June Newsbriefs

Indian River Soap Co. offers Non-toxic air freshener

Indian River Soap Company is happy to offer a natural alternative to potentially toxic commercial air freshener sprays. “Improve the air quality around your home and freshen up stale air everywhere with just a few sprays of Aroma Mist,” says Shoshanna Walker.

Made with pure essential oils and no chemicals, Aroma Mist can be used on anything that needs a little freshening up – your linens, your rooms and your body. Available in Lavender, Eucalyptus, and Rosemary Mint.

Indian River Soap Company is located in downtown Melbourne, Florida on New Haven Avenue. Call 321-723-6464 for more information or visit www.IndianRiverSoap.com .

Wellness Fair in Vero Beach

The Mind, Body, Spirit Wellness Fair will be held on Saturday, June 11th from 9am-4pm at the Unity Center of Vero Beach. The focus is on wellness, education and empowerment and an array of participants and speakers will inform and educate attendees about achieving and maintaining Whole Person Wellness.

There will be a variety of tables and booths with information and products for natural healing and longevity, acupuncture, nutrition and supplements, skin care, massage, yoga, meditation and relaxation, specialty gifts and books and life coaching. A sampling of the participants includes Contemporary Health Innovations, Treasure Coast Integrative Therapies, Gabriel's Gates, Sensations Medi-Spa, Absolute Integrated Medicine and Unity Book Store.

One-hour lectures and demonstrations on Integrated Therapies, Nutrition, Yoga, Life Coaching, Meditation/Relaxation will be presented and much more. Author Robert Greskos will discuss his new book "Lemurians Speak". The Unity of Vero Beach Chaplains will be present for prayer and program information. Healthy foods will be available and children's activities including pony rides. Admission is free to the public.

Event held at Unity Center of Vero Beach 950 43rd Avenue Vero Beach. For information please call Connie Mengel at 772-489-8519.

Electrolysis Center of Sebastian ReOpens

The Electrolysis Center of Sebastian is pleased to announce they are now open in their new location on US Highway 1. After the hurricanes owners Beth & Roy Slater were among the many businesses that had to start over. “We are excited and ready to reconnect with new and previous clients,” says Beth.

Beth Slater RE, CME is a Certified Laserologist, who performs electrolysis and laser hair removal. “I help change peoples lives by freeing them from a lifetime of hiding their hair problems,” says Beth. She treats facial hair, under arms, bikini, legs, chests, backs, and more with a combination of electrolysis and laser hair removal.

Roy Slater is a licensed massage therapist who has spent the last 6 years working with his wife to help people achieve their goals.

Electrolysis Center of Sebastian is located at 13832 US Hwy 1 across from the Sebastian Hospital in Sebastian, Florida. Call 772-581-0307 for more information on laser hair removal and massage. (MA31225,MM10381)

Wholesale Herbs Available

Brevard Acupuncture is pleased to announce they now have herbs available wholesale for Licensed Acupuncture Physicians and Certified Herbalists. “We are pleased to be able to offer this service to others in our area,” says office manager Caroline Richards. In addition, for their new and current patients they are now providing free patient wellness clinics.

Bo Shih Ni, AP, PhD has been practicing acupuncture for over 25 years, 13 of them in Brevard county. He was trained by a Traditional Chinese Master Physician in Taipei, Taiwan. In his first several years of practice he contributed much to the growth of this Taipei clinic which was regarded as the top acupuncture treatment center in the area. He is responsible for helping open several Traditional Chinese Medicine clinics and a school of Traditional Chinese Medicine on the Space Coast. His students consider him a natural-born teacher, as well as a focused and highly skilled practitioner who also loves to laugh and joke. His patients describe him as the “doctor who always listens”.

Brevard Acupuncture is located at 1250 West Eau Gallie Blvd, Suite H in Melbourne, Florida. For more information call 321-757-9731 or visit www.BrevardAcupuncture.com .

Submit Your Calendar Events Online

Natural Awakenings magazine is excited to announce a new online service. “With the launch of our new website, www.MyNaturalAwakenings.com we have incorporated the ability to accept calendar events online,” says publisher Kris Urquhart.

The Natural Awakenings calendar is referenced by readers throughout the month to stay abreast of what is happening in our community. Now it is easier than ever to submit your event for publication in this valued community schedule. Simply visit www.MyNaturalAwakenings.com and navigate to the advertising page. From there you will find opportunities to submit monthly and ongoing events.

MyNaturalAwakenings.com is designed to be a resource for readers to find the latest in health information. “As our article archive database grows each month, we are able to bring even more educational articles from local and national experts,” says Kris.

For more information visit www.MyNaturalAwakenings.com or call the Natural Awakenings office at 321-600-1211.

Case Study Promotes Smart Growth in Central Florida

The Community Greenhouse Foundation, a 501(c) 3 not for profit organization, has partnered with Riverside Commons, LLC producing an “Educational Demonstration Program” that will raise awareness and promote the utilization of Smart Growth principles for the State of Florida.

The Foundation will utilize the Riverside Commons project for a 24 month case study, “Cost Benefits Utilizing Sustainable Development Principles for the State of Florida” that includes several comprehensive workshops and forums, allowing access to the public throughout the entire process. The goal of the project and case study is to promote sustainable development, to show exactly how a development project is conceived, designed and built, so that others can understand the process, and accelerate adoption of best practices and principles that ensure a more responsibly built environment for the future of the State of Florida.

The Riverside Commons site development and buildings will meet the United States Green Building Council’s LEED™ (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) criteria and LEED Certification status along with the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) commercial standards. The five-Acre project site has over 1.3 acres of wetlands and through the sustainable design goals of the project; the wetlands will become one of the main features of the finished site.

To learn more about the Case Study or the Foundation please visit www.communitygreenhouse.org

Travel for Less Seminar in Melbourne

Catherine Karas of Coastal Vacation Packages will be holding a travel seminar sharing “How to travel for pennies on the dollar.” The seminar which touts a party environment will be held on Friday, June 24th from 6-8pm at the Henegar Center in downtown Melbourne. A free drawing will be offered for all who attend for a complimentary Carnival Cruise.

Catherine moved to Melbourne last year after leaving a long paralegal career. A veteran to natural health, Catherine is a reflexologist, numerologist, Reiki practitioner and a proponent of many health products. These experiences along with time as a travel agent have prepared her for what she loves now, “helping others realize their dreams.”

For more information call 321-956-1305.

Chiropractic Office to Specialize in Optimal Health

Dr. J Kevin Dickinson, a Chiropractic Physician, opens his practice, Optimal Wellness and Chiropractic, in Vero Beach on June 1.  Dr. Dickinson has advanced certification in the field of Orthospinology now available to residents of the Treasure and Space Coasts.

The practice of Orthospinology centers on a gentle correction of the atlas, a tiny bone at the top of the spinal column. Any misalignment of the atlas can block nervous system transmissions to the postural muscles as well as the rest of the body. Patients who visit the doctor for muscle and skeletal pain may experience an improvement in their general health following an adjustment. After a correction, as the atlas begins to stabilize, patients report an improvement in symptoms such as asthma, high blood pressure, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and migraines.

Dr. Dickinson will first perform a detailed analysis by precisely measuring each patient’s spinal alignment. This measurement is central to the effectiveness of the patient’s treatment. Knowing the specific spinal imbalance, the doctor will then perform a gentle Orthospinology adjustment that is free of the twisting, popping and cracking often associated with chiropractic treatments. Instead, this careful correction of the atlas alignment begins the process of healing by removing interference to the nervous system and the skeletal muscles that affect all of the spinal vertebrae.

Patients at Optimal Wellness & Chiropractic will be offered programs of whole food nutrition as a component of a wellness lifestyle. Nutritional therapy and detoxification through whole foods and botanicals can be tailored to individual needs.  Through this process, Dr. Dickinson will work with patients to eliminate the specific environmental and dietary stressors that impair their body’s natural healing capacity.

Optimal Wellness & Chiropractic is located at 2175 20th. St., Suite B in Vero Beach.  For additional information or to make an appointment, call 772-299-3929. 

East Coast Coffee & Tea Now Open

East Coast Coffee & Tea excited to announce their opening in Indian Harbour Beach on the corner of South Patrick and Eau Gallie Blvd. “We tried to make this the kind of place where we would like to come to de-stress and unwind” says owner Laurie Hall. She and her husband Jim have created a place for people to gather with friends. The environment is filled with greenery and a water fountain providing the feeling of being outdoors. In addition, there is classical and new age music playing in the background to add to the relaxing atmosphere.

Something for everyone can be found including a play area for children as mothers chat over lattes or tea. There are a variety of loose leafs teas, including a chamomile/lavender tea and a jasmine green tea. Also available are a variety of lo-carb, and de-caf coffee drinks for the more health conscious consumer.

A live acoustic guitarist is on hand Friday and Saturday night, and art shows and wireless internet access is planned. “If you are looking for an alternative from the smoke filled bar scene, drop by in the evenings for a relaxing experience that will renew and invigorate, or take a break during the day for a quiet respite,” suggests Laurie.

East Coast Coffee & Tea is located at 258 East Eau Gallie Blvd in Indian Harbour Beach in the Beall’s Plaza. Hours are 6:30am-10pm on weekdays and 7-11pm on weekends. Call 321-779-4618 for more information.

Hospice Offers Caregiving Classes

Hospice of St. Francis recognizes that caring for an ailing loved one is often one of the most emotional and demanding experiences a person may face in their lifetime. The Caregiving Education and Resource Program at Hospice of St. Francis provides the education and support necessary to “care for the caregiver.” The program consists of a six-part training class called Caregiving at Life’s End. The class is designed to teach caregivers how to care for themselves as they care for their loved ones.

The training class is offered at no charge and any Brevard County resident is welcome; whether or not they have utilized the services of Hospice of St. Francis. Each of the six 1-hour classes focuses on a different caregiver issue: The Experience of Caregiving, Important Decisions and Communication, Community and Personal Relationships, Care of Self with Care of Others, Meaning, Purpose and Finality of Life, and Grief and Bereavement.

The next session of Caregiving at Life’s End begins on Monday, June 13 at Sunflower House in Merritt Square Mall. This session will meet from 4-5:30pm on Mondays and Thursdays through Thursday, June 27.  Please contact Barbara Borman, RN, Caregiving Program Coordinator, to register. Call 321-269-4578 or email caregiving(at)hospiceofstfrancis.com.

Melbourne Massage Therapy Welcomes Additional Therapists

S. Christine Knowles, LMT, owner of Melbourne Massage Therapy in oldtown Melbourne, is pleased to announce the addition of Karen H. Sanz, M.S, LMT and Maruja M. Perez, LMT to the center's staff.

Karen has found massage to be a logical and fascinating extension of her life-long interest in communication. She has practiced speech therapy for fifteen years in medical and educational settings, and studied anatomy at the master's level. Her interest in fitness conditioning has led to her work with marathoners and her gentle method enhances her approach for people with age related issues, injuries or other physical challenges. "Developing a therapist-client relationship is an opportunity for each to grow and learn while providing relaxation, pain relief, and more energy for those seeking the benefits that massage therapy can provide."

Maruja also has seen many benefits of massage in her fourteen years experience in the field. She spent twelve years as a therapist at The Lido Spa in Miami and has also been a therapist here in Melbourne at Brevard Orthopedic. She has found massage therapy to be a very rewarding and challenging vocation "all about caring".

To schedule an appointment, please call Melbourne Massage Therapy at 321 956-BACK (2225).  Melbourne Massage is located at 300 E. Strawbridge Ave. in Melbourne, Florida. (MA11306, MM12413)

Music Together Certification Awarded

Debra Walden of Music Together of Central Brevard has recently been awarded Music Together Certification Level I status for outstanding achievement in teaching, musicianship, program philosophy, and parent education.

This summer, Debra and her assistant, Registered Music Together teacher Doris Romero, will be offering a fun, non-formal, musically rich 6 week program for newborn babies through 6 year olds. Classes will be held at The Family Room in Melbourne, at Star Dance Academy in Port St. John, and at the Unity Church of Central Brevard in Merritt Island.

Why music classes for such young children? Children from birth to age 6 are in Primary Music Development. This is the critical period in which children most easily develop their music intelligence. In our modern world, television has largely replaced family music making.  Many young children no longer have opportunities at home to explore and experiment musically with their voices and bodies. According to researcher Lili Levinowitz, only 50% of today’s kindergarteners can distinguish between their singing and speaking voices. Movement specialist Phyliss Weikart’s research shows that half of school age children cannot march to a beat and are unable even to identify how their bodies have moved.

Music is a way of knowing.  According to Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner (1983), music intelligence is equal in importance to logical-mathematical intelligence, linguistic intelligence, spatial intelligence, bodily-kinesthetic intelligence, interpersonal intelligence, and intrapersonal intelligence.

For more information, call Debra at 321-543-0187 or 321-751-1410.

Summer Camp Gives Kids a Boost

Fun Innovative Training (FIT), directed by Recreational Leader, Suzanne Elliott, M.A. Ed., is hosting a Kids FIT “Boost Camp” in Brevard. Boost Camp is five days of reacquainting kids with nature and FITness activities to give them a healthy boost for summer fun. Recreational activities combine the development of responsibility and leadership skills through cooperation, along with nutritional health education and FITness FUNdamentals for kids and their parents.

Each of the five days has a theme, starting on Monday with “Have a Ball and bounce into health and FITness” this summer. Tuesday, is “Get Wild on Yoga” day, and Wednesday is “Get In Motion on the Ocean” with a clean up for Keep Brevard Beautiful. Thursday is “Recess with Show and Tell”, with Friday ending with “ TGIF~Thank Goodness I’m FIT-day” with fun healthy snacks.

The Kids FIT Boost camp will be held June 13-17 starting at 9am at Cherie Down Park in Cape Canaveral. Camp costs $50/hour/day for 5 students or $100/hour/day for up to 10 students, for over 10 students, additional fees for additional instructors. Call for additional dates and locations. Pre-registration is required by Wednesday, June 8th  Contact Suzanne Elliott at 321-960-1533 for information.

Online Greeting Card Service Available

Teresa McKessey is excited to introduce an automated personalized greeting card service. “We've made it possible for you to touch the people that matter to you frequently, easily and cost effectively,” says Teresa. This service includes an online contact manager where you can store information, an online calendar and reminder system that will never let you forget birthdays or other special occasions, and a greeting card catalog with over 2000 greeting cards.
This online system allows you to input your contact's information, select the card you want to send, personalize it with your own message, and then the service will print, stuff, and mail it to anyone you select. You can even have the message printed in your handwriting. According to Teresa, “These custom greeting cards are less than half what you would pay for a quality greeting card at your local greeting card shop.”
Teresa tells us, “Nothing makes people feel more appreciated than a kind word or two contained in a personalized greeting card from you. It works because it's unexpected, shows attention to detail, and it communicates your message in a way that's virtually guaranteed to be well received.”

Call Teresa at 321-961-1874 or visit www.thegreetingcardservice.com for more information.

Xango Available Locally

A new dietary supplement has been brought to the area by Bridget Fernandez. Xango, a juice made from the whole fruit puree of the mangosteen fruit, has been gaining wide spread popularity for its many health benefits ranging from all natural energy boosters to anti-inflammatory properties. According to Bridget, “Xango is also an amazing source of nutrient rich antioxidants and Xanthones. One to three ounces daily is all it takes to feel the benefits of the juice.” Mangosteen originates in Southeast Asia and has been classified as pansystemic, which means it is a dietary supplement that helps in total body health. “The taste is so unique, and delicious, somewhere between a strawberry and a grape but like nothing you’ve ever tasted before.”

Bridget is an independent distributor of Xango is selling the bottles for $40 each. Call for more information 321-635-8514 or 321-720-1562 or email at bridget(at)mymagicwand.com.