August 2021 Edition: Natural Awakenings Fairfield & Southern Litchfield Counties

August 2021

In the August Issue: Back-to-School Basics: Ensuring Kids Have Visual Skills for Learning; Find Happiness at the 10th Annual Health Wellness & Lifestyle Expo 2021; Finding Contentment through Spiritual Tools; Whole-Family Happiness: Lessons and Blessings from an Abnormal Year; How to Stop Worrying and Live Life; Gaining Control over a Stressed Brain; Unleash Your True Potential: Working with a Life Coach Can Help; Vitality Part II: The V in Positive Psychology; Power Up Fido: Five Ways to Strengthen Your Dog’s Immune System; Plus much more...

Letter From Publisher August 2021

Happiness may mean something different to everyone, and we embraced that with a variety of articles in this August edition. Read More »

Angel Bears Stuffed with Crystal Love

The Angel Cooperative is combining the comfort of teddy bears with the power of crystals for a fun, drop-in event on August 13 and 14, between 10am and 4pm, in the Shungite Room Read More »

Back-to-School Basics: Ensuring Kids Have Visual Skills for Learning

It is back-to-school time, and parents are often thinking about school supplies, backpacks and fall clothing. One of the most important needs to consider for academic success is healthy vision. Read More »

Eco-Conscious House Painting Services

Color World House Painting offers painting services throughout Fairfield County, Connecticut and Westchester County, New York for residential, commercial, holiday lighting and more—with free estimates. Read More »

Find Happiness at the 10th Annual Health Wellness & Lifestyle Expo 2021

The 10th Annual Health Wellness & Lifestyle Expo 2021, with special thanks to Stamford Health, Exclusive Healthcare Partner, is about just that—our ability to Revitalize, Reimagine and Reenergize. Read More »

Finding Contentment through Spiritual Tools

There are times when we feel buoyant. It’s as if our feet are skimming the ground and our arms are wings. Then there are those days—the dark ones. Our peripheral vision narrows, and even the vibrant colors of nature wear a grey cloak. Read More »

Gaining Control over a Stressed Brain

Experiencing stress at times is not necessarily a bad thing. We all need a bit of adrenaline to get us going, to motivate us in completing a task. For some of us, this small burst drives us to success. Read More »

Get Relief Naturally with Chemical-Free ‘Bug Bite Thing’

As Seen on Shark Tank, Bug Bite Thing offers a chemical-free, eco-friendly solution to effectively alleviate stinging, itching and swelling caused by insect bites and stings. Read More »

How to Stop Worrying and Live Life

When things are uncertain, we worry. No matter what we call it—projection, ruminating, catastrophizing, conjuring—it is a function of being human. Read More »

Institute for Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Therapies Introduces Neha Kaushik, NMD

Neha Kaushik, a Naturopathic doctor, has recently joined the Institute for Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Therapies, in Fairfield. Read More »

New Book Focuses on Inspirational Journey Through Juicing

Jeanette George Dias (aka JinSu) is a local wellness activist, creator of JinSu Ceramics, wife and mother of four in Connecticut. One of her daughters, who suffered from autoimmune issues, started Dias on a journey toward questioning the reasons for so much illness in children. Read More »

Pink and Flow Yoga Event to Benefit Breast Cancer Treatment

Emily Laput, a high school senior who is passionate about the fight against breast cancer, is the Event Coordinator for a special yoga fundraising event, Pink and Flow, held on August 14 from 10:30am to 12:30pm at Riverwalk Circuit Training, in Seymour. Read More »

Vitality Part II: The V in Positive Psychology

In this series, we’ll hear from Ann C. Reeves about aspects of Positive Psychology. This month, she continues with part II of “V” of the Positive Psychology acronym, PERMA-V. Read More »

Whole-Family Happiness: Lessons and Blessings from an Abnormal Year

Happiness. How is it possible to conceive happiness and the return to “normalcy” while looking ahead to our children’s return to school this fall? In a year where we have been deprived of our social connections and the joy of a healthy 2020/21 school year, how can we look at our future relationships with optimism, as well as turning some into lifetime friendships? Read More »

Alberto Villoldo

Alberto Villoldo on Shamanic Healing

Alberto Villoldo, psychologist, medical anthropologist and best-selling author, discusses how shamans today combine ancient wisdom teachings with cutting-edge neuroscience to heal. Read More »

Child blowing nose into tissue in city from irritation of polluted air

Avoid Air Pollutants to Protect Children’s Mental Health

Exposure to even moderate levels of traffic-related air pollutants during childhood results in a greater risk of mental illness by age 18, report researchers. Read More »

Person offering sugary beverage to hand declining

Avoid Sugary Drinks to Reduce Colorectal Cancer Risk

Drinking two sugary drinks per day from ages 13 to 18 increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 32 percent in women by age 50. Read More »

Mom sitting at dining room table feeding kid on her lap piece of fruit from fork

Back-to-School Wellness: Tips to Keep Kids Healthy

Parents can ensure children’s health and well-being as they go back to school with these tips for kid's healthy food, family communication, adequate sleep and more. Read More »

Person spraying spray bottle of natural mosquito bug repellent on upper arm

Bug Battle: How to Keep Mosquitoes at Bay

Mosquitoes aren’t just an annoyance; they can carry infectious diseases, so it’s important to know the best ways to keep them at bay, including natural bug repellents. Read More »

Cactus Poachers Are Denuding Deserts

More than 30 percent of the world’s 1,500 or so cactus species are threatened with extinction, and criminal scavengers are primarily to blame. Read More »

Homemade kimchi with chopsticks

‘Clean the Garden’ Kimchi

This easy kimchi recipe turns common garden veggies into a spicy probiotic ferment that’s loaded with good bacteria and health benefits. Read More »

Bottle of omega 3 supplements next to food sources

Eat Oily Fish to Live Longer

A new large-scale analysis suggests that omega-3s from oily fish may extend lifespan. Read More »

Basket of fresh produce fruits and vegetables

Eat Produce to Lower Stress and Heart Disease

Research finds that eating one cup of nitrate-rich vegetables a day lowers blood pressure and risk of heart disease, while two cups of fruits and vegetables a day can decrease stress levels. Read More »

Gut microbiome under magnifying glass

Microbiome Linked to Risk of Death from Disease

Researchers found that greater numbers of bacteria in the gut from the Enterobacteria family increase the risk of death from cancer, respiratory disorders and gastrointestinal disease. Read More »

Jar of pickled watermelon radishes

Pickled Watermelon Radishes

Enjoy fresh radishes year-round with this flavorful recipe for pickled watermelon radishes. Read More »

Sliced pineapple on cutting board next to jars of homemade pineapple tepache

Pineapple Tepache

Tepache is a wonderful, effervescent, lightly fermented pineapple beverage. It’s made from the skins and core of pineapple, making use of the parts typically discarded. Read More »

Bee pollinating pink and white flower

Pollinator-Friendly Yards: Gardening for Wildlife with Native Plants

Create a pollinator-friendly yard with these gardening and landscape tips for choosing native plants, mowing less often, and avoiding pesticide use. Read More »

Person giving golden lab dog a high five

Power Up Fido: Five Ways to Strengthen Your Dog’s Immune System

Five ways to build resilient immune systems in dogs to stave off disease, keep them healthy, promote optimal wellness, reduce trips to the vet and extend their lives. Read More »

Jars of canned fruits and vegetables for food preservation

Preserving the Harvest: Classic Ways to Store Garden Bounty All Year

Preservation techniques to help capture the bounty of the garden harvest or farmers' market hauls through canning, dehydrating, refrigerator pickling, fermentation or cold storage. Read More »

Person standing outside in sunshine smiling looking happy

Smiling Can Make Us Happier

The benefits of smiling including increased happiness, reduced stress and anxiety, lowered blood pressure and heart rate and less pain. Read More »

No pesticides sign

Soil Regulators Soft on Pesticide Use

A new study recommends changes in how regulatory agencies like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) assess the risks posed by the nearly 850 approved pesticide ingredients. Read More »

Cleaned river flowing in woods with mountains in the background

Superfund Mine-Polluted Stream Restorations See Success

Large investments made to clean up acid drainage into streams and rivers polluted by toxic metals from abandoned mining sites are yielding success. Read More »

Textiles of various colors tied together in sky

Textile Manufacturers Fight Climate Change

With a goal of 45 percent reduced CO2 emissions from textile fiber and material production by 2030, Textile Exchange is pushing for urgent climate action. Read More »

Person running through field holding colorful balloons with mountains in background

Think Yourself Happy: Seven Ways to Change Your Mind and Be Happier

Simple, research-based methods to change our thinking, rewire our brains and ultimately, increase our levels of happiness. Read More »

Life coach taking notes while working with client during coaching session

Unleash Your True Potential: Working with a Life Coach Can Help

The benefits of working with a life coach to better understand ourselves and lead fulfilled lives, including tips for hiring the right coach for individual needs. Read More »

Pair of cows tagged for meat

UN Methane Report Faults Big Meat and Big Dairy

With livestock contributing 32 percent of the methane footprint, there is a great need to regulate and mitigate methane emissions from global meat and dairy companies. Read More »

Person in bathing suit doing downward dog yoga pose on stand up paddleboard in the water

Water Sports for a Total Body Workout: Cool Ways to Stay Fit this Summer

Waterskiing, stand up paddle boarding (SUP), river rafting, kayaking, SUP yoga and other summer water sports that improve bone density, elevate mood and engage major muscle groups. Read More »

Person smiling looking happy in the middle of tree holding leaves on branches

Well-Being Basics

Choose happiness by taking these research-supported daily actions to enhance overall well-being. Read More »

Zucchini sliced and dehydrated to look like bacon strips

Zucchini Bacon

This recipe for a vegan take on bacon uses seasoned, dehydrated zucchini strips for a healthy, plant-based snack. Read More »