May 2009 Newsbriefs

Cosmic and Alternative Concerts

Aquarian Dreams is hosting two eclectic concerts this month: TranZen will perform Cosmic Space Music with a Laser Light Show and performers Moksha Sommer and Jemal Wade Hines of HuDost will present Kirtan and a concert. Kirtan also known as Sankirtan, is Hindu style of rhythmic chanting and singing used to bring about spiritual enlightenment. The Cosmic Space concert integrates flutes, keyboards, space drums, and vocal textures and their music brings about a calm state of heightened awareness. "This healing, sacred music is a totally unique and wonderful experience," explains Aquarian Dreams owner Cheri Eplett. "It energizes, relaxes, mesmerizes, and yet is deep in movement and high vibrations." The Kirtan and concert promises to be, "An alternative world music phenomenon," says Cheri, and will feature HuDost’s original work which ranges in style from alternative world music to Eastern fusion and a blending of traditional Sufi music, Bulgarian and Balkan translations, Farsi, Turkish, folk, and rock. HuDost has performed in Europe and the US and their CDs include In an Eastern Rose Garden and Seedling. For more information, visit www.hudost.com.

TranZen Concert is Saturday, May 9 at 7pm for $10. Kirtan and Concert is Friday, May 22 at 8pm for $15. Please pre-register by calling 321-729-9495. Both concerts will be held at Aquarian Dreams, 414 N. Hwy A1A, Indialantic. See ad on page 3.

Women’s Fitness Study

Avon and Curves are conducting the single largest women’s fitness study. Based on preliminary results from the 2008 Curves/Avon Fitness Study, 20,141 participants lost a total of 36,000 pounds, the equivalent of two elephants, during the 30-day study. Curves is now looking for local women to participate in this study as it continues into 2009. Participants will have access to a local Curves workout facility for 30 days for $30. They must also complete at least 12 workouts over a 30-day period with a minimum of three workouts per week. Participants will receive pre- and post-fitness evaluations (results that can be tracked and compared) and supervised training from a Curves trainer. Each participant who completes a post-fitness evaluation at the end of the study will receive a free gift courtesy of Curves and Avon.

For more information, contact a local Curves facility by calling 1-800-Curves3 (1-800-287-8373).

Spinal Decompression Available in Cocoa Beach

Dr. Steve Alukonis D.C. has been practicing in Brevard County for many years. He helps people in the community suffering with low back pain, herniated or bulging disc, disc degeneration, sciatica, neck pain, and pinched nerves, even failed back surgery and auto accidents.

Dr. Alukonis offers Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression that is FDA approved. "Research shows a very high success rate in relieving your neck and back pain, disc problems, sciatica, arm or leg pain, facet pain, and even spinal stenosis has been helped tremendously," explains Dr. Alukonis. "Dozens of patients that have suffered in pain for many years have been successfully treated and are now pain-free or significantly improved."

Dr. Alukonis points out that Spinal Decompression is not for everyone. He states "I evaluate a patient by first reviewing any x-rays or MRI’s. Next, I determine if they are a good candidate for this treatment. Out of ten patients I evaluate, only about four are considered candidates for Spinal Decompression. Of those that are good candidates, over 70 percent experience pain relief with disc Spinal Decompression."

For an evaluation or more information call 321-783-1960. Dr. Alukonis is located at the Space Coast Spine and Disc Institute, 299. N. Orlando Ave. Ste A in Cocoa Beach. Manual

Lymphatic Drainage for Immune Defense

Health Touch Massage Therapy would like to invite patients to discover the benefits of Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD). Often associated with lymph node removal and cancer patients, MLD is making its way into mainstream care. The primary function of the lymphatic system is immune defense. It continuously filters and drains cellular debris and is powered only by breathing and muscular movement. MLD increases lymphatic flow up to 10 times faster, accelerating the body's natural healing ability. Practitioner Ann Hollenbeck suggests, "Think of the applications from colic, digestive problems, and earaches in children to adult immune response associated with pre/post surgery, pre-treatment for flu season, acne, constipation, tinnitus, allergies, joint pain, cellulitis (appearance), and much more."

Ann Hollenbeck, LMT and CMLDP at Health Touch Massage Therapy, has been serving Vero Beach since 1992, providing therapeutic massage and customized holistic bodywork. She proudly shares her knowledge of touch with the intent to bring about total body wellness with experience, education and quality.

Health Touch Massage Therapy is located at 1408 19th Street, Vero Beach. For more information, call 772-562-8905 or visit www.verohealthtouch.com.

Organic Wellness Center Extends Hours

Heart and Sol Organic Wellness Center has extended their hours to accommodate their valued clients. Heart and Sol combines the "heart" (fitness) with "sol" (spa) for a balanced approach to wellness.

Their fitness center boasts state of the art exercise equipment, a mirrored classroom, separate male and female locker rooms with showers and infra-red saunas. A variety of group classes are offered at various times for all fitness levels.

The spa offers Tuscan inspired treatment rooms, massage, hydrotherapy, organic skin treatments, custom selected mineral make-up and more. "Your escape begins the moment you walk into our lobby and a visit to the spa gives you a brief vacation to the Italian Hills," explains Spa Director Helene Pinsky. "After your workout or treatment, you are invited to relax further in our custom designed relaxation room."

Heart & Sol Organic Wellness Center is located at 8045 Spyglass Hill Road, Suite 101 in Melbourne. For more information call 321-254-4WEL (4935) or visit www.heartandsolspa.com. Mention this ad when booking your appointment and receive 25% off your first spa service. New

Natural Cleaning Business

June Donnelly is excited to announce her business, Sonshine State Cleaning Services, Inc. "According to the EPA, the air inside the home is 2-5 times more polluted than the air outside," says June. "Further documentation states that indoor air has a higher risk for toxic chemical exposure partly due to toxic cleaning products." June’s priority is to improve daily lives of everyone and the environment one house, one business at a time by leaving dwellings not only shining but healthy. She believes natural products work well and are 100% safe for people, pets, and the environment.

June offers a wide variety of services including laundry, vacuuming, dusting, and mopping, as well as oven, window, and refrigerator cleaning. She uses micro filtered vacuums that capture more than 99.99% of all particles down to 0.3 microns, microfiber towels that statically attract dust particles, dry vapor steam cleaners that use water to destroy mold, mildew and bacteria, and pure essential aromatherapy oils. June asks readers to visit 29 steps to clean on the web site to "know what you can expect from our awesome service."

For more information, call 321-505-9108 or visit www.sonshinestatecleaningservices.com.

Anti-aging Discovery Explains Skin Damage

As seen on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX news, and in Forbes, Vana Rickard announces the successful launch of a patented and exclusive anti-aging discovery from a world renowned scientific research and development company. This company is currently expanding into the central/east coast Florida market.

Have you wondered why some people look younger than their age? According to Vana, some of us have either high or low levels of a previously hidden enemy inside our skin. "High levels of this internal free radical generator, an age-related enzyme, is linked directly to skin damage diminishing the production of critical proteins such as elastin and collagen," explains Vana. "This exclusive technology can help you slow the signs of aging at their source. Our innovative and clinically proven products are unique, proprietary and can demonstrate effective results for our consumers who want to look as young as they feel."

Vana states that for 25 years, the company has been demonstrating its tradition of innovation through its comprehensive anti-aging product portfolio, and independent business opportunity. "Our scientific leadership in both skin care and nutrition has established us as a premier anti-aging company which operates in 48 markets throughout Asia, the Americas and Europe and has more than 750,000 independent sales representatives."

For more information, contact Vana at 321-223-9668 or visit www.vascro.gpnworld.com.

Wrinkle Iron Now Available

Bill and Nancy Celano are excited to introduce anti-aging skin and health care products by NuSkin Enterprises. NuSkin Enterprises offers their patented galvanic spa (called the wrinkle iron), a hand held device which is a non-surgical face-lift.

NuSkin Enterprises is a global company specializing in the manufacture and sales of anti-aging skin and health care products. The galvanic spa is used with a gel containing the company’s ageLOC. "The galvanic current loosens the dirt and impurities, bringing them to the surface of the skin, explains Bill. "The treatment costs about $7 and is equivalent to a $200 salon treatment."

NuSkin also offers many other skin care products researched and developed by leading universities and under contract to NuSkin. "There is something for most common skin conditions," offers Nancy. "The aging process removes elasticity from the skin, causing it to wrinkle and become dry. Tru Face Essence Ultra, containing Ethocyn, replenishes the elasticity." Products to treat acne are also available.

For more information please call Bill and Nancy Celano, NuSkin/Pharmanex representatives, at 772-589-6547.

One-Day Tantra Workshop for Couples

A one-day workshop for couples will be held on Saturday, May 30 at the You Health Center, 511 Virginia Dr., Orlando. This is a fabulous opportunity to experience many of the same relationship training and tantric practices taught at weekend Intimacy Retreats at a fraction of the cost.

Richard and Diana Daffner, M.A., authors of Tantric Sex for Busy Couples: How to Deepen Your Passion in Just Ten Minutes a Day, are the facilitators at both the one-day and weekend events.

An Intimacy Retreat introduces couples to the powerful techniques and teachings of Tantra, an ancient spiritual training from India. The focus is on presence, centering, awareness of energy and opening to love. To help couples enjoy more physical, emotional and spiritual intimacy, the Daffners created and teach an easy program called Tantra Tai Chi. Their workshops also include fun practices in eye contact, communication, and conscious touch, all vital elements of a loving relationship. Participants learn how to deepen their emotional connection, spice up their sexual enjoyment and celebrate their spiritual union.

The first five couples to pre-register for the one-day workshop will receive a free, autographed copy of "Tantric Sex for Busy Couples." Pre-registration fee, $199/couple. For details or to register visit www.IntimacyRetreats.com or call 941-349-6804 or 877-282-4244.

Bioidentical Hormone Profiles

Dr. Rank would like to advise the availability of bioidentical hormone profiles through her office. Even though bioidentical hormones are synthetic, bioidentical means the hormone is indistinguishable from human-made hormones. Made in laboratories by a multi-step process from a basic cholesterol building block, they are usually derived from the Mexican yam. "By the time the product is finished," explains Dr. Rank," it is indistinguishable from your own native hormones." Most hormone replacements have been administered through oral horse-derived estrogens and progestogens which cause increased health risks. "The alternative bioidenticals,’ says Dr. Rank, "are associated with fewer adverse effects and are likely much safer." She believes in order to balance hormones safely and effectively requires an individual prescription based on the individual hormone profile and needs. Dr. Rank specializes in Internal Medicine and uses nutrition, hormonal balance, herbals, supplements, and acupuncture to achieve wellness.

Office is located at 2415 S. Babcock St., Suite D, Melbourne. For more information, call 321-984-1291.

Sustainable Landscaping

Eco-Creations is a local, environmentally friendly lawn and landscape business founded by Brian and Debby Jeffries. Brian and Debby possess a love and understanding of the natural Florida flora of this area and are committed to creating sustainable landscaping and educating the community of the benefits and beauty of native plants. They specialize in creative designs with emphasis on draught tolerant xeriscaping, butterfly gardens, and salt tolerant beach and riverside landscaping which protects and sustains the ecosystem. Lawn care maintenance, natural fertilization, and non-toxic pest control are also available.

Brian is an expert on Florida ecology and worked in Brevard and Indian River counties for over 30 years. He was grounds keeper at Brevard Community College in 1975 and established his own lawn and landscape business in 1980. Debby is a Biologist and Florida Naturalist specializing in native plant landscape design. She is an environmental educator and has provided nature walks and talks in this area for over 20 years.

Eco-Creations services Brevard and Indian River Counties. For more information, please call 321-720-3677 or e-mail jfleco@aol.com.

Healthy, Gourmet Restaurant Opening in Melbourne

Chef Jim Wu is proud to announce the opening of the Healthy Garden restaurant in north Melbourne. He has transformed the previous Kikos Restaurant into what he describes as "an oasis of culinary delight and relaxation." Chef Jim’s wish is to provide a cuisine that is both gourmet and healthy in an atmosphere that promotes a sense of well-being. "My dream is to have a restaurant that cares about customers’ health while providing tasty dishes," says Chef Jim.

He has drawn upon his 23 years of cooking experience to develop a unique menu. Chef Jim wants to educate his customers about healthy eating by serving only brown rice and plant-based dishes. Jim has also carefully combined ingredients that have been associated with lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, balancing blood sugar, and promoting weight loss.

The Healthy Garden menu includes main dishes such as Tofu Steak, Stuffed Eggplant and Curried Chicken (made with tofu), appetizers of Vegetarian Dumplings and Vegetable Spring Rolls and desserts like Green Tea Ice Cream and Ginger Root Pie. Also on the menu are healthy smoothies and a variety of vegetarian Sushi Rolls.

Healthy Garden is located at 4100 N Wickham Rd, Melbourne, Ste #106, in the Post Commons Shopping Center. For a full menu, visit www.usa-HealthyGarden.com. 321-242-2122.

Reclaiming Our Roots Herb Class

The Herb Corner is offering a special summer package, Reclaiming Our Roots. This series of 15 classes will start students on the road to herbalism, providing options for health-promoting herbal skills that have nearly been lost to our modern world. The 7-month learning journey will provide an in-depth study of the healing properties of herbs for women, men, children, and pets. It will cover all body systems, conditions associated with each system, and beneficial herbs for these systems/conditions. Students will learn how to treat non-emergency health problems, how to make teas, tinctures, salves, syrups, compresses, and gain an excellent grounding in the basics of herbal medicine. The class is taught by Instructor and Master Herbalist Cecelia Avitable. Her desire has always been to provide education in the field of medicinal uses of herbs and foods. "Education will give you the opportunity to participate in and take charge of your healing process."

Classes will be held alternate Saturday mornings, May thru November, at The Herb Corner, 277 N. Babcock St., Melbourne. Class package is $300 which can be paid in $20 increments due at each class. For more information, call 321-757-7522.

Yoga Teacher Training

Kashi School of Yoga is excited to offer students an opportunity to experience the depth of yoga by learning to be a certified Yoga Instructor. The course is a 200-hour RYT Yoga Alliance certified program which has graduated five successful graduating classes. Students will experience the flow and depth of Kali Natha Yoga, a very special and unique yoga practice that incorporates pranayama, mudra, mantra, meditation, and physical asana into numerous flow series. Students will be immersed in the depths of this ancient practice of yoga as it awakens kundalini and ignites the flame of transformation. 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: June 5-14 and October 2-11.

For more information, call 772-589-1403, ext.109 or visit www.kashi.org. Kashi School of Yoga is located at 11155 Roseland Rd. in Sebastian.

The Joint Celebrates First Year

The Joint chiropractic office is celebrating its one year anniversary. In order to thank patients and business partners who helped create a successful first year, Dr. Daniel Weber would like to give everyone, including potential patients, an opportunity to visit The Joint with Patient Appreciation Day. There will be free adjustments, mini massages, and refreshments, with give-a-ways and prizes from local businesses. The Joint offers a casual and friendly atmosphere, the office is cheerfully decorated with bright colors and artwork from local artists, and soothing jazz music plays in the background. Office visits are $20 with no exam fees or start up costs and no appointments are necessary.

Patient Appreciation Day is Tuesday, May 12 from 10am-6pm at The Joint, 3016 Lake Washington Road, Melbourne. For more information, call 321-254-2828, email Melbourne@thejoint.com, or visit www.thejoint.com.

Pranayama & Restorative Yoga Workshop

The Yoga Center is pleased to present a workshop focusing on Pranayama & Restorative Yoga. Pranayama is basic breathing techniques utilized to bring about focus and inner calm. It also can help from dealing with stress to building endurance. Restorative Yoga is a very gentle practice which uses props to support the postures so there is no effort yet all of the benefits. This workshop is very meditative and needs no experience in yoga. Linda M. Morse, director of the Yoga Center, will lead the workshop. A new Intro to Yoga program will also be offered in a one-time segment. The normally six-week program curriculum will be given in a single three-hour workshop to assist those who may have difficulty getting to each of regular sessions.

Pranayama & Resotrative Yoga will be held Sunday, May 24 from 10am-12:30pm. Cost is $25 in advance; $30 at the door. The first of the monthly Intro to Yoga programs will be held Saturday, May 23 from 12noon-3pm. Cost is $35. The Yoga Center is located at 1540 S. John Rhodes Blvd., W. Melbourne. Call 321-728-0300 for more information or visit www.YogaCenterMelbourne.com.