I was just touting the fact that after a two-month knee injury, I am now in good alignment and building my strength back with a routine that I do 3-4 times a week. Then while dumping the water out of my kayak and I tripped. My niece said I demonstrated a nice tuck and roll, except my fist lodged in my rib cage when I rolled, and now I am dealing with bruised ribs. Once again, my movement must be modified for my injury. Ugh!

Check out our October feature “Sustainable Sanctuaries: Supporting Human and Planetary Health at Home,” by Sandra Yeyati. When homes became our safe shelters during the pandemic, many families reconfigured their living spaces to accommodate new uses. This spirit of renewal is prompting fresh thinking on how houses can promote both human and planetary health. Practical strategies include adding insulating walls and caulking windows to conserve energy; installing low-water-flow bathroom fixtures, recycling water and switching out turf grass for native vegetation to conserve water; using building materials and furnishings free of dangerous chemicals and sourcing them locally when possible; investing in quality furniture made of natural materials or recycled plastic; and building with the future in mind by adding wiring for photovoltaic panels or electric vehicle charging. With a sidebar on third-party eco-certifiers and helpful websites.

This month’s Fit Body article “The Joy of Movement: Dancing Makes Us Happier and Healthier,” by Marlaina Donato. Whether it’s salsa, hip-hop, belly dance or ballet, finding our groove has been proven to ease depression, support the cardiovascular system and improve overall joint function. It also brings more fun and sociability into our lives, and contrary to common assumption, it’s not just for the young and the limber. Ballroom, social foxtrot and waltz are good starter dance types, and then it’s easy to progress to Latin, cha-cha and rumba.

In Wise Words: “Nadine Clopton on Advancing Regenerative Organic Agriculture to Healthcare,” by Kirby Baldwin. The Rodale Institute, which has long led the effort to promote regenerative organic farming, is drawing public attention to regenerative healthcare, which directly connects soil health to human health. Project Director Nadine Clopton discusses how healing the soil is prerequisite to healing ourselves and why it’s important for our agriculture and healthcare systems to talk with one another, starting with an upcoming, first-of-its-kind conference at Rodale’s farm that will demonstrate soil health to leading healthcare practitioners.

Our Conscious Eating article “Fall Beets: Versatile Leaf-to-Root Eats,” by April Thompson. Nutritious, colorful and flavorful, beets are quite the package deal. This easy-to-grow, multi-season vegetable is packed with nutritional heft and can be enjoyed raw, roasted, boiled or pickled. It can be sliced for chips, pureed into soup, roasted for a side dish, shredded raw into salad, juiced into a smoothie or incorporated into a rich dessert. With recipes for Beet, Greens and Goat Cheese Linguine, Beet Chips with Sea Salt and Smoked Paprika, Beet Hummus, and Kale and Beet Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette.

In the Ayurveda tradition, it’s recommended that we eat fruits and vegetables that are in season for our specific region, and so I look forward to a lovely fall season of root vegetables, squash, dark leafy greens, hearty soups, fresh apples & pears, oh my!

To conscious living,
Pamela Gallina, Publisher