letterfrompublisher I


f you’re like me, over the years you have spent countless dollars in a valiant bid to get a jump-


start toward your optimal zone of well-being via a well-intentioned New Year’s resolution, only to lose momentum by February or March. I know that my own expenditure of money typically exceeds my investment of time.


Where did this whole idea originate anyway?


Well, I looked it up, and it reflects an early Roman tradition of placing their mythical king, Janus, at the head of their calendar. Janus, who had two faces


simultaneously looking forward and back, became an ancient symbol of resolu- tions. The kicker is that the official first day of the year moved several times before settling on January 1. So, I ask: Why wait? Let’s commit to making positive health and lifestyle


changes on an ongoing basis—renewable anytime, guilt-free. It seems silly to designate a specific time of the year to push hard toward our goals while letting ourselves go the rest of the time—likely offering ourselves the excuse that New Year’s is a better time to start anyway. I know from experience how vicious that cycle can be.


I work out, eat healthy, meditate and engage in other health-promoting ac-


tivities because I want to feel good all year long. I want to experience abundant energy, vitality and enthusiasm for life. Positive experiences tend to reinforce one another, with one good thing leading to another and another... Living Lean owner Sheena Lakhotia, of Orinda, has built a life-changing healthy living fitness program based on the experiences of herself and others. On page 21, she tells how she facilitates sustainable, active lifestyles with her clients. I loved reading her Body Makeover success stories. Mindfulness in all facets of life tunes us into our internal dialogue, where


we discover what our body, mind and spirit need, regardless of the world’s endless “shoulds.” As we master these vital listening skills, we become bet- ter equipped to support our heart’s desires. I’m encouraged by Daniel Re- chtschaffen’s mindfulness work with children in empowering youth to listen to and heed their own still, small voice (page 14). We need more movements like his in our world.


Another promising movement is the work of Dr. Judith Orloff, who be-


lieves that we have the ability to change our world from the inside out when we understand and embrace our emotions (while avoiding emotional vam- pires). Catch her on her Emotional Freedom book tour in San Francisco and Corte Madera in March (page 12). Finally, our world wouldn’t be as happy without health-giving dark choco-


late. We have some special smoothies for chocolate lovers on page 24. Feeling nourished by our lives, we are better able to be fully present with others and to connect on a heart-level, rather than just a head-level. The jour- ney of self-discovery needs no special date to begin… just now.


In Love & Light, contact us


Publisher/Editor Jaime L. Mitchell


National Editor


S. Alison Chabonais Writers


Linda Sechrist Heather Haynes


Design & Production Stephen Blancett Megan Chase Zina Cochran


Multi-Market Advertising 239-449-8309


Franchise Sales John Voell II 239-530-1377


2760 Camino Diablo


Walnut Creek, CA 94597 Phone: 925-705-7907 Fax: 925-932-5671 www.NAEastBay.com


© 2011 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing.


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Jaime Lee Mitchell, Publisher 4 East Bay Area | www.NAEastBay.com


Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soy-based ink.


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