Natural Awakenings - September 2014 Read the September 2014 edition of Natural Awakenings. Kamini Desai Explores a Yogic Life: Inner Calmness Leads to Self-Mastery We can captain of our own ship to the peace, clarity and causeless happiness that emerge from a vibrant yoga practice. Read More » Mindfulness for Little Ones: Teaching Kids to Be Calm and Focused Even little ones can learn to breathe deep, make sense of their emotions and enjoy regular quiet time. Read More » Sparking Creativity in Elders with Dementia: Re-Engaging Through Art, Music and Dance Creative activities can pierce the cloud of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, bringing smiles to elders and caregivers alike. Read More » The Great Classroom Pet Debate: Kids Like Classroom Pets, Animal Lovers Raise Doubts What are the best ways for students to learn about caring for other species? Read More » Ice Cubed: Greenland a Big Contributor to Sea Level Rise The latest research shows that Greenland’s glaciers are melting faster and farther inland than previous climate models had predicted. Read More » Cleaner Air: New EPA Rules Proposed for Climate Change The Environmental Protection Agency has set specific targets for states to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions, with the goal of a 30 percent decrease nationally by 2030. Read More » Safer Shampoo: Makers Agree Not to Use Cancer-Causing Chemical In the face of a lawsuit filed by an environmental health organization, 26 shampoo makers have agreed to stop using a cancer-causing chemical called cocamide DEA. Read More » Apple Crunch: Celebrating Pesticide-Free Orchards Thirty years after planting an orchard in Pennsylvania, the Rodale Institute is hosting a festival there to celebrate organic apples that are pesticide-free and brimming with flavor. Read More » Radioactive Sea: Japan’s Nuclear Meltdown is Poisoning California Kelp San Diego scientists have found radioactive isotopes from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan in kelp collected along California’s coast. Read More » GMO Gung-Ho: U.S. Farmers Plant More GMO Crops Despite consumer resistance, conventional American farmers grew 12 million more acres of genetically modified crops last year. Read More » Apple Corps: Green Apple Day Aims to Transform Schools On September 27, parents, teachers, students and others will undertake local projects to make schools healthy, safe and effective. Read More » Online Opportunity: Major University Offers Integrative Medicine Certificate Prevention, nutrition, and biotechnology are among the courses that the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences will offer students enrolled in its online integrative medicine program. Read More » Cell Bill: Overcharging Mobile Devices Wastes Money Charging cellphones for only two hours increases their battery life and can help save up to $100 a year in electricity costs. Read More » Planetary Push: Public Demands Climate Change Solutions Hundreds of grassroots groups are heading to New York City September 21 to demand action at the United Nations Summit on Climate Change. Read More » Mindfulness Meditation Can Hinder Onset of Alzheimer’s: Helps Those with Mild Cognitive Impairment Adults with mild cognitive impairment, a precursor of Alzheimer’s, experienced increased activity between three key areas of the brain by practicing mindfulness meditation. Read More » Vitamin D3 Cuts Antibiotic Use by Elderly: Supplement for Seniors Elderly people taking 2,000 IU a day of vitamin D3 were significantly less like to suffer infections that required antibiotics. Read More » Licorice Root Reduces Dangerous Fat: Supplement Shrinks Waistlines People that took a licorice root extract for three months had fewer visceral fat cells and slimmer waistlines. Read More » Raisins Lower Blood Pressure and Diabetes Risk: Healthy Snacking with Big Benefits In a 12-week study, men and women that munched on raisins rather than processed food snacks had lower blood pressure and better blood sugar levels. Read More » Pre-K Education Linked to Better Health 26 Years Later: Early Schooling Can Lead to Future Wellness South Carolina 4-year-olds who received a pre-K schooling focused on language skills had healthier hearts and no signs of metabolic syndrome at age 30. Read More » Tongue Diagnosis Reveals Sleep Disorders: Saying 'Ah' Can Tell A Lot Pale and coated tongues are correlated with human sleep dysfunctions, say Korean researchers. Read More » Antioxidant Supplements Improve Eye Health: Boost Optical Wellbeing Austrian researchers found that a supplement of vitamins, minerals and herbs doubled the flow of blood and nutrients through the eye’s arteries in a mere two weeks. Read More » Yoga Boosts Hearts, Shrinks Waistlines: Health Benefits of Hatha German scientists reviewing 44 studies concluded that hatha yoga improves blood pressure and other markers of heart health while also reducing waist circumference. Read More » Om Sweet Om: Sounding the Key Note of the Universe When chanted correctly, Om vibrates at the core frequency underlying all nature, which tunes us into a greater sense of life. Read More » A Lovely Loo that’s All Green, Too: Tips for Eco-Friendly Plants, Shades and Cleaners Low-flow faucets are just the first step in creating a green bathroom that’s squeaky-clean, luxuriously fragrant and planet-friendly. Read More » Conscious Caregiving: Nurture Yourself While Helping Another We can lighten up caregiving by gently supporting ourselves as well as our loved ones. Read More » Indian Vegetarian Cooking: Potent Spices and Veggies Fend Off Disease Indian cooking offers potent health benefits, from blood sugar control to warding off cancer. Read More » Say Yes to Yoga: It Boosts Health, Peace, Community and Spirituality We often start doing yoga to realize greater flexibility but its deeper benefits include calmness, better relationships and a feeling of vibrant connection with the Divine. Read More » In-Print