiest and most common ways to prepare herbs. Learn the difference between teas, infusions, tinctures and decoctions and some of the most common herbs to have on hand for home use. $3. Elder & Sage. Grand Rapids. 616-242-1355.

Anticancer Class- 6:00 pm. Review and Discussion of the book: Anticancer: a New Way of Life, author Dr. David Servan-Schrieber. Class and discussion led by: Dr. Andrew Schafer, DC. Class is free. Please call to reserve. Schafer Chiropractic and Healing Spa. Grand Rapids. 616-301-3000.

Guided Meditation and Healing Circle - 7:00-8:00 pm. Escape from stress and discover an inner world of calm, peace & joy through guided meditation, and energy healing from Healing in America-trained healers. $5. Holistic Care Approach. 3368 E. Belt-line Ct. NE, Grand Rapids. 269-929-6796.

tHursdAy, octoBer 6Free Qi-Gong Classes - 6:00 pm. Qigong is the Mandarin Chinese term used to describe various Chinese systems of physical and mental training for health, martial arts and self-enlightenment. This free class teaches light breathing and stretch-ing exercises to promote health and relaxation. Natural Health Improvement Center. Grandville. 616-301-0808.

Natural Solutions to Fibromyalgia- 6:00 pm. Workshop participants will gain an understanding of the causes of the syndrome and learn non-drug solutions. Foundation for Wellness Professionals. 4150 East Beltline Suite #4 Grand Rapids. Seating is limited to the first 30 callers. Make your reserva-tions today by calling 616-447-9888.

fridAy, octoBer 7Co-op Retreat- Join co-op mentors, including National Co-op Hall of Fame 2009 Inductee, Jim Jones, in a weekend filled with discussions about cooperative leadership. Bring your co-op ideas, plans, projects and experiences to share. Delicious meals will be provided. $90-$120; includes 2 nights lodging and 5 locally sourced meals. Delton. 269-623-5555.

Savoring the Gift of Life: An Anusara Yoga week-end workshop W/ Jamie and Justin Allison. Break up the Concrete! (intermediate guided practice)- 11:00 am-1:30 pm. $40 & Unwrapping the Gift. (all Levels) 5:30-8:30 pm. $50. Entire Workshop: Register before Sept 25th $195, after $210. From the Heart Yoga Center. Grand Rapids. 616-336-9642. Fromtheheartyoga.com.

sAturdAy, octoBer 8Co-op Retreat- Join co-op mentors, including National Co-op Hall of Fame 2009 Inductee, Jim Jones, in a weekend filled with discussions about cooperative leadership. Bring your co-op ideas, plans, projects and experiences to share. Delicious meals will be provided. $90-$120; includes 2 nights lodging and 5 locally sourced meals. Delton. 269-623-5555.

Savoring the Gift of Life: An Anusara Yoga weekend workshop. Falling in Love Again and Again (all levels arm balancing)- 9:30 am-12:30 pm $50. & After Glow (all levels hip openers)- 2:00 pm-4:30 pm $45. Entire Workshop: Register before Sept 25th $195, after $210. From the Heart Yoga Center. Grand Rapids. 616-336-9642. Fromtheheartyoga.com.

Reiki I & II class- 10:00 am-4:00 pm. Become attuned and learn how to give treatment to self and others. $225 includes manual and the $50 deposit required to register. Grand Rapids. Call or email Jodi at 616-443-4225 or [email protected] with questions or to register.

Finding your CORE STRENGTH w/ Gayle Kui-pers - 11:00 am-1:00 pm. This two-hour workshop aims to help participants learn about core strength; what it is, why it is important, and the most effec-tive exercises to help achieve success. $30. Space is limited so please register early. Satya Yoga Center. Saugatuck. satyayogacenter.net.

The Path of Kirtan w/Shantala: Evening Kir-tan- 7:30 pm. Benjy and Heather Wertheimer lead kirtan (sacred chanting) worldwide as the duo Shantala, with soul-stirring vocals, sacred lyrics and exotic instrumentation. $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Kirtan & Workshop: $55. From the Heart Yoga Center. Grand Rapids. 616-336-9642. Fromtheheartyoga.com.

suNdAy, octoBer 9Co-op Retreat- Join co-op mentors, including National Co-op Hall of Fame 2009 Inductee, Jim Jones, in a weekend filled with discussions about cooperative leadership. Bring your co-op ideas,

calendarofeventsNote: Visit www.NaturalWestMichigan.com for guidelines and to submit entries. All Calendar events must be submitted online by the 15th of the month prior to publication.

level through beach cleanups. They also provide curriculum for teachers to educate our youth and work with policymakers to protect the lakes.

3. Enjoy the lakes and support their parks... and please, don’t dump trash into lake!

Niewenhuis has plans for another ad-venture next year (visit LakeTrek.com for details). She plans to take another 1,000-mile walk in the Great Lakes region that will touch all five lakes, saying, “I have become captivated with this freshwater system and how important it is to the nation and the world, and would like to explore it more fully. This is my favorite place in the world.”

Wendy L. Cull i tan, Principal of Wordsmith Communications, is an award-winning writer, editor and marketing consultant. Cullitan finds balance in her life through an avid personal yoga practice as well as through giving private yoga sessions and teaching at multiple studios on the North Shore. Visit her website at WordsmithCommunication.net or contact her at [email protected] or 847-337-4461.

• Lake Michigan is the fifth-largest freshwa-ter lake in the world by volume.

• Turnover time for all water in Lake Michi-gan is 99 years.

• The deepest point in Lake Michigan is 920 feet.

• Zebra mussels can produce up to 1 million eggs a year.

• The Great Lakes contain 20 percent of the world’s fresh surface water and 95 percent of the country’s.

• Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake completely contained within U.S. borders.

• The world’s largest freshwater dunes are on the shores of Lake Michigan.

• The Great Lakes are called “The Third Coast” and “Inland Seas.”

• Lake Michigan contains more than 1,100 cubic miles of water and its surface area is more than 22,000 square miles.

• The name “Michigan” is probably from the Ojibwa word michigami, meaning “great water.”

• There are more than 150 invasive species in the Great Lakes.

• French explorer Jean Nicolet was the first European to travel the Great Lakes.

Did You Know?


pre-register call or email Jodi at 616-443-4225 or [email protected]

Reiki I Class w/ Ken & Dana Gray- 10:00 am-5:00 pm. Learn a variety of techniques along with the Reiki I Attunement which can enhance your life. Eligible for NAN 20% discount. $75. Subtle Energies. Delton. To register call 1-800-260-4544 or visit reikiconnect.com for more info.

Walking with the Mystic Angels workshop with Denise Iwaniw- 10:00 am-12:00 pm. $25 per person. Seating is limited, you MUST pre-register. Dress comfortably and bring pen/pencil & journal or notebook. Lakeshore Natural Skin Care. 10500 Chicago Drive. Holland Township/Zeeland. Please call 231-557-3619 for more information and to register.

Community Potluck- 6:00-8:00 pm. Bring friends, family and a vegetarian dish to share and join us for a relaxed evening. Beverages provided. Free. The Yoga Studio. Grand Rapids. To RSVP send email to [email protected]. 616 776-0836.

moNdAy, octoBer 17Becoming a Big Brother/Big Sister: What Do I Do?- 10:30 am. We’ll read a book or two about other kids who’ve become big brothers/big sisters, and then we’ll have fun practicing ways you can help take care of your new little sibling. FREE. Hop Scotch Children’s Store. Grand Rapids. 616-233-4008. hopscotchstore.com.

An Evening w/ Teen Author Mike Mullin- 7:00 pm. Mike Mullin’s new book ASHFALL paints a fascinating and chilling picture of what can happen after a natural disaster occurs. A book signing will follow the event. Free. Grand Rapids Public Library. 616-988-5400. grpl.org.

tuesdAy, octoBer 18African American Migration to Grand Rapids and the Arc of Justice- 7:00 pm. Professor Randal Jelks will discuss the African American community between 1850 and 1954, the years of migration for the majority of the city’s African American popula-tion. Free. Grand Rapids Public Library. 616-988-5400 or grpl.org.

Buddhist Reading Group- 7:00-8:30 pm. Will discuss the book “The Mother of the Buddhas” by Lex Hixon. This is an open discussion led by resident monk, The Vnerable Deokwun Russell Pitts. Grand Rapids Zen Center. Grand Rapids. For more info call Sunim 616-822-2465 or check the website grzen.org.

wedNesdAy, octoBer 19Movement & Learning Class- 6:00-7:30 pm. Join Occupational Therapist and co-owner of Family Tree Therapies, Terri Cooper on exploring strategies to foster attention and good behavior in our children. $3. Elder & Sage. 944 Fulton St. E., Grand Rapids. 616-242-1355.

Introduction to Reiki- 7:00 pm. Urevia Heal-ing Classes with Ken & Dana Gray. This intro overviews the Reiki/Urevia Classes and provides an opportunity for participants to ask questions. FREE. Subtle Energies. Delton. RSVP required, please call 800-260-4544 or visit us on the web at reikiconnect.com.

Rapids. For more info visit elderandsage.com or shannonelhart.com or call Shannon 616-403-2120.

Guided Meditation, Prayer and Healing Circle - 7:00-8:00 pm. Relax to guided meditation, and receive energy healing from local healers while church chaplains pray over your prayer requests. Donation. Unity Church on the Lakeshore, 41 So. Washington, Douglas. 269-857-8226.

tHursdAy, octoBer 13ReThink Healthy Expo at Woodland Mall- 10:00 am-7:00 pm. Vendor booths with information on Health Screenings, Presentations, Demonstrations, Health Resources, Education, Healthy Living & more. All Ages Welcome. For more information call 616-248-3820 or visit afh.org.

Relaxation Response for Beginners- 6:00-7:30 pm. Learn simple breath and mental awareness techniques to de-stress your nerve system, improve immune system function, balance mind & emotions; support your healing process. Space limited. Pre-registration required. FREE. Dr. Ragini Pierce. Muskegon. 231-670-0179. angeltouchfamilychiropractic.com.

Gluten-Free meals- 7:00 pm. So many people are affected by too much gluten in their diet. How do I eat without wheat? Learn more about tasty alternatives and get some new recipes. The Well-ness Forum. Grand Rapids. RSVP by calling 616-942-7907.

fridAy, octoBer 14 Bioneers Conference- 10/14 – 10/16. Join with thousands of others who believe in collaboration more than competition and who believe in creat-ing solutions that work in concert with the natural world. Showcasing social and scientific innovation. A conference created by our local community for our common interests. For more info & to register, visit glbconference.org.

Apple Cider Weekend- 10/14 – 10/16. Come spend a beautiful autumn weekend relaxing at Circle Pines Center. Help us pick apples and make them into organic, fresh apple cider. Participate in the Barry County Arts & Eats Tour. $130; includes 2 nights lodging and 5 locally-sourced meals. Delton. 269-623-5555.

Pure Meditation Foundation Class for Adults- 3:00-5:00 pm. Conquer stress, improve concen-tration; find inner peace, and so much more! $40 includes continuing support. Self Realization Medi-tation Healing Centre. 7187 Drumheller Rd, Bath. Pre-registration required. A weekend retreat is also possible, NAN discount on retreats. 517-641-6201. SelfRealizationCentreMichigan.org.

sAturdAy, octoBer 15Start of Zen Practice Intensive- 8:00 am-2:00 pm. Retreat for those wishing to conduct a more intense Zen practice. Practice period runs from Oct 15 thru Dec 3. Grand Rapids Zen Center. Grand Rapids. For more info call Sunim 616-822-2465 or check the website grzen.org.

Essential Oil Basic Training I- 10:00 am-12:00 pm & II 1:00-3:00 pm. Learn the basics of the benefits and uses of Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils. $25 per class includes class materials & pre-registration required. Open Mind Bookstore. Rockford. To

plans, projects and experiences to share. Delicious meals will be provided. $90-$120; includes 2 nights lodging and 5 locally sourced meals. Delton. 269-623-5555.

Savoring the Gift of Life: An Anusara Yoga weekend workshop W/ Jamie and Justin Allison. Hearts on Fire (all levels back bends)- 9:30 am-12:30 pm. $50. Entire Workshop: $210. From the Heart Yoga Center. Grand Rapids. 616-336-9642. Fromtheheartyoga.com.

Advanced Reiki Class- 10:00 am-4:00 pm. Ready to enhance your Reiki skills? Learn psychic surgery to remove tough energy blocks. $275 includes textbook, certificate and deposit. Pre-registration with a $50 deposit required a week prior to class. Grand Rapids. Call or email to pre-register at 616-443-4225.

The Path of Kirtan Workshop- 2:00-5:00 pm. This workshop explores the ancient practices of singing, devotional chant, and rhythm. Workshop $45 Kirtan & Workshop: $55. From the Heart Yoga Center. Grand Rapids. 616-336-9642. Fromtheheartyoga.com.

moNdAy, octoBer 10Canadian Thanksgiving Celebration- 10:30 am. Let’s celebrate this harvest festival along with our neighbors to the north! Join us for some leaf rubbing (with maple leaves of course!), song singing, and possibly even some yummy food eating! Fun for all ages! FREE. Hop Scotch Children’s Store. Grand Rapids. 616-233-4008. hopscotchstore.com.

tuesdAy, octoBer 11Book review class- 12:00 pm. Reviewing the book “Anticancer: A New Way of Life by Dr. David Servant Schrieber. Also, besides raising awareness of cancer prevention, I am taking pledges for a marathon I am running in to benefit the Anticancer Fund. Keystone Pharmacy. Grand Rapids. RSVP by calling 616-301-3000.

Full Moon Meditation and Chanting- 5:30-7:00 pm. 25-minute period of seated and chanting meditation with 10 minutes of walking meditation. Grand Rapids Zen Center. Grand Rapids. For more info call Sunim 616-822-2465 or check the website grzen.org.

Trigger Point Workshop- 6:00 pm. Participants will learn what a trigger point is, what causes them, how to prevent them, how to get rid of them and hands on training. Foundation for Wellness Profes-sionals. Grand Rapids. Seating limited to the first 30 callers. Make your reservations today by calling 616-447-9888.

wedNesdAy, octoBer 12The ChiroFit- 6:00-7:30 pm. Come learn why fatigue occurs in your life and strategies to help combat what might be causing it. Gaslight Village, 2249 Wealthy St SE, Ste. 240, Grand Rapids, MI 49506. Call or email to pre-register at 616-458-2348 or [email protected].

Healing Our Emotional Body Workshop- 6:00-7:30 pm. Join life coach Shannon Elhart as she presents how and why to heal more than your physical body. The power of emotional healing is powerful and transformative. Elder & Sage. Grand


tHursdAy, octoBer 20Dream Catcher Workshop- 2:00-4:00 pm. Learn how to make a dream catcher and take home the one you make. $25 includes all supplies. Open Mind Book Store. Rockford. Pre-registration is required. Call or email Jodi at 616-443-4225 or [email protected].

Free Patient Education Night- 6:00 pm. The top 10 things you can do to Improve Heart Health People don’t often think about their heart. Often time’s symptoms, which indicate trouble with your heart, are not recognized early enough. Natural Health Improvement Center. Grandville. 616-301-0808.

Free MomsBloom Volunteer Training- 6:30 pm. Join us to learn about this fun volunteer opportunity supporting moms and babies. For more details see our website at mombloom.org and contact [email protected]. Grand Rapids. 616-828-1021.

fridAy, octoBer 21Spanish Immersion Weekend- 10/21 – 10/23. Gather with other Spanish enthusiasts and immerse yourself in language and culture for a weekend at Circle Pines. Share traditional cuisine, music, crafts, and stories from Spanish speaking nations. All skill levels and ages are welcome. $50-$130; includes 2 nights lodging and 5 meals. Delton. 269-623-5555.

Looking for Volunteers-10:00 am–12:00 pm. Are you a senior looking for a new volunteer op-portunity? Over 30 community agencies will all be in one room in one morning, sharing the volunteer opportunities that they have available. Free and open to the public. Grand Rapids Public Library 616-988-5400 or grpl.org.

sAturdAy, octoBer 22Holiday Extravaganza- 10:00 am-2:00 pm. Quota International of Grand Rapids is hosting a holiday extravaganza. There will be over 20 vendors to see jewelry, handbags, and children’s books from Pooh’s Corner, gift baskets, home accents, food, holiday gifts and more. Gathering Place at Byron Center Manor. 616-430-2291.

Essential Oil Training III (Raindrop)- 10:00 am-12:00 pm & IV (Emotional Clearing)- 1:00-3:00 pm & V (Spiritual Journey Work). Learn the benefits of these sets of oils, and how to apply them. $25. Pre-registration required. Open Mind Bookstore. Rockford. To pre-register call or email Jodi at 616-443-4225 or [email protected].

Relaxation Response for Beginners- 10:00-11:30 am. Learn simple breath and mental awareness techniques to de-stress your nerve system, improve immune system function, balance mind & emotions; support your healing process. Space limited. Pre-registration required. FREE. Dr. Ragini Pierce. Muskegon. 231-670-0179. angeltouchfamilychiropractic.com.

Focus on the Hips Workshop- 10:30 am-12:30 pm. Maintaining and/or increasing mobility in your hips can help prevent stiffness and irritation in your lower back, giving you more freedom and ease of movement. $25. The Yoga Studio. Grand Rapids. To register email [email protected] or call 616-776-0636.

Healing Course - Ama-Deus Spiritual Energy heal-ing course October 22nd and October 23rd. First Level 6-9pm October 22nd & 9-10:30am. Second

Level 11:00 - 4:00pm October 23rd. Each course is $100.00. For further information please email at [email protected] or review at www.ama-deus-international.com.

suNdAy, octoBer 23Urban Roots film screening- 2:00-4:00 pm. Celebrate National Food Day as “Eat Local, Kalamazoo” presents a free screening of the new documentary film “Urban Roots,” directed by Detroit native Mark MacInnis. Q&A session with the director will follow the screening. KVCC Texas Township Campus 6767 West O Avenue, Kalamazoo. 269-492-1270.

moNdAy, octoBer 24Messy Painting Party- 10:30 am. Come join us for a MESSY painting party where we’ll do the cleaning up for you! Bring your little one dressed in clothes you don’t mind getting paint on. FREE. Hop Scotch Children’s Store. Grand Rapids. 616-233-4008. hopscotchstore.com.

Reiki Share Group- 5:30-7:30 pm. Join other Reiki practitioners to share experiences and Reiki with each other. For all trained in Reiki. Jan Atwood, LLC, 801 Broadway Ave NW, Suite 436, Grand Rapids. 616-915-4144.

tuesdAy, octoBer 25CST Study and Support Group- 6:45-9:00 pm. Ellen Costantino facilitates a CranioSacral Study Group open to all Upledger CST practitioners regardless of experience level. Cost: $5 cash. Ho-listic Care Approach. 3368 Beltline Ct. NE Grand Rapids. Contact Jamilah Tuuk with questions at 616 340-0543 or [email protected].

Money Talks: Inside the Drug Industry- 7:00 pm. Join us for a film that was produced by a former drug rep who interviews experts in the industry. Hear from a local expert on the ins and outs of the drug industry. The Wellness Forum. Grand Rapids. RSVP by calling 616-942-7907.

wedNesdAy, octoBer 26How Your Thoughts Affect Your Overall Health- 7:00-8:00 pm. Join life coach, Shannon Elhart, as she explains the power of our thoughts, how awareness helps you live a healthier life. The Grand Rapids Zen Center. Grand Rapids. For more in-formation visit shannonelhart.com or call Shannon at 616-403-2120.

Exercise is Good for Your Brain- 7:00 pm. Brendan Kelly MSW, and co-owner of The Well Being, will be leading a presentation on how exercising directly affects their mental health. Anxiety Resource Center, Inc. Grand Rapids. For more information on this free presentation, contact Suzette at 616.356.1614 or visit anxietyresourcecenter.org.

Author Visit: Dorothy Wickenden- 7:00-9:00 pm. Author Dorothy Wickenden visits to discuss her book NOTHING DAUNTED, about how two women were swept up in some of the strongest currents of the country’s history. A booksigning will follow the event. Free. Grand Rapids Public Library. 616-988-5400 or grpl.org.

sAv e t H e dAt eSave The Date Events - Must be submitted online each month at NaturalWestMichigan.com. Events priced $80 or above require a corresponding display ad. There is a $45 charge per listing, up to 50 words. If you are a current advertiser, distribution site or non-profit you October use this listing in place of one of your free listings for a $25 charge.

sAturdAy, octoBer 29On Becoming a Human Being- 10:00 am-6:00 pm. Nancy O’Donohue, co-author of the interna-tional best-seller The Wind Is My Mother, shares indigenous teachings we can apply to daily life to be spiritually, emotionally and physically balanced. $75. Holistic Care Approach, 3368 E. Beltline Ct. NE, Grand Rapids. 269-929-6796.

Life Skills and Relaxation class- 11:15 am-12:30 pm. Will give you the keys to unlock: better health and concentration, more energy, enjoy your whole life! Preregistration required. $30. A retreat is possible, NAN discount on retreats. Self Realization Meditation Healing Centre, 7187 Drumheller Rd, Bath. 517-641-6201. SelfRealizationCentreMichigan.org.

Yoga of Weight Loss: Healing Body Image with Laura Burkett - 1:30-3pm. Our inquiry will revolve around body image and movement, culture, yoga psychology, and the power of embodiment practices to heal body image on its deepest level. $28. Expressions of Grace Yoga, 5270 Northland Dr. NE, Grand Rapids. 616-361-8580. www.expressionsofgraceyoga.com

moNdAy, octoBer 31Story and Craft Time: A Chill Is In the Air- 10:30 am. The perfect scenario for making leaf people and animals! The patterns range from very simple for our youngest artists to more complex for our older ones. Ideal for ages two to ninety-two. FREE. Hop Scotch Children’s Store. Grand Rapids. 616-233-4008. hopscotchstore.com.

tHursdAy NovemBer 3World of Wellness Symposium- 7:00-9:00 pm. Searched and tried everything but the pain is still there? Partake in a P.A.T. and feel the change in your body! FREE event! Kentwood Holiday Inn, 3063 Lake Eastbrook Blvd. 49512. Pre-register by calling Clara Vanderzouwen, 616-698-6148.

fridAy NovemBer 4World of Wellness Symposium- 9:00 am-5:00 pm. Join Dr. Dana C. Young as he teaches the M.A.T., a joining of Ancient Chinese Medicine and Therapeu-tic essential oil usage on the body’s Meridians. $15 for 1 day or $25 for both days. Kentwood Holiday Inn. Pre-register by calling 616-698-6148, 3063.

sAturdAy, NovemBer 5World of Wellness Symposium- 9:00 am-5:00 pm. Join Dr. Dana C. Young as he teaches the P.S.M. technique. Fix the causes of illness, premature ag-ing, mental & emotional fragility & stress. $15 for 1 day or $25 for both days. Kentwood Holiday Inn. Pre-register by calling 616-698-6148 3063.


Kripalu Yoga with Marro Spehar - 10:00 am: Gentle & 7:30 pm: Gentle/Moderate. Drop-ins welcome. For details visit sevayoga.net. Seva Yoga Studio, 2213 Wealthy Ste 220, East Grand Rapids. 616-458-2541.

Pilates on the Mat-5:30 pm. All-level STOTT PILATES® Method mat class focusing on core strength and stability. Align Fitness. Holland. AlignFitnessofHolland.com or call 616-928-0929.

Yoga-lates: Yoga + Pilates- 6:00 pm. Join us for a balanced practice of yoga and Pilates using floor work and assorted props. $10 Satya Yoga Center 3385 Blue Star Hwy, Saugatuck 49453. satyayogacenter.net.

General Anxiety support group- 7:00-8:30 pm. Open to individuals who have any kind of anxiety problem as well as their friends and family members meets every. Anxiety Resource Center, Inc. Grand Rapids. 616-356-1614. anxietyresourcecenter.org

ThursdayClasses for the Childbearing Year and Beyond- 6:00 pm. Every 3rd Thursday. Designed to educate & support wholistic parenting & living from pregnancy through parenting and beyond. Advance registration required. Full Circle Midwifery. Hesperia. 231-861-2535.

Advanced Hatha Yoga with Mitch Coleman – 6:15-7:30 pm. Drop-ins welcome. Visit WhiteRiverYoga.com for more information. Classes meet at White River Yoga Studio, 8724 Ferry St. Montague. 231-740-6662.

FridayYoga-Intermediate- 9:00 am. Learn the basics. Holding poses longer, moving deeper into your practice and awareness of the core. For details visit SmilingLotusYoga.com or call Smiling Lotus Yoga, 103 E. Ludington Ave, Ludington. 231-852-0849.

Kripalu Yoga with Marro Spehar - 7:00 pm. Gentle/Moderate. Drop-ins welcome. For details visit sevayoga.net. Seva Yoga Studio, 2213 Wealthy Ste 220, East Grand Rapids. 616-458-2541.

SaturdayAshtanga Primary Series- 7:00 am. This primary series serves as yoga therapy, realigns the spine, detoxifies the body and builds strength, flexibility and stamina. $15. Satya Yoga Center. Saugatuck. satyayogacenter.net.

Gentle Hatha Yoga with Mitch Coleman – 9:00-10:15 am & 10:30-11:45 am. Drop-ins welcome. Visit WhiteRiverYoga.com for info. Classes meet at White River Yoga Studio. Montague. 231-740-6662.

Sweetwater Local Foods Market- 9:00 am-1:00 pm. Every other Saturday. Indoors at Hackley Health at the Lakes, Harvey St. 1/2 Mile South of Lakes Mall. Exit US 31 at Pontaluna Rd. Muskegon.Barre Fitness Class- 9:00 am. Get addicted to Barre Fitness! Only $5 to try first class! Align Fitness, Hol-land. See full schedule at AlignFitnessofHolland.com or call 616-928-0929.

Focused Energy Academic Success- 9:30am. Send kids to school prepared with fueled bodies & academic strength. Reliv Open Presentations Spring Hill Suites, 450 Center NW, Grand Rapids. Call Deb Riolo 616-822-4247. [email protected].

ongoingevents

All Month LongSale & Free Gift with Purchase! All Mineral Mine make-up now 25% off! PLUS: Purchase $60 in Min-eral Mine products and receive an eyeliner, mascara, lipstick, lip-gloss, or lip polish FREE! Lakeshore Natural Skin Care, 10500 Chicago Drive. Holland Township/Zeeland. 231-557-3619.

SundayUnity Church of Peace - 10:00 am. Celebrating God’s presence in human nature. Offering uplifting messages that are spiritual without being religious. Youth programs & Nursery. Unity Church of Peace 6025 Ada Drive SE, Ada. 616-682-7812. www.unity-churchofpeace.org.

Worship Service- 10:00 am. The last Sunday of each month we host this time of self-reflection and sharing. This month’s Love Offering will be new or used winter clothing. Rev. Barb Huttinga and associate Coptic Ministers speaking. The Healing Center 332 S. Lincoln, Lakeview. 989-352-6500.

Unity of Muskegon “A Church of Light, Love & Laughter”- 10:30 am weekly. Sunday Services & Youth Education. Minister: Rev. John W. Williams. 2052 Bourdon St., Muskegon. 231-759-7356. Unitymuskegon.org.

The Coptic Center Sunday Series – 6:00 pm. An ongoing series of inspirational speakers, centering and the piano music of Karen Lauck. The Coptic Center, 0-381 Lake Michigan Dr NW, Grand Rap-ids. 616-531-1339. TheCopticCenter.org.

Monday$30 Off BioMeridian Assessments- State-of-the-art profiling and tracking of all 58 meridians in the body with take-home computer generated results to as-sess progress. Grand Rapids. 616-365-9176. Visit integrativenutritionaltherapies.com for more info.

Yoga-Beginning- 9:00 am. This is where you start. Learn the basic poses, strengthen, breath awareness and relax. For more information visit SmilingLo-tusYoga.com or call Smiling Lotus Yoga, 103 E. Ludington Ave, Ludington. 231-852-0849.

Essential Oil Training- 2:00-4:00 pm. A different class offered each week going from the basics of the benefits and uses of Essential Oils to more advanced training. Grand Rapids. $25. Pre-registration required. 616-443-4225 or [email protected].

Pilates on the Mat-5:30 pm. All-level STOTT PILATES® Method mat class focusing on core strength and stability. Align Fitness. Holland. AlignFitnessofHolland.com or call 616-928-0929.

Intermediate Hatha Yoga with Mitch Coleman – 6:15-7:30 pm. Drop-ins welcome. Visit WhiteRiv-

erYoga.com for more information. Classes meet at White River Yoga Studio, 8724 Ferry St. Montague. 231-740-6662.

Kripalu Yoga with Marro Spehar - 7:30pm. Gentle/Moderate. Drop-ins welcome. For more details visit our website at sevayoga.net. Seva Yoga Studio, 2213 Wealthy Ste 220, East Grand Rapids. 616-458-2541.

TuesdayGentle Hatha Yoga with Mitch Coleman- 7:45-9:00 am & 9:15-10:30 am. Drop-ins welcome. Visit WhiteRiverYoga.com for more information. Classes meet at White River Yoga Studio, 8724 Ferry St. Montague. 231-740-6662.

Yoga for Everyone- 10:00-11:15 am. Robert Hut-tinga PA-C. $3.00. The Healing Center. Lakeview. TheHealingCenterOfLakeview.com. 989-352-6500.

Education & Advocacy Meeting- 1:00-2:30 pm. 2nd Tuesday of each month. The Peter M. Wege Health & Learning Center (Wege North Building at St. Mary’s Hospital), 300 Lafayette Ave. SE, Grand Rapids. Conference Room #11 (subject to change).

Barre Fitness Class- 5:30 pm. Jiggle-free arms, toned thighs, lifted seat! Only $5 to try first class! Align Fitness, Holland. See full schedule at Align-FitnessofHolland.com or call 616-928-0929.

A Course In Miracles (ACIM)- 7:00-8:30 pm. Self-study system unique in teaching forgiveness as the road to inner peace and the remembrance of the unconditional love of God. Unity Church of Peace. Ada. 616-682-7812.

Egyptian Mystery School- 7:00-8:30 pm. Listen as Denise explains the Mysteries of the Ancient Egyptians. $15. The Healing Center. Lakeview. TheHealingCenterofLakeview.com. 989-352-6500.

Focused Energy Academic Success- 7:30pm. Send kids to school prepared with fueled bodies & academic strength. Reliv Open Presentations Spring Hill Suites, 450 Center NW, Grand Rapids. Call Deb Riolo 616-822-4247. [email protected]

Wednesday$30 Off BioMeridian Assessments- State-of-the-art profiling and tracking of all 58 meridians in the body with take-home computer generated results to as-sess progress. Grand Rapids. 616-365-9176. Visit integrativenutritionaltherapies.com for more info.

Exploring the Shamanic Teachings of the Sweet Medicine Sundance Path with Marie Moon Star Seeker; Every other Wednesday; Rockford, MI, call 616-856-4957 for details.

A Course In Miracles (ACIM)- 9:30-11:00 am. Self-study system unique in teaching forgiveness as the road to inner peace and the remembrance of the unconditional love of God. Unity Church of Peace. Ada. 616-682-7812.

Note: Visit www.NaturalWestMichigan.com for guidelines and to submit entries. Events must be re-submitted each month by the 15th of the month. Events sub-ject to change, please call ahead.


AcuPuNcture

SAMIR RAJANI, MDMedical AcupuncturistSHMG Internal Medicine890 S. Washington, Suite 130, Holland 616-395-9000www.shmg.org

Medical acupuncture can be an effective treatment for many chronic conditions, including Pain, Fatigue, Depression and Anxiety. Samir Rajani, MD is certified in medical acupuncture and practices at SHMG Internal Medicine.

AlterNAtive HeAltH PrActitioNer

OUT OF THE BLUE INCNancy Despres RN, MBE363 Cummings NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49534616-453-4215www.OutoftheBlueInc.net *UPDATED*

Out of the Blue helps find alternative ways for achieving optimal health through the use of homeopathy, enzyme therapy nutritional supplements & hair mineral analysis. Now carrying homeopathic Hcg drops for weight loss.

BodyworK

WHOLISTIC KINESIOLOGY HEALTH SERVICES, LLC Barbara Zvirzdinis, WK, CMT616-581-3885www.WKHealthServices.com

Certified Massage Therapist offering Therapeutic & LaStone Massage. Certified Wholistic Kinesiologist, Reconnection Healing Practitioner, Certified Herbalist, Certified Acutonics P r a c t i t i o n e r , C e r t i f i e d Reflexologist, and a Certified Matrix Energetics Practitioner. See ad page 25.

thenaturaldirectory

BuildiNG / coNstructioN

DLH CONCEPTSKyle HassLicensed Residential Home [email protected]

Locally owned and operated. Specializing in building custom livable and affordable new homes that are Energy Efficient and utilize Green Building practices. Unmatched efficiencies and uncompromising quality. See ad page 29.

cHiroPrActic cAre

DYNAMIC FAMILY CHIROPRACTICDr. Ronson Dykstra & Dr. Ronda VanderWall4072 Chicago Drive, Grandville616-531-6050

Family owned and operated in the heart of downtown Grandville, Dynamic Family Chiropractic focuses on lifestyle improvements through living a maximized life. A safe and natural approach to health through the combination of exercise, nutrition, detoxification and chiropractic care.

SCHAFER CHIROPRACTIC AND HEALING SPADr. Andrew Schafer 1801 Breton SE Grand Rapids, MI 49506 616-301-3000

Tr e a t i n g m u s c u l o s k e l e t a l conditions, and specializing in back pain, sciatica neck pain, and headaches. Also offering physical therapy, massage therapy, and pos tu ra l awareness . Mos t insurances accepted. Breton Village area. www.grchirospa.com. See ad page 21.

cleANiNG Products

NATURAL HEALTH 4 TODAYClara VanderZouwen616-698-6148www.NaturalHealth4Today.com

Imagine cleaning with only water! Improve the quality of your life with Norwex products by radically reducing the use of chemicals in personal care and cleaning. New to Michigan! See ad page 18.

...connecting you to the leaders in natural health and green living in West Michi-gan. To find out how you can be included in The Natural Directory log-on to www.NaturalWestMichigan.com/advertising.

coloN HydrotHerAPy

HARMONY ’N HEALTH Mary De Lange, CCT., CMT.1003 Maryland Av., N.E.Grand Rapids616-456-5033www.harmonynhealth.net

Certified therapist since 1991 offering colon therapy in a sterile and professional environment. Using a hol is t ic approach colonics relieve constipation, d ia r rhea , gas , b loa t , poor digestion, back pain, body odor and more. See ad page 6.

TRICIA E. GOSLING Natural Health & Healing Center723 Kenmoor SE Grand Rapids 49546616-481-9074

Offering an advanced client-centered dimension of colonics: gentle , safe and effect ive. Eliminate toxins and enhance well-being. 15 years of experience. A l s o o f f e r i n g Q u a n t u m Biofeedback sessions. I-ACT certified Instructor. Visit www.holisticenergytherapies.net

couNseliNG

JANICE DE LANGE, PH.D1514 Wealthy St. SE Ste 260, Grand [email protected]

A mind-body-spirit approach for trauma and abuse recovery, PTSD, low sense of self-worth, panic & phobias, anxiety, depression, relationships. EMDR & Energy interventions.

deNtistry / Holistic

DENTAL HEALTH& WELLNESS CENTERDr. Kevin P. Flood DDS616-974-4990www.FloodTheDentist.com

Comprehensive Holistic Dental Services – Amalgam Removal & Replacement. Bio-Compatible, metal-free materials, Low-Dose Digital X-Rays, Gentle Anesthesia, Dentistry for Diabetes, TMJ, Chronic Head & Neck pain and Non Surgical Perio. See ad page 48.


eNerGy HeAliNG

AMA~DEUS®Beth Cosmos Grand Rapids: 616-648-3354 www.ama-deus-international.com

Ama Deus® healing energy method is a hand mediated technique aligned with love. The energy helps to enhance one’s own and others growth and awareness or physical and emotional healing. See ad page 39.

MATRIX ENERGETICS Barbara Zvirzdinis, WK, CMT616-581-3885www.WKHealthServices.com

Matrix Energetics is a system used to heal, transform and create new possibilities in your life. Using principles of quantum physics and subtle energy Matrix Energetics helps you to shift into a more balanced state. See ad page 25.

esseNtiAl oils

BE YOUNG ESSENTIAL OILSClara Vander Zouwen 616-698-6148www.NaturalHealth4Today.com

Learn how to address issues of Pain, Stress, Hormone Imbalance, Weight Management, ADD, Allergies, Diabetes & more with Essential Oils, Ionic Foot Baths, Bio-Energy scans, Nutritional & NEW Earthing products! Free monthly classes.

HEAVENLY HEALINGSHOLISTIC HEALTH SERVICESJodi Jenks - Reiki Master4434 Knapp St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525www.heavenlyhealings.org

I am a Reiki Master that also does Essential Oil therapies including Raindrop Therapy, Emotional Clearing and Spiritual Journey work . Ca l l o r emai l fo r appointments or questions, 616-443-4225 or [email protected].

HAir color

AMY WORSTOrganic Hair Color Specialist Aesthetica Image Group616-916-1190

Feel good about looking beautiful! Hair services of all kinds for all types. Providing superior results with Organic Color. 8 yrs . experience. Appointment recommended. www.aestheticaig.com/organic.

HeAltH educAtioN ceNter

THE WELLNESS FORUM830 Forest Hill AveGrand Rapids, MI 49546616-942-7907www.WellnessForum.com

Educational programs for personal health improvement - Workplace wellness programs - Wellness Forum Foundation focused on school nutrition and children’s health - National conferences.

HeAltH food stores

AFFORDABLE NUTRITIONJoel D. Manning, CNC®, Owner7493 Cottonwood Drive, Jenison616-667-1346

Affordable, natural approach to b e t t e r h e a l t h . C e r t i f i e d nutritional consultant. 20 years experience. Offering select high quality vitamins and nutritional supplements. Weight loss, cleansing, sports nutrition & more! Senior & Everyday

discounts. Visit www.Affordable-Nutrition.com.

HEALTH HUTT Grand Haven 616-846-3026Muskegon 231-739-1568North Muskegon 231-744-0852www.HealthHutt.net

Natural & organic foods, vitamins & herbs, sports nutrition, g lu t en f r ee food ,

natural body and homecare products. Open 7 days a week. See ad page 25.

Holistic HeAltH ceNters

THE HEALING CENTER352 S. Lincoln Ave, Lakeview989-352-6500www.TheHealingCenterOfLakeview.com

Naturopa th ic / Hol i s t i c Prac t i t ioners . Phys ic ian assistant, Certified Natural Health Professionals. Private consultations. Counseling & C l a s s e s . B l o o d t y p i n g , acupressure, emotional release, i r i d o l o g y, h o m e o p a t h y,

massage therapy, reflexology, cranial sacral, foot detox & more. See ad page 23.

HomeoPAtHy

BOB HUTTINGA352 S. Lincoln Ave, Lakeview989-352-6500www.TheHealingCenterOfLakeview.com

A Physician assistant since 1 9 7 6 , s p e c i a l i z i n g i n naturopathic and homeopathic care and ApoE Gene Diet. Also, certified Silva Method instructor. See ad page 23.

iNteGrAtive mediciNe

SHORELINE CENTERFOR INTEGRATIVE MEDICINESouth Haven Health System950 S. Bailey Ave. South Haven, MI 49090269-639-2833

Alternative therapies are used in conjunction wi th convent ional medicine to balance your mind, body and

spirit. Lori Dotson, MD Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine.

iNterior desiGN services

STANDALE INTERIORS4046 Lake Michigan Dr. NWGrand Rapids, MI 49534616-453-8201www.standaleinteriors.com

Offering environmentally friendly options for cabinetry, flooring, countertops and window t r e a t m e n t s . T h e Homecoming Collection

from Kincaid with the Eco3Home designation offers furniture manufactured in an environmentally responsible process. See ad page 7.

KiNesioloGy

WHOLISTIC KINESIOLOGYHEALTH SERVICES, LLCBarbara Zvirzdinis, WK, CMT616-581-3885www.WKHealthServices.com

C e r t i f i e d W h o l i s t i c Kinesiologis t , Cer t i f ied M a s s a g e T h e r a p i s t , R e c o n n e c t i o n H e a l i n g P r a c t i t i o n e r, C e r t i f i e d Herbalist, Certified Acutonics P r a c t i t i o n e r, C e r t i f i e d Reflexologist, and a Certified Matrix Energetics Practitioner.

Specializing in muscle testing, massage, energy medicine, nutritional counseling, lectures and classes. See ad page 25.


mAssAGe tHerAPy

DYNAMIC CHIROPRACTIC& MASSAGE THERAPYErin Kieffer, MT4072 Chicago Drive, Grandville, MI 49418616-531-6050

I offer Swedish massage w i t h I n t e g r a t e d Te c h n i q u e s , c h o s e n specifically to your unique body. Relieve those tired and sore muscles and rejuvenate! Call for on-

going monthly specials and discounts. www.DynamicChiro.com.

SCHAFER CHIROPRACTICAND HEALING SPASheri Beth Schafer, CMT, Reiki Master1801 Breton SE Grand Rapids, MI 49506616-301-3000

We have multiple certified massage therapists offering relaxation, prenatal, deep tissue massage, and medical massage. We also offer Reiki, chakra ba l anc ing , and Ayurvedic bodywork. Breton Vi l l a g e a r e a . w w w.grchirospa.com. See ad page 21 & 30.

midwifery

BIRTH SONGMIDWIFERY SERVICESYolanda Visser CM, CPMGrand Rapids: 616-458-8144www.BirthSongGR.com

Homebirth services s i n c e 1 9 8 2 . C o m m i t t e d t o facilitating natural b i r t h , b o n d i n g ,

strengthening the family, informed active participation, and lending dignity to women through their birthing experience.

FULL CIRCLE MIDWIFERYSERVICE, INC.Patrice Bobier CM, CPMHesperia: 231-861-2234 www.FullCircleMidwifery.com

In private practice since 1982 - specializing in homebirth. Over 1200 b i r ths a t tended. Offering midwifery care that maintains a

family-centered safe birth experience. Empowering women to stay healthy during pregnancy, give birth naturally and parent in the best ways.

HOME BIRTH PARTNERS, LLCSusan Wente, CNM, Dr. PH231-652-3247www.HomeBirthworks.com

This regions only Certified Nurse Midwife with 32 years experience – over 3000 births attended. Providing pre-natal, home and hospital births and postpartum care. Gynecological and Doula services available.

quANtum BiofeedBAcKTRICIA E. GOSLINGNatural Health & Healing Center723 Kenmoor SE Grand Rapids 49546616-481-9074

This highly complex device is a non-invasive technology that energetically scans & harmonizes the body’s stresses and imbalances, reducing those imbalances that make us uncomfortable. Visit www.holisticenergytherapies.net

reiKi

HAELEN HOLISTIC TREATMENTSConnie Jean Cunningham www.haelenholistic.com616-446-6906

Certified Usui Reiki Master and Karuna ® Reiki. Offering professional reiki treatments, classes, personal instruction and guidance. Specialized treatment areas include chemotherapy support, PTSD, phantom limb pain, stress, and spiritual expansion.

HEAL WITH KATIEKatie Ray269-804-9307www.healwithkatie.com

Katie Ray is a Certified Massage Therapist and Reiki Master. Offering deep tissue and medical massage, Usui Reiki treatments, healing attunements, and psychic surgery.

PAULA BOJSENReiki Master Teacher and Gendai Reiki Shihan616-283-6339www.reikihaus.com

Reiki Haus is your source for quality, in-depth Reiki classes at all levels. Both Western Traditional and Gendai (Japanese) Reiki are taught. Treatments are also available, specializing in PTSD, RAD, and fibromyalgia.

retreAt ceNter

THE LEAVEN CENTERLyons, Michigan989-855-2606www.leaven.org

A place of beauty on the banks of the Grand River where you can find rest and nourishment for your body and spirit. Offering workshops, retreats, and rental space year-round.

for sAle

White Cloud- 80 Acre Farm, 6 bedroom home, vinyl siding, insulated. Dairy barn, outbuildings, 4 stall garage on M-20. Rob Breen 231-652-1100.

oPPortuNities

Holistic & Green Business Owners Wanted for Health Network- NAN, the Natural Awakenings Network, is a green and healthy living network that will allow members to enjoy discounts on products & services focused on wellness, green/sustainable living and healthy lifestyles. If you are interested in becoming a provider (a business or organization that offers discounts to members) in this innovative network or want more details, contact Natural Awakenings at 616-656-9232 or [email protected]. Participat-ing as a Provider is FREE for the 1st year.

Products

Endless Health & Energy Can Be Yours! RE-START YOUR LIFE! Satisfaction Guaranteed www.restartyl.com/donnashealthpath.

classifiedsto place a classified listing: Email listing to [email protected]. Must be received by the 15th of the month prior to publication. $1.00 per word; must be pre-paid.

scHool / educAtioN

NATUROPATHIC INSTITUTE OF THERAPIES & EDUCATION503 E. Broadway St Mt. Pleasant, MI. 48858989-773-1714www.nite-mtp.comwww.leaven.org

Educational Programs: Natural Health 1-4 Years (one weekend per month), Holistic Labor Companion –Doula 6

months (1 weekend per month), Massage Therapy 1 Year (2 weekends per month), Individual Classes available. 15 years of excellence. See ad page 2.

wAterBirtH

SHORELINE’S WOMEN’S CENTER AT SOUTH HAVEN HEALTH SYSTEMEva Fronk, CNM and Mercedes Moran, CNM950 S. Bailey Ave. South Haven, MI 49090269-639-2720

Offering the only water birthing program in Southwest Michigan. Our Certified Nurse Midwives assist the

mother during water birth delivery, in collaboration & consultation with our obstetricians. Call today to learn more.

natural awakenings magazine ~ october 2011

Documents

natural awakeningsif

year natural health

hours natural health

month massage

comnaturopathyeach year

calendar deadline

th year4th year graduates

sustainable life actress