March 2008 - Grand Strand Natural Awakenings

FREEGrand Strand EditionMarch 2008HOLISTICtherapiesto beat addictionspiritualpilgrimagejourney to sacred sitesLAUGHTERYOGAwhat’s so funny?Local News • Health Briefs • Community CalendarGrand Strand

Grand Strand

H E A L T H Y L I V I N Gwww.GrandStrandHealthyLiving.comNatural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more balancedlife. Our mission is to provide insights and information toimprove the quality of life physically, mentally, emotionally andspiritually. In each issue, readers find cutting-edge informationon natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, greenliving, creative expression and the products and services thatsupport a healthy lifestyle.departmentsinside this issuenewsbriefs5fitbody10healthbriefs11inspiration13globalbriefs14naturalpet16consciouseating17healthykids19calendar37classifieds43resourceguide44pg. 9pg. 36pg. 16Answer This QuickWho Is Your Chiropractor?by Keith WallerIt’s Never Too Lateby John O. Cochran, DCHealing AddictionsAlternative Clinics Offer HolisticWays to Beat Addictionby Lisa MarshallIn Pursuit of PlentyA Nutritional Program for DrugDetoxificationby Chance Diebold, NMDAn Open Letter fromJesse YodiceA Conversation withPhil Cousineauby Linda Sechrist182024283234How to AdvertiseTo advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at843-497-0390 or email KeithW@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com. Deadline for spacereservation is the 12 th of the month prior to publication.News Briefs & article submissionsEmail articles, news items and ideas to: KeithW@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.Deadline for editorial is the 12 th of the month prior to publication.calendar submissionsEmail Calendar Events to: GSCalendar@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com or fax to843-497-0760. Calendar deadline: the 12 th of the month prior to publication.regional marketsAdvertise your products or services in multiple markets! Natural Awakenings PublishingCorp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines servicing communitiessince 1994. To find our many locations or how to place your ad in other markets call(239) 449-8309, or for franchising opportunities call (239) 530-1377 or visitNaturalAwakeningsMag.com.March 2008

coverartistletterfromeditorThis month in Natural Awakenings, our focus is on healingaddictions. Most of us tend to think of junkies and alcoholicswhen we hear the word “addiction.” However you can beaddicted to anything. Cigarettes. Caffeine. Sugar. Sex. Emotionsand drama – and certainly, to a variety of drugs, both from thestreet and the pharmacy.Power ofWisdomLinda AppleEvery art piece that Linda Apple createscelebrates some treasured memoryof family life. To these she addssignature dashes of fantasy, whimsyand science fiction that effectivelytouch the viewer’s own imagination.She considers her artwork “images ofbeauty and peacefulness that lead [us]into another world.”A scholarship to the Columbus Collegeof Art & Design in Ohio was the firststep of Linda’s journey of the spirit.Since then her art, developed overnearly four decades of professionalexperience, has gained internationalrecognition with exhibits in Canada,Mexico and the United States. Shereports that her art dolls have foundtheir way into many prominentcollections.View the artist’s portfolio atAppleArts.com.I used to smoke cigarettes. I started with Marlboro Lights,‘cause everyone did back then, and ended up smoking organictobacco. Over the 20 years that I smoked, I must have quit at least four dozentimes. I tried to quit ‘cold turkey,’ with hypnosis, and with a wad of nicotine gum,but I never made it longer than 3 months without picking it up again. In momentsof clarity and positive thought, I would tell myself that these were not failures, butpractice for the big day when I would really quit smoking, once and for all. MyReiki Master even put a positive spin on smoking for me – or so I thought – by callingit a crutch. That is, of course, exactly what it was, a crutch just like any otheraddiction.At least once a month, I would agonize over my smoking, berating myself andpromising I would quit “just after…” or “as soon as…” There was, of course,always an excuse to start up again. “I’m so stressed that if I don’t smoke a cigaretteright now, I’ll go postal.” Then one day, I met a guy in upstate New York whocalled himself an Intuitive Health Detective, and who shared a bit of wisdom thatI will always remember. He said that there is no such thing as addiction, that thereis only choice. What? Bells went off as I wrapped my mind around what he said– and I got it… I finally got it. I would not be able to quit smoking until I trulywanted to quit. Just quitting because it was the right thing to do didn’t work – Ihad proven that enough times. I had to choose to become a non-smoker. I had todeclare my intent to live nicotine free. Once the declaration was made, the doingbecame next to effortless, at least for me. I’ve been a non-smoker for almost 4years now, and I haven’t shot a single person.When I share this story with friends and acquaintances the typical response is,“What do you mean there is no such thing as addiction? Of course there is.” Onone hand, they are absolutely correct; there are both physical and psychologicaladdictions. Western medicine has libraries full of scientific research and conclusionsas to the nature of addiction. Who am I to argue? Richard Bach said in hisbook, Illusions, “Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they’re yours.” Ihanded my power over to the crutch of smoking for 20 years before I realized Inever needed crutches. I could always walk on my own, without limitation.If you are struggling with addiction, my story may annoy and even anger you. Afterall, you can’t end a heroin addiction just because you choose to do so, or can you?While it would be irresponsible of me to advise anyone to endanger their healthwith an unsupervised withdrawal from a drug such as this, I can advise them tomake a choice. It is my hope, that along with professional guidance, you are ableto recognize the power of your own Spirit. One of the most powerful statementsyou can ever make is, “I choose.”You are a perfect Divine being.Be well,AntonGrand Strand

newsbriefsIsabelle brings experience from her previous work at KingstonPlantation and the Hibiscus Spa at the Marriott Resort atGrande Dunes. “My personal style is known as ’Perfect Pressure,’which describes my hands’ & fingers’ ability to find thedepth of pressure needed for each individual to experience blissin their session,” Isabelle says.Sallie Gentry calls her work “intentional and conscious.”“I approach each session by paying ‘exquisite attention’ to thephysical structure and musculoskeletal configuration,” says Sallie.“One must pay attention to every signal from the patient,even the most subtle ones.” In addition to traditional massage,Sallie’s work includes craniosacral therapy, which relies onintense sensitivity to balance the almost imperceptible pulsesof craniosacral fluid rhythms, and allows her to provide a morecomplete body-mind therapy session.For more information on Cassena Spa at 9428 OceanHighway 17 in Pawley’s Island, call Isabelle Boyd and SallieGentry at 314-4611, or email cassenaspa1@gmail.com. See adpage 38.Natural Health Counseling,Moved to New OfficesThe Natural Health Counselingoffices of Dr. MelodyIles and Rosa Marrone havemoved to their new locationat 927 4th Avenue in HistoricDowntown Conway. In additionto their current services,several new therapies havebeen added, including newdetox programs, the detox footspa and therapeutic massage. The new location will also beginselling bulk herbs and organic products, along with those regularservices offered at the old location, which include druglesstherapies, natural antibiotics and individual holistic programs.General health questions can also be answered by email.Natural Health Counseling can be reached at their newtelephone number, 446-0293, and at an additional telephonenumber to be announced soon. The office is located at 927 4thAvenue, Conway. See ad page 41.From Taos to ConwayConway Art WalkAs a part of the Art Walk in historic downtown Conway onSaturday, March 1st, Gifu Art Xchange will introduce thepaintings of artist Deborah Broad, who recently moved to Conwayfrom Taos, NM. Current works by Bill Strydesky, SharonWillick, Tony Adkins, Walter Allen, Calvin Blassingame, KanishaBryant, Millie Doud and Robert Lukey remain on display.Meet the artists on as part of the Art Walk, from 10 to 5pm.Regular gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10amto 5pm.For more information, call Gifu Art Exchange at 457-9503or 267-4477.Retrain Your Brain to ReclaimYour Highest PotentialDuring this season of renewal,restoration, and revitalization,join David Hiller to learnpractical and well-researchedways to Retrain the Brain. Learnabout Psych-K and understandhow beliefs affect one’s well-being,as you uncover debilitatingbelief systems and gain insightsthat enable you to change thosebeliefs through applied kinesiology.Give and receive handson-healingenergy. Activate yourself to move from “survivalto thrival” and tap into your highest potential. This PersonalEmpowerment Workshop, on Sunday March 16th at UnityChrist Church in Surfside Beach, runs from 1:30 to 4:30pm,and follows a Sunday service on the subject at 11am. Cost isby a suggested donation of $20. Unity Christ Church is at 1270Surfside Industrial Park Drive.David Hiller is a Vietnam veteran whose life purpose hasincluded supporting individuals in transforming their beliefs ofsurvival and fear into conscious patterns of ‘thrival’ and peace.Hiller has a master’s degree in counseling, and serves as aninterfaith minister, spiritual counselor, personal empowermentcoach, Psych-K consultant and healer. For nearly thirty years hehas conducted healing and fear release seminars in churches,hospitals, colleges, and mental health agencies, and has witnessedthousands of transforming shifts. David co-authored thebook, Dare to Dream with life partner, Margaret Hiller.David Hiller is available for private counseling and coaching,as well as work in corporate settings. For more information,call David Hiller at 333-8260 or miracles1@mindspring.com.Detoxification OptionsYour Spa Can ProvideCleansing and detoxifying the body has a long list of benefits.You can reduce the appearance of cellulite, get rid ofdark circles under the eyes and give your skin a healthy glow,and even have healthier appearing hair. But in addition to thewonderful changes on the outside of the body, you can feelamazing changes from the inside, with higher energy levels,mental clarity, sound sleep and sharper thinking.There are many different methods for a cleansing regimen,such as chelation therapy and body wraps. Body wraps notonly detoxify the skin by helping draw out metabolic wastes,Grand Strand

ut they tighten skin, and reduce the appearance of cellulite.You can even lose inches each time you are wrapped.Salon 51 in Myrtle Beach is offering Suddenly Slender detoxifyingbody wraps, and arranging for consulting physicianDr. Bruce Frye to offer chelation therapy and natural alternativesfor cleansing and detoxifying the rest of you.For information on body wraps and for Dr. Bruce Frye’sschedule at Salon 51, contact them at 497-1131 or stop in at5105 N. Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach.“The Clinic” Group PersonalTraining Extended for MarchDue to the rousing success of January’s run of The Clinic atThe Urban Studio, a second section has been scheduledfor March for those who were unable to join in the first time.The Clinic is a professionally-led group class for people seriousabout weight loss and getting into shape. Class size is limited,and attendees will be sub-divided into appropriate groups forfocused work with personal trainers, then will reconvene forworkshops on nutrition, chiropractic wellness and varioushealth conditions.As before, The Clinic requires preregistration, and includeseight weeks of personal training and specialized workshops.The cost is all-inclusive, at $250 per person. The first class willbe held March 18th, with an orientation meeting before thestart of the session.For more information, contact Jesse Yodice at 602-3330.See ad page 35.Learn to Massage Your MateOn a Saturday of BlissJesse Yodice and Jessica Snyder,two experienced and successfullicensed massage therapists in LittleRiver, have teamed up to teachcouples the art of massage in athree-hour Saturday class with plentyof hands-on practice. The first class,on March 22nd, will be limited to sixcouples and requires preregistration.The cost of $250 per couple includesthe class, course materials, lunchand a take-home kit of massage oils,soothing music and other items. Thisrelationship-supporting opportunityintroduces couples to healing healthy touch – without expectation,creating an enhanced connection and nurturing emotionalconnection. Beginning in a classroom setting, participants willlearn simple massage basics, then proceed to hands-on trainingwith a mate practicing on professional massage tables. The classis not intended to be training for professional massage.Class will be held at the Touch Healing Center at 304Highway 90 East in Little River, near the Sports Zone Complex.For registration and information on the class schedule, callJesse Yodice at 602-3330 or Jessica Snyder at 249-5433. See adpage 35.March 2008

newsbriefsThe Vegetarian ChallengePresented by Shanti YogaHave you ever thoughtabout becoming a vegetarian,or at least about eatingless meat? Whether your goalis to go vegetarian or simplycleanse your palate (and yourcolon), this event is not to bemissed. The Vegetarian Challengeis about becoming anactive participant in your choices for one week.On Sunday, March 30th, join us to discover how you canmake a difference in your health and the health of the environment,and become a more educated consumer and compassionatebeing. The challenge is by registration only and eachparticipant will receive information regarding nutrition andsupplements, the environmental impact of a green diet, howto tread lightly on the planet, the socioeconomic effect of themeat industry, and spiritual lessons that can be adopted whilepracticing a compassionate diet. You will also receive a guideto local restaurants who offer fabulous vegetarian options andtips to help get you through the week.The workshop runs from 2 to 4 pm, beginning with an introductionto a vegetarian diet and yoga practice. Cost is $25(free for Shanti members), and includes the Sunday discussionand practice and an unlimited pass to Shanti Yoga Studio duringthe one-week challenge.For more information, see ShantiMyrtleBeach.com or callDawn Yager at 467-5444 or email Dharmagirl@aol.com. Seead page 37.Hybrid WellnessA New Concept with an Old TwistWellness doctor, Judy Seeger, has been involved in the fieldof alternative medicine for over 30 years. She has nowdecided to offer Myrtle Beach residents a different concept: awellness club that offers alternative medicine therapies that arefun, feel good, and offer amazing healing benefits.“Just show up, like you do at a gym, and we take care ofthe rest,” Judy says. You have your choice of foot baths with apersonal oxygen bar, infrared sauna, foot massaging machines,and much more. “The emphasis is on relaxing while you getwell, share a few laughs, and learn what it takes to stay healthy,”Judy explains.For those who want to further their knowledge, workshopson healing the whole body are offered. As Dr. Andrew Weilsays, “We have a responsibility to educate the people on theiroptions,” which Judy does with workshops on topics like whichvitamin supplements to take, how to use herbs to heal, and howemotions connect with sickness. OxyWellness Club workshopsare held at 3200 Airport Boulevard in North Myrtle Beach.For information on the OxyWellness Club and workshops,call Judy Seeger at 742-0999. Check the calendar for workshopdates.Spiritual PilgrimagesA Guide to Inner & Outer Sacred JourneysApilgrimage is asacred journey, asearch for meaning, thateach of us can take onceor many times duringour lifetimes. It might bea journey with a fixeddestination, such as thehealing waters of Lourdes,France; or it can bean entire lifetime devoted to sacred travel. Some pilgrimages aresymbolic, as when medieval Christians walked the labyrinthson the floors of European cathedrals as the path to Jerusalem.We are all on personal internal pilgrimages toward a connectionwith the Divine, and whichever sacred path we travel, it isalways about entering the unknown, and about transformationand awakening.In order tochange we mustbe sick and tiredof being sickand tired.~Author UnknownGrand Strand

Take part in the new presentation series on Spiritual Pilgrimagesto access the Divine at Unity Christ Church of MyrtleBeach, through March and April from 7-8:30 pm.The goal is for each participant to identify and begin preparationfor his or her own personal sacred journey, whether itinvolves foreign travel, a local retreat, or your own home.Presentations begin with an overview, followed by process andpractice by Kit Blaker, and finally reflections on past pilgrimageswill be offered by Susan Boles, Olivia Rose and MargaretHiller.For more information on each and all of the Wednesdayevening events, see UnityMyrtleBeach.org or call 238-8516 andcheck the events calendar of Natural Awakenings.Celebrate Earth DayPlan Now for AprilUnity Christ Church of MyrtleBeach in Surfside is in theplanning stages for their “EarthDay at Unity” on Sunday, April20th from 1 to 5pm. The eventwill feature healthy living and environmentallyconscious offerings,including a garden party, silentauction, sale booths, plant sale,craft and garden demonstrations,health food offerings, give-aways, raffles and a speakers’ forumat 3 pm. The general public is invited.If you or your organization would like to be a part of thiscelebration by promoting your business or craft at a sale booth,furnishing desserts for the garden party, contributing silent auctionand raffle prizes, demonstrating a craft or gardening skill,speaking on environmental issues or volunteering your time,we’d like to hear from you soon!Contact Karen Larson, event coordinator, at: 340-0739 oremail: PCConnections@aol.com.Organic and Natural GroceryOptions in Myrtle BeachOvis Hill Farms has extended their weekly delivery schedulethough the month of March. According to Charlie Caldwell,sales have been sufficient to justify the extended schedule,which reduces overcrowding by the added delivery days. Hisweekly market bulletin, listing available products and theirprices, can be emailed to you directly by calling Charlie at (843)992-9447 or emailing him at cccotswold@aol.com. Productsinclude free range, grass-fed meats, eggs, non-homogenizedmilk and locally grown organic produce, McCarley Bakeryproducts, Amish cheeses and various natural condiments, jams,and other specialty items. Orders are delivered to the HerbShop/Yoga Room at 196 Stonebridge Drive, near Palmetto Point,every Wednesday between 4 and 7pm. Preorders are the mostconvenient, but you can also shop on-site. See OvisHillFarm.com for more information.In addition to Ovis Hill Products, the Yoga Room is host tothe Organics Coop in Myrtle Beach, where orders for reducedcost specialty and organic foods are delivered monthly. Thereis a $35 co-op joining fee and catalogs are available for $1, oryou can check the UnitedBuyingClubs.com website for information.Members are required to help with deliveries and otherco-op jobs, and to commit to a minimum $50 monthly order.Delivery schedules can be found on the Natural Awakeningscalendar.Contact coordinator, Marie, to join United Buying ClubsCo-op at archibaldmp@aol.com or call 267-0315. Also, youmay call Donna Stead at 450-9402.LillysJims Natural OrganicsGrand Opening in SurfsideAs featured in the FebruaryIssue of NaturalAwakenings, the newLillysJims natural pet andbody care products retailerwill be celebratingtheir Grand Opening onMarch 15th from 10amto 4pm. The event willbe held at the New YorkDebut Salon, 780-F, Highway 17 S Business, Surfside Beach.Along with Lilly and Jim Fraser, meet Liz Dotson, creator ofBelle’s Place Farm Products, who will be there to talk aboutthe farm and tell the touching story of how Belle’s Place wascreated. Sample products and chat with Liz about the goat milkand herbal and essential oil formulas that make these skin careproducts so unique and effective.Don’t forget about your four-footed best friends, either.Much of the healthy product line is for dogs, including custommade accessories and pet skin and coat care products, soaps,shampoos and first aid items.Herbal teas and hors d’oeuvres will be served.For more information, call (866) 702-3310, and see LillysJims.comand ad page 2.Have some news to share?Email: GSEditor@NaturalAwakeningsMag.comMarch 2008

fitbodyWhat’s soFunnyabout Yoga?Laughter Yoga FirstCracks Us Up, ThenCalms Us Downby Kim ChildsMost yoga classes take place in quiet rooms full ofearnest faces in various states of relaxation and concentration.Not so with laughter yoga, an unusualworkout for the body, mind and spirit that aims to banish theblues by busting a gut.Laughter yoga clubs began in 1995 with Dr. MadanKataria, who started them in his native India because hebelieved in the health benefits of laughter. At first, his participantssimply told jokes. Later, Kataria and his wife, Madhuri,added yoga stretches and breathing techniques. Eventually,he replaced the jokes with exercises designed to elicit laughterwithout humor. Today, Kataria’s students play out theseroutines all over the world.“I have a laughter bank of 100 exercises,” says VishwaPrakesh, a student who went on to create his own Yogalaffsessions in New York. A textile designer by trade, Prakeshopens his Manhattan office doors for free every Wednesdaynight to lure “laughers” with exercises such as clapping andchanting “Ho, ho, ha, ha, ha,” until contrived laughter becomesthe real thing.“You have people who come in with grim faces and ask,‘Are you sure I can do this?’” notes Prakesh. “Then you beginto see the sparkle in their eyes, and very soon they are reallylaughing.”To break the ice in laughter clubs, people may introducethemselves in a comical way and then ask the groupto mimic them. That may be followed by “lion laughter”,“hearty laughter” and “laugh for no reason” exercises.Prakesh says he sees that people become more easy-goingand less inhibited during his “yoga for the soul” sessions,which don’t feature yoga postures, but yield similar healthbenefits. Laughter yoga proponents report that it increaseslung capacity and oxygen, decreases stress hormones, exercisesthe abdominals, boosts immunity and provides a cardiovascularworkout through prolonged, deep belly laughs.Clinical research now backs many of these claims, but thosewho flock to laughter yoga speak more of the mental benefitsthan the physical ones.“The most important benefit is the overall feeling oflightness and the general enjoyment of being,” says ElsieBlum, a regular at Yogalaff. “There’s a loosening of body tensions,especially the facial muscles. Smiling is more natural.”Ramesh Chandra attends Yogalaff evenings about twice amonth. He says that the laughter refreshes his lungs and alsohelps him to manage tensions outside the club.“I am now able to laugh more easily in my daily life,”says Chandra. “My anger is more in check under trying conditions.”People come in withgrim faces…then youbegin to see the sparklesin their eyes.Both Chandra and Blum maintain that laughter yoga sessionsare better than funny movies and comedians when it comesto eliciting joy and release. One reason is the social aspectand the chance to connect with others in ways that transcendlanguage, culture, race, class and ethnicity. Many laughteryoga clubs also become social clubs. In Boston, certifiedlaughter leader Sandra Daitch says that she’s forged somegreat connections this way.“I find it’s really fun to laugh in a group, so having acommunity of laughers is really great,” says Daitch, whooccasionally leaves “Laugh-a-gram”voicemail messages for communitymembers in need of cheer. Her mentor,Dr. Kataria, has been a role modelfor bringing laughter yoga to prisons,orphanages and homes for the disabled.Daitch observes that laughter clubscan be a refuge and a resource for thosestruggling with depression and thosewho feel weighed down by the demandsof modern life. Exercises then can beapplied to many real-life situations thataren’t so funny.“If you’re in traffic, instead of havingroad rage, just say to yourself ‘I’m ina traffic jam, ha, ha!’” advises Daitch. “Itcan lighten you up!”Vishwa PrakashLaughterAmbassador to U.S.Daitch, who is also a massage therapist, says that shemodifies the physical aspects of her laughter yoga workshopswhen she brings them to nursing homes. Of course, thosedealing with illnesses and surgeries involving the internalorgans should consult a doctor before trying laughter yoga.Otherwise, only those missing a funny bone should stayaway.To find a laughter club, laughter yoga professional or nearbytraining session, visit LaughterYoga.org.10 Grand Strand

healthbriefsHoney SoothesChildren’s CoughParents looking for a safe, effective alternativeto over-the-counter cough medicine shouldgive honey a try, says a new study by PennState College of Medicine. The researchersenrolled 105 children between theages of 2 and 18, giving them asmall dose of buckwheat honeyjust before bedtime. Theyfound that buckwheathoney provided betterrelief of nighttime coughand sleep interruptionsthan dextromethorphan( D M ) , a c o u g hsuppressant commonlyfound in over-thecounterchildren’s coldmedications.These findings are notable because a Foodand Drug Administration advisory board hasrecommended against giving over-the-countercough and cold medicines to children under theage of 6, citing their lack of effectiveness and riskof side effects. Honey, to the contrary, has a wellestablishedhealthful antioxidant and antimicrobialeffect. In some cultures, this sweet solution hasbeen used for centuries to treat upper respiratoryinfection symptoms such as cough. Honey sootheson contact and is considered safe for children oncethey’ve passed their first birthday.Happiness Comes CheapIt turns out that the road to happinessisn’t paved by a lotteryjackpot, flashy sports car or lucrativepromotion, according to a newstudy published by the Universityof Nottingham. On the contrary,researchers say that it’s the simplepleasures in life that have the mostimpact on one’s sense of well-being.Pure happiness might entail,for example, enjoying a chocolate truffle, afternoon snooze or leisurelybubble bath.Using a Satisfaction with Life Scale developed by the University ofIllinois, the study compared happiness levels of lottery jackpot winnerswith a control group. Respondents were asked about different elements ofhappiness in their life and their moods, as well as how often they treatedthemselves and in what form. The surprising findings revealed that itwasn’t the sports cars, diamond jewelry or big new house that enrichedthe winning ticket holder’s happiness quotient. Rather, it was listeningto music, reading a book or strolling in a nearby park. In other words,happiness amounts to the simple things in life, most of which are free.Avoiding Sugar ShockRather than cutting out starchy foods, dieters will dobetter to limit the amount of table sugar and corn syrupthat they eat, suggests a new University of Florida study.Starch-based foods don’t cause weight gain like sugarbasedfoods, the researchers say, and don’t have thesame shock effect on body metabolism.March 200811

healthbriefsDefining theNeti PotIt looks like a funky miniature teapot,but looks can be deceiving. The netipot (or netti pot) is an ancient yogictool used to cleanse the nasal passagesof mucus and pollutants. Nasalirrigation is a fast, inexpensive andhighly effective way to soothe dry nasalpassages and get relief from allergies,congestion,colds andsinusitis,especiallywhendrugs aren’tan option. Theuse of a neti potalso has proved helpfulin easing other respiratory tract illnessesand migraine headaches.Here’s how it works. Fill the netipot with warm water with a bit of seasalt or kosher salt to create a salinesolution. Bending over a sink or largebowl, pour the liquid into one nostriland then the other to wash them out. Ifa slight burning sensation occurs, addmore salt.Healing SunlightAccording to a research team from the NorthernCalifornia Cancer Center, University of SouthernCalifornia and Wake Forest University School ofMedicine, increased exposure to sunlight – whichincreases levels of vitamin D – may decrease therisk of advanced breast cancer.Source: Wake Forest University Baptist Medical CenterTalk toImprove MemoryWho couldn’t do with a little help in the memorydepartment? Here’s a simple trick offered by researchersat the University of Michigan: Simply talk for10 minutes. It’s been shown to improve memory andperformance on tests.Study participants from many demographic groupswere asked how often they talked each week on thephone to friends, neighbors and relatives and how oftenthey got together. After accounting for variables, such ashealth, education, race, ethnicity, gender, marital status,income and physical and mental health, researchersdiscovered that the higher the level of participants’social interaction, the better their cognitive functioning,regardless of age group.Source: Personality and Social Psychological Bulletin, 2008Relief after SurgeryAnew study in The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that a 20-minuteevening back massage can help relieve pain and reduce anxiety following major surgerywhen given in addition to pain medications.12 Grand Strand

inspirationThe Art of MeditationQuick escapes to focus your mind and soothe away stress.If you’re searching for a cure for stress and anxiety, look no further than yourown mind. The calming mental practice of meditation is a powerful tool;practiced regularly, it can induce a state of awareness, serenity and well-being.The following simple brain games will enable you to flex your mental muscles,improve your concentration and revive your spirit. This is what total fitness isall about.If you have never meditated before, hereare tips to get you started:• Find a place you can be comfortable,either sitting or lying down.• Avoid distractions. Turn off the TV andtake the phone off the hook.• Close your eyes.• Breathe slowly, expanding your ribcage, allowing the air to fill your belly;don’t breathe shallowly from your chest.Less than 10:One-minute respites andfive-minute breaksUse these easy techniques to get aquick energy boost, focus your mindand release stress.Say “om”: Chant a mantra (such as“om” or another repetitive word orphrase) to quiet your mind and get youfocused in the zone.Breathe easy: Inhale and exhalethrough your nose, creating a rhythmicpattern that lengthens progressively.Inhale for four counts, exhale for fourcounts; then inhale for five counts,exhale for five counts, and so on.Move and repeat: Along with yourbreathing, repetitive movement likewalking, jogging, swimming or t’ai chican be used to induce a meditativestate.10-minute mediTationFirst, get comfortable, either seated or lying down, and close your eyes. Asyou begin to breathe rhythmically, imagine your body relaxing. Inhale fresh,clean oxygen; exhale negativity and tension out. With each breath, imagineyour entire body letting go. If you have trouble staying centered, picture abeautiful place, such as a beach, to focus your mind. Imagine the smell ofthe air and water, feel the warmth of the sun and the sand around your body.Now begin with your feet: Clench your toes and release them a few times,then let them relax. Move up your body in the same fashion—tense and releaseyour legs, hips, hands, arms, spine, chest and neck. Let the tension meltfrom between your eyes and soften your mouth. If you notice any particularknots of tension, “breathe” into these spots as you exhale, allowing them tounwind. Once your body is completely relaxed, you’ll notice it’s easier toquiet the mental chatter that comes with constant stimuli and tension. Rouseyourself out of this space slowly; it’s a place you’ll want to return to again andagain.March 200813

globalbriefsNews and resources to inspire concernedcitizens to work together in building ahealthier, stronger society that works for all.Thirsty PeopleWorld Water Day March 22The threat of water scarcity loomslarge in both developed anddeveloping nations as peoplearound the planet mark WorldWater Day on March 22. Thisyear’s focus is sanitation, as recentUN reports estimate that 40percent of the world’s populationlack even basic facilities.Nobel Peace laureate and former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, states that “We shall not finally defeatAIDS, tuberculosis, malaria or any of the other infectious diseasesthat plague the developing world until we have also wonthe battle for safe drinking water, sanitation and basic healthcare.” Sufficient water is equally vital to biodiversity, agricultureand energy projects.The first U.S. Water Voices from Around the World eventtakes place this month in the Virgin Islands, where the onlysource of fresh water is rain and all housing starts require acistern for water collection. Walks for Water in New York,Los Angeles, Seattle and online are scheduled to support thatevent.Sources: WorldWaterDay.org and WorldWaterDay.netGlobalizing Health CareCrossing Borders Slashes Medical CostsPatients Beyond Borders:Ever ybody’sGuide to Affordable,World-Class MedicalTourism is the firstcomprehensive guidefor Americans facinglong-term financialinsecurity due to challengingmedical conditions.Author JosefWoodman spent three years researching facilities and collectingpatient case studies for everything from dental work and LASIKeye repair to fertilization clinics, cosmetic procedures and majorsurgery. His book recommends the best hospitals and treatmentcenters in 22 destinations worldwide.“Amidst an increasingly bleak U.S. healthcare landscape,medical travel is a viable option for Americans who find themselvespriced out of the domestic health market,” says Woodman.For a fraction of domestic care costs, he says, patients cantravel abroad to access U.S.-trained doctors in state-of-the-artfacilities without extended waiting periods or denial of insurancecoverage.According to Woodman’s book, more than 100 overseashospitals and clinics now carry American accreditation. Lastyear, 150,000 Americans reportedly took advantage of thesefacilities, and that number is expected to double in 2008. Woodmanadvises that “Good planning is essential to the successof any medical procedure and that goes double for the globalpatient.”Visit PatientsBeyondBorders.com, email Info@PatientsBeyondBorders.comor call 919-370-7380.Moses CodeUnlocking the Power of the AncientsBestselling author,musician andfilm-maker JamesTwyman announcesthe worldwiderelease of TheMoses Code intheatres SaturdayApril 5, includinga local release in the Grand Strand at the Unity Christ Churchat 6:30 pm. The release of the film will be accompanied by14 Grand Strand

a worldwide prayer vigil, scheduled for the next day, SundayApril 6. Simultaneously, millions of people from every cornerof the globe will be learning the most powerful manifestationtool in the history of the world, and then use the code topromote peace and compassion for all beings through morethan 2000 gatherings worldwide. This puts to use the Law ofAttraction to create peace on the deepest level. In conjunctionwith the worldwide prayer vigil, Unity Christ Church willbe joining with meditation and prayer at the 11 am SundayService.Cost for the Saturday evening screening of The MosesCode is $10. Jointly sponsored by Wisdom of the Ages andUnity Christ Church, the screening will take place at Unity,1270 Surfside Industrial Park Drive, Surfside Beach.In the film, well-known spiritual leaders and bestsellingauthors discuss the importance of service as a spiritualpractice. Real-life examples of modern-day giving andservice compellingly remind us how we each have the powerto change the world. Speakers include: Cheryl Richardson,Iyanla Vanzant, Sonia Choquette, Gregg Braden, Neale DonaldWalsch, James Van Praagh and Debbie Ford, who co-producedthe film.For more information see Wisdom-of-the-Ages.net andUnityMyrtleBeach.org, or call Susan Boles at 651-6325. Also,find the movie trailer at TheMosesCode.com. See ad page 31.Cool SchoolRead Across America Day March 3On March 3, Read Across America Day puts the spotlight onreading material as classic as Dr. Seuss and as contemporaryas high school poetry jams. The nation’s largest annual readingcelebration is sponsored by the National Education Associationand honors the birthday of Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss), bornMarch 2, 1904. Kids, parents, educators and libraries aroundthe country can join in to add their own creative spin to ideasand materials shared online. One link lists the top 100 booksfavored by teachers, another features the top 100 as cited bykids. The Cat-A-Van Reading Tour will also be making stopsaround the country.Get in on the action at: NEA.org/readacross.Next GenerationSpin on Meditation Movement Suits YouthA new-school movement spearheaded by a national Self-Centered Tour aims to inspire1,000,000 young people tobecome more authentic, grounded,balanced and self-aware byspending time each day connectingwith their inner selves. MaxSimon, 22, of The Chopra Centerfor Wellbeing, created the experientialconcept when he noticedthat traditional teaching methodswere failing to engage his generation.He’s now training “awarenessarchitects” across the country toguide youth in learning how to step away from endless mindchatter,disconnect from pop-culture buzz, settle into an authenticinner calm and create a better world through service.“Let’s face it. We live in an intense world,” Simon says.“Just because the whirlwind exists doesn’t mean that we haveto get caught up in it.” His solution is a hands-on, do-it-yourselfform of inner connectivity supported by events, entertainmentand a web community. Tools include signature meditation,breathing styles and body-opening flow, which instillquiet while allowing chaos to exit. The tour launched in SanFrancisco last month will travel cross-country.For information visit GetSelfCentered.com/thetour.aspx.March 200815

naturalpetAnimalsFind Comfortin Musicby Kim Ogden-AvrutikMounting research reveals thatanimals not only respondphysically and emotionally tomusic, like us, they even have musicalpreferences! Happy, beautiful, harmoniousmusic seems to help everyone,whatever our species.For instance, when poultry producersroutinely played easy listening musicto their flocks, 96 percent of studyparticipants reported that it calmed thechickens. Also, 52 percent noted thattheir chickens became less aggressive.No such results were found with heavymetal music.When 1,000 dairy cows in theUnited Kingdom tuned into classicaland easy listening music, such asBeethoven’s “Pastorale” and Simonand Garfunkel’s “Bridge over TroubledWaters”, farmers realized an overall increasein milk production. When thesecows listened to songs like “Pumpingon Your Stereo” by Supergrass, no suchmilk increase occurred.In The Man who Talks to Whales:The Art of Interspecies Communication,musician Jim Nollman tells howhe’s played his guitar to whales throughunderwater speakers. Scales playedin the key of D met with no response.But Nollman observed that when heplayed the same scales in the key of Csharp, he and an Orca settled upon aconversational form of dialogue. Eachwould wait until the other had finishedvocalizing before starting in again. Theirconversation continued for more thanan hour.How does this translate to the wellbeingof our beloved animal friends athome? A 2002 article published in thejournal Animal Welfare states that dogsclearly spent more time in a relaxedstate when they were exposed to classicalmusic, as opposed to pop or rock.They not only rested more, but barkedless.While research for the Songs toMake Dogs Happy CD was being conducted,music producer Skip Haynesof the Laurel Canyon Animal Companydiscovered that the dogs prefer Sambas.Haynes reports that “Sambas cameout in the highest percent, with classical,Celtic and smooth jazz following.What surprised us the most, however,was that the dogs understood lyrics.When our songs used the terms ‘You’rea good dog’, ‘Cookies’, ‘Food’ or ‘I’ll beback’, the dogs acted happier and lessstressed.” Haynes advises that his company,the only one devoted solely toproducing music about and for animals,has received hundreds of emails fromowners testifying to this conclusion.Janet Marlow’s specialty is producingacoustic guitar music for cats. Shealways eliminates certain especiallyhigh and low sound frequencies, whichshe discerns cause stress for felines.Experts, backed by many animallovers, suggest that we try the followingapproaches for sharing music with ouranimal friends:• Easy-to-listen-to music, such as classical,samba and soft folk, plus acousticguitar and harp music.• Only happy, positive and uplifting lyrics.• No drum rimshots, which some musicianssuggest could be interpreted byanimals as gun shots (especially bad forsome rescue animals).• A homemade CD or personal song thatincorporates the animal’s name, whichmany find to be a treat that animals reallyenjoy.If these suggestions sound equallyappealing to some readers, it may bepossible that as creatures of this one,song “uni-verse”, we all share the samevibrating spiritual path. Perhaps inspirationaland uplifting music connectsus all with the happiness, beauty andharmony of being that comprise ourhigher selves.Kim Ogden-Avrutik has a Ph.D. inpublic health and is an animal communicator.Her CD, Songs to Make DogsHappy, and DVD, How to Communicatewith your Animal Friends, areavailable through KimOgden.com. Formore information call 847-681-8743.16 Grand Strand

consciouseatingThe MasterCleanse forWaste LossWeight Loss a Bonusby Tom WoloshynFor generations, March 21 signaledthe start of a good housekeeper’sSpring Cleaning. But like everythingelse subjected to marketing hype,the concept has moved over to makeroom for today’s more intimate SpringCleansing.Among the growing list of detoxificationcleanses, The Lemonade Diet–orThe Master Cleanse–has snaggedsufficient public attention to rank itthe No. 1 “Googled” diet program onthe Internet. Its use for weight loss bycelebrities, like Beyonce Knowles, hasclinched it a place on the latest list offad diets.The hype’s unfortunate, as it detractsfrom this simple drink’s true useas a method of clearing the body ofwaste, a straightforward program thatcan have a significant positive impacton health. More, many who try thiscleansing drink without proper instructionfall short of their primary goal oflosing weight, giving it an undeservedbad rap.Weight loss does occur, but it’sjust one of the beneficial side effectsof using The MasterCleanse program. Itsmain attraction is theability to assist thebody in healing itself.Individuals who havesuccessfully used thismethod, developedby Stanley Burroughs,testify in mybook, The CompleteMaster Cleanse, toovercoming diabetes,allergies, asthma, depression, cancerand many other afflictions.A 20 th century pioneer in the fieldof alternative health, Burroughs [1903-1991] believed that all health disordersresult from the body’s accumulationof wastes, toxins or poisons, primarilybrought about by poor eating habits.Foods high in fat and low in fiber, processedfoods and fast foods, all contemporarymainstays of the North Americandiet, create a toxic and overly acidiccondition in the body. The ensuing inflammationallows for bacteria, fungus,viruses and parasites to proliferate. Thegeneral lack of proper nutrition starvesthe cells, resulting in unhealthy cellsand opening the door to developmentof degenerative diseases.To recreate health, Burroughsmaintained that it is necessary to firststop consuming what poisons us andthen feed our body with a simple andeasily-digested, nutritious diet. Thisallows the body to do what nature longago built into humans’ genetic makeup.The Master Cleanse is not a fast,but a mono liquid diet that calls fordrinking a combination of freshlysqueezedlemon juice, maple syrupand cayenne pepper, mixed into eightounces of pure water. The person drinksthis mixture six to twelve times a day,adding a morning and evening herballaxative to facilitate elimination. Noother foods are eaten.Drinking only this special lemonaderests the digestive system andstimulates the body to cleanse itself.Because lemon and lime juices are theonly foods with properties similar tobile, enzymes and other digestive elementsin the body, they help stimulatethe breaking down of unhealthy andunneeded cells, making materials availablefor internal recycling. The juicesalso break down and eliminate wastesfrom the body, including undigestedfoods lingering in the digestive system.Individuals can see pounds of harmfulwaste eliminated from their body overtime. As waste leaves, health incrementallyimproves.After completing The MasterCleanse, it’s essential not to return toformer unhealthy eating habits. Withthe digestive system now working moreefficiently, the body is able to absorbmore calories from foods, and weightgain may follow. Properly implemented,a Master Cleanse becomes the firstof many steps forward in adopting ahealthier lifestyle.Tom Woloshyn is the author of TheComplete Master Cleanse: A Step byStep Guide to Maximizing the Benefitsof the Lemonade Diet. For more information,visit his website Vitagem.comor email Tom@VitaGem.com.March 200817

Answer thisQuick!Who is yourChiropractor?by Keith WallerAterrible twinge grabs low inyour back, stopping you dead inyour tracks. Or maybe that dullbackache grows to be more than youcan bear, making it seem as if this daywill never end, as you are constantlyshadowed by an overpowering andunrelenting pain.Nearly one in four people sufferfrom back pain, so you are certainlynot alone. It’s not just retired athletes,furniture movers or people who do hardphysical labor at work that are suffering,either, it’s more than 26% of theUS population. The reasons are unclearas to why so many people are beingaffected by back pain, and though somesuggest obesity, aging baby boomers oran increasingly sedentary lifestyle are toblame, if you’re in pain, talk of blame isnot what you want to hear.18 Grand StrandTrying to Function WhileDruggedThe New York Times recently reportedsome shocking statistics, describing anexplosion of people seeking prescribeddrugs from their conventional medicaldoctors as an escape from back pain.Yet there is no relief in sight, in spiteof a nearly tripled increase in overallprescription medication sales from1997 to 2005, and a fivefold increasein prescription narcotic sales during thesame period. Obviously, powerful drugsare not solving the problem.The percentage of people seekingrelief from back pain has risen dramatically,and more and more arrive atemergency rooms seeking any sort ofrelief. The costs associated with acutemedical care, aside from lost wages,missed work and affected relationships,are tremendous – and perhaps completelyunnecessary. The fact is, stepsneed to be taken early in order to stopback pain early before it advances.“As we age, our bodies, and specificallyour backs, change,” says Dr.Neil Fico, chiropractor and owner ofthe Strand Spine Institute in Pawleys Island.“All adults show some changes tothe discs,” those cushiony cartilaginousconnectors of the back bones that surroundspinal nerves. “There just aren’tany symptoms until we get older or thedamage becomes more pronounced,”explains Dr. Fico.Well-Care, not Sick-CareChiropractic care is not acute care, tobe used when one is immobilized withterrible pain, nor is it about emergencycare, surgery and powerful narcotics.Chiropractic care is about well-care,and taking care of yourself and yourback in order to prevent or reducepain early. It’s about leading an active,healthy, pain-free life. So if you waituntil things get unbearable, you mayhave a problem that is much more difficult–andmuch more costly–to solve.As a first-line therapy, chiropractic careoffers a safer, more effective, drug-freeand non-surgical approach. Everyoneshould have the name of their favoritechiropractor on the tip of their tongue.A chiropractic well-care programis about balance. Not just balance inthe alignment of your back, but balancein all things related to your health. DrFico expresses his program as a fivepoint system: a healthy nervous system,sound nutritional plan, rejuvenativesleep, a balance of mental and spiritualpeace, and healthy movement withexercise.Choosing Your ChiropractorEach chiropractor has their own styleand perspective, but confidence andcommunication are two of the mostimportant factors in choosing one thatis right for you. It is critical that yoube able to discuss all of your wellnessneeds and lifestyle issues withyour chiropractor with comfort. Manypeople choose a chiropractor basedon referrals from friends, which is fine,but very limited. Dr. Fico suggests that,along with checking with friends, beproactive and do your research. Checkcertifications, licenses and programs,and ask whether they are equippedto do x-rays or spinal decompressiontreatments–one of the new and moresuccessful healthy back programs.Some chiropractors offer physical rehabequipment and programs as well. “Theinitial consultation with me, and withmost chiropractors, is free. This is whenyou can come in and talk to the doctor,discuss what your needs are, and seehow comfortable you are with his orher style.” Dr. Fico explains that he setsaside appointment times for free consultations,reserving time afterward forexams. After doing your research, setup free appointments with the chiropractorsyou are interested in and meetwith them to see if you “click”. “Manychiropractors have completely differenttechniques and styles, but overall thegoal is to get you into that homeostaticstate of balance and health,” says Dr.Fico.“You can tell a lot from that firstmeeting,” Dr. Fico explains. “You canfeel the energy in the office, and sensewhether you’ll be comfortable there.”This is also the time to talk about thechiropractor’s techniques, tools andmethods, as well as his health carephilosophy. Is a busy office a good sign?“Yes and no” says Dr. Fico. “A successfulchiropractor may be busy, buthopefully not so busy that you’ll feelrushed.”“Most insurance policies will coverchiropractic care for a problem – foracute care - but often doesn’t cover thecosts to keep you well or pain-free,”says Dr. Fico. If you have health insurance,you’ll need to check the fine printto see what they will and will not cover.Budgeting to be pain-free and healthyis certainly money well spent, and at amuch lower cost than hospitalizationand medications.To find a chiropractor near you, seethe SC Licensee listing at https://verify.llronline.com/LicLookup/, select chiropractic,and enter the name of yourcity. For more information on the StrandSpine Institute and Dr. Fico, see Strand-SpineInstitute.com and ad page 7.

healthykidsBest ofFriendsAnimals TeachChildrenKindnessby Phyllis RingChildren and animals seem to beone of life’s inevitable combinations.Animals heavily populatechildren’s books and other media andcommonly appear as decorative designson kids’ clothing, furniture and toys.People often compliment a pet’s natureby noting how gentle it is around evenrambunctious children.When asked about his ownchildren’s experiences during the yearhis family toured the world, David ElliotCohen, author of One Year Off, saysthat what most helped his youngstersrelate to the many cultures they sawwere the animals. While foreign settingssometimes overwhelmed their sensibilities,any animal, wild or domesticated,would immediately capture their attentionand ground them in a sense ofconnection with their surroundings.Experts agree that interaction withanimals gives children the chanceto acquire many kinds of knowledgeand develop the two vital qualities ofresponsibility and kindness.According to Frank R. Ascione,Ph.D., author of Child Abuse, humaneeducation that teaches kindness to animalscan also prevent future violenceto both animals and humans. A 2003University of South Florida study ledby Linda Merz-Perez and KathleenM. Heide found that violent offendersincarcerated in a maximum-securityprison were significantly more likely thannonviolent offenders to have committedchildhood acts of cruelty toward pets.A pet requires effort on the part ofthose who adoptit, like any newfamily member.Children have anatural inclinationto want to help,but as any parentknows, this enthusiasmusuallywanes withoutadult guidanceand support.Young 4-Hparticipants inparticular knowthat work and responsibilityare as much or more a partof having animals as playing with them.When, with a parent’s help, childrenlearn to care for animals responsibly,those children typically grow up to begood coworkers, spouses and parents.When parents don’t make this effort,too many animals wind up in shelters,and another generation misses thechance to acquire some essential lifeskills.Interaction withanimals teachesresponsibility.Humane education about animalsalso helps children develop an appreciationand concern for all forms of life.While learning to care for dependentanimals, children practice and developthe qualities of empathy, awareness,compassion and care, qualities withoutwhich most human relationships wither.Children’s hearts feel especially tenderwhen young, and animals seem tailormadeto foster caring qualities withinthem.The act of caring for animals alsoenhances children’s environmentaleducation by helping them understandthe web of life in which every livingthing is connected with every other onthis planet we share. As they learn tobecome decision-makers, the developmentof a humane character can fosterethical decisions that take into accountother people, animals and the environment.A 10-year-old friend of minerecently demonstrated an intriguingunderstanding of this interrelationship.He longed to have a dog, but his olderbrother’s severe allergies prevented thatpossibility. His parents instead encouragedhim to save for a bike he’d beenadmiring and made a generous depositto get his new fund started. For months hedid odd jobs to keep that fund growing.One day, he and his friend visitedthe local Humane Society, where hesaw many animals in need of homes.When his friend’s family brought hometwo cats, he felt sad that he couldn’thelp by bringing an animal home too.The next day he asked his motherif they could drive over to the shelterafter school. He told her there wassomething important he needed to dothere.After school the next day, he racedto his room and brought out the jar withhis savings. She had tears in her eyes asthey made that trip together.A few days later, the boy got a callfrom a young couple in his neighborhood,moved by the story of this boy’sspontaneous gift. They’d been concernedabout leaving their dog aloneall day while both of them worked andwondered, would my young friend liketo earn money by spending time withtheir pet?Of course, he’d gladly have companionedthe animal gratis, but dayby-day,as he plays with his furry newfriend after school, his savings jar isgradually filling up again. In his love foranimals, he found a step that he couldtake, despite obstacles, and it has led toone of the most rewarding discoveriesthat interaction with animals can teach– that the reciprocal cycle of life truly isdesigned to meet everyone’s needs.Phyllis Ring is a freelance writer whohas published 700 articles in dozens ofpublications. See PhyllisRing.com.March 200819

from CHD that was 52% higher thannonsmokers, ex-smokers, or pipe/cigarsmokers. Further, this excess riskfell within five years of quitting, evenamong this age group. It’s never toolate.There are many ways to changesmoking habits. There are pills, patches,gums and support groups. There areshots, aversion therapy and hypnosis.However, like the old joke about howmany psychiatrists it takes to change alight bulb (one, but the light bulb has toreally want to change), the same can besaid of smoking. It has to be your timeand the reasons have to be your own.Laser Therapy helps people stopsmoking, it uses acupuncture/acupressurepoints on the skin. The cold Laseris absorbed by the skin, which thencauses endorphins to be released,eliminating the urge to smoke, boostingmetabolism and helping to relievestress. The Laser eliminates the physicalaspects of the addiction so there are nocravings for a cigarette.Here are some facts about LaserTherapy: most people stop smokingwithin the prescribed number of treatments,usually four. The treatments last20 to 30 minutes, and are applied tothe ears, hands, wrists, arms and theside of the nose. The method is 100%natural, so there are no side effects,and because it is applied externally, theLaser doesn’t interact with medicationsand poses no health risks.Have you ever wondered whatwould happen to your body if you didstop smoking, even if you have smokedfor many years? You may think that yourbody is too damaged for it to matter, soyou may be surprised to learn that theminute you stop smoking, your bodyundergoes changes. Consider these:within twenty minutes after your lastpuff, your heart rate slows. After youstop for 24 hours, your ability to smelland taste is enhanced.You’ll discover that, as they say,“The biggest shock when you quitsmoking is finding out what fast foodreally tastes like.”For more information on Laser Therapytreatments to stop smoking, call AlternativeHealth Clinic in Conway 347-5445or Myrtle Beach 692-9243. See adpage 11.March 200821

greenlivingSolving the Mysteryof Carbon OffsetsHow to Choose and Use Them Wisely22 Grand Strandby Crissy TraskFrom screwing in squiggly lightbulbs to wrapping the hot watertank in a thermal blanket and connectinga timer, many people are takingmore steps these days to use less energymore efficiently. In other words, we’reworking to cut our carbon footprint.When it comes to shrinking our personalimpact beyond the practicalitiesthat we think we can control, a growingnumber of us are learning to consistentlypurchase carbon offsets. Anothername for these is greenhouse gas(GHG) reductions. Whether we indulgein an occasional energy splurge, suchas flying the family to the Caribbean, orhave concerns about the energy loadat the office, using carbon offsets canhelp. They’re specifically created tohelp neutralize the rapid rate of globalwarming generated by energy-intensiveactivities.Voluntary carbon offsets essentiallywork by enabling energy users toinvest in projects, such as solar arraysand wind-driven power plants, whichprevent greenhouse gas emissions thatwould otherwise enter the atmosphereif traditional fuels were burned. Offsetproviders will calculate emissions froma plane flight, for example, and determinean affordable fee that will buyenough GHG reductions to offset thefossil fuel use. It’s an easy way to makeany flight carbon-neutral.Other carbon-offset projects mightinclude industrial energy-efficiencyupgrades and capturing methane fromlivestock manure or landfills to convertinto power, as well as producing cleanenergy from solar, wind and geothermalsources.It’s vital to note that purchasingcarbon offsets is not a substitute forimplementing personal emission-reducingpractices. Offsets are best used toreduce the effects of unavoidable emissions.Doing our part in a worldwideeffort to live a more energy-consciouslifestyle is essential if we have any hopeof bringing down the levels of globalGHGs currently warming our planet.Carbon offsets are a small but importantpart of the solution.Yet, “As good as carbon offsets canbe, we can’t offset our way out of globalwarming,” explains Bill Burtis, CleanAir-Cool Planet’s manager of communicationsand special projects. “Theresimply aren’t enough of them, and therewon’t ever be enough of them.”Carbon offsets are a new, stillunregulated industry. So experiencelevels and credibility of the companiesand nonprofits in the business of sellingcarbon offsets vary. The followingguidelines are helpful in shopping for areputable provider we can trust.Buying TipsChoose Green-e Climate-certifiedoffsets. Green-e Climate is the onlyorganization that tracks the purchaseall the way through. The Center forResource Solutions’ Jeff Swenertonexplains that “Green-e tracks offsets allthe way [back] to the consumer, so thatyou’ll know where your GHG reductionsare sourced from and that theyare not being double-counted, but soldonly to you before being retired.”Select companies whose sourceprojects are certified and verified byan independent third party. WhereasGreen-e certifies offsets, other organizationscertify projects to verify the

Offsets from wind turbines thatgenerate no emissions can displaceelectricity generated by polluting coaland natural gas. The EnvironmentalProtection Agency reports that everymegawatt-hour of electricity producedusing clean, renewable sourcesprevents roughly 2,249 pounds ofcarbon dioxide from being spewedinto Earth’s atmosphere.Don’t get spooked by wildly differentprices. Offsets are never applied to justone project; they represent a portfolioof projects. Some projects are expensive,while others are less costly. Variousfactors, such as a project’s locationand relative environmental benefits, affectpricing. The field offers no standardprice for a ton of GHG reductions.amount of environmental benefit theyprovide. Examples include The VoluntaryCarbon Standard, The Gold Standard,California Climate Action Registryand Chicago Climate Exchange.Look for transparency. A provider’swebsite should provide sufficient projectdetails and an explanation of howmoney is spent.Check industry report cards. CleanAir-Cool Planet’s Consumer’s Guide toCarbon Offsets evaluates 30 providers.It’s intended to identify providers thatperform best against the report’s statedmethodology.Support current projects. Some providerssell offsets based on unverifiedfuture GHG reductions (e.g. for a facilitystill under construction). Swenertonbelieves that the best way to builddemand for clean energy projects is tosupport existing projects currently deliveringmeasurable GHG reductions.Contacts• U.S. Environmental Protection Agencyat EPA.gov• Green-e at Green-e.org• Voluntary Carbon Standard at V-C-S.org• The Gold Standard atCDMGoldStandard.org• California Climate Action Registry atClimateRegistry.org• Chicago Climate Exchange atChicagoClimateX.com• Consumer’s Guide to Carbon Offsets atCleanAir- CoolPlanet.org/ConsumersGuidetoCarbonOffsets.pdf.Crissy Trask is the author of It’s EasyBeing Green: A Handbook for Earth-Friendly Living and a freelance writerand green lifestyle consultant based inWashington State. She can be reachedat CT@GreenMatters.com.Watch out for organic source projects.Reforestation and soil enrichment arebeneficial, but Burtis cautions, “Froma strict technological point of view, it’sdifficult to verify the amount of carbonthat is stored within forests and soil andfor how long.”March 200823

Healing Addictionsalternative clinicsoffer holistic waysto beat Dependencyby Lisa MarshallBill Beilhartz had run out of options. At age 44, thisfather of two had just spent two weeks in the hospitalfor alcohol-induced ulcers in his esophagus andstomach. He’d registered a nearly lethal blood alcohollevel of .675. He’d had two failed marriages. His tall, oncehandsomeframe was withered from years of drinking ahalf-gallon of vodka a day. Yet, his first stop after leaving thehospital was the liquor store.Three days later, after being rushed to the hospitalagain, this time for internal bleeding, he began desperatelyflipping through the phone book, searching for somethingbeyond what three previous treatment centers had offered– something that might actually work. Each time, he’dvoluntarily checked himself in, paying as much as $10,000per stay.“They all had the same approach,” says Beilhartz, aninternational casino consultant from Denver, Colorado.“They tell you, ‘Don’t drink.’ That is pretty much [all] theeducation they give you.”A Yellow Pages ad for a Fort Collins, Colorado, treatmentprogram named InnerBalance Health Center jumped out athim. The clinic takes a comprehensive holistic approach toaddiction in its 35-day program, prescribing treatments suchas nutritional counseling, intravenous vitamin therapy, yoga24 Grand Strandand exercise. “It was different from anything I’d ever heardof. And it all just made sense to me,” says Beilhartz.“Within a week of arriving, my mind was completelyclear and I felt energized and motivated to get on with life. Ihadn’t felt like that since my early 20s,” he exclaims. Withinmonths he was the picture of health and hope, boastingmore days of sobriety than in the past 15 years.Battling Brain ChemistryBeilhartz is among a growing number of addictsand alcoholics turning to complementary and alternativetherapies to address the physiological underpinnings ofaddiction. These programs are rooted in the theory thataddiction is largely the result of skewed levels of certainchemical messengers in the brain. Caught in a state ofchronic imbalance, often from childhood, addicts turn todrugs and alcohol to self-medicate in an attempt to feelnormal.Addiction is largely the result of skewedlevels of certain chemical messengersin the brain.

Most addiction experts agreethat 12-step programs—consideredthe gold standard after any addictiontreatment for decades—are a necessarycomponent of a successful recovery.Still, health and wellness researcherEvelyn Grazini reports that studiesshow that 70 to 85 percent of addictscompleting traditional treatmentprograms will relapse within 6to 12 months. Meanwhile, somealternative clinics that incorporateboth physiological and psychologicalapproaches boast six-month sobrietyrates as high as 85 percent.“If you have a broken leg and yourbone is sticking out, you aren’t goingto want to sit around and talk aboutit. You are going to want to go to theemergency room, fix the physicalproblem and stop the pain first,” explainsJoe Eisele, clinical director ofInnerBalance and a recovering alcoholic.“Then you can sit down and talk.”Reward DeficiencySyndromeThe notion that addiction is abiochemical disease dates backto the late 1980s, when Texas brainresearcher Kenneth Blum coined thephrase “reward deficiency syndrome”.Blum theorized that for most people,thestimulus of everyday things like goodfood, sex or a funny movie sets off acascade of feel-good neurotransmittersin the brain. But some people are bornwith either a kink in the delivery line oran inability to produce enough of thesechemicals. For them, the cascade ofreward is hindered and pleasure muted,if it comes at all.“[Addicts] are always lookingfor a way to feel better, and whenthey discover certain mood-alteringsubstances—those things that fit intothe same receptors in the brain thatthe deficient ‘feel-good’ chemicalsdo—they feel like they’re getting whatthey’ve been looking for, but havenever been able to find,” says MerleneMiller, an addictions specialist andcoauthor of Staying Clean and Sober:Complementary and Natural Strategiesfor Healing the Addicted Brain(Woodland, 2005).Today, experts accept the notionthat faulty brain chemistry plays a rolein setting people up for addiction. Yetfor the most part, addiction researchershave focused on correcting that brainchemistry with pharmaceuticals,rather than addressing it holistically.Meanwhile, more clinics around thecountry are employing that sameinformation in a different, more holisticapproach.Vitamin IVStep into InnerBalance HealthCenter any Wednesday andyou’ll find a room full of residentpatients, from grandmothers tryingto quit binge drinking to musicianswanting to kick a cocaine habit.They’re watching videos and chattingas orange liquid drips into their veinsthrough intravenous tubes.Alcoholism and drug abuse canravage the gastrointestinal system,limiting its ability to absorb nutrients,so pumping vitamin C, calcium,magnesium, zinc and B vitaminsdirectly into the blood has a moreimmediate effect than administeringthem orally, explains Eisele. Andbecause underlying nutritionalproblems, such as hypoglycemia orB-vitamin deficiencies, often promptcravings, IV therapy can often quell thewithdrawal that leads addicts to earlyrelapse.At Bridging the Gaps, inWinchester, Virginia, patients begintreatment with a series of blood andurine tests to assess their liver andkidney function and nutritional status.They also fill out a psychologicalsurvey to determine if they might belacking in certain brain chemicals.They then receive a customizedcocktail of nutrients and aminoacids – the building blocks forneurotransmitters – through an IV tubefor six to ten days.The amino acid givendepends on whichneurotransmitter appearsto be lacking. For example,clinic staff members presumethat addicts who prefersedatives or alcohol lack thecalming neurotransmitterGABA, so theygive them itsamino acidEat Right toKick the Habit• Lay off the sugar.Once alcoholics quit the bottle, theyoften gravitate toward the sugar bowl,which can be disastrous. The high theyget from sugar leads to a crash, moodslump and subsequent craving foralcohol, drugs or more sugar.• Reach for wholefoods.To break the craving cycle, choose rawor lightly cooked fruits and veggies,exchange white rice for brown and eatoatmeal for breakfast.• Snack on protein.To keep blood sugar on an even keel,eat a healthy protein snack, such ashard-boiled eggs, chunks of cheese,nuts, or peanut butter and apples, everytwo to three hours.March 200825

precursor. Someone who gravitatestoward a drug like cocaine would getamino acids that stimulate excitatoryactivity in the brain.Dr. James Braly, medical directorand attending physician at Bridgingthe Gaps, says that medical journalshave published few studies aboutthe benefits of IV and oral nutrienttherapy because most research dollarssupport pharmaceutical approaches totreating addiction. But Braly’s clinic hasproduced some promising data.Alcoholism and drug abusecan ravage the GI tract,limiting its ability to absorbnutrients.For example, one study surveyednewly sober patients about the severityof 15 “abstinence symptoms” (such ascravings, anxiety, depression, insomnia,fuzzy thinking and restlessness) bothbefore and after six days of IV andoral nutrition therapy. It found that all15 symptoms were radically reduced,making it easier for the patient to stickwith the psychosocial counselingportion of the program.Once the body is better ableto absorb nutrients and the brainchemistry becomes rebalanced,patients at this facility are placedon a daily regimen of oral vitamins,amino acids, essential fatty acids andprobiotics. At the same time, theyreceive nutritional counseling aimed atsteering them toward lots of fresh fruitsand vegetables; quality proteins such as26 Grand Strandfish, poultry and eggs; and nutritionaloils, such as extra virgin olive oil andomega-3 fish oils. They are cautionedto stay away from junk food and refinedcarbohydrates, which can cause bloodsugar to fluctuate wildly, aggravatingcravings.Such nutritional approaches stemlargely from the work of Joan MatthewsLarsen, whose groundbreaking book,Seven Weeks to Sobriety: The ProvenProgram to Fight Alcoholism WithNutrition (Ballantine, 1997), sparkedmany people to open clinics basedon her Health Recovery Center inMinneapolis. One study conductedthere found that 85 percent of theclients had remained sober six monthsafter treatment. After three-and-a-halfyears, 74 percent were still sober.Another success story is TyCuran, 29, a recovering heroin addictwho experienced dramatic resultsby changing his diet and adding asupplement regime. A drug user sinceage 15, he’d completed nine residentialin-patient treatment programs beforechecking in to Bridging the Gaps.Recalls Curan, “I would go totreatment for a month, stay clean fora month, and fall back apart.” Thedifference this time, he says, is that afterhis stay at Bridging the Gaps, he’s beenable to stay sober. “It truly is the bestI’ve felt in a long, long time.”Needling the EarAnother key componentat Bridging the Gaps is earacupuncture, a method now being usedin 800 federally-recognized addictionprograms across the country. Chinesemedicine practitioners discovered2,500 years ago that when theymanipulated certain points in theear, they could relieve the discomfortof opium withdrawal. In the 1970s,Hong Kong neurosurgeon Dr. H. L.Wen revived the practice, after notingthat when he delivered electricalstimulation to a certain acupuncturepoint in the ear for post-surgical painrelief, he also alleviated his patient’sopiate withdrawal symptoms.When word of this aspect ofaddiction treatment made it to theUnited States, it took off, ultimatelyevolving into a protocol that calls forfive needles to be placed at ear pointssaid to regulate the nervous system,cerebral cortex, respiratory system,liver and kidneys. Today the nonprofitNational Acupuncture DetoxificationAssociation teaches this techniqueworldwide, and the federal governmenthas granted millions of dollars to studyits efficacy.Research generally has producedmixed results, but some studieshave shown that this method of earacupuncture not only can quellwithdrawal symptoms in notoriouslyhard-to-treat heroin and cocaineaddicts, it has the added benefit ofhelping people stick with a treatmentprogram.For the past 30 years, Dr. MichaelSmith, a respected physician anddirector of the Recovery Center atLincoln Hospital in the Bronx, NewYork, has offered ear acupuncture toaddicts awaiting methadone therapyfor heroin and cocaine addiction at theclinic. He sees immediate results.“One woman took the treatment,and after about five minutes her nosestopped running and she looked more

comfortable. About a half-hour latershe said, ‘I’m hungry. I want to eatsomething,’” recalls Smith. “No heroinaddict in the middle of withdrawal eversays that. She ate a double helping.”Even more remarkable, she left withoutany methadone, but instead returnedthe next day for another acupuncturetreatment.Five years later the clinic stoppedoffering methadone therapy. Nowit treats as many as 50 patients at atime with ear acupuncture, uppingthe chances that they’ll return forcounseling. “You start it as soon as theyarrive, because it helps people whenthey’re in crisis,” Smith notes.While ear acupuncture is by farthe most researched form of needlingfor addiction treatment, traditionalChinese acupuncture, which usespoints all over the body, also can playan important role, particularly for painrelief.Multiple studies from leadinginstitutions studying a range of physicalcomplaints show that acupuncture doeseffectively relieve pain, making it idealfor those trying to wean themselvesoff prescription painkillers. It also canhelp people deal with chronic healthproblems resulting from years of drugand alcohol abuse.Don’t Stress OutOnce the body has begun toheal, keeping stress at baybecomes a critical factor in continuedprogress. Many clinics across thecountry offer classes in meditationand yoga and mandate a regularexercise program. But some also havebegun to look toward a more novelapproach to stress reduction calledbrainwave, or electroencephalogram(EEG), biofeedback. This computerassistedrelaxation technique helpspatients learn to manipulate their ownbrainwaves. Research has shown thatprolonged drug use can actually alterbrainwave activity, prompting mentalsluggishness or agitation, depending onthe substance used.“It’s almost like the brain ismisfiring because [recovering addicts]have been using these drugs, andbiofeedback helps them learn howto make it fire properly,” says DonTheodore, a certified addictionsspecialist who runs the brainwavebiofeedback program at Cri-Help inNorth Hollywood, California.For 45 minutes twice a day, clientslie in a comfortable chairwith brainwave-chartingsensors attached to theirheads. As they make theirway through visualizationand relaxation exercises, atone in their ear “rewards”them when they reachalpha and theta brainwavestates, which are associatedwith calm and openness.So far, their research lookspromising. In one 2005 study, addictswho underwent 40 to 50 biofeedbacksessions, along with counseling, werefar less likely to drop out of treatment.After 12 months, 77 percent were stillclean.Pulling it all TogetherBack at InnerBalance, inColorado, Beilhartz credits acombination of things for his longsoughtrecovery. The IV vitamintherapy and supplements helped himget through initial cravings. Both thenutritional counseling and mandatorythree-day-a-week exercise class helpedhim recover his health, and groupcounseling provided much-needed peersupport.He subsequently left his job inthe casino business, with plans to goback to school. His goal is to be anaddictions counselor, specializing ina holistic approach. “I spent the last44 years thinking only of myself,” hesays. “I’d like to spend the next 44 yearsreturning favors and taking care ofpeople.”For more information on InnerBalanceHealth Center, call 877-900-QUIT orvisit InnerBalanceHealthCenter.com.To connect with Bridging the Gaps,call 540-535-1111 or visitBridgingTheGaps.com.For more on the Health RecoveryCenter, call 612-827-7800 or visitHealthRecovery.com. Cri-Help is at818-985-8323, Cri-Help.org. Source:Adapted from Alternative Medicinewith permission.Local Support for HolisticAddiction Recovery andCounseling:Alternative Health Clinic4810 North Kings HighwayMyrtle Beach,(843) 692-92451705 Highway 501Conway, SC 29526(843) 347-5445.• Stop Smoking Program• Laser Therapy and AcupunctureTreatments for Addiction• Live Blood Cell Analysis• Nutritional and Herbal Therapies• Three Week Detox and CleansingProgram• Coordinated Counseling ReferralsAlternative Health and WellnessCenter511 28th StreetMyrtle Beach(843) 946-6100• Laser Therapy• Nutritional and Herbal Therapies• Post Addiction Weight Control• Detox and Cleansing Programs• Depression/S.A.D. Treatmentwith NutritionNatural Health Counseling927 Fourth AvenueConway(843) 446-0293• Herbal Therapies• Detox and Rebuilding TherapiesAlcoholics-Anonymous.orgMarch 200827

In Pursuit of Plenty:A Nutritional Programfor Drug DetoxificationBy Chance Diebold, NMDIn fact, few diseases have as muchimpact on our nation’s communitiesas do addiction disorders.Talking about addiction and addictive behavior is nevereasy. Many people mistakenly believe that if onlyone had willpower, they could simply stop drinkingor abusing drugs. Yet these abuse disorders needto be treated holistically – body, mind, and spirit – because,without help, addiction is uncontrollable, a craving, whichescalates over time. How should we begin to talk about addictionin a meaningful way, one which helps us to better understandthat addiction disorders are complex, occur amongall age groups and are not limited to any one socioeconomicclass, race, or era? Even in the late 19th century, drugs werenot new; very proper people in society were also addicted.Ah, laudanum...how many of those highly regarded Victorianladies with vague illnesses passed their days resting on achaise lounge, in essence ‘wasted’? They would have voicedladylike distain at the opium dens, so prevalent at the turn ofthe last century, whilst failing to see they too were ‘junkies’.Addiction is growing in our society. In fact, few diseaseshave as much impact on our nation’s communities as do addictiondisorders. In the United States, over ¼ million deathsoccur every year as a result of alcoholism and illegal druguse. Recent studies report the daily use of addictive substancesby high school seniors as 2% for marijuana, 9% forcocaine and 4% for alcohol. In fact, alcoholism is the mostprevalent addictive disease in this countrytoday. More than 1 in 4 people (nearly27%) between the ages of 18 and 64years meet the diagnostic criteria foralcohol dependency, and according toestimates, 1 of every 5 patients admittedto a hospital is an alcohol abuser. Just think,15 million Americans are reported to have alcoholproblems, though fewer than 5 out of every 100 receivetreatment.The truth is, we have become a drug-dependant culture,and literally thousands of substances are used every daythroughout the country, without a thought given to their longterm effect. Western medicine, very much a drug-orientedsystem, reinforces this trend. Advertisers spend lots of moneyevery day to convince us that we can get a ‘quick fix’ forwhatever ails us. Commercials on T.V. run incessantly. Have aproblem? Pop a pill for instant relief. We consume mountainsof pills – be it to cause an erection or stop insomnia – to thetune of $275 billion dollars spent on pharmaceutical drugsalone last year. These figures do not include over the counteror illicit drugs, or the everyday use of caffeine, alcohol,and nicotine. Did you know that you can buy peppermintscented, caffeinated soap? A can of Red Bull has only 80milligrams of caffeine but Shower Shock Caffeinated soaphas 200 milligrams of caffeine per serving (12 servings perbar). So, you don’t even have to stop by the local coffee shopanymore for your legal caffeine ‘fix’.Everything we do can be taken to an extreme and havea harmful impact on our lives. So, we need to look at therelationship between how we feel and whether we maintainonly those habits which increase health and well being. Incoming to grips with any kind of addiction, it is vital to identifywhether we must use increasingly more of the substancefor the same effect, find it impossible to use in moderationlike other people, are unsuccessful in our efforts to cut down,spend a lot of time thinking about or getting the substance,or whether we continue to use it despite its causing personalproblems.So many people try to correct unpleasant feelings orpersonality traits chemically, and while this immediate reliefmay seem practical, drugs rarely fix anything. They do,however, mask symptoms. Symptoms are not problems, butthe result of deeper processes and imbalances that shouldbe addressed directly and holistically. Most drugs also haveboth physiological and psychological actions, and potentialfor addiction, so it is always wise to prepare for drug/chemi-28 Grand Strand

Addictive SubstanceAbuseRestored BrainChemicalExpected BehavioralChangesAmino Acid DeficiencySymptomsSupplement BalanceHeroinAlcoholMarijuanaSweets/StarchesChocolateTobaccoEnkephalins EndorphinsReward StimulationAnti-cravingImproved energy andfocus. Promotes painreliefIncreases pleasureSensitivity to physicalor emotional painCraves comfort andpleasureDesires certain foodsor drugs.D-PhenylalanineCaffeineSpeed/MethCocaineMarijuanaAspartameChocolateAlcoholTobaccoSweets/StarchesNorepinephrineDopamineReward stimulationAnti-cravingAnti-depressionIncreased energyImproved mental focus.DepressionLow energyLack of focus andconcentrationAttention-deficitdisorderL-Phenylalanineor L-TyrosineSweets/StarchesAlcoholEcstasyMarijuanaChocolateTobaccoSerotoninAnti-cravingAnti-depressionAnti-insomniaImproved appetitecontrolImprovement in allmood and otherserotonin deficiencysymptomsIncreased energyImproved mental focus.Low self-esteemObsessive compulsivebehaviorsirritability or RageSleep problemsAfternoon or eveningcravingsNegativityHeat intoleranceFibromyalgiaSAD5 Hydroxy L-Tryptophan (5-HTP) orL-TryptophanValiumAlcoholMarijuanaTobaccoSweets/StarchesGABAPromotes calmness andrelaxationFeeling of beingstressed-outNervous, tense musclesTrouble relaxingGABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid)AlcoholSweets/StarchesGABA (mildenhancement) Fuelsource for the entirebrain.Anti-cravingAnti-stressLevels blood sugar andmoodGABA (mildenhancement)Fuel source for entirebrainStressMood swingsHypoglycemiaL-Glutaminereflect that different people have different needs, and arebased on the level of physical stress and body weight. Eachone should be tapered down to the lowest levels, once detoxis complete. It’s also important to remember to continueto supplement at this low level for about a year, because ittakes time for your nervous systems to be restored to healthyfunction. Before starting this, or any other detox or nutritionalprogram, please check with a health care professional foradvice.Amino Acid Therapy30 Grand StrandEach and every cell in the body is affected by substanceabuse, and so each is left devastated by addiction. Many addictionscan be traced to chemical imbalances in the body,and can often be removed – or at least offset – by specificallytargeted amino acid therapies, which provide a special kindof nutrition that supports brain and nervous systems function.The brain is primarily comprised of fat, but all of the cellstructures, enzymes, and neurotransmitters that make it workare amino acids. These tiny pieces of protein allow signalsfrom the brain to be carried throughout the body, signals thatare uniquely balanced for each individual. When a person’sinnate biochemistry is nutritionally supported, addictivesubstances permanently discontinued, and nutrients replenishedthrough nutritional therapy, the body’s balance can berestored, thus allowing these vital brain signals to be carriedmore effectively throughout the body.

For an effective therapy, theminimum starting dosage for any aminoacid is 500 mg per day, which can beincreased gradually to 2-3,000 mg perday (except 5HTP, whose dose is 50 to300 mg, and should taken late in theday in two doses, say after lunch andat bedtime, as it tends to cause relaxation).Increase dosages slowly, over severaldays, until the desired benefits areexperienced, then leave it at that level.Most people respond to daily dosagesgiven in doses divided into 2 to 3 timesper day. Amino acids are most effectivetaken on an empty stomach with a fullglass of water, and taking a B-complexvitamin at the same time will enhancetheir effectiveness.Remember that although addictivecharacteristics are inherent forsome people, living a healthy lifestyleis possible for everyone. If you needhelp, don’t be afraid to reach out – tofriends, to family, to professionals. Bynature, addiction is a very complex,self-destructive and isolating behavior.Only through a holistic mind-bodyspiritconnection is it possible to beginthe lifelong process of recovery, and inso doing rediscover the joy, empowerment,and peace you deserve.Chance Diebold is a Naturopathicphysician, Reiki Master, Hypnotherapist,in Holden Beach, counseling people onways to attain their own form of optimalhealth through nutrition, lifestyle, homeopathy,botanical medicine, hypnotherapy,Reiki, and other natural modalities.She also acts as a patient advocatefor those experiencing serious illness orend of life issues, and as a teacher andlecturer on wholistic living and health.For more information, call (910) 297-3636 or go to DrDiebold.com.The greatestwealth is health.~VirgilMarch 200831

An Open LetterfromJesse YodiceMost readers of Natural Awakenings know Jesse Yodice as acertified personal trainer and licensed massage therapist inLittle River. An article in February’s edition of Natural Awakeningsprompted him to share his very personal story of battle and triumphin the quest for emotional health. This is Jesse’s story.Jesse has been practicing personal training and massage alongthe Grand Strand for a number of years, building a solid reputationof professionalism and reliability. After years of hard work, Jesse wasable to open his own private personal training studio, with a secondstudio opening in Wilmington just last year. This level of professionalisminvolved energy, reliability, tenacity, and an ever-readysmile. For his developing client base, it meant thinking positivelyand supporting his clients, who often endured tough times of theirown, both emotionally and physically. Jesse always seemed up tothe challenges placed before him, but in the midst of it all, he had asecret.I felt like such a fraud.I felt like I couldn’t go on with my own life, after giving all day.I locked myself up at home and didn’t want to see anyone if itmeant having to paint another smile across my face. With me,my defense was isolation—”just go away and leave me alone.”I wouldn’t answer the phone or the door, because I couldn’tdo the “fake it ‘til you make it” anymore. Sleep also became ahuge issue, and one I’d never had before. I would lay awakeat night like it was the middle of the day, and if I got twohours of sleep a night I was lucky. I found myself staring at theceiling thinking, “what the hell is wrong with me?”On days when I couldn’tsleep or function, I’d workout in the gym. I’d work toget rid of the stress, andto work my way out of thechasm of depression.The hardest thing in my life.Some of the reasons behind how I felt are very personal:divorce, separation from my daughter, and then depressionset in. I had been with my ex-wife since we were seventeen,and we were together for seventeen years, but people change,grow as individuals, and grow separately. She and I are notthe same seventeen year olds anymore, and we had grownapart. Still, for me, a divorce was the hardest thing I had hadto face so far in life.Being a personal trainer and massage therapist, I’ve heardit all from clients – everyone has something to deal with. In thisjob you are a healer and a giver, and giving is a natural thingfor me because I like to help people feel better. I am a goodlistener, and I’ve always had a lot of empathy, which makesit easier to advise people on training and health-related stuff.Still, I guess I’m reluctant to take my own advice – kind of likethe mechanic who can’t seem to fix the family car. What doyou do when your emotional strength is broken? You’d thinkI’d know how to fix it myself, just get the tools out and get towork, right?Pretending to be okay.It’s a hard thing to do, pretending to be okay day after day.Sometimes, I wished that I had an office job, that I workedin a cubicle somewhere and didn’t have to pretend to behappy. I couldn’t smile or fake happiness. I was handing out32 Grand Strand

advice to others, but I realized that I wasn’t followingthat same advice myself. I didn’t realize how importantemotional health was until I couldn’t function anymore.That is what finally opened my eyes.Commit to heal.Once I made the commitment to getting back on track,there were still good and bad days. On days when Icouldn’t sleep or function, I’d work out in the gym. I’dwork to get rid of the stress, and to work my way out ofthe chasm of depression. It’s a Zen thing for me now, to“chill out and work out” while listening to John Mayermusic. This is much different from my bodybuildingdays, when I’d listen to Metallica and pound away atthe weights. My attitude is completely different now.More balanced.Massage was really important to my healing too. Ibegan trading bodywork with other massage therapists,marking appointments on a calendar as I would anyother time commitment. I like yoga, but it was too slowfor me. I needed the gym, where I could get that feelingof exertion and hard work that comes with weights.I even tried an old Native Americantradition, where you write down yourfeelings on a piece of paper, fold it upand burn it, then watch the smoke fadeaway. It was a very helpful techniquefor me.Thankfully, I didn’t fall into eating problems. I forcemyself to eat right – and have all along – maybe becauseit was trained into me from body building. I’m not disconnectedfrom my body, the way some people can befrom stress – I can sense my physical needs even whenmy emotions are confused. Others might need moresupport in the areas of food and nutrition when they’refighting their way out of depression.Along with all of this, I did visualization and otheralternative therapies. I even tried an old Native Americantradition, where you write down your feelings ona piece of paper, fold it up and burn it, then watch thesmoke fade away. It was a very helpful technique forme.Many times, when we feel depressed, we get stuckin a couple traps. Worrying about what we look likeseems to be one of the most common, and peoplebecome obsessed with it. They start to think that workingout is about what you look like in the mirror, butthe wellness benefits get lost in the reflection. Anothertrap is looking for quick solutions through medication.I hope that someone dealing with depression will readmy story and try some other techniques before theystart taking pills or slip deeper into that deep hole. Getcounseling and supplement those efforts with a workout,with massage and with other alternative therapies. Idid it for myself, but it took effort – I worked on it everyday.Getting through it.Today, I’m getting a good six or seven hours of sleepand waking up just seconds before the alarm goes off.I have begun to feel more positive, and my self-esteemis slowly beginning to improve. I feel more like a better,happier person, and I’m not sure when it happened, butjust finding that again was a joy. It took taking my ownadvice and looking for natural ways to help myself heal.Many times, we feel like we don’t have time forourselves, but if we do take care of ourselves, we becomebetter people, better wives, better husbands, andbetter parents. Get a trainer, even if it’s only one timeper week. Go to church, and surround yourself withpositive people and a supportive environment. Get amassage, go to a licensed counselor, and try differenttherapies and alternative health techniques to workthrough your issues. Most of all, don’t let problemsrun your life, and don’t waste another day buried innegative emotions. You only get one life, and it is filledwith time you can only spend once, so make it count.Meditate, breathe deeply, love, and smile. Healing andgrowing never stop.Healthy ways of healing can help with any kindof trouble you are going through. Working out is oneof those. I’ve seen changes in clients that were goingthrough depression or similar things, seen them breakdown in tears when talking about what they thoughtwas the reason they were working out. All that timebetween sets become personal time to talk, and a lotof talking happens then. People go through a trainingsession, then give me a hug when they go out thedoor because they needed the workout (and the talk)that much. That hug is the biggest reward for my work,and you can’t put a price on making such a differencein someone’s life. So, if there is anyone who is goingthrough something that is stealing away their life, callme. I’ll give you a free training session, we will get rightto work on it.Maintaining emotional health is as important asstaying physically healthy during both the good timesand hard times of your life. You have to look at all thepositive things, and for me it’s my daughter – that’s mylife right there.Jesse Yodice can be reached at The Urban Studio, Little Riverand Wilmington, at 602-3330. See ad page 35.March 200833

wisewordsQ. What’s the difference between apilgrimage and a vacation?A. Vacationers have a deep desire toempty their minds on pleasure trips thatare essentially about being entertained.Tourists generally travel to acquire,shop and eat, and might be comparedto passive voyeurs. Such trips can leavepeople feeling empty, or worse, shatteredand depleted.Pilgrims remain fully involvedwhile on their sojourn and constantlyremind themselves of their spiritual intentions.They rarely go empty-handed,taking small gifts to leave behind atthe sacred sites they visit. Individualsreturning from a pilgrimage to asacred place, such as Jerusalem or thelegendary Spanish road to Santiago,tend to come home feeling rejuvenatedand revitalized. That’s because they’vedevoted quality time to centering theirthoughts on what nourishes them andrecharges their spiritual battery.Q. Why do people make spiritualpilgrimages?A. I see the increasing number ofpeople making pilgrimages as a directresponse to the mechanical aspects ofmodern life. Most suffer from mountingpressures in their lives. Many feel burdenedby the effort to keep up with thenews. All of this causes people to shutdown emotionally and spiritually.Just as in heliotropism, by whichplants naturally turn toward the light,A conversation withPhil Cousineaudocumentary filmmaker and travelleader to sacred sites and author ofThe Art of Pilgrimageby Linda Sechristwhen the soul feels depleted, it willspontaneously turn toward the Light,and the individual will feel an urgingfrom within to make a meaningfuljourney.Q. How do pilgrimages generallybegin?A. In my experience, most pilgrimagesare precipitated by a spiritual crisis.Many begin with a feeling of wantingto pay respect, give thanks, do penanceor renew a weak relationship with theDivine.A pilgrimage might begin with asacred vow, like the one I made to myfather. To honor him, ten years after hisdeath I traveled to Cambodia with mybrother. I felt my father’s presence whileI was there, viscerally, in dreams andeven as a hand on my shoulder.Q. Why are some sites consideredsacred?A. The Irish believe that in certainplaces the separation between the physicaland spiritual worlds is extremelythin. Pilgrims will pray at sacred sitesand mingle there because they believethat they are standing on holy ground, aplace where they can sense the presenceof ancient saints and heroes, aswell as prayers of earlier pilgrims. Somebelieve that prayers at these sites aremore accessible to God.Q. How do you suggest readers preparefor a pilgrimage?A. Begin by meeting with an elder,such as a priest, pastor, rabbi or spiritualcounselor. Declare your decision totake a spiritual journey and share yourintention for the pilgrimage. This constitutesa commitment, which begins tomake the journey real.Also talk with others who havebeen there before you. Read booksabout the site, culture and history ofthe sacred location in order to becomesensitive and receptive to seeing andnoticing things you ordinarily wouldn’t.Careful preparation provides a mentalbuffer against the many modern distractionspresent, from souvenir sellers tothe Palm Pilots and laptops that visitorscarry with them, even to such sacredsites as Lourdes and Fatima.Q. How can pilgrims make the mostof their journey?A. Begin each day by praying fiveminutes, reading sacred literature anddoing what I call active imaginationwork. Remind yourself daily of yourintention. During the first few days ofany journey, a sense of torpor and restlessnesscan overtake the soul, whichif you’ve flown, is still lagging behind.Dawdle and let it catch up. By allmeans refrain from turning on CNN andopening up the laptop before breakfast.Q. Does one actually need to travelto a sacred site to experience a transformativepilgrimage?A. No. Whatever and whoever isworthy of your reverence, respect andadmiration can provide an opportunityand vehicle for a transformativeexperience. For example, I once madea pilgrimage to Mark Twain’s home inHannibal, Missouri, because I wantedto honor him as the first author in myboyhood who inspired me to becomea writer. When you take it seriously,any spiritual or secular pilgrimage canevoke awe and wonder within.For more information visitPhilCousineau.net.34 Grand Strand

The SpiritualPilgrimage“That which you areseeking is causing youto seek.”Spiritual pilgrimages, which reachedtheir peak in the Middle Ages, arestill a robustfact of lifetoday. Individualjourneysto honor theDivine or themysterious ina meaningfulway are madeby millions ofpeople every year. Though the largestmay be the two million Muslims from70 countries who travel to Mecca, morethan 1,100 sacred sites in 55 countriescontinue to attract those seeking a transcendentexperience.The intriguinglist includescathedrals, basilicas,monasteries,mosques,stone circles,giant megaliths,caves, sacredwaters, murals,frescoes, ruins,temples, shrines, museums, sacredmountains and synagogues, as well aspaths walked by religious figures suchas Jesus, Buddha, Martin Luther and St.Paul. Dan Brown’s popular book, TheDa Vinci Code, has sparked severalrecent additions.Sacred-Destinations.com is anecumenical travel guide charting thespiritual heritage of the world. Its richlyillustratedarticles, extensivephotogallery andmaps accompanypracticaltravel information.Happyjourneying.March 200835

MeditationandAddictionby Paula Kenion, MSTo move beyond addiction, aperson must transcend its holdon mind and body. How canmeditation help in this process? Howcan it help calm the restless mind thatoften comes with addiction? Whilemost treatments pick away at the rootsof addiction, meditation is like weedingthe garden for good. Through a regulardeep meditation practice, one gains theability to focus within themselves, in relaxationand concentration, using on anobject of attention such as the breath ora mantra. This is a time of relaxation forthe mind, body, and senses. Meditationalso alleviates stress, a major trigger formany addictive behaviors. More thana simple stress-reduction tool, deepmeditation draws attention inward beyondall regular states of consciousness,literally purifying the mind.According to Pantajali’s YogaSutras, written thousands of years ago,super-conscious meditation weakensand neutralizes harmful mental conditionings,“rewiring” the brain’s functioningand freeing it from addictivebehaviors. The “inner child” is healedand any associated dysfunction can bepermanently alleviated for those whoare willing to change. These changescan be so powerful that numerous researchstudies are currently underway,examining the effects of meditation onmodifications in brain function and addictivebehaviors.In addition to healing brain dysfunction,many meditators grow spiritually,finding a profound connection toa Higher Power. This spiritual bond canhelp a person cope with life’s ups anddowns, and to make better choices in apeaceful state of mind as they come tofeel that a loving and protective presenceis always nearby.When it comes to meditation, justlike any other therapy or treatment,one size does not fit all. People need toexperiment with a variety of techniquesin order to find for the one that fits theirindividual temperament and personality.Even people with restless mindscan find a way to relax into the flow ofmeditation, with practice and perseverance.For example, in the groups I lead,I teach several basic and easy-to-learnYoga meditation techniques. Twenty tothirty minutes a day is all it takes to establisha solid meditation practice, andthe benefits are worth every minute!Paula Kenion is affiliated with Center forSpiritual Awareness, Roy Eugene Davis,Director. For more information, contactPaula at 650-4538 or pkenion@sc.rr.com.36 Grand Strand

calendarofeventsNOTE: All Calendar events must be received by March 12 th (for April issue) andadhere to our guidelines. Check for calendar guidelines, updates and cancellationson line at GrandStrandHealthyLiving.com. Email GSCalendar@naturalawakeningsmag.comto submit entries.SATURDAY, MARCH 1Conway Art Walk–10am-5pm. Conway HistoricDistrict artists & galleries showcase fine art & craftfor sale. Historic Dwntwn Conway, 248-6260, ConwayMainStreet.com.Pregnancy Yoga Workshop w/Mitra Homayounian–2-4pm.A Doula birth assistant who has studiedpre- & postnatal yoga & massage. You will learntechniques to prepare you–mentally, emotionally,& physically for child birth. Pre-registration isnecessary. Cost: $30. Sacred Space Yoga Center,417 79th Ave N, Ste E, MB, 251-YOGA (9642),SacredSpaceYogaCenter.comChoral Festival by the Sea–7pm-9pm. World-renownedchoral conductor, Eph Ehly, leads a festivalchorus of 200+ from all over the country. Individualchoral groups also get a chance to show MB theirbest. MB High School Performing Arts Center,Carolina Master Chorale. 444-5774. CarolinaMasterChorale.com.Waccamaw Water Conference 2008 w/ChristineEllis–9am-3pm. Leading experts on water conservation,pollution issues, swamp preservation, drought.Oyster roast and chicken bog to follow at 5pm.Open to public, must pre-register. Conference atWaccamaw Higher Education Center in Litchfield,$10. Roast and Bog at Kimbel Lodge, HobcawBarony, $20. Call Christine at 349-4007 or seeWinyahRivers.org.MONDAY, MARCH 3First Mondays: Health Talks w/Dr. Melody Iles,Ph.D, Naturopath & Rosa Marrone, DetoxificationSpec.–6-7pm. How well do you know your liver?Suggested Donation: $5. Unity Church, 1270 SurfsideInd Pk Dr, Surfside, 238-8516, UnityMyrtle-Beach.org.TUESDAY, MARCH 4Cassena Spa Open House w/Isabelle and Sallie–9am-3pm.Come see what crazy Tuesday is allabout. Refreshments, door prizes, sampler massages(by appt), tour Waccamaw Pilates. Talk about Reikiwith Kathy Shader from 10 -2. In the Lacey ChiropracticBldg, above To Your Health Market andChive Blossom Cafe. 314-4611.WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5Drumming Journey–10:30-Noon. Bring more joyinto your life. Combine rhythm, sound & color to godeeper than words. No prior experience necessary.$15 Register by Feb. 29. Healing Arts Studio, 103Flowering Bridge Path, Caswell Beach. Details:(910) 297-6274 or ellaexpress@aol.com.Unity Healing & Prayer Service w/Olivia Rose–7-8:30pm. Experience the sound healing of Olivia’ssinging voice & crystal bowls. Cost: Love Offering.Unity Peace Chapel,1270 Surfside Ind Pk Dr,Surfside, 238-8516, UnityMyrtleBeach.org.THURSDAY,MARCH 6Miniature Beaded RoseClass at Moonstonew/Linda Morefield–11am-4pm w/lunch break. $25plus supplies, class limitedto 10. 640-H Hwy 17Business South, SurfsideBeach. To register or forinfo call 839-3535, MoonstoneBeads.com.March 200837

FRIDAY, MARCH 7United Organics Buying Club Order Deadline.Join the Co-op today & pick up your discountedorganic purchases Mar 15, 9am-1pm at the YogaRoom/Herb Shop at 196C Stonebridge Dr, MB. Forinfo, Donna Stead at 450-9402, & order by email atarchibaldmp@aol.com.MARCH 7-8Color of Light Art Challenge w/Reception, Fri–5-7pm. Open to all artists & mediums, all work original,finished & ready to hang. 16x20 size restriction,one work per artist. Entry deadline Mar 5. $20 entryfee. Best of Show is 20% of fees. Drawing the LineGallery at 14329 Ocean Hwy-17S, Pawleys, for infocall Pen Dragon Fine Art Supply, 237-5735.SATURDAY, MARCH 8J Adams Studio Oil/Acrylic Workshop. Everythingis furnished including prepared canvaswith your choice of subjects. You will have acompleted painting at the end of the day. No priorpainting knowledge required. Must pre-register at248-5216. J Adams Studio & Gallery, 1017 3rdAve, Conway.Reveal the Message in Your Aura w/Glorianaand Craig Miller–9:30am-12:30pm. Your aura willbe revealed and explained in a private interpretivesession with Gloriana Miller. To give the historical/conceptual context, Dr. Craig Miller will present theaura, exemplifying its universality from the ancientNear East to today’s belief systems. Litchfield Exchange,Pawleys Isl. $45, incl academic lecture byDr. Craig Miller and session w/Gloriana Miller. Toregister or for more info, 235-9600.Miniature Beaded Rose Class at Moonstonew/Linda Morefield–10am-3pm w/lunch break. $2538 Grand Strandplus supplies, class limited to 10. 640-H Hwy 17Business South, Surfside Beach. To register or forinfo call 839-3535, MoonstoneBeads.comSATURDAY, MARCH 9Communicating with Your Angels w/Rev. RamonaMorgan Hall–3pm. The Who, What, Where, When,Why & How of Our Heavenly Guardians. Presentedby Omneity Outreach Ministries. $25 donation.Jacob’s Java, 810 3rd Ave S, Surfside, 446-6099,OmneityOutreachMinistries.com.MARCH 9-12Basketry: Weaving Balance & Beauty w/LindaSzocik, SSJ, TOSF. 4 days/3 nights, Sunday, 7 pm toWednesday, 1pm. Come enjoy the contemplative artof basket-making, interwoven with time for personalreflection & communal prayer. No exp necessary &materials are furnished. $300. Pre-registration req,at (800) 671-0361 or SpringbankSpirit.org/.MONDAY, MARCH 10Atalaya’s Special Day–10am-noon. Celebrate Atalaya’sSpecial Day, March 10th, the mutual birthday& wedding anniversary of Anna & Archer Huntington.Tour their winter home Atalaya, a NationalHistoric Landmark. Refreshments served, pre-registrreq by 3/8. $10. Huntington Beach State Park, 16148Ocean Hwy, Murrells Inlet, 235-8755.Spiritual Cinema–6:30-8:30pm. You Can HealYour Life film & dialog. Based on work of LouiseHay, who over 30 years ago wrote the book by sametitle about the Mind/Body connection. SuggestedDonation: $5. Unity Church, 1270 Surfside Ind PkDr, Surfside, 238-8516, UnityMyrtleBeach.org.TUESDAY, MARCH 11Peyote Clover Bracelet Class at Moonstone–10am. $25 plus supplies, class limited to 10. 640-HHwy 17 Business South, Surfside Beach. To registeror for info call 839-3535, MoonstoneBeads.comPreparing Soil & Planting Herbs w/Erynn Benjamin–10am.Low Country Herb Society meeting atSt. Paul’s Waccamaw United Methodist Churchin Litchfield. Membership open, $20 annual fee.Herbal treats served at mtg. For more info, 650-2847or email lchsnews@earthlink.net.WEDNESDAY MARCH 12Albert’s Organics and United Buying Club OrderDeadline. Join the Co-op today & pick up yourdiscounted organic purchases Mar 15, 9am-1pm atthe Total Health Herb Shop/Yoga Room at 196CStonebridge Dr, MB. For info, 450-9402, & orderby email at archibaldmp@aol.com.FRIDAY, MARCH 14The Science of Juice Plus w/Roger Peterson,MD–7-8:30pm. Whole Food Powders in capsulesis the way of the future. Cost: free. Hampton Innconference room, 150 Willbrook Blvd, PawleysIsland. Info: Daphne Trent, 237-7282, HealthyLivingWithJP.net.SATURDAY, MARCH 15G.O.A.L. w/Rev. Ramona Morgan Hall, Metaphysician,& Pastor of OMNEITY Outreach Ministries–9am-5pm.Tools for developing your owngrowth using the Law of Attraction, as seen in TheSecret, & What The Bleep! 9 am–5 pm. $100 beforeMarch 10th, $125 at the door. The Clubhouse atSouthampton Pointe, Mt. Pleasant, SC. Register at446-6099, OmneityOutreachMinistries.com.

Meet Your Guides and Be Guided w/Glorianaand Craig Miller–9:30am-12:30pm. Explore themetaphysics of guardianship. How guides operate inour lives; why a particular guide is your guide; whatconstitutes a guide’s nature and role and by what mediumshipcontact is attained. Litchfield Exchange,Pawleys Island. $45, incl academic lecture by Dr.Miller and session w Gloriana Miller. To register orfor more information, call 235-9600.NMB 20th Annual St Patrick’s Day Parade andFestival–9am-4pm. Parade on Main Street and streetfestival, continuous entertainment, food vendors,crafts, rides and games. For info email stpat@nmb.us or call (910)575-8380.LillysJims Grand Opening Celebration–10am-4pm. Herbal teas & hors d’oeuvres. Meet Lizthe creator of Belle’s Place Farm natural/organicskincare for people & pets. Located inside NYDebut Salon, 780-F Hwy 17S Business, Surfside.LillysJims (866) 702-3310, LillysJims.com.Spiritual Afternoon Movie w/Marge Kyriakos–2-4pm. Group viewing of spiritual, insightful &entertaining movies. Cost: free. The Blue Lady(located inside The Frame House), 504 Main St,NMB, 450-7226.SUNDAY, MARCH 16Unity Service, Message: Reclaim Your HighestPotential–11am. Guest Speaker, David Hiller, InterfaithMinister, Counselor, Coach, Healer, Psych-KConsultant. Guest Musician: Gary Assadourian.Unity Church, 1270 Surfside Ind Pk Dr, Surfside,238-8516, UnityMyrtleBeach.org.Reclaim Your Highest Potential Workshop w/David Hiller–1:10-4:30pm. Retrain the brain, learnabout Psych-K & how beliefs affect one’s wellbeing,determine belief patterns with kinesiology,hands on healing. Suggested Donation: $20. UnityChurch, 1270 Surfside Ind Pk Dr, Surfside, 238-8516, UnityMyrtleBeach.org.MARCH 16-23Holy Week Retreat: Easter Journey w/Fr. MauriceLange, OMI & Margaret Galiardi, OP–Palm Sunday7pm-Easter Sunday 1pm. Embrace the journey ofJesus within the context of a growing Earth consciousness.Cost: $650 includes lodging & meals.Springbank Retreat, register at (800) 671-0361 orSpringbankSpirit.org/.MONDAY, MARCH 17Reiki I w/Romina–9am-1pm. Comprehensive LevelI training & certification of Usui Reiki allows you tostrengthen & develop your healing skills & help othersas you go. Tuition $150. Class in MB. Registerat TMI, 449-0663 or 655-8426.TUESDAY, MARCH 18The Clinic at the Urban Studio. Group personaltraining and workshops for serious weight loss andgetting into shape, in Little River next to Life Quest.Eight weeks with personal trainers and workshopsall incl, $250 per person, must preregister, classsize limited. Call Jesse Yodice at 602-3330 forschedule.March 200839

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19Drumming Up the Sun–20 minutes before sunrise.Share your musical spirit with the dolphins, sea turtles& All Our Relations. Free. Caswell Public Beachon right just before Oak Island Lighthouse. Details:(910) 297-6274 or ellaexpress@aol.com.MARCH 19-23Easter Triduum. Experience a Seder meal, creationof mandalas, reflective time on the land, Good Fridayprayer lodge, Easter liturgy. Cost: $375 includeslodging & meals. Springbank Retreat, register at(800) 671-0361 or SpringbankSpirit.org/.FRIDAY, MARCH 21Reiki II w/Romina-9am-1pm. Deepen & strengthenyour connection, abilities & attunement withReiki Energy. Learn long distance healing, sacredsymbols, comprehensive & specific techniques forincreased awareness, balance & renewed life connections.Classes in MB. $250. Register at TMI,449-0663 or 655-8426.SATURDAY, MARCH 22Couples Massage Class w/Jesse and Jessica. 3hours, daytime. Relationship-supporting, introducescouples to healthy touch, creates enhanced healingand nurturing of emotional connections. $250 percouple, at Touch Healing Center, Little River. Mustpre-register, limited to 6 couples. Call Jesse Yodiceat 602-3330.J Adams Studio Oil/Acrylic Workshop. Everythingis furnished including prepared canvaswith your choice of subjects. You will have acompleted painting at the end of the day. No priorpainting knowledge required. Must pre-register at40 Grand Strand248-5216. J Adams Studio & Gallery, 1017 3rdAve, Conway.$45 One Hour Massage & $60 One Hour Facialat Amazing Face & Body–10am-5pm. Massage &facial appt’s must be arranged in advance. Michaelor Kristen at (843) 467-2639. AmazingFaceAnd-Body.com.Intentional Spiritual Community Forming–2-5pm. Explore formation of an eco-communityresidential farm & celebration of Newruz followingMeher Baba’s or other compatible spiritualapproaches. Meet in Myrtle Beach. Bring dish orlove offering. Info & directions: Isa, 272-3333 orstarnazar@aol.com.TUESDAY, MARCH 25Soul’s Transitions w/Romina Hoda–9:30am-Noon.Navigating our lives through soul transitions &celestial influx experienced by “sensitive” peoplecan be a challenge. Learn how to keep your balance,explore theories & gain direction. Cost: $30. Class inMB. Register at TMI, 449-0663 or 655-8426.FRIDAY, MARCH 28Celebrate Your Creative Spirit Through theHealing Arts–10-10:45am. Learn to playfully letgo of the past & things that get in your way throughmovement, music, visual arts & writing. AnnualWomen’s Expo at Brunswick Community College,50 College Rd, Bolivia, NC. Details: (910) 297-6274or ellaexpress@aol.com.Diabetes Support Group Meeting–10am. SeacoastMedical Center Private Dining Room. Free mtg, provideshelpful info. Njeri Njuguna MS, RD, DiabetesManagement Program, 716-7735.MARCH 28-3012 Step Retreat for Men & Women w/KarlaBarker, OSF & Kathy McGrogan. Connect withyour Higher Power through Native Spiritualityincludes Sage Blessings, Sacred Pipe, Prayer Lodge& Give Away Ceremony. Cost: $175 includes lodging& meals. Springbank Retreat, register at (800)671-0361 or SpringbankSpirit.org/.SATURDAY, MARCH 29The Low Country Herb Society Annual HerbSale–8am-2pm. Two locations: Pawleys Islandat South Island Steak House on Ocean Hwy andGeorgetown on Front Street in front of the HerbGarden. 4” live herbs for $4.00 each. For more info,call 222-7272.SUNDAY, MARCH 30Shanti Yoga Vegetarian Challenge–2-4pm Discoverhow to make a difference in your health and theenvironment in one week. Receive info on nutrition,green diet environmental impact, the socioeconomiceffects of the meat industry, and spiritual lessons thatcan be adopted as well as a guide to local vegetarianrestaurants. Includes unlimited 1 week yoga passduring challenge. $25. Call Dawn Yager at 467-5444or email Dharmagirl@aol.com to register.MARCH 30-APRIL 6Living Earth Retreat/T’ai Chi Chih w/ClaireWhalen, OSF. Learn the basics of T’ai Chi Chihduring week & join the Living Earth Workshop overthe weekend. Cost: $650 includes lodging & meals.Springbank Retreat, register at (800) 671-0361 orSpringbankSpirit.org/.

APRIL 4-6Living Earth/ T’ai Chi Chih Workshop (for practitioners)w/Claire Whalen, OSF. Bring mind, body& spirit together in this TCC retreat. Pre-requisite:TCC practitioner. Cost: $250 includes lodging &meals. Springbank Retreat, register at (800) 671-0361 or SpringbankSpirit.org/.SATURDAY, APRIL 5Conway Art Walk–10am-5pm. Conway HistoricDistrict artists & galleries showcase fine art & craftfor sale. Historic Dwntwn Conway, 248-6260, ConwayMainStreet.com.Spiritual Cinema–6:30-8:30pm. The Moses Codefilm & dialog. James Twyman’s new spiritual cinemaabout the power of intention & spiritual servicethat Moses understood. Cost: $10. Unity Church,1270 Surfside Ind Pk Dr, Surfside, 238-8516, UnityMyrtleBeach.org.Park Palooza–10am-3pm. Get outside & have somefun while participating in an array of nature relatedactivities. Cost: $4 adults, $1.50 ages 6-15, freeunder 5, $2.50 SC residents 65+. MB State Park,4401 S Kings Hwy, MB, 238-0874, SouthCarolinaParks.com.SUNDAY, APRIL 6Worldwide Prayer Vigil–9-10am Pacific time.Peace Prayer Vigil coincides with The Moses Codeworld premier. Unity Church joins the vigil during11am service. Unity Church, 1270 Surfside Ind PkDr, Surfside, 238-8516, UnityMyrtleBeach.org.APRIL 10-13Southern Plant & Flower Festival–8am-6pm,Sunday, Noon-5pm. At the Pee Dee State FarmersMarket, Florence. For info, call 665-5154 or emailbboykin@scda.sc.gov.APRIL 11-13Spring Art Show: People’s Choice Awards.Presented by Seacoast Artist Guild of SC. PreciousBlood of Christ Catholic Church, 1633 Waverly Rd,Pawleys Island. Details: Edna Fenske 357-2626 orfensk@aol.comSATURDAY, APRIL 12J Adams Studio Oil/Acrylic Workshop. Everythingis furnished including prepared canvaswith your choice of subjects. You will have acompleted painting at the end of the day. No priorpainting knowledge required. Must pre-register at248-5216. J Adams Studio & Gallery, 1017 3rdAve, Conway.TUESDAY, APRIL 15Natural Herb Cooking Demonstration & Lunchat Carefree Catering, Pawleys Island. Low CountryHerb Society meeting. Membership open, $20annual fee. For more info, 650-2847 or email lchsnews@earthlink.net.March 200841

ongoingeventsProduce Day at New Life Natural Foods. Fresh &organic produce, meats, cheeses, milk, honey & eggsdelivered every Sunday. New Life Natural Foods on38th Ave N & 17 Bypass, MB, 448-0011.Omneity Outreach Sunday Morning Metaphysics–9:30am.Jacob’s Java, 810 3rd Ave S, Surfside,446-6099, OmneityOutreachMinistries.com.Sunday Morning Circle–9:30am. Exchange ideas,wisdom & possibilities about the evolution of humanconsciousness. “Discover the Power Within You”based on book by Eric Butterworth. Unity Church,1270 Surfside Ind Pk Dr, Surfside, 238-8516, UnityMyrtleBeach.org.All Souls Metaphysical Chapel Service–11am.“Come Grow with Us.” Healing & Messages fromSpirit. Spiritual counseling & healing available.CCU Wall Bldg, Rm 119, Conway, 347-6261, All-SoulsMC@yahoo.com.Karma Kagyu Tibetan Buddhist Study Group–11am. Meditation, book study sessions & Sadhanapractice. Info: 655-8056, MyrtleBeachKKSG@aol.com.Omneity Outreach Ministries Service w/RevRamona Morgan Hall–11am. “Not Your OrdinarySunday Morning,” at Jacob’s Java, 810 3rd Ave S,Surfside, 446-6099, OmneityOutreachMinistries.com.Unity Church Service w/Rev. Margaret Hiller–11am. Prayer, meditation, song, messages & family.Wherever you are on your path, you are welcomehere. Bookstore & Youth Programs available. UnityChurch, 1270 Surfside Ind Pk Dr, Surfside, 238-8516, UnityMyrtleBeach.org. Spiritual Counseling,333-8249.Wholistic Childbirth Education Class w/Pat Burrell,RN–2-4:30pm. Yes, you can have a pain freeNatural Childbirth. Scholarships available. Registrationrequired. Various locations. Beach Baby’sDoula Services, 272-8673, BeachBabys.org.Visions of the New Global Spiritual Paradigmw/Isa Lions Shader–4-6pm. Share concerns aboutgrowing feelings of the imminence of the nature ofthe approaching cosmic shift, drawn from prophetictraditions & Meher Baba’s silence breaking & manifestation.Cost: Love Offering. Myrtle Beach, callfor directions 272-3333.Christian Tai Chi w/Master Bill–9am. Exploresenergy & healing power available through the HolySpirit’s presence. Focus on relaxation & breathingcorrectly to obtain root (our connection to the earth).Memorization is de-emphasized. All levels & ages;ideal for 40+ & seniors. 923 N King’s Hwy, MB,361-0165, ChristianTkdo.com.Body Fat Percentage Analysis–Noon-2pm.Free body fat analysis & free one-time exercise42 Grand Stranddemonstration & try-out. Club 50 Fitness, PigglyWiggly Shopping Ctr, Carolina Forest, 236-3459,Club50MyrtleBeach.com.Hatha Yoga w/Penny–7-8:15pm. Gentle stretching& restorative Yoga class, including breathingtechniques, warm-ups, postures, meditation &relaxation. Love Offering. Unity Church, UnityMyrtleBeach.org,357-2673 or 902-1416, pennyoga@aol.com.Introduction to Re-Birthing w/Pat Burrell, RN–7pm. Life changing, conscious breathing. Cost: Free.Space limited, pre-register. Beach Baby’s DoulaServices, 272-8673, BeachBabys.org.Be True To Yourself (AA) Meeting–8:30pm. Meetingat the GLBT Center Project, 307 Highway 15,MB, 626-4953 or email summersinmb@aol.comChristian Tai Chi w/Master Bill–9am. Exploresenergy & healing power available through the HolySpirit’s presence. Focus on relaxation & breathingcorrectly to obtain root (our connection to the earth).Memorization is de-emphasized. All levels & ages;ideal for 40+ & seniors. Ocean Dr PresbyterianChurch, NMB, 361-0165, ChristianTkdo.com.Laughter at the Beach w/Kathy Shader–11amnoon.(Begins 3/11) A class for anyone who likes tolaugh or needs to laugh. Heart-healthy, therapeuticlaughter exercises. Cost $40. Osher Lifelong LearningInstitute at CCU, Waccamaw Higher EducationCenter. Register 349-4001 or 349-4030 or Coastal.edu/olli.Crazy Over Crabs–2:30pm. Learn about the manycoastal crabs. Live specimens on hand. Cost: freew/park admission. MB State Park Activity Center,4401 S Kings Hwy, MB, 238-0874, SouthCarolinaParks.com.Healthy Living Workshop w/Dr. Falk–5:30-7pm.Whole Body Wellness with topics including nutrition,exercise, posture/ergonomics, attitude, sleep,nervous system & spine care. Cost: Free. Falk FamilyChiropractic, 1501 9th Ave, Conway. Reserveat 248-0104.Yoga-The Blend w/Lisa Rosof–5:30-7pm. (3/25-5/13) Gentle, slower-paced yoga practice for allsizes, ages, & fitness levels. Hatha yoga, usingalignment, breathing, meditation & deep relaxationtechniques in safety & comfort. $165, ClassAtPawleys.com,at the Litchfield Exchange. Info 235-9600or stop by Art Works, Litchfield Exchange.Anusara-inspired Vinyasa w/Jessica Stout–6:30-8:15pm. Intermediate-level Vinyasa-style class isfun, inspiring, & high-energy. Prior yoga practicesuggested. Drop-ins welcome. Check website forchanges/cancellations. 417 79th Ave N, Ste E, MB,251-YOGA (9642), SacredSpaceYogaCenter.com.Weekly Kriya Yoga Meditation Group w/PaulaKenion–7:15-8:15pm. Kriya Yoga meditationtechniques for personal & spiritual growth areemphasized. All levels welcome for concentratedmeditation practice. Affiliated w/ Center for SpiritualAwareness. Cost: Love Offering. WaccamawChiropractic & Wellness Center, 658 Wachesaw Rd,Murrells Inlet, Info: Paula 650-4538 or pkenion@sc.rr.com.Seniors Day at New Life Natural Foods. Shoppersover 60 receive 10% discount Wednesday atall New Life Natural Foods locations: 38th Ave N& 17 Bypass, 448-0011; Carolina Forest on ReneeDr, 236-1950; NMB at Gator Hole, 556 Hwy 17N, 272-4436.Customer Appreciation Day at JR’s Naturals.10% discount all day. 317 Hwy 90 E, Little River,across from the Sports Zone, 249-1814.Living Eco-Friendly in Today’s World w/RominaHoda–10:30am-noon. (3/12-3/19) We’ll covereco-friendly consumer choices, including food &nutrition, environmental & personal options forcreating an empowered healthy life for ourselves& our world. Osher Lifelong Learning Institute atCCU, Myrtle Beach Center. Register 349-4001 or349-4030 or Coastal.edu/olli.Quick Massage on your Lunch Break at GoodwellnessTherapeutic Massage–11am-1pm. 10 minchair massages for $10. Return to work refreshed& renewed! 4378 Oleander Drive, Suite 3, MB.Reserve time 448-9800. GoodWellness.com.Metaphysical Bible Interpretation Class w/RevRamona Hall–Noon. Jacobs Java, 810 3rd Ave S,Surfside, 446-6099, OmneityOutreachMinistries.com.Backyard Bird ID–2:30pm. Learn how to identifybirds at our feeders & what they eat. Cost: freew/park admission. MB State Park Nature Center,4401 S Kings Hwy, MB, 238-0874, SouthCarolinaParks.com.Farm Co-op Delivery by Charlie Caldwell–5:30-7pm. Delivery of fresh, natural & quality farmproducts & natural soaps to The Yoga Room/HerbShop, 196C Stonebridge Dr, MB. Info & place orderw/Charlie 992-9447 or OvisHillFarm.com.Gentle Yoga w/ Anita Thebeau–6-7:15pm. Good for

Beginners, Seniors, Pregnancy, or anyone looking tostretch, strengthen, de-stress, & enjoy life. Drop-inswelcome. Check website for changes/cancellations.417 79th Ave N, Ste E, MB, 251-YOGA (9642),SacredSpaceYogaCenter.com.Christian Tai Chi w/Master Bill–6:30 pm. Exploresenergy & healing power available through the HolySpirit’s presence. Focus on relaxation & breathingcorrectly to obtain root (our connection to the earth).Memorization is de-emphasized. All levels & ages;ideal for 40+ & seniors. 923 N King’s Hwy, MB,361-0165, ChristianTkdo.com.Moments of Metaphysics w/Rev. Cheryl Jepson–7pm.Discussion & Meditation. Please leavemessage & we will contact you with directions.236-9051 or metagroup11@yahoo.com.Spiritual Pilgrimages: A Guide to Inner & OuterSacred Journeys w/Dr. Kit Blaker–7-8:30pm (starts3/12) Explore the concept of Spiritual Journeys asa time-honored way to access the Divine in manydifferent religions, cultures & geographical places.Cost: Love Offering. Unity Church, 1270 SurfsideInd Pk Dr, Surfside, 238-8516, UnityMyrtleBeach.org.Men’s Group w/ Isa Shader-7:30-10pm. Spirituallyoriented men’s group to explore men’s issues& general life concerns in a trusted, confidentialatmosphere. Facilitated by Isa Shader. Love offering.Info & directions 272-3333.Christian Tai Chi w/Master Bill–9am. Exploresenergy & healing power available through the HolySpirit’s presence. Focus on relaxation & breathingcorrectly to obtain root (our connection to the earth).Memorization is de-emphasized. All levels & ages;ideal for 40+ & seniors. Ocean Dr PresbyterianChurch, NMB, 361-0165, ChristianTkdo.com.The Enneagram w/Carol Anderson & DwightFee–1-2:30pm (not 3/27). Described as a map ofwholeness that leads to healing & spiritual transformation.Cost: Love Offering. Unity Church,1270 Surfside Ind Pk Dr, Surfside, 238-8516,UnityMyrtleBeach.org.Something’s Fishy–2:30pm. Reel in the knowledgeas we fish for fin-tastic fishy facts. Cost: free w/parkadmission. MB State Park Activity Center, 4401 SKings Hwy, MB, 238-0874, SouthCarolinaParks.com.Anusara-inspired Vinyasa w/Jessica Stout–6:30-8:15pm. Intermediate-level Vinyasa-style class isfun, inspiring, & high-energy. Prior yoga practicesuggested. Drop-ins welcome. Check website forchanges/cancellations. 417 79th Ave N, Ste E, MB,251-YOGA (9642), SacredSpaceYogaCenter.com.Grand Strand Toastmasters–7pm. 1st & 3rdThursday of the month. Magnolia’s, 2605 N OceanBlvd, MB, 839-3993.Satsang & Meditation–7-8:30pm. Join us forweekly programs based on the teachings of the SantMat traditions. Concludes w/meditation. Sponsoredby Science of Spirituality. Info: Jana, 492-6151 orSOS.org.Wholistic Childbirth Education Class w/PatBurrell, RN–7-9pm. Yes, you can have a pain freeNatural Childbirth. Scholarships available. Registrationrequired. Various locations. Beach Baby’sDoula Services, 272-8673, BeachBabys.org.Reiki at Unity Church–7-9pm. Experience a Reikihealing session. Love Offering. By Janet Eveleigh,Alva Fullington, & Peggy Port. Janet at 237-9091or Peggy at 358-6576. 1270 Surfside Ind Pk Dr,Surfside, UnityMyrtleBeach.org.Weekly Meditation Group w/Paula Kenion–7:15-8:15pm. Introductory meditation techniques forstress reduction & well being. All levels welcome.Cost: Love Offering. Horry-Georgetown TechnicalCollege Conference Center, 950 Meyers Ave, MB,Info: Paula 650-4538 or pkenion@sc.rr.com.Karma Kagyu Tibetan Buddhist Study Group–7:30pm. Info: 655-8056 or MyrtleBeachKKSG@aol.com.Saints & Masters w/Isa Lions Shader–8-10pm.Lecture & group discussion to compare & contrastthe Saints & Masters, including, Abdul Baha’i, SwamiVivekananda, Ramana Maharshi, Hazrat InayatKhan, Avatar Meher Baba, & more, emphasizingthose that visited America. Cost: Love Offering.Myrtle Beach, call for directions 272-3333.Yoga for Pregnancy w/Mitra Homayounian–8am.Yoga, the most recommended exercise for pregnancywith Beach Baby’s Doula Services at SacredSpace Yoga Studio. 417 79th Ave N, Ste E, MB, Call399-2040, BeachBabys.org.Christian Tai Chi w/Master Bill–9am. Exploresenergy & healing power available through the HolySpirit’s presence. Focus on relaxation & breathingcorrectly to obtain root (our connection to the earth).Memorization is de-emphasized. All levels & ages;ideal for 40+ & seniors. 923 N King’s Hwy, MB,361-0165, ChristianTkdo.com.American Tribal Style Belly Dancing, Level 1 w/Roxanne–6pm. Slow movements & fast steps to getyou dancing your first class. Classes are progressive,but drop in any time. $10 for drop-in, 4 classes for$35. The Yoga Room, 196C Stonebridge Dr, MB,Roxanne: 438-4465, rminc@sc.rr.com.Chakra Yoga w/ Mitra–6:30pm. All levels welcome.An energizing workout w/focus on theChakras (the Indian system of Kundalini Energy).Includes meditation. Drop in’s welcome. 417 79thAve N, Ste E, MB, 399-2040. SacredSpaceYoga-Center.com.Spiritually Attuned Singles—8-11pm. Gather withspiritually attuned singles w/a variety of themeddiscussions, interaction, fun & fellowship, maybemeet your soul mate. All welcome. Love offering.Myrtle Beach. Info, Isa, 272-3333 or starnazar@aol.com.Customer Appreciation Day at JR’s Naturals.10% discount every Wednesday & Saturday. 317Hwy 90 E, Little River, across from the SportsZone. 249-1814.Grand Strand Bicycle Ride w/Tim–7:30-9:30am.Grand Strand Bicycles leads a 30 mile fast road bikeride (@19-25mph) & a 28 mile intermediate roadbike ride (@ 16-20 mph), meeting at the shop afterfor Jittery Joe’s Coffee. 11824 Highway 17 Bypass,Murrells Inlet. Tim or Mary at 652-3700.Viniyoga, All Levels w/Jacob–8am. Easy to learn,feels great, strengthens the back, find focus, & feeldeeply relaxed. The Yoga Room, 196C StonebridgeDr, MB, 450-9402, Yoga-Room.com.Eliminate Pain Forever Workshop w/JudySeeger–10am. Find out the #1 herb that removespain, how to heal your aches naturally. Cost: free.OxyWellness Club, 3200 Airport Blvd, NMB, 742-0999, FreeOfDiseases@yahoo.com.Anusara-inspired Vinyasa w/Jessica Stout–10-11:45am. Intermediate-level Vinyasa-style class isfun, inspiring, & high-energy. Prior yoga practicesuggested. Drop-ins welcome. Check website forchanges/cancellations. 417 79th Ave N, Ste E, MB,251-YOGA (9642), SacredSpaceYogaCenter.com.Beading Class w/Blue Wave–10am & 1pm.Instructors & topic will vary to include beadingbasics, clay techniques & bead stitching. Call orstop by to pre-register. Fees include all materials& will vary by class. Blue Wave Beads, 1112 3rdAve, Downtown Conway. Reserve at 488-2323 orBlueWaveBeads.com.Ovis Hill Farmers Market–10am-1pm. Local farmproducts, grass feed beef, lamb, poultry, eggs, dairy& seasonal organic vegetables. At parking lot, 2519W Palmetto St, Florence. Info: Charlie 992-9447,OvisHillFarm.com.classifiedsBusiness for saleCurrently publishing Natural Awakenings magazinesfor sale in Tallahassee FL, Portland OR, andMorris County NJ. Call for details 239-530-1377.Health Supplements & Apothecary Business forSale. Myrtle Beach area. Great location. Call fordetails, (843) 294-5300. GSBB Services LLC.Help WantedNew Spa Open in Pawleys. Estheticians, Nail Techs,Therapists needed. cassenaspa1@gmail.comSales and Distribution Partner Needed, FlorenceArea. Part time and commission work, can tradefor free advertising. Natural Awakenings Magazine,(843) 497-0390PET RESCUESav-R-Cats is in need of Farms, Barns or warehouseswilling to house healthy vaccinated spayed/nuetered cats or kittens. We will keep farm free ofrodents, snakes and insects. Transportation willbe provided for the animals. Call: 497-9796 or361-8434.ProductsWHY BUY? - RENT! $1,250 Ionic Detox FootBath $69/Mo, FREE Natural Weight Loss Patchesw/ Rental. 239-821-0775 www.BeWellU.com 24Hrinfo 239-434-1622 Distributorships Available - LoseFat / Make MoneySERVICESIntimate Wedding/Commitment Ceremoniesperformed by a nondenominational officiant in mySurfside Sacred Garden or your venue. Up to 10people for garden ceremony and reception. 24/7 w.notice, will travel. 828-329-8910March 200843

communityresourceguideConnecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living inour community. To find out how you can be included in the CommunityResource Guide, email KeithW@naturalawakeningsmag.com to requestour media kit.ACUPUNCTUREAlternative Health ClinicDr. Suzanne Swearengen, AP1705 Hwy 501, Conway347-54454810 N Kings Hwy, MB692-9243AlternativeHealthClinicMB.comDr. Swearengen is a board certified,licensed Acupuncture Physician,with a Masters in OrientalMedicine from East West Collegeof Natural Medicine, and withadditional skills in CranioSacralTherapy, Herbal Medicine andHomeopathic Medicine. Her specialties includesleep issues, digestive disorders, pain relief andstress management, and she continues to build herskills in alternative treatments to improve health andwell-being. See ad page 11.alternative healthALTERNATIVE HEALTH CenterDr. Carolyn R. Haigler, PhD, MH, Diplr511 28th Ave N, MB, 946-6100Our goal is to teach clients toapply natural lifestyle approachesto facilitate natural healing.Providing consultation, education& therapy in nutrition, lifestyle,& health. Colon hydrotherapy,massage, herbal, mineral &vitamin consults, iridology assessments. BoardCertified and member American Association ofDrugless Practitioners. Master of Herbology,Certified Nutritional Consultant, DiplomateIridology. Member, American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. See ad page 40.AstrologyTHE TIMES OF YOUR LIFESally Morse347-7390, (C) 774-216-9434Conway, SCWhereWithAll999@yahoo.comSally works mostly with transitsthat indicate developmentalissues which are currently beingtriggered. She also looks at otherindicators for the next 6 months.Sally has 27 years experience andspent 9 of those years working forAstrolabe, one of the leading retailers of astrologycharting software. Consultations are $20 for ½ hour.Sally is also available for instructions in astrologyand the use of the Solar Fire software.44 Grand StrandBODYWORKAlternative TherapyPatrice Landrum, BS, LMT291 Hwy. 90 East, Suite FLittle River, SC222-8658TheAlternativeTherapy.comPatrice graduated from the New Life School ofMassage in 2000. Her true specialties are in assistingthe healing of those in stressful situations and whoare suffering from debilitating illnesses. Patriceincorporates massage, reflexology, and Reiki in hersessions. Nationally certified. SC#2754.AMAZING FACE AND BODYAmanda Powell, LMBT421 79th Ave NMyrtle Beach467-2639Certified by the NC School ofNatural Healing in Asheville,NC, Amanda has specialized inPregnancy, Heated Stone, ShiatsuMassage and Reiki (Level 1).She is a native to Myrtle Beachand has moved her practice toAmazing Face and Body. Nationally certified forsix years and licensed in NC, TN and SC # 4968.See ad page 39.The Centerfor Massage TherapyCatherine Lowery, LMT119-B Waccamaw Medical Dr., ConwayC 222-6749, P 347-2382Catherine, specializing in Swedish,Deep Tissue, Facial Massage,and Healing Stone Massage,may also apply Neuromuscularand Orthopedic techniques in a“Wellness First” approach with herguests. Senior discounts awarded.Member American Bodywork and MassageProfessionals. SC #3125. See ad Page 41.Goodwellness TherapeuticMassageCyndie Johnson, LMT4738 Oleander Dr, MB448-9800GoodWellness.comCyndie specializes in MassageTherapy for Pain Relief. Hersessions combine Orthopedicand Swedish massage along withActive Isolated Stretching andbreathing. Each Massage is uniquebased on her client’s individualneeds. Cyndie graduated from Florida College ofNatural Health in Orlando and has been a MassageTherapist for 5 years. Nationally Certified and SCLicensed #5489. See ad page 38.Jesse Yodice Massage TherapyJesse Yodice, LMTNorth Myrtle Beach & Little River, SC602-3330See ad page 35.A graduate of the SC MassageTherapy Institute, Jesse hasbeen doing massage for 5 years.He specializes in Deep Tissue,Sports, Swedish, Therapeutic,Natural Stone and Trigger Point.Nationally certified. SC#3315.OCEAN BLUE MIND BODY SPIRITKeith Waller, LMT, CPTMyrtle Beach, SC685-2478OceanBlueMBS.comA graduate of the Potomac Massage TrainingInstitute, Keith has 6 years’ experience. Hespecializes in Deep Tissue, Sports, Swedish,Personal Training and Post Rehab. NSCA &NCBTMB certified. SC#4895. See ad page 35.CHIROPRACTICAlternative Health ClinicDr. John O. Cochran1705 Hwy 501, Conway347-5445AlternativeHealthClinicMB.comDr. Cochran is a graduate of theCitadel, and received a Doctoratein chiropractic in 1990 fromSherman College of StraightChiropractic. Licensed in NH, PAand SC, Dr Cochran adds nutritionalcounseling, CranioSacral Therapy,rehabilitation and chiropractic bio-physics to histraditional chiropractic skills. See ad page 11.Tell them yousaw it here inNatural Awakenings,The Grand Strand Edition.

COUNSELING, LicensedSELF-ACTUALIZATION THERAPYCarolyn M. Ball, MA, LPCLicensed Professional CounselorMyrtle Beach, SC843-272-4114CarolynMBall.comYou can heal depression, anxiety,relationships, self-esteem, theeffects of physical and sexualabuse, and discover your purposein life. Carolyn Ball has over 20years of experience, includingcognitive behavioral, EMDR,hypnosis, parts work, and more. Her spiritualbackground includes Meher Baba, Yoga, Meditation,and Native American ceremony.COUNSELINGSovereignty of the SoulCounselingIsa Lions Shader(843) 272-3333starnazar@aol.comIsa, a gifted intuitive and therapist,offers a unique and integrativeapproach based upon Gestalt,Jungian, and Psycho-synthesis,emphasizing spiritual awarenessempowering you to find intuitiveguidance, release the healing forceto achieve balance and life fulfilment. He is also amedical intuitive.A lifetime seeker of truth with 40 yearsdevotion to Avatar Meher Baba, Isa has extensivestudies in comparative mysticism including NativeAmerican. He has studied various psychologicaldisciplines including post graduate study with LauraPerls, Sand Play therapy, Psychodrama, GestaltTherapy, and Sufi. See ad page 41.ENERGY HEALINGReiki Healing PractitionerMarge Kyriakos, Reiki Master280-5940, 450-7226 cellMarge@TheBlueLady.netTheBlueLady.netBenefits from the Source of Reikiare as limitless as is our universe.This healing only ever asks youfor your belief and acceptance. Myheart is filled with gratitude, loveand joy to be able to connect youwith this truly amazing gift whichis rightfully yours. Phone me for more informationon Reiki Attunements and you too can share andassist others in receiving this healing gift. See adpage 31.Spirit Strings Energy HealingJoAnna Rouse Adams241-3879iamjoanna@sccoast.netJoAnna’s studies include Reiki(Master), Hypnotherapy, SilvaUltra Grad, Reconnective Healing,Dream Studies, and more. She has13 years experience in energyhealing and was the energytherapist for Conway HospitalWellness Center. The introduction of Spirit StringsHealing began after the passing of her son in 2005.She now harnesses this new, more powerful energyto assist in relieving pain and stress and promotingwellness on all levels including physically, mentallyand spiritually. JoAnna also teaches Reiki with a‘boost’. See ad page 39.Ocean Blue Mind Body SpiritAnton KnollMyrtle Beach843-455-8746Anton has been practicing EnergyFacilitating for more than 15years. He has experiance inseveral modalities: Christ LightHealing, Usui & ShambalaReiki, Reconnective Healing®,& Cosmic Lattice Healing andteaching. See ad page 35.HAIR CAREIdentity Hair Studio1350 Hwy 501 Bus, ConwayOpen Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 8am-3pm997-5040, ask for Kathy234-HAIR(4247) ask for Karen, Shamika,Wanda or CrystalAffordable hair care for the entire family, for all ofyour hair care needs and concerns.Specializing in helping you keep your hair and skinhealthy, with proper natural skin care, hair care andnutrition for your hair. #1 Tip: The best ingredientsyou can find are right in your own kitchen. We carrya product line that is sulfate free.HOME REPAIRConscientious CarpentryDon McBride333-7770Offering 40 years of New Englandcraft quality experience, DonMcBride is ready to help youtackle that home project. Fromfull additions to maintenance andrepairs, Conscientious Carpentryis prepared to help you get it done.Green building and energy saving upgrades are aspecialty, saving you money, and saving the Earth.See ad page 21.INTUITIVE COUNSELINGTHE MUMFORD INSTITUTERomina HodaMind+Body+ Spirit Facilitator449-0663, 655-8426MumfordInstitute.comRomina shares clear, honest,loving details from your higherguidance that offer insight for anew perspective. Find direction,personal information or healing in asession. Romina is an experiencedclairvoyant and healer with over15 years of professional experience actively teachingand sharing spiritual and practical information forbalanced living. See ad page 39.NATURAL CHILDBIRTHBEACH BABY’SDOULA SERVICES, INCPat Burrell RN, Doula, WCB, LCMitra Homayounian, Ayurvedic &Yoga Instructor272-8673BeachBabys.orgBeach Baby’s provides servicesto assist families throughoutpregnancy as well as assistancewith caring for baby after birth.They provide Doula servicesand baby nurses in Horry,Georgetown and Marion counties.Their services also include Yoga for Pregnancy,Rebirthing, Wholistic Childbirth Education, andMassage. See ad page 12.Natural CleaningNaturally CleanHousecleaning ServicesKarley Lott446-6786KarleyKay@hotmail.comHousecleaning using non-toxic environmentallyconscious products, providing reliable cleaningservices weekly, monthly or one-time. Coveringthe Grand Strand area. Call for an estimate. Seead page 39.NATURAL HEALTHNatural Health CounselingDr. M. Iles, PhD & R. MarroneConway Health Plaza235 Singleton Ridge Rd, Conway446-0293Natural-Health.ccDr. M. Iles has 15 yrs. experience in the NaturalHealth field and was educated through the Universityof Arizona, Clayton College of Natural Health andthe American Academy of Nutrition. Her degreesinclude a PhD in Holistic Nutrition/Natural Health,a ND (Naturopathic Doctor) and a certificationin Clinical Nutrition. Dr. Iles is a member of theAmerican Assoc. of Drugless Practitioners and theAmerican Holistic Health Assoc. See ad page 41.March 200845

communityresourceguideOrganizationalFacilitatorTransform Your SpaceRebecca Norwood293-9173Rebecca helps revitalize your homeor work space by de-cluttering,repairing, painting, resolvingstorage issues, simple decorating,creating sacred space and more.With years of experience usingpatience and humor, her practicalyet unique approach can facilitate profound lifechanges resulting in freedom, movement andbalance.PERSONAL TRAININGJesse Yodice PersonalTrainingJesse Yodice, CPT4390 Spa Drive, Little River602-3330JesseYodiceLMT@aol.comJesse Yodice is an ACE (AmericanCouncil on Exercise) CertifiedPersonal Trainer working from histraining studio connected to theLife Quest Fitness in Little River.His training sessions incorporatecutting edge core functionalexercise, integrated stretching and sports massage.Jesse has been a competitive “natural” bodybuilder,runner and triathelete and has many years of trainingexperience. See ad page 35.PET CAREPETSERCISEGeorge & Meg CollinsHorry & Georgetown Counties240-0712Insured & BondedWe started PETSERCISE out ofour love for dogs. A tired dogis a happy dog. We offer petsitting/dog walking/pet taxi, andadded services are jeep & boatrides, beach walks, swimming,dog park (house sitting availablealso). Your peace of mind and your pet’s happinessare our business.SPIRITUAL COUNSELINGSPIRITUAL CounselorRev. Ramona Hall446-6099Omniety1@aol.comOmnietyOutreachMinistries.comI am ready to help you helpyourself, using intuitive giftsI’ve had from birth, and my ownlife’s experiences. I can help youfind a way to health & happiness,physically, mentally, emotionally,and spiritually. Finding yourTrue Self is the REAL Secret to your life – Let mehelp you!Can’t find who you’re looking for?Call us. (843) 497-0390Whole Food NutritionDaphne TrentWellness Consultant843-237-7282HealthyLivingWithJP.netFresh fruits and vegetables everysingle day... whole food nutritionis the new paradigm. Fruits andvegetables contain powerfulantioxidants that fight oxidativestress in the body. Give your bodydaily servings of vine-ripenedfruits and vegetables in capsule form. Make yourhealth a priority with this medically-researchedwhole food product.YOGAJacob Narayan, C.Y.T.Grand Strand Area(843) 298-3921 (must dial area code)JacobNarayan.comAsk your MD about Yoga Therapy.Develop, from the comfort ofyour home, a powerful personalpractice that always honors theunion of breath and movement.Also come and experience Zrii inJacob’s group classes; endorsed byThe Chopra Center, this powerful Ayurvedic productis heralded for promoting cellular regeneration,immune function, and increased vitality.LIVE OAK YOGA STUDIOat Hidden VillageKaryl Tych, M.Ed., MS.Ed., R.Y.T.9904A N Kings Hwy, MB340-YOGA (9642)LiveOakYogaStudio.comLive Oak Yoga Studio is a serenespace where small classes aretaught in the Iyengar tradition atall levels. Karyl Tych has extensiveIyengar Teacher Training and isYoga Alliance Registered. You canfeel confident that you will receiveclear, individualized instruction in a supportiveenvironment.46 Grand Strand

turn your passioninto a business...own a Natural Awakeningsmagazine!As a Natural Awakenings publisher, you canenjoy learning about healthy and joyousliving while working from your home andearn a good income doing something youlove!Your magazine will help thousandsof readers to make positive changesin their lives, while promoting localpractitioners and providers of natural,earth-friendly lifestyles. You willbe creating a healthier communitywhile building your ownfinancial security.No publishing experience isnecessary. You’ll work for yourselfbut not by yourself. We offer a completetraining and support system thatallows you to successfully publish yourown magazine.Be part of a dynamic franchised publishingnetwork that is helping to transform the waywe live and care for ourselves. Now availablein Spanish as well.To determine if owning a Natural Awakeningsis right for you and your target community,call us for a free consultation at 239-530-1377.• Low Investment• Work at Home• Great Support Team• Marketing Tools• Meaningful NewCareerNow serving:• Birmingham, AL• Huntsville, AL• Mobile/Baldwin, AL• Little Rock/Hot Springs, AR• Phoenix, AZ• Tucson, AZ• Riverside, CA• Boulder, CO• Denver, CO• Fairfield County, CT• New Haven/Middlesex, CT• Daytona/Volusia/Flagler, FL• NW FL Emerald Coast• Ft. Lauderdale, FL• Jacksonville/St. Augustine, FL• Melbourne/Vero Beach, FL• Miami & Florida Keys• Naples/Ft. Myers, FL• North Central Florida• Orlando, FL• Palm Beach, FL• Sarasota, FL• Tallahassee, FL• Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL• Florida’s Treasure Coast• Atlanta, GA• Augusta, GA• Kansas City, KS• New Orleans, LA• Ann Arbor, MI• Grand Rapids, MI• Greater Genesee, MI• Greater Oakland/Macomb, MI• Central Missouri• Charlotte, NC• Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill , NC• Wilmington, NC• Morris County, NJ• Santa Fe/Albuquerque, NM• Nassau County, NY• Westchester/Putnam Counties, NY• Cincinnati, OH• Portland, OR• Lehigh Valley, PA• Charleston, SC• Grand Strand, SC• Chattanooga, TN• Knoxville, TN• Austin, TX• East Texas• Houston, TX• Richmond, VA• Puerto RicoFor information about how to publish aNatural Awakenings in your community call239-530-1377NaturalAwakeningsMag.comCurrently publishingNatural Awakeningsmagazine for sale:• Tallahassee, FLMarch 200847

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