News from the Edge

CALDWELL, NJ
The Holistic Moms Network (HMN), a non-profit organization dedicated to creating supportive communities of holistic-minded parents, announced a partnership with Wellness Possibilities, a national online directory of trusted, holistic wellness practitioners and service providers. HMN members are now automatically enrolled in the Wellness Possibilities Wellness Club at no extra cost. The Wellness Club provides Wellness Possibilities users with savings and discounts on a wide range of holistic services, including yoga, hypnotherapy, chiropractic care, prenatal services, and much more. HMN members now will be able to use the Wellness Possibilities directory to quickly and easily find affordable ways to meet individual and family wellness goals. “At HMN, we are focused on building support communities for holistic parents and helping them to learn about a variety of wellness options,” said Nancy Massotto, executive director of Holistic Moms Network. “This new partnership takes our mission to the next level by bringing together practitioners and parents who share a passion for wellness and all things holistic.” Because Wellness Possibilities service providers are screened prior to listing, HMN members will have access to experienced and qualified providers. And the rapid growth of the Wellness Possibilities directory means HMN members will have an expanded list of local services and practitioners to choose from. “There are a growing number of people in this country eager to tap into the power of holistic health and wellness care,” said Kathy Smyly Miller, CEO and founder of Wellness Possibilities. “We are very excited about our partnership with HMN and the ability it will give us to expand our reach, and to support service providers by helping them connect with like-minded communities.” To learn more about the Holistic Moms Network and Wellness Possibilities, visit www.holisticmoms.org and www.wellnesspossibilities.com.

BERKELEY, CA
The Eco-Dentistry Association (EDA), an international association of dental professionals, recently was launched by the creators of the country’s first green dental office to give colleagues access to eco-friendly practices and consumers the power to encourage their dentists to adopt earth-friendly methods. The Eco-Dentistry Association offers dental professionals practical tips on reducing waste and pollution and conserving resources, like using cloth wrappers instead of disposables to sterilize dental instruments, installing energy efficient lighting, properly disposing of mercury-containing dental waste, and planet-friendly building and office methods, like non-toxic paint and recycled copy paper. It provides the public with information about digital X-ray systems which reduce radiation exposure by up to 90 percent, dental appliances free from the hormone-disrupting chemical, bisphenol-A, found in many plastics, and questions to ask their dentists about environmental stewardship. The new organization has registered eco-conscious members in 20 U.S. states and Canada. More information can be found at www.ecodentistry.org.

SAN FRANCISCO
A new academic university created by the Saybrook Graduate School and Research Center now offers the nation’s first accredited graduate degrees in mind-body medicine. Building on Saybrook’s 40-year tradition as a premier institution for humanistic scholarship, Saybrook University significantly expands academic offerings and brings together new disciplines and applies its humanistic perspective to a broad spectrum of practical fields. Saybrook offers advanced degrees in psychology, organizational systems, leadership, human science and mind-body medicine. The world-renowned James S. Gordon, M.D., has been appointed dean of the university’s Graduate College of Mind Body Medicine College. A Harvard-educated psychiatrist, Dr. Gordon is also a professor at Georgetown Medical School, and the founder of The Center for Mind-Body Medicine. Saybrook’s programs are deeply rooted in the humanistic tradition. A collection of the world’s leading psychologists founded the institution in 1970. Early contributors to Saybrook included such influential thinkers as Rollo May, Carl Rogers, and Abraham Maslow, key figures in the humanistic psychology movement. To this day, curricula are designed to help students develop as whole people — mind, body, and spirit — in order to achieve their full potential. For more information, visit www.saybrook.edu.

DERRY, NH
The Derry, NH-based Waves of Gratitude company, which offers products that inspire people to remember the importance of expressing gratitude, has declared 2010 the “Year of Gratitude.” Waves of Gratitude founders Cheryl Nordyke and Kim Wierman believe that the expression of gratitude has the power to change the world. With that thought in mind, they are declaring 2010 the Year of Gratitude and launching their new blog “Inspired Thoughts” (inspiredthoughts.wavesofgratitude.com) with 365 days of uninterrupted blogging about the subject they hold so dear. “The purpose is to show our followers that we are just like them,” Cheryl Nordyke says. “We have everyday joys, challenges, struggles, and triumphs and through it all we strive to find the gratitude and inspiration in these experiences; that’s what keeps us strong.” Kim Wierman adds, “What you’ll see is the real deal as we relate our day’s experiences and reflect upon and find the inspiration and gratitude that will make us better the next day. We invite you to travel with us and look forward to your comments and insights and hope that together we can all grow from this experience. Let the journey into 2010 begin!”