Natural Awakenings Chicago ~ September 2024

Local Yoga, Movement & Fitness News, Updates and More

“The rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, and the harmony of the soul create the symphony of life.” - B.K.S. Iyengar Read More »

Celebrate Fall and Stock Up on Bulbs at Chicago Botanic Garden

The Chicago Botanic Garden’s annual Fall Festival & Bulb Sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., October 4 through 6. Read More »

Chicago Male Clinic Celebrates One-Year Anniversary with Open House Events

Chicago Male Clinic, a premier Chicago health and wellness center dedicated to men’s health, will celebrate its first anniversary with two Educational Open Houses, from 3 to 7:30 p.m. on September 14 and from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on September 18. Read More »

Natural Awakenings Chicago ~ September 2024

We’re excited to share the SEPTEMBER issue of Natural Awakenings Chicago with you, featuring a focus on Emotional Healing, as well as celebrating NATIONAL YOGA MONTH and recipes for Seasonal Eating. As always, this publication is designed to nourish everyone’s mind, body and spirit. We hope you find inspiration within these pages. Read More »

Boost Landscape Beauty with Fall Planting

Fall is an ideal season to introduce new elements to a landscape. Because the soil is warm and the air cool, newly planted trees, shrubs and perennials are less stressed and will establish more quickly. Read More »

Celebrate Unity at the Soul of the Feminine Retreat

Certified and experienced retreat leaders Faith Curtis and Christine Moses will host the Fall Retreat to Celebrate the Soul of the Feminine from noon on September 20 to 5 p.m. Read More »

Center for Conservation Leadership Impacts Lake County

Lake Forest Open Lands’ Center for Conservation Leadership (CCL) recently received two grants from the Illinois Coastal Management Program (ICMP), a division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), focused on the Great Lakes Coastal Region. Read More »

Connecting Local Community with a HomeTown Hug

HomeTown Hug, a new, locally based service established in January, is connecting new residents of McHenry County with the area community through a unique welcome basket program. Founded by Alexandria Gavas, who spent decades in corporate roles, the initiative reflects her passion for working with people and building community ties. Read More »

Discover Holistic Health and Metaphysical Wonders at Expos in Illinois and Wisconsin

The Holistic Health Fair will host three expos, all taking place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and dedicated to holistic health and metaphysical wonders in northeast Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin Read More »

Experience the Body Mind Spirit Celebration in Schaumburg this November

Join thousands of holistic living enthusiasts at the Body Mind Spirit Celebration on November 16 and 17 at the Schaumburg Renaissance Convention Center. Read More »

Feeling Stressed Out and Overwhelmed?

Natural Stress Remedies Can Restore Emotional Balance and Help You Feel Better Read More »

From Trauma to Triumph: Mastering Emotions and Embracing Self-Love

In these times of monumental change affecting every aspect of our lives and our shared divine Mother Earth, we are all grappling with the challenges that these shifts bring. Read More »

How the Western Diet Affects Mental Health

Dr. Meena Malhotra on the Body-Brain Communication System Read More »

Illuminate Festival Returns to Naperville

Illuminate Festivals will be hosting their unique brand of arts and wellness festivals from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on September 29 at the Chicago Marriott Naperville. Read More »

Join Billie Topa Tate for an Inspiring Book Celebration at MSI Wellness

Evanston’s MSI Wellness Center, in collaboration with Llewellyn Worldwide Books, will host a native book launch featuring founder Billie Topa Tate, a renowned author and Mescalero Apache teacher, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., on September 29 . Read More »

Kudos

Ninetta Keenan, a practitioner of classic Asian medicine at The Peaceful Healing Place, in Algonquin, recently passed the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork’s (NCBTMB) board certification exam, Read More »

Learn Simple Approaches to Back Pain Relief at Free Workshop

Practitioner Aurelia Vaicekauskas is offering a free, one-hour workshop on the Gokhale Method to help participants improve their posture. Read More »

Letter from the Publisher

One of my favorite things about September is the subtle shift in light that accentuates the color palette of a late summer day in the Midwest. As we approach the Autumnal Equinox later this month, the vibrantly lit colors begin to soften as the sun slowly moves to a more southern position on the horizon, highlighting the oranges, yellows, purples, darker greens and cream shades of our native plants. Read More »

Lurie Garden Celebrates 20 Years of Diverse, Naturalistic Plantings in Chicago

A September walk through Lurie Garden, located in Chicago’s Millennium Park, will reward visitors with spikes of bubblegum pink flowers called rough blazing star, along with the low-lying, deep-purple blooms of bottle gentian. Read More »

Meditation: A Powerful Tool for Athletic Recovery

Meditation has become an increasingly valuable tool for enhancing sports recovery and performance, with many Olympic athletes utilizing the practice to achieve greatness. Read More »

Monarch Butterflies How Urban Gardens Are Helping Them Thrive

Monarch butterflies, with their striking orange and black wings, are some of the most recognizable butterflies in North America. Read More »

Revitalize this Fall with Sarah Karnes' Changing Seasons Workshop

Sarah Karnes, a life changes coach with 28 years of experience with The Way of the Heart, will host a Zoom workshop from 7 to 8 p.m. on September 10. Read More »

YOGA NEWS: Discover the Power of Self-Love at Ramaa Krishnan's Book Launch

Full Bloomed Lotus will host a book launch for The Yoga of Self-Love: The Sacred Path to Wholeness and Healing Through Inner-Child Work, by Ramaa Krishnan, from 2 to 4 p.m. on September 6 at The Woman’s Club of Wilmette. Krishnan, a teacher, author and founder of Full Bloomed Lotus, will share insights from her therapeutic memoir and discuss her personal journey. Read More »

YOGA PROFILE: Hōm Hot Yoga

Our studio is a comforting return home, where every yogi can feel at ease with their practice and embraced by a welcoming community. Read More »

YOGA PROFILE: YogaSix – Highland Park

YogaSix Highland Park offers a very modern-day approach to yoga. We create a multi-sensory experience for all of our yoga classes with studio mood lighting and a state-of-the-art heating and sound system with contemporary music that accompanies each of our six class types. Read More »

Stopping the Trauma Cycle: Mind-Body Healing Strategies

Trauma can strike anyone at any time. Loss, heartbreak, abuse, violence, displacement, accidents, disasters, health problems—the list of possible traumas is endless. Read More »

Aimie Apigian on Releasing Stored Trauma

Aimie Apigian is a double board-certified physician in preventative and addiction medicine with master’s degrees in biochemistry and public health. Read More »

Marvelous Mushrooms: Celebrating a Culinary Powerhouse

September is National Mushroom Month, and with it comes bountiful inspiration to plate up some earthy goodness. Read More »

Creamy Polenta With Wild Mushrooms

This side dish pairs creamy polenta with sautéed wild mushrooms in a porcini-infused sauce, creating a rich and earthy combination that elevates the humble polenta. Read More »

Stir-Fried Oyster Mushrooms With Chicken

A quick and flavorful stir-fry that combines tender oyster mushrooms with chicken, green onions, and aromatic ginger and garlic, served with a savory sauce for a satisfying meal. Read More »

Mushroom Bomb Lentil Pasta

A rich and flavorful pasta dish made with lentil pasta, a variety of mushrooms, and a truffle or olive oil-based sauce, finished with white wine for a sophisticated touch. Read More »

Vegan Pot Pie With Sage, Lentils and Mushrooms

A hearty, plant-based pot pie featuring a savory lentil and mushroom filling with a sage-infused pastry crust. It's perfect for a comforting meal that highlights earthy mushroom flavors. Read More »

A Pilgrimage to Wholeness

One of the most beautiful aspects of youth is envisioning the future with undaunted optimism, but even the most strategic plan for life can go off the rails. Read More »

Emerging Sustainability Drivers: From Artificial Intelligence to Citizen Scientists

Renewable energy, greenwashing regulation, artificial intelligence applications and biodiversity programs are all being championed by stakeholders for the greater good of our planet. Read More »

Health Benefits of Yoga: Resolving Trauma and Other Mind-Body Challenges

Yoga, an ancient practice, offers powerful mind-body healing by reducing stress, improving mental health, and aiding in trauma recovery. Read More »

Natural Solutions for Alopecia: In Search of a Full Head of Hair

For many of us, our hair can feel like an outward expression of our identity, and we may struggle emotionally and socially when it is compromised. Read More »

Emotional Healing as a Family: How Parents Can Model Mental Health Skills

Kids need emotional regulation skills, including the ability to identify emotions, self-soothe, obtain perspective, walk in another’s shoes, think flexibly and solve problems Read More »

Healing Power of Therapy Dogs: Benefits for Post-Traumatic Stress Sufferers

Pet therapy, also known as animal-assisted therapy (AAT), has long been recognized for its therapeutic benefits across a range of mental health conditions. Read More »

Standardizing Acupuncture for Erectile Dysfunction

Experts have identified the optimal acupuncture points and treatment regimen for erectile dysfunction, aiming to standardize this alternative therapy for broader clinical use. Read More »

Microbiome and Addictive Eating

Low levels of beneficial bacteria and high levels of harmful bacteria may influence compulsive eating behavior. Read More »

Childhood Diet Linked to Long-Term Cognitive Health

A study tracking participants since 1946 found that a high-quality diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains is strongly linked to better cognitive abilities as we age. Read More »

Contrast Water Therapy for Muscles

Contrast water therapy (CWT) uses alternating hot and cold baths to reduce muscle soreness and strength loss after exercise. Read More »

Camembert and Brie Cheese Risk Extinction

The biodiversity decline of fungi used in traditional cheeses like camembert and brie threatens their future, as lab-engineered fungi lose their natural reproductive abilities and resilience. Read More »

Climate Change Impacts on Earth’s Rotation

Melting polar ice caps are delaying the need to delete a second from our clocks due to Earth's changing rotation speed, pushing the deadline to 2028 or 2029. Read More »

Siberian Explosions Explained

Mysterious craters in Siberia are likely caused by gas explosions due to warming Arctic temperatures weakening the frozen soil, a phenomenon linked to geological faults under ancient lakes. Read More »

Unconventional Superconductor Found in Nature

Scientists have identified miassite as the first unconventional superconductor found in nature, capable of conducting electricity without resistance at higher temperatures. Read More »

Rare Frog-Faced Turtle Found in India

Scientists discovered a breeding population of the critically endangered Asian giant softshell turtle in India's Chandragiri River, offering new hope for conservation efforts. Read More »

Benefits and Tips for Planting Native Trees

As people become increasingly aware of their environmental footprint, planting native trees stands out as an impactful action. Read More »

Yoga Pose for Health: Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon Pose)

Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon Pose) - Julie Mackey, E-RYT 500 Read More »

Savoring September: A Fresh Tomato Sauce Recipe to Brighten Mealtime

September may be my favorite month at the farmers market. Summer produce is still abundant, and the new crop of fall vegetables is also starting to appear. Read More »