Melting Pot Hosts Girls’ Night Out for Cancer Awareness

On Monday, November 15 The Melting Pot in White Plains is pleased to host a special Girls’ Night Out for breast cancer awareness. Admission is $45 per person for this fundraising event to benefit the Estee Lauder Foundation’s 2010 Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign. The goal is to raise $10,000 for a cause that has touched so many lives. Other Melting Pot locations in Darien, CT and Westwood, NJ will also be participating in the event.

 

The night includes a special four-course fondue dinner, delicious cocktails (think pink Martinis), and a raffle with great prizes. Vegetarian options are available, and all menu items can be changed to accommodate most food allergies. Guests will also receive a free gift, courtesy of Estee Lauder. Space is limited, so reservations are encouraged, as is the wearing of pink that night to show support.

The Melting Pot is located at 30 Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains, NY. For more information call 914.993.6358 or visit meltingpot.com

 

 

November, 2010 Events for Westchester & Putnam NY

Upcoming Events…

Please call ahead to confirm event details. 

Monday, November 1

Busy Persons’ Online Directed Retreat – Take this opportunity to move toward the coming of Light in the darkness. Registration deadline is 11/15. Divine Compassions Spirituality Center. $30. Call for details: 914.798.1202.

Meditation Class – 7-8:30pm (11/1,11/8) w/Robert Mawson. All levels welcome. Instructions given; bring a cushion or chairs provided. Human Bodyworks Massage Therapy & Healing Arts Center, 32 Main St., Hastings on Hudson. $15. 917.445.1767; HumanBodyworks.com.

Tuesday, November 2

Mamaroneck Farmers Market – 1:30-6:30pm. Open rain or shine until 11/23. Choose from a cornucopia of local organic produce, baked goods, artisanal breads, beef, honey and maple products. Harbor Island Park. Info: 914.923.4837; communitymarkets.biz.

Discover Network Spinal Analysis – 7pm w/Dr. Lawrence Stern. NSA touches the spine assisting the brain to relieve pain, tension and improve well-being. Stern Chiropractic & Integrated Wellness, 27 Radio Circle, Ste. 104, Mt.Kisco. Light refreshments. 914.864.2222.

Wednesday, November 3

Gentle Yoga – 6-7:20pm (Wednesdays: 11/3-11/24) w/Terry. Slow-paced classes that incorporate guided meditation and foster ease in the body and mind. 1st class free/drop-in $18. The YogaScape and Spa, 1100 Rt. 52, 2nd floor, Carmel. 845.225.9642; theyogascape.com.

Thursday, November 4

Green Business Challenge Meeting – 8-9:30am. The topic is Landlord & Tenant Best Practices at the offices of Reckson Associates, 360 Hamilton Ave., White Plains. Info: 914.977.3400.

Pre-Natal Yoga – 9:30-10:45am (Thursdays: 11/4-12/16). Designed for moms-to-be, class will strengthen and open, cultivating breath awareness and mind-body unity all through yoga poses modified for the unique requirements of the pregnant body. Quest Yoga Arts. $150/6wks. 914.241.9642; questyogaarts.com.

Stress Is Gone Meetup – 1–2pm & 7–8pm. Get to the source of stress. Feel tension leaving the body and feel better about the future. Human Bodyworks Massage Therapy & Healing Arts Center. 32 Main St., Hastings on Hudson. Free. 917.445.1767; HumanBodyworks.com.

Ladies’ Comedy Night – 7pm. Presented by The Rye Arts Center. Cocktails at 7pm; light supper at 7:30pm; show starts at 8pm. Reservation for table of 6 only. $55. Info: 914.967.0700.

For The Next 7 Generations – 7:30pm. Award winning documentary that tells the story of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers who came together to help create a new way of life that brings the planet back into balance. Wainwright House, 260 Stuyvesant Ave., Rye. 914.967.6080; wainwright.org.

Friday, November 5

Treasures in the Attic – 2pm. Susan Longo has been selling antiques and collectibles full-time on the internet for over 10 years. Come listen to fascinating stories – especially about selling a $9000 doll! Somers Library. 914.232.5717; somerslibrary.org.

Medium Phil Quinn at Carmel Sanctuary – 7-9pm. As a life guide, world famous, Phil Quinn draws upon divine insight to help others find clarity and direction in their lives. $125. The Sanctuary in Carmel. 97 Old Rt. 6, Carmel. Register: 845.225.3777. Info: carmelsanctuary.com.

Saturday, November 6

Mount Kisco Farmers Market – 8:30-1pm. Open rain or shine until11/20. Stock-up for Thanksgiving with fresh vegetables, creative quiches, eggs and artisanal breads. Boys and Girls Club of Northern Westchester, 351 East Main St. Info:  914.923.4837; communitymarkets.biz.

What’s New in Medicare – 10:30am. This Medicare Right Center program addresses the open enrollment period beginning Nov.15, health reform issues, and the Rx drug plan Part D. Heritage Hills Activity Center, Somers. Free. 914.519.7914.

Creative Explorations – 1-4pm (11/6, 12/4, 1/8). A series of creative movement and expressive art workshops for children 8-12 yrs. The Oaks, 590 Davenport Ave, New Rochelle. $65. Info: 914.632.8084.

Holistic Moms Network – 1:30-2:30pm. Learn stress relieving yoga techniques, in particular ‘Miracle Balls’. All welcome. Full Circle Family Care, 1241 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains. Free.  914.421.1500.

New Moon Ceremony – 2-4pm w/ Spiritual Astrologer Demitra Vassiliadis. Opal Moon, 2037 Albany Post Rd. Croton on Hudson. Register/Info: 914.788.4955.

Blue Rock School Talk Over Tea – 3-5pm. An informational gathering with a current Blue Rock family. Learn more about the unique, child-centered philosophy of this progressive, independent day school serving students kindergarten through 8th grade. RSVP: Beverly Stycos, 845.627.0234.

Dessert & Tea Night – 7pm. Lola’s Tea House, 130 Fifth Ave., Pelham. 914.738.2100.

Sunday, November 7

Pelham Farmers Market – 9am-1pm. Open weekly rain or shine until 11/21. Stock-up for Thanksgiving with fresh vegetables, baked goods, chutneys and nut butters.  Corner of Harmon Ave and 5th Ave. 914.923.4837; communitymarkets.biz.

Community Yoga Class – 1:30-2:30pm. Visit the Yogascape and Spa for a free community class held the first Sunday of each month. 1100 Rt. 52, 2nd floor (at Farmers Mills Rd.), Carmel. 845.225.9642; theyogascape.com.

Monday, November 8

Growing in Love With Baby – 7pm. Explore feelings, concerns and hopes around the upcoming birth of baby. Putnam Healing Arts, Carmel. $15. RSVP: 845.228.8132; putnamhealingarts.com.

Tuesday, November 9

Westchester Holistic Breakfast – 8-10am. Join a group of holistically-minded people from all walks of life and enjoy an organic breakfast in a beautiful setting plus an informative speaker. Good Counsel Covenant, 52 N. Broadway, White Plains. $18. 914.422.1784;   WestchesterHolisticNewtwork.org.

Holistic Moms Network – 7-9pm. Round table discussion about holiday family traditions.  Share ways to celebrate autumn and winter holidays; come away with ideas and inspiration for starting new seasonal traditions. Desmond-Fish Library, Rt. 9D and 403, Garrison. 845.809.5242; holisticmoms.org.

Neurologic Relief Center Technique – 7pm w/Dr. Lawrence Stern. NRCT relieves meningial compression for chronic pain sufferers. Non-invasive demonstration available. Stern Chiropractic & Integrated Wellness, 27 Radio Cir., Ste. 104, Mt. Kisco. Light refreshments. 914.864.2222.

Wednesday, November 10

A Question of Clean Energy – 7pm. Find out why the DEC has declined to issue a Water Quality Certificate for Indian Point, and learn about why closed cycle cooling of the plant has been mandated. Greenburgh Nature Center, Scarsdale. 914.723.3470; greenburghnaturecenter.org.

Optimal Health Care Panel – 7-9pm. Join in for a lively evening of Q&A about natural approaches to health issues. Optimal Health Care is a group of holistic practitioners practicing compassionate and natural healing. Brewster Adult Education, Brewster. 845.279.5051.

Finding Right Work – 7-9:30pm (11/10, 11/17,12/1,12/8). An interactive workshop offering a practical and holistic approach to finding meaningful employment. The Graduate Institute, Bethany, CT.  $195/4 sessions. Info: 203.874.4252; learn.edu/rightwork.

Thursday, November 11

Coping With Stress During The Holidays – 7pm. Whether coping with stress of preparations, family get-togethers, or grieving a loss, maintain health with holistic techniques. Presented by Putnam Healing Arts at Mahopac Public Library. Registration required. 845.628.2009; putnamhealingarts.com.

Speed Business Networking – 7:30pm. Lola’s Tea House, 130 Fifth Ave., Pelham. Details: 914.738.2100.

Friday, November 12

Beginner Yoga Workshop – 9:30-10:45am (Fridays: 11/12-12/17). This intimate 5 week workshop is the perfect way to begin the yoga journey in a safe, nurturing and inspiring setting.  Quest Yoga Arts, 11-13 Main St., Mt. Kisco. $125. Info:  914.241.9642; questyogaarts.com

Reiki Share – 7pm. Energize health and reduce stress with this method for self-rejuvenation. Putnam Healing Arts. Registration required. $15/donation. 845.228.8132; putnamhealingarts.com.

Saturday, November 13

Gossett’s Winter Farmer’s Market – 9am-1pm. Featuring organic produce, grass-fed meats, local baked goods, Wave Hill bread, Cascade Winery, Seatuck seafood, raw local honey, artisans, weekly events. 1202, Rt. 35, South Salem.

The Mysteries of Life – 9:30am-5pm (11/13,11/14) w/Michael Rosenbaum. Unlock the secrets to connecting to the Higher Self and learn about the four higher levels of reality. Wainwright House, 260 Stuyvesant Ave., Rye. $225. More info: 914.967.6080.

Introduction to Honeybees – 1pm. Join Mag and Michelle for a film, and discuss some considerations to starting a backyard beehive. Putnam Healing Arts, Carmel. $15. RSVP:   845.228.8132; putnamhealingarts.com.

Animal Communication – 1-2:30pm. An open forum facilitated by professional inter-species communicator Barbara Baker. Topics to be decided by attendees; free will donation. Animals or pictures, need not be present. Art of Healing, 1 Front St, Patterson. 845.878.4325; babaker.net.

Sunday, November 14

Reiki Healing Circle – 11am-1pm. Opal Moon, 2037 Albany Post Rd. Croton on Hudson. Register/Info: 914.788.4955.

Meditation/Satsang – 1:30-2:30pm w/Amy Pearce-Hayden. Join in a practice of stilling the mind, followed by group discussion regarding aspects of yogic philosophy. Yogascape and Spa, 1100 Rt. 52, 2nd floor, Carmel. Free. Info: 845.225.9642; theyogascape.com.

Shamanic Drumming Circle – 1:30-4:30pm. Drum, rattle, journey, journal, dance and connect with nature for personal as well as planetary healing. Circle of Tranquility, Hawthorne. $30. 914.237.0241; bobbisholisticcare.com.

Restorative Yoga – 5-7pm. This workshop incorporates gentle, classic supported postures and breath. The practice of restorative yoga will: release deeply held tensions, calm the nervous system, strengthen the immune system, and increase self-awareness. Quest Yoga Arts. $25  914.241.9642; questyogaarts.com.

Monday, November 15

Introduction to EFT Healing Technique – 7pm. Achieve goals and release fears with EFT. Bring balance to body, mind and spirit. Putnam Healing Arts, Carmel. $25. RSVP: 945.228.8132; putnamhealingarts.com.

Girls’ Night Out for Cancer Awareness – Time TBA. Melting Pot hosts a special four-course fondue dinner for $45 per person which includes a $10 donation to the campaign. Vegetarian /special diet options available. 430 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains. 914.993.6358; meltingpot.com.

Tuesday, November 16

Green Drinks Westchester – 6-8pm. at Emma’s Ale House, 68 Gedney Way, White Plains. RSVP to Dani Glaser: dani@greenteamspirit.com.

Wednesday, November 17

Achieve Top Notch Performance – 7-8pm w/ Dr. Robert Silverman, Westchester’s top performance expert. Hands-on program that optimizes core power, kettlebells and nutrition. New York ChiroCare, White Plains. Info: 914.287.6464; DrRobertSilverman.com.

Thursday, November 18

Blue Horizons Holistic Network – 12-2pm. Enjoy lunch with people interested in holistic and wellness issues. This month’s program is a Singing Bowl Concert with Beth Mullins. Best Western, 29 Rte. 59, (exit 11 off NYS Thruway North.) Nyack. Bluehorizons.us.

The Great American Smoke-Out 2010 – 2-6:30 pm. Keep quitting smoking! Main Street Acupuncture, 32 North Division St., (rear entrance) Peekskill. 914.737.6647.

Alternative Smoking Cessation – 7pm. Combined approach of acupuncture, hypnosis and EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) to help smokers quit and remain smoke-free for the rest of their lives. Whole Healthy Family, 401 Columbus Ave., Valhalla. Free. RSVP: 203.797.9288.

Reiki Circle – 7-9pm. Everyone with or without experience is invited to receive and give this heart centered energy. Circle of Tranquility, Hawthorne. $10. 914.769.1446; bobbisholisticcare.com.

Past Life Regression –7-9pm w/Cindy Blum. Awakenings, 215 Katonah Ave. Katonah. $25. 914.232.0382; awakeningskatonah.com.

Munay Ki Circle – 7:30pm. w/ Deana Paqua. Work with power animals, ceremony, journeying, and sharing sacred space together to create peace, healing, ease and joy. $22. The Sanctuary in Carmel. 97 Old Rt. 6, Carmel. Register: 845.225.3777. Info: carmelsanctuary.com.

Friday, November 19

Kirtan Concert – 7-8:30pm. Devotional chanting with Satya Franche and Ma Kirtan. Wainwright House, 260 Stuyvesant Ave., Rye. 914.967.6080; wainwright.org.

Kirtan Concert – 7:30-9:30pm. Spend an evening with Kundalini Yogi, GuruNam, and be surrounded by the wondrous sounds of devotional chant. The YogaScape and Spa, 1100 Rt. 52, 2nd floor, Carmel. 845.225.9642; theyogascape.com.

Saturday, November 20

The Magic of Power Animals – 9:30am-12:30pm w/Bill Evarts.  Meet and work with power animals through meditation and visualization. Wainwright House, 260 Stuyvesant Ave., Rye. 914.967.6080; wainwright.org.

Family Yoga Workshops – 1:30-2:15pm (ages 3-6/w parents); 2:30-3:30pm (ages 7/up w/parents). Families participate in a variety of asanas, exploring partner poses as well as partnered breathing exercises. Quest Yoga Arts. $25/2people, $5/additional family member. 914.241.9642; questyogaarts.com.

The Art/Science/Psychology of Mindfulness Meditation – 2-4:30pm w/Judith Tota, M.S. Learn how to use this ancient buddhist practice to reduce stress and enhance wellbeing in daily life. Liberation Yoga and Wellness Center, 900 S. Lake Blvd., Mahopac. $25. Register: 845.803.8389.

Sunday, November 21

Awaken Wellness Fair – 10am-5pm. Nearly 100 practitioners, exhibitors and vendors on hand for lots of new wellness info about self care, living green, etc., including readings from gifted intuitives. Pre-register online/$10 thru 11/17, or $15/door. Doubletree Hotel, Tarrytown. Info: AwakenFair.com.

Crystals and Rocks: The Stone People – 11am-4pm. Presented by Judith Star-Medicine. Must pre-register by 11/17. Wainwright House, 260 Stuyvesant Ave., Rye. More info: 914.967.6080; wainwright.org.

Prema Birthing Certification Class – 5:30-8:30pm w/Elka Boren, Shaman & Clairvoyant. Also private sessions w/ Elka available 11/18-11/23. Human Bodyworks Massage Therapy & Healing Arts Center. 32 Main St. Hastings on Hudson. $400. Register/info: 917.445.1767; HumanBodyworks.com.

A Chorus of Voices – 3-4:30pm. The original poetry of and by Doretta Cornell and Alice Feeley, as well as sister-members of other local religious congregations. Divine Compassion Spirituality Center, 52 North Broadway, White Plains. Donation. 914.798.1202.

Tuesday, November 23

Rising Star Healing System Initiation – 5-9pm w/Elka Boren, Shaman & Clairvoyant. Human Bodyworks Massage Therapy & Healing Arts Center. 32 Main St. Hastings on Hudson. $700. Register/info: 917.445.1767; HumanBodyworks.com.

Friday, November 26

Mediumship Circle – 6:30-8pm. Awakenings, 215 Katonah Ave. Katonah. Info: 914.232.0382; awakeningskatonah.com.

Wednesday, December 1

Bladder Basics School – 10:30am w/Susan Riordan, PT from SRM Women’s Health Physical Therapy. Stress and urge incontinence and the proper exercise to perform. Jumpin’ Jeepers, Route 6, Mahopac. Contact Susan: 914.488.5440.

Friday, December 3

Ladies Night Out – 7-10pm. Shopping event at Club Fit JV with  DJ, hors d’oeuvres, desserts, cash bar, 30+ vendors, eco-friendly goody bags & grand prize raffle ticket ($1,000 value), only $15. Benefits the Lakeland Education Foundation. 914.396.7664.

Tuesday, December 7

Natural Awakenings Night – 6pm. Help us celebrate our 3 Year Anniversary, upstairs at the Flying Pig in Mt. Kisco! All invited. Complementary buffet & cash bar. RSVP to Natural Awakenings at 914.617.8750. Directions: flyingpigonlex.com.

Award-Winning Cheese Available Locally from Rainbeau Ridge in Bedford Hills

Rainbeau Ridge, a “real and accessible” farm and goat dairy in Bedford Hills, won first- and second-place ribbons at the American Cheese Society’s 2010 Judging and Competition Awards in Seattle. Lisa Schwartz’s Meridian variety was awarded the blue ribbon, with judges noting its outstanding aesthetics and exceptional flavor. “This cheese has a vegetable ash coating and middle vein,” says Schwartz, Rainbeau Ridge’s founder and proprietor. “It’s a favorite not only among the judges, but also with cheese lovers.” ChevreLait, the farm’s fresh pasteurized goat cheese in 5-inch rounds, earned a red ribbon—its second ribbon in two years.

Rainbeau Ridge crafts hand-ladled farmstead cheese made from goat milk produced on the farm. The cheeses are available from specialty retailers, including Mt. Kisco Seafood in New York, Lucy’s Whey in New York City, Wasik’s Cheese Shop in Massachusetts, Darien Cheese & Fine Foods in Connecticut, and Cowgirl Creamery in Washington, DC. They are also on the menu in fine restaurants such as Iron Horse Grill, Gramercy Tavern, Grand Tier at Lincoln Center, Blue Hill at Stone Barns, and the Culinary Institute of America.

Rainbeau Ridge is a local resource for sustainable living and accessible agriculture, offering a wide range of activities, programs and products for families and individuals who wish to integrate nature into their lives. “Our programs and products are important parts of the social, cultural, educational and commercial activities that tie a community together,” Schwartz says.

For more information about Rainbeau Ridge products and where to buy them, visit rainbeauridge.com.

Healthy Home, Healthy Pet

by Ann LaGoy

It’s a well-established fact that indoor air often consists of more pollutants than outdoor air. In fact, the level of indoor pollutants can be five to seven times greater than those found outdoors, according to the National Institutes of Health. Household surfaces such as carpeting, hard floors, furniture, and cabinetry, the adhesives used for their installation, and the products used to clean them can all influence the contamination levels found in a home. This in turn affects the humans and animals who dwell in them.

How Cleaning Products Can Harm Pets

Although consumers can’t always control what materials are used to build their homes, they can choose cleaning products that improve indoor air quality and reduce surface contamination levels. This is important when considering that typical pet behavior involves resting on floors and furniture, grooming, licking, and picking scraps up off the floor. Pets are therefore more likely than people to ingest toxins as well as breathe them in. It is not unusual for dogs to drink from the toilet, for example, and toilet bowl cleaners often contain hydrochloric acid, which is highly corrosive to internal and external organs.

Popular household items like floor cleaners, multi-purpose cleansers and furniture polishes may contain toluene, formaldehyde, and sodium hypochlorite. Exposure to these chemicals can trigger skin rashes, diarrhea, dizziness and nerve, kidney and liver damage in humans. Because animals develop and age at a faster rate than people, these ailments often appear more quickly in pets.

Research Shows Toxins and Carcinogens High in Pets

According to research by The Environmental Working Group, pets can have levels of contaminants more than twice as high as their human companions. Toxins in blood and urine samples gathered from dogs in the study included 11 carcinogens, 31 chemicals toxic to the reproductive system, and 24 neurotoxins. The carcinogens are of particular concern, since dogs have much higher rates of many kinds of cancer than do people, including skin cancer rates that are 35 times higher and breast tumor rates that are four times higher, eight times more bone cancer, and twice the incidence of leukemia, according to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Center (2008). Between 20 and 25 percent of dogs die of cancer, making it the second leading cause of death in dogs according to a 2000 report from the Purdue University Department of Veterinary Pathobiology.

Tips to Keep Pets Healthy

Although these statistics can be overwhelming, there are simple ways to decrease the amount of chemicals in the home and provide a healthier atmosphere for all members of the family:

• Take shoes off at the door – a bonus here is cleaner floors. People often drag toxins in from the outdoors on the soles of their shoes.

• Use non-toxic cleansers in the home, particularly on floors and in bathrooms, where surface contact is frequent for pets and people.

• Resist using toxic spot cleaners and fresheners for pet beds. Instead, place an open container of baking soda near the bed to freshen, and use natural multi-purpose cleansers to spot clean.

Taking these few simple steps and using greener building materials when the opportunity arises can make a big difference in the quality of life of for all families and the pets who love them.

Ann LaGoy, the owner of Sound Earth, LLC, was prompted to developed a line of 100% natural, cruelty-free cleaning products after an acute reaction to chloromine gas poisoning in 1999. Currently, Sound Earth is New York State’s only manufacturer of such products. Ann continues to research the contents and effects of chemical cleaners on humans, animals and the environment. Visit soundearth.com to learn more, or contact ann@soundearth.com.

 

Halloween & Celtic Feast of Samhain Celebrated at Holistic Wellness Center in Croton-on-Hudson

Opal Moon Celebrates Halloween, Celtic Holiday in 2010

Opal Moon, a holistic wellness center and gift shop in Croton-on-Hudson, will celebrate Halloween and the Celtic feast of Samhain (sow-wen) the last weekend of October.

Events begin at 7 p.m. October 29 with a drumming circle and fire. On October 30 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Elizabeth Matheson will host a mask-making class for children. Betty Sue Hanson will facilitate a group karma release, and throughout the weekend readers will be present to tell futures, the gift shop will offer treats, and Opal Moon friends and staff will lead events celebrating the change of season. On October 31, clinical hypnotist Priscilla Keresey will hold a message circle. “Tradition says that on Samhain, or Halloween, the souls of those who have passed over return to the earth to visit their homes, so this should be a great event,” says Opal Moon owner Christine McEwan. Festivities will close with another fire ceremony presided over by Andean shaman Eileen O’Hare and several Opal Moon practitioners.

The staff at Opal Moon are independent holistic practitioners whose goals are to help people emotionally and physically, McEwan says. “Since our mission is to heal the body, stimulate the mind and nurture the spirit, we offer a large variety of lectures, workshops and events in addition to our foundation of professional services,” she says.

Opal Moon is located at 2037 Albany Post Rd. (Rte. 9A), Croton-on-Hudson, NY, across from Springvale. For more information, call 914.788.4955 or visit opalmoon.net.

Treasures & Tales in Croton-on-Hudson Welcomes Psychic

Treasures & Tales in Croton-on-Huson

There are two reasons to visit Treasures & Tales in October, says Liz Jacobson, who owns the eclectic retail store located in a two-story Victorian slightly off the beaten path in Croton-on-Hudson. First, with Halloween coming, where better to go than a haunted house? (“Don’t worry—they’re friendly,” she says.) Second, the store has now joined forces with local psychic Purim King to offer monthly intuitive events.

“Purim, who’s originally from Bulgaria, uses her intuitive gifts to guide, heal and assist those who come her way looking for answers they haven’t been able to find themselves,” Jacobson says. With King at the forefront, Treasures & Tales now hosts tarot readings, healings, weekly meditations (donation only), seminars, séances and other psychic services.

Empowerment—both local and global—is the focus of Treasures & Tales, which regularly schedules events like charity benefits and a weekly Friday Night Acoustic Jam. “Many of our customers consider Treasures & Tales a calm, colorful oasis,” Jacobson notes. “Unlike many retail establishments, we welcome people to lounge on the front porch or lawn and watch the world go by—no purchase necessary.” For those who want to shop, Treasures & Tales sells Fair Trade goods and clothing, funky shoes and accessories, unusual jewelry and gifts, and games and toys. The store also carries hard-to-find décor pieces and handmade items from local artists.

Treasures & Tales is located at 139 Grand St., Croton-on-Hudson, NY. For more information, visit treasuresntales.com or call 914.862.0632. See ad pg 31 of  Natural Awakenings October edition for a 20-percent off coupon.

Reiki Master Roberta Rosenberg Brings Healing & Reiki Classes to Yorktown

Reiki Comes to Yorktown

Roberta-Rosenberg

Reiki Master Roberta Rosenberg says she knows the importance of living a balanced life in body, mind and spirit. A trained health professional in Yorktown with more than 25 years of experience, Roberts has been practicing Reiki for the last 12 years. “This is a tough, demanding world to live in,” she says, “and Reiki, a gentle, ancient healing technique from Tibet, definitely compliments conventional medicine.”

Roberta says that Reiki sessions can help clients to relax, reduce stress and pain, strengthen their immune systems and balance the body’s energy to enhance the natural functioning of internal organs. Reiki can also assist in releasing suppressed emotions, she adds. In addition to offering treatments, Roberta is looking for students to enroll in her upcoming Reiki class.

For more information, to schedule a Reiki session or register for a Reiki class, call Roberta at 914.720.1108 or contact Reikithesource@aol.com.

New Synchronicity Healing Center Expanding in Pawling

Synchronicity Healing Center in Pawling, NY

The new Synchronicity Healing Center in Pawling is enjoying record number of new massage and psychic reading clients and growing retail sales. The center has hosted gifted mediums, healers and authors, making Synchronicity a place of healing and growth that will continue to expand its guest list this fall.

The center’s inventory is also growing, with new Renaissance style clothing, a larger selection of healing crystals and stones, more silver and Celtic jewelry than ever before, and a whole new line of eucalyptus spa products for the upcoming cold season. Owners Marcus Feighery and Kimberly Taylor have made every effort to create a space where anyone can find what they need to help them on their spiritual path. They believe in nurturing each individual’s authentic process of growth and healing by balancing all needs—mental, physical emotional and spiritual, without judgment.

Call 845.855.1172 for an appointment, and visit the new Synchronicity Healing Center website at synchronicityny.com for a full listing of services, workshops and monthly sales events.

Living At Our Best, Health Conference, Returns to Peekskill

Free Health Conference in Peekskill October 30

The fourth annual health conference Living At Our Best comes to downtown Peekskill October 30 with interactive, bilingual workshops incorporating health promotion, complementary medicine and holistic wellness. The event, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., also features hands-on demonstrations and free health screenings.

“Living At Our Best is a special time to take care of what matters most—you,” says Liz Phillips, director of Health Education Services at Hudson River HealthCare (HRH), which is hosting the event on site at 1037 Main Street. “The program is designed for teens, seniors and those in between. It’s a unique health experience to uplift you in mind, body and spirit.”

Admission to the conference is free but requires pre-registration by October 15. Registration includes breakfast from 8:30-9 a.m., a gift bag, and a chance to win door prizes at each workshop. Workshop topics are Nutrition Food Demonstration, Healthy Relationships, Stress Management, Aromatherapy, Youth Conflict Skills, Integrated Body Movement, Women’s Health/Sexual Health, Acupuncture, and Body Energizers for Teens. Early registration is recommended.

Living At Our Best is hosted in collaboration with Lower Hudson Valley Perinatal Network, Peekskill Area Pastors Association, Peekskill Agencies Together, Preservation Co., and Visiting Nurse Association of the Hudson Valley. For more information, contact Liz Phillips at 914.734.8612 or lphillip@hrhcare.org.

Fueling Your Fitness Routine with Darby Melnik of Peekskill, NY

Does this sound familiar?

You leave the office for the day with every intention of going to your favorite fitness class or going out for a run or a bike ride—but when you get into the car, your body/brain tells you, “Absolutely not! I am too depleted and exhausted!”

If this happens to you, try this experiment and see how your body responds:

Instead of your usual breakfast of coffee with skim milk and sugar-substitute and a muffin or bagel (or nothing), try having that cup of coffee with whole milk, a little natural sweetener like honey, agave or raw sugar, and a bowl of oatmeal with walnuts, cranberries and a dash of cinnamon. (Or, if you’re allergic to nuts, try some pumpkin, sesame or chia seeds.) At lunchtime, eat a balanced meal that includes high-quality grains, a protein, a vegetable and a “good” fat.

You will be surprised at how much you can eat of the right foods and actually lose weight and increase your fitness performance level.

Better yet, by eating the right foods, you can get fit without feeling hungry and craving everything in sight. Sugary, processed foods and simple carbs actually deplete your body because they contain very few of the nutrients that your body is looking for. Your body will go through foods like that very quickly, because there is nothing in them that it needs.

Feeding a fit body

Understanding your food cravings is pivotal to eating for optimal fitness performance, as well as for keeping up a fitness regimen.

The body is an amazing machine; it knows exactly what it needs to run as efficiently as possible. Too bad the brain gets in the way sometimes! When your bio-computer makes a mistake by craving chocolate, ice cream or chips, it doesn’t mean you lack self-discipline. It just means your body needs fuel. Knowing the kind of fuel your body really wants can actually help you stick to your fitness regimen, lose weight, and not feel hungry in the process.

Cravings are signals to your brain that your body is out of balance—that it’s lacking in some essential nutrients it needs in order to stay alert, think clearly and move freely. For instance, when you start feeling drowsy at 3 p.m. and think, “I need a cup of coffee,” or, “I want something sweet,” chances are that your body is dehydrated, or you’ve deprived it of complex carbohydrates, protein or high-quality fats—the whole foods it needs to keep your energy levels optimal to make it through the day.

So if you’re sleepy at 3 p.m., drink a big glass of water before reaching for that third (or fourth or fifth) cup of coffee—it may just do the trick and wake you up. Or if you’re craving something sweet, eat a piece of fruit. And tomorrow try incorporating into your lunch a whole grain like quinoa or brown rice, some lean protein, or walnuts, dried cranberries and/or avocado added to your salad. You will not only have a delicious meal that will be the envy of all your co-workers, but you may just be amazed at how much energy you will have at the end of the day, and how much better you’ll sleep at night.

Tips for topping off your tank

The next time you have a craving, therefore, don’t think of it as a weakness. Treat it as a loving message from your body. Answer back with one of these responses:

• Have a glass of water and wait 10 minutes.

• Eat a healthier version of what you crave. For example, if you crave sweets, try eating more fruit or sweet root vegetables.

• Consider what’s out of balance in your life. Is there something you need to express, or is something being repressed? What happened to you just before you had this craving?

• Enjoy whole foods. Don’t go for substitutes like skim milk, fat-free, or “100 calorie.” Eating whole foods will actually keep your body balanced and stop your cravings for the quick fix.

 

Darby Melnik is a certified personal trainer and holistic health and fitness coach, a member of the American Association of Drugless Practitioners, owner and founder of Options in Fitness LLC, and co-founder of Energy Movement Center Inc. For more information, visit optionsinfitness.com or energymovementcenter.com.