June 2008 Newsbriefs

Vegetarian Community Picnic

Healthy Planet of Brevard is sponsoring their annual Independence from Meat Picnic at Wickham Park. The menu will include organic meatless burgers, hot dogs with all the fixings, plus drinks from local health food stores. This family event is free, but donations are welcome.

Healthy Planet of Brevard encourages eating lower on the food chain to promote benefits to personal health, the environment, and animals. The group has monthly pot-luck dinners, vegan dining at local restaurants, cooking classes, and public speakers.

The picnic will be held Saturday, June 28, 12:30pm, at Wickham Park, Pavillion #4. For more information contact Bill Morris at 321-636-0140 or visit www.healthyplanetofbrevard.org.

Massage Therapist at Irene's Salon

Irene's Salon, an upscale full service salon with a hairstylist and nail technician, is now offering massage therapy and chair massage. Janet Schoof has been a therapist since 1997 and specializes in customizing the massage to meet specific body needs. Janet believes an effective massage does not have to be hard and deep to relieve the body of built up toxins, especially if it causes a bad massage experience. She prefers to use a more relaxing technique that allows the client to receive total relaxation and stress relief without pain for optimal results. Janet also offers deep tissue massage for those who prefer that technique, providing subdued lighting, scented candles, soft music, and melodious waterfall for a relaxing atmosphere.

Irene's Salon is located at 1600 Sarno Rd, Ste 14, Melbourne. For appointment call 321-752-2984.

Natural Living Green Pages Coming Soon

Natural Awakenings is excited to announce a special directory designed to provide natural health and eco-friendly resources at your fingertips. "Our community is chock full of fabulous opportunities to enrich a healthy lifestyle and we are thrilled to feature them in this new format," explains publisher Kris Urquhart. The directory will be available Fall 2008.

If you have a product or service and would like to appeal to the fastest growing segment of the consumer population, then this directory is for you. Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) is a market segment focused on health and fitness, the environment, personal development, sustainable living, and social justice. The overwhelming growth in this market segment indicates that green is finally cool.

Early sign up discounts are available until July 10. Editorial business spotlights available. Submit your free company listing online at www.NaturalLivingGreenPages.com. For more information and a media kit, call 321-600-1211 or email Kris@myNaturalAwakenings.com.

Raw Health Food for Pets

Pet Pros in Rockledge is now carrying Rawhealth natural pet products. Owner Janet Monaco explains, "Some of the benefits of a raw diet for pets include increased muscle tone and energy, elimination of allergies, resolution of digestive problems, promotes bright eyes and shiny coats, prevents tarter build up with no bad breath, reduced stool volume, and less vet visits." All ingredients are human grade USDA inspected with no fillers, using farm fresh vegetables, Icelandic kelp, and alfalfa which provides 100% of vital nutritional value without added fillers. There are beef and chicken flavors for dogs and a chicken and fish combo will soon be available for cats. Pet Pros also carries a wide variety of holistic dog and cat food and they specialize in food allergies which can contribute to skin problems such as itching and scratching.

Pet Pros is located at 3695 Murrell in Rockledge. For more information call 321-639-4300.

Recertification for Bikram Yoga Teachers

Bikram Yoga teachers recertify every three years to learn more about the postures and breathing exercises taught in the prescribed therapeutic postures designed by Bikram Choudhury. Suzanne Elliott, Director of Bikram Yoga on the Island, recently returned from the first teacher training held in Acapulco after receiving her recertification. Suzanne taught classes, led posture clinics for new teachers, and coached students from central Florida. Other faculty members attended to learn more under the direction of Bikram Choudhury and Rajashree Choudhury.

Bikram Yoga on the Island has acquired new teachers that have the most up to date dialog and science for teaching students the series based on the 84 classic asanas. They study directly under the lineage of the pradapika as taught by Bishnu Ghosh at the Yoga College of India. Bikram. Yoga on the Island requires all faculty members to recertify in order to maintain the original and precise series. Bikram Yoga is designed for beginners to advanced yoga practitioners and is a basic series of postures designed to work the human body in a safe and scientific approach.

Bikram Choudhury will present a one day seminar and teacher recertification on November 1 at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee from 9am to 9pm. For more information, call 321-452-9642 or visit www.BikramYogaMI.com.

Summer Yoga Programs

The Yoga Center has several new workshops and programs to kick off the summer. Linda and Brett Morse will lead a Partner Yoga Workshop that promises fun while practicing with a partner or friend. Yoga for Relief of Lower Back Discomfort, presented by Bob Glickstein, is appropriate for all levels and will focus on ways to relieve chronic low back pain and discomfort, bringing joy back into the body.

Several six week programs will be offered including an Introduction to Yoga to learn the basic fundamentals of yoga practice. This safe and enjoyable program is geared for those who have never practiced yoga. Gigi Andreades will be holding two programs geared for teens and moms are also welcome. The Fitness Belly Dance program has a Latin flair and is a dynamic workout. The Pilates/Yoga /Meditation program is suitable for the beginner or advanced student.

The Yoga Center is located at 1540 S. John Rhodes Blvd. in W. Melbourne, a half mile from Rt. 192, near Rt. I-95. For specific information call 321-728-0300 or visit www.YogaCenterMelbourne.com.

Qi-Gong Instructors Certification Training

For those seeking to learn, train, and teach Qi-gong arts and other energy body/mind exercises, The Vero Beach Qi-gong Society is offering a bi-annual Cloudwalker Mind/Body Healing System© instructor certification-training course. Level 1 Beginner Teacher Training includes student teaching, home study, plus a mandatory reading/video list. Prerequisite for the class is prior experience in Qi-Gong or attendance at any beginner’s class sponsored by the Vero Beach Qi-gong Society for a period of six weeks or 50 classes which can be done before, during, or after the instructor’s class.

The 110 hour course will be offered in both Vero Beach and Roseland for eight weeks beginning June 19 with an option of four free weeks of extra training if there are scheduling conflicts. Class size will be limited to twelve participants and early registration is encouraged. The courses will cover diverse and basic styles of the Qi-gong arts and contraindications. Body/mind exercises from other parts of the world for self-healing, stress management, fat burning and peak performance will also be introduced.

For more information call 772-589-0787, email thecloudwalker@thecloudwalker.com, or visit www.thecloudwalker.com.

Yoga Teacher Training

The Kashi School of Yoga is excited to offer a 200 hour RYT Yoga Alliance certified program to become a yoga instructor. Students will experience the flow and depth of Kali Natha Yoga which incorporates pranayama, mudra, mantra, meditation, and physical asana into numerous flow series. It awakens kundalini and ignites the flame of transformation. Participants will be immersed in the depths of this ancient yoga practice. This is a unique opportunity to join students from all over the country to learn yoga in a sacred Ashram environment.

The training consists of two ten-day sessions, September 19-28, and November 28- December 7. For more information please call 772-589-1403, ext. 109 or visit www.kashi.org. Kashi School of Yoga is located at 11155 Roseland Rd., Sebastian.

Home Testing for Supplements

Healthy Habits is pleased to announce the availability of a new in home test that will help determine specific nutritional formulas for each person. Easy to take and delivered to your home, this urine test was previously available only to physicians and athletes. Owner Omi Kidd had heart attacks, migraines, and was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes, osteoporosis, and high blood pressure. No longer suffering from many of these issues she states, "After getting tested and taking the supplements, I feel like a new person. I have energy, can do things I have not been able to do for years, and actually feel like living." Co-owner Lynn Kidd has his Masters in Public Health from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

For more information contact Omi or Lynn Kidd at 772-633-3894 or 321-258-8041 or email kiddklan@gmail.com.

Smoothies for Health

Planet Smoothie announces 99 Cents Smoothie Days at locations nationwide this summer as part of a campaign highlighting the benefits of incorporating smoothies into one’s diet. The stores serve real fruit smoothies infused with vitamins and nutrients for active, occasion-driven consumers. The promotion kicks off May 7 with a focus on weight loss featuring the Leapin’ Lizard™. This is one of Planet Smoothie’s most popular weight loss blend with only 209 calories, less than one gram of fat, and three grams of dietary fiber.

On the first Wednesday of each month during May through September, Planet Smoothie locations will highlight one signature smoothie for only 99 cents. The smoothies will correspond with the lifestyle category featured that month: weight loss, energy, protein, blended lifestyle, or wellness. Becky Shell, director of marketing says, "We see this campaign as an incentive to help consumers develop habits for living a healthier lifestyle."

Planet Smoothie is located at 2270 Town Center Ave, Viera. For more information call Ed Henke at 321-872-0226 or email ps179@mail.com.

Reiki Study Completed

The Reiki Research Project that began in December by Sandy Brooks has concluded and the initial results are being tabulated. "Significant reductions in stress levels as measured in the psychological profiles and cortisol levels provided by the participants are being seen," states Betty Bragg, PhD. Once the final conclusions are available, they will be released in a subsequent news release. Betty and Sandy would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support and participation in this rewarding experience. "In addition to the reduction of stress reported by each participant," says Sandy, "I was advised by some clients that they had physical changes as well." Sandy Brooks, LMT and teaching Reiki Master also provides other forms of energetic therapies along with lymph drainage therapy, deep tissue, hot and cold stone therapy, and lomi lomi.

Tranquil Oaks Therapies is located at 700 E. Lincoln Ave., Suite 1, Melbourne.

For more information call 321-258-3526.