Meditation and mindfulness techiques are becoming increasingly common in school settings. Alexander Egizarov/EyeEm

The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.

The big idea

Children actively meditating experience lower activity in parts of the brain involved in rumination, mind-wandering and depression, our team found in the first brain-imaging study of young people under 18 years old. Over-activity in this collection of brain regions, known as the default mode network, is thought to be involved in the generation of negative self-directed thoughts such as I am such a failure that are prominent in mental disorders like depression.

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In our study, we compared a simple form of distraction counting backward from 10 with two relatively simple forms of meditation: focused attention to the breath and mindful acceptance. Children in an MRI scanner had to use these techniques while watching distress-inducing video clips, such as a child receiving an injection.

We found that meditation techniques were more effective than distraction at quelling activity in that brain network. This reinforces research from our lab and others showing that meditation techniques and martial arts-based meditation programs are effective for reducing pain and stress in children with cancer or other chronic illnesses and in their siblings as well as in schoolchildren during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study, led by medical student Aneesh Hehr, is important because meditation techniques such as focused attention on the breath or mindful acceptance are popular in school settings and are increasingly used to help children cope with stressful experiences. These might include exposures to trauma, medical treatments or even COVID-19-related stress.

Heres what happened at one elementary school that made meditation part of its curriculum.

Why it matters

Researchers know a lot about what is happening in the brain and body in adults while they meditate, but comparable data for children has been lacking. Understanding what is happening in childrens brains when they meditate is important because the developing brain is wired differently from the adult brain.

These findings are also important because caregivers and health care providers often use distraction methods like iPads or toys to help children cope with pain and distress, such as medical procedures. However, those techniques may largely rely on the prefrontal cortex, which is underdeveloped in youth.

This means that stress and emotion regulation techniques that rely on the prefrontal cortex may work well for adults but are likely to be less accessible to children. Meditation techniques may not be dependent upon the prefrontal cortex and may therefore be more accessible and effective for helping children manage and cope with stress.

Whats next

We still have a great deal to learn about how meditation affects brain development in children. This includes what types of meditation techniques are most effective, the ideal frequency and duration, and how it affects children differently.

Our study focused on a relatively small sample of 12 children with active cancer, as well as survivors who may have experienced significant distress over the diagnosis, treatment and uncertainty about the future. Future studies with larger sample sizes including children with a wider diversity of diagnoses and exposures to early adversity or trauma will help researchers like us to better understand how meditation affects the brain and body in children.

Our findings underscore the need to understand precisely how meditation techniques work. Exciting recent studies have begun to examine how participating in mindfulness and meditation-based programs can shape brain functioning in children.

Understanding how these techniques work is also essential for optimizing how they could be applied in health care settings, such as coping with needle-related procedures or for helping children manage the negative effects of stress and trauma.

Hilary A. Marusak does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Self-care can be a key strategy for getting through tough times, such as a global pandemic. Meditation is one practice that has been relied upon by people for centuriesand across various cultures.

Sunday Citizen compiled a list of 10 different types of meditation, using information from health and wellness sites, research studies, and more. One thing to remember when beginning to practice meditation is that mastery is not necessary right away. If you dont meditate, or only do so sporadically, any increase in frequency or duration could have a positive impact. Keep in mind, there is no one way to meditate.

Those who are a bit type A may have trouble slowing downfor them, a meditation practice like kundalini or tai chi that integrates movement may be the ticket. Other types demand quiet and sitting still. All forms of meditation have benefits for mental and physical health. For those who need guidance, theres likely an app for that. Some are 100% free, while others may be subscription-based. Some apps dont stop at meditation, but also offertips and tools for other ways of self-care. You can even connect with a Japanese monk via Zoom for a meditation session.

Meditation may have started as early as5000 B.C., but no matter how long, the practice has become more popular as people look for non-pharmaceutical ways to boost their mental health. Different variations on the practice have been developed throughout the world, including India, China, and Japan. Some are associated with spiritual practices including Hinduism, Taoism, and Buddhism, while others are secular.

Over time, more people were exposed to the practice via the publishing of books including Siddhartha, The Tibetan Book of the Dead, and The Dharma Bums. Researchers started exploring the impact of meditation on the brain in the 50s. Beginning in the late 70s, researchers noted that mindfulness meditation was an effective practice to help manage chronic disease. By the time Deepak Chopra opened his Center for Wellbeing in 1996, meditation was becoming mainstream.

Continue reading to find the type of meditation thats suited to your personality, energy levels, and goals.

Jon Kabat-Zinn created hisMindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program in 1979, making this type of meditation one of the newer options available. Because the tactics of the program were adopted outside of the meditation world by therapists and medical professionals, it is one of the more well-known options. By focusing on the present, instead of spiraling into thoughts about the past or future, people who utilize this technique can manage anxiety and concentration virtually anywhere, anytime.

Anyone whos ever dealt with anger or resentment may benefit fromthis practice, which focuses on compassion for and acceptance of self, and then people and/or situations outside of ourselves, including (and sometimes especially) those that aggravate or hurt us. The idea is thatuntil we love ourselves, we cant extend love to others. This type of meditation can also help with anxiety andPTSD.

Even though this practice necessitates a guide, apps and the advent of video calls have made guided meditation available to almost anyone, anytime, via both live sessions and recordings. Anxiety, depression, pain, and insomnia are just a few of theconditions that can be helped via this practice.

Perfect for those who struggle to sit still, this type ofmeditation uses movementyoga, tai chi, gi gong, kundalini, and othersto calm the mind. The practice doesnt require being solitary, and it is often experienced in a group setting. With the recent popularity of Zoom classes, people can join others from their own homes or a community space.

Because there are poses and mantras to learn for this practice, youll want training at first, but once you know the basics, you can usekundalini to manage stress and boost body awareness, in addition to getting stronger and minimizing pain.

Those who struggle with sleep might want to try this practice, which involves scanning the body for areas of stress or pain. Intentionally tensing those parts, then releasing the stress, is often part of the experience.

Because this practice asks that we focus on something externalbreath, sounds, mala beads, or something elserather than trying to empty our minds, this can be an effective option for thoseexperiencing monkey mind,a Buddhist term that describes restlessness or confusion. Success begins with short sessions whenever you have time, making this type of meditation perfect for busy lives.

Picturing an intended resultpeaceful scenes to create calm or success in a specific situationis one possible focus of visualization. Beyond visuals, this practice can include integrating all five senses.

Who hasnt heard the word om, even if you dont meditate? This practice, which has Hindu and Buddhist origins, uses words or phrases to focus attention. Because of the auditory component, this is likely a type of meditation youll do in privacy (though it is done in classes, too), making it a practice you can commit to daily at no cost.

Because this type of meditation requires participants to remain silent for10 days, using body scans to stay focused and ignore pain, it requires a much higher level of commitment than others. The benefits of the practice were explored in the documentary The Dhamma Brothers. The film shows how this practice helped incarcerated men at a high-security facility in Alabama face their trauma and past actions. Others have used the practice to help with recovery from substance abuse.

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Meditation holds the potential to help treat children suffering from traumas, difficult diagnoses or other stressors - The Daily Nonpareil

Looking for help in managing the pace and stress of your day?

Dartmouth students, faculty, and staff are now eligible forfree enrollment in Headspace, a mindfulness and meditation app that provides access to thousands of hours of science-based content designed to help individuals manage stress, improve sleep, exercise mindfully, and remain focused.

A Sept. 8 email fromCaitlin Barthelmes, director of the Student Wellness Center, andCourtney Rotchford, program manager for Wellness at Dartmouth, invited members of the community to sign up for the program, which includes guided programs on such topics as breathing exercises to reduce stress and meditation for parents.

In the first week, more than 850 people at Dartmouth registered.

Quote

I am excited by a renewed energy and understanding of the benefits of mindfulness as a pathway to support the well-being of our community.

Attribution

Caitlin Barthelmes, director of the Student Wellness Center

Im thrilled we are offering the Headspace app as an additional tool to support the mental well-being of the Dartmouth community, says Rotchford. It provides a platform not only for those interested in exploring mindfulness and meditation for the first time but also as a way to strengthen personal practices for those who have already found meditation to be useful in supporting their well-being.

Barthelmes agrees. Meditation and mindfulness practices have been a part of the Dartmouth community for many years, and I am excited by a renewed energy and understanding of the benefits of mindfulness as a pathway to support the well-being of our community, she says. Headspace is a complementary addition to the menu of mental and emotional well-being offerings that provide support along the continuum of care at Dartmouth.

A Getting Started With Headspace webinar is also planned for Tuesday.

In addition to Headspace, theStudent Wellness Centerposts a wide range of in-person mindfulness opportunities on itscalendar, including yoga classes, drop-in meditation sessions, and regular mindfulness and practice groups, most of which are also open to employees.The Tucker Centeroffers additional programs, including a weekly mindfulness group for faculty and staff.

The idea for the adoption of a campus-wide mindfulness app came from feedback from the community, including a faculty and staff Wellness at Dartmouth survey, student government initiatives, andthe Jed Foundation initiative, which is working to improve mental health on campus. Headspace was selected after a review of several available apps and a small comparison study that gathered feedback from undergraduates, graduate and professional school students, staff, and faculty.

The majority of participants endorsed Headspace as a selection for Dartmouth primarily due to its name recognition, user-friendly interface, and comprehensive offerings that were inclusive of, but not limited to, mindfulness meditations, Barthelmes says.

To enroll in Headspace, which is open to all enrolled students and employees who receive their paycheck from Dartmouth, visit theHeadspace websiteand follow the instructions below:

For more information on enrollment and how to get the most from Headspace membership, community members are invited tojoin the webinaron Tuesday, Sept. 20, at 12:30 p.m. Additional details are available in anFAQ(PDF).

Continued here:

Mindfulness App Now Available to the Dartmouth Community - Dartmouth News

Self Development Journey is a blog headed by Phil Ashton, a certified life and business coach.

The key to self-development is to keep an open mind and have a willingness to grow, as quoted by Phil Ashton, the founder and creator of Self Development Journey.

Phil is a certified life coach with a degree in Psychology from the University of Bath, UK. He realized that many people are suffocating in toxic relationships, from the condescending atmosphere at workplaces, and bad habits that may have snaked their way in without anyone noticing.

All of the aforementioned circumstances are inhibitors to personal growth and happiness. To ensure his readers can tackle these issues and not only move forward but elevate their lifestyles, Phil founded the Self Development Journey blog.

Self-development is an ongoing process of improving in every area of our lives. This means professionally, personally, and spiritually, its up to you where you feel like you want or need to grow as a person, said Phil.

Phil publishes content on numerous topics, from meditation and mindfulness to relationship and work issues.

The blog focuses on providing free advice and information to help readers with a wide range of problems and questions, and currently has a reach of more than 250,000 monthly readers.

The true value of Self Development Journey lies in easy-to-read and more importantly relevant articles that offer helpful insight into common problems that millions of people across all compass points face daily.

Anyone who has ever set a goal knows that it takes more than just wishing and hoping to make it happen it takes action. Part of the answer is inspiration, accountability, and being able to relate to other people going through the same things as you are, Phil Ashton said.

Self Development Journey is an active blog that is frequently updated with fresh material. Phil strives to explore as many topics as he can and provide viable, easily implementable solutions, as well as explanations of the motivating forces behind each problem he is addressing.

More information about Self Development Journey is available on the companys official website.

Media ContactCompany Name: Self Development JourneyContact Person: Phil AshtonEmail: Send EmailCountry: United StatesWebsite: https://selfdevelopmentjourney.com/

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Self Development Journey On Meditation, Relationships, Habits, and Mindfulness - Digital Journal

Local yoga instructors believe meditation and yoga may help resolve the wave of anxiety, depression and fear plaguing people as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an outbreak like COVID often contributes to an increase in fear and grief, causing isolation, higher unemployment rates, and an increased risk for mental health problems.

Murielle Corwin and Mae Corwin, mother-daughter co-owners of Sundara Yoga in Brunswick, said they saw an uptick in yogi patrons over the summer as vaccinations were made available and the virus became less of a threat.

As the pandemic has gone on, we are starting to see people weighing the health risk of being isolated and not moving, versus contracting COVID, said Mae Corwin.

Originating in ancient India, yoga has been practiced for thousands of years using physical postures, breathing techniques and meditation to better connect to the mind and body.

In addition to teaching yoga, Murielle Corwin is a registered nurse who worked in the ICU during the height of the pandemic.

She said medical research has shown yoga to be very effective in alleviating depression and anxiety when combined with other mental health services like talk therapy.

A recent study performed at Brown University reported that 32.8% of adults in the U.S. experienced elevated depression symptoms in 2021, compared to 27.8% in 2020 and 8.5% before the pandemic in 2020.

The Mindfulness Center at Brown University, School of Public Health launched a strategic plan in 2019 to Advance Well-Being for All.

The programs offered include movement, meditation and silent retreats as part of its curriculum, which is dedicated to stress reduction and mindfulness regarding anxiety and depression.

Bath yoga instructor Maya Rook said yoga has the ability to recognize and relate to anxiety.

It can bring things to the surface that we werent expecting to see. That is why its important to have an experienced teacher, a good community and a counselor to help process anything that does come up, said Rook.

Teaching since 2019 and meditating since age 10, Rook said she recognizes that yoga may not be the cure-all for those struggling with mental health but says it can give you the chance to feel more grounded by finding that mind-body connection.

Meditation helps us to remain present, even within times of turmoil and confusion. Rather than turning away from those things, it helps us relate directly to difficult situations and people in our lives, she said.

Echoing Rook, Mae Corwin said people need to practice yoga now more than ever.

I think that we are living in an individualist society and people are feeling the effects emotionally and physically from a time when we were socially distancing from our loved ones, said Mae Corwin. Any practice that helps us build empathy and more awareness to pause before really reacting, I think is going to positively impact our own life as well as ripple out into the world, she added.

For information about local yoga, visit illusorytime.com or sundarayogame.com/.

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Under stress of pandemic, yoga and meditation emerge as tools to combat anxiety, stress - Press Herald

The past week left me feeling overwhelmed. I just survived my first week of graduate school while managing my business and a seemingly endless to-do list at work.

Before attempting to write this piece, I made a quick trip to the convenience store and grabbed a medium-sized bag of milk chocolate candy. I had a plan in mind.

Twelve years ago, around the same time I discovered the art of mindfulness, I also learned the perfect excuse to consume sweets chocolate meditation.

Chocolate meditation is a form of mindfulness activity that uses the treat as its main subject. Chocolate and its different parts that appeal to the senses become the focal point of the mindfulness act.

In case you missed it, mindfulness means getting into a state of complete focus and awareness of ones present moment. It also means welcoming the different sensations, thoughts, and sounds as they occur, allowing free flow and releasing any judgment.

While there are many ways of performing meditation, this indulgent kind is like hitting two birds with one stone. One can claim the health benefits of chocolate (depending on the type you will get!) and meditation simultaneously. Here are the steps I developed through years of merging different ones taught by an acquaintance and online tutorials. I made up this guide using the acronym CHOCO.

C omfort. Find a comfortable spot like a chair or a mat. Situate yourself in a place of relaxation, away from all possible distractions. You may close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and consciously relax and release all tension from your head to your toes.

H old. Take a piece of your preferred chocolate (a tiny one like a piece of the classic Pinoy peanut milk chocolate will do!) and place it on your hand. Take a moment to feel its weight, inspect the packaging, read the label, and appreciate the design.

O pen. With much care and attention, unwrap the chocolate. Pay attention to the crinkling sounds, aroma, and the little treats appearance. Take note of its color and fully engage your senses of sight, smell, and sound.

C elebrate. Create a party inside your mouth by tasting the chocolate. Feel a piece of the sweet treat by taking a bite. Be mindful of how it touches your tongue and introduces different flavors. Indulge. Savor the taste and let the melted piece travel down your throat.

O bserve. Using the piece of chocolate as the point of concentration, allow thoughts and memories to come and go. If theres a sudden influx of thoughts in your head, try to get a grip and mentally organize them by redirecting every thought to the piece of chocolate. Be in the moment.

I repeat the steps as needed to enjoy the calming benefits of the activity. An essential part of the challenge is also being mindful of the amount of chocolate you will consume. Wink, wink.

Note: This meditation is best matched with journaling or doing a brain dump on paper to detoxify yourself of overwhelming thoughts or concerns. In case of health problems, using the meditation process using sugar-free or savory food items also works wonders.

Please let the author know if the meditation also works for you. Please share your thoughts by dropping her a note at randomrepublika@gmail.com.

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Learning the art of chocolate meditation - manilastandard.net

Kamlesh Patel, lovingly known as Daaji, is the fourth global teacher of 'Heartfulness', a simple set of heart-focused meditation practices to suit today's busy lifestyle. Born in Gujarat, India, Kamlesh D Patel showed an early interest in meditation and spiritual growth. He spoke about why meditation is necessary for everyone leading a stressful life today and how to do it.

Excerpts from the interview:

What is Heartfulness Meditation, and how did it originate? Is it affiliated with any religion or spiritual practice?

When we tune into our feelings and capture the inspirations that come from our hearts, making them the guiding source of our decisions, it is called listening to the heart's voice. This kind of shifting from analytical thinking to deeper levels of feeling, intuition, and consciousness is possible through meditation on nature, known as Heartfulness Meditation.

How do you start Heartfulness Meditation?

You may start meditation with a Heartfulness trainer on a one-on-one basis: https://heartfulness.org/en/connect-with-us/.

With a basket of wellness programs already available, why should one choose Heartfulness Meditation?

The process of Heartfulness Meditation has its foundation in the heart, where feelings and emotions reside. The unique aspect of Heartfulness is to meditate with the aid of yogic Transmission, or Pranahuti, and the Heartfulness Guide or trainers impart such training. Meditating on the heart improves emotional intelligence, sensitivity, and intuition.

Another distinguishing aspect of Heartfulness is the rejuvenation technique called cleaning, which removes the emotional baggage of the past. Heartfulness Cleaning addresses emotions such as discontentment, restlessness, anxiety, anger, fear, confusion, and negativity, helping you feel light and rejuvenated.

How long does one need to practice Heartfulness Meditation to feel the effect/judge the efficacy?

For some people, the first meditation session is a game changer; they feel the effect and can tell the difference immediately. But, of course, like any other practice, one has to try it regularly and sincerely for 6 to 12 weeks to observe specific visible changes in their inner and outer environment. For example, only when you work out regularly for a couple of months in the gym can you see changes in your body. A mind or heart gym is no different.

In today's hectic lifestyle, how can we find the time to meditate?

Especially when we think we do not have time to meditate is the time when we need to contemplate more and more. Can you see the logic in that?

Meditation is the most important and relevant time-management tool in our life. It helps us regulate our emotions. After all, what is time management, if not emotional management? We need physical energy to do things, but, more importantly, we need mental and emotional resilience to manage multiple things in life. Meditating for an hour every morning helps us stay focused, align our priorities, and become emotionally resilient. That is the secret to time management. So, 'hectic' does not exist in our lifestyle; meditation does.

Is any fee or donation required to learn or practice Heartfulness?

All good things are available bountifully in nature and free of cost. Do we pay for clean air, water, and love? Meditation is one of the noblest ways to create peace. It is free of cost a tradition that Heartfulness will always continue. Today Heartfulness has spread to 160 countries.

Is it recognised by the government or any international bodies?

In the most recent news, Heartfulness collaborated with UNESCO-MGIEP and AICTE to bring together 15000 youth to the at the headquarters in Kanha Shanti Vanam for a unique, conference, 'Rising with Kindness', to commemorate the International Day of Youth, and celebrated 75 glorious years of Indian independence (Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav). Heartfulness has partnered with AICTE in other ways, too, to equip students with meditation practice. Many state governments and ministries across India have signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the Heartfulness Institute. All Heartfulness Yoga programs are certified by the Ministry of Ayush of Govt of India.

Does practising Heartfulness require us to change our lifestyle? Is it compatible with average family and work life?

Heartfulness strengthens our life for the better. We do not have to change anything. It helps us mould our lives to become the best version of ourselves that we can be. It helps us balance and regulate our lifestyle.

Does Heartfulness work on medical ailments? If yes, which ones?

If you have any medical ailments, please visit a trained medical expert or a doctor. Recent research and work done by the Heartfulness Institute have proven that Heartfulness Meditation alleviates burnout and is highly effective in increasing productivity, emotional wellness, and even telomere length, as published in a recent study.

Who and why should one visit Kanha Shanti Vanam?

This is something you will answer for yourself when you visit Kanha Shanti Vanam! But to help you make the trip, let me give you a few tips:

Do you want to meditate in the world's largest meditation centre?

Would you like to visit a green haven, home to the 'Green Kanha' and 'Forests by Heartfulness' initiatives?

How about an experience of rainforests in the middle of a bustling city like Hyderabad?

If you said yes to any questions, pack your bags now!

Kanha Shanti Vanam is home to many fast-disappearing indigenous and endangered species of plants. We adopt the latest technologies with scientific planning to create an ex-situ conservation centre, replete with glorious green spaces.

I do not want to give away too many things, but I would like you to have first-hand experience. So you are welcome to Kanha, explore it for yourself, meditate here, and share your observations and experiences.

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Exploring 'Heartfulness' meditation - The Hans India

The Unwind is Yahoo Lifes well-being series in which experts, influencers and celebrities share their approaches to wellness and mental health, from self-care rituals to setting healthy boundaries to the mantras that keep them afloat.

Joe Jonas has grown up in the public eye after making his big break as the lead singer of the band the Jonas Brothers in his teens. Nearly two decades into his career, the 33-year-old is recognizing that he can no longer put his health second to his career. Instead, the two go hand-in-hand.

"I think when you get a little older, your body catches up with you to the point where you realize, oh, you cant do this as much as you used to," he tells Yahoo Life. "You cant sing 10 shows in a week, party and not eat the right things and not get enough sleep and think you can just keep it up."

Joe Jonas talks about the importance of prioritizing physical and mental wellbeing. (Photo: Getty Images; designed by Quinn Lemmers)

While Joe gained fame alongside stars like Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez in the heyday of the Disney Channel, he explains that it was his working relationship with his brothers Kevin and Nick Jonas that kept him grounded. Even still, the trio had to face the difficult decision to take a hiatus as a band in October 2013.

"Obviously, a lot of young people in the entertainment industry, how they struggle with mental health, everyones on their own journey. And for myself, Im lucky enough to do this with my family. We were able to be honest with each other and check in and realize we have to take this time to take time off and really check out and look after yourself," he says of the break. "We pushed ourselves so far without taking those mental health breaks, without taking even those physical breaks and breaks from each other. And I think that was essential for us to be able to take a step back and go, 'Ok, whats important to us? We are a band, were also a family. Those two things can be separated, so lets make sure we find the division and thatll make us stronger.'"

The brothers embarked upon individual careers and began to build families of their own during their time apart. After announcing their return as the Jonas Brothers in 2019, they released a documentary, titled Chasing Happiness, showing how they worked to repair their relationships as brothers and artists. Now Joe recognizes his personal wellbeing as a vital part of existing as a group.

Story continues

"I find that the beginning of my day is the most essential to get my day going. If I dont have that me time Im not going to be as great of a friend or brother in the performance elements that I need to be," he explains. "The first thing I do is meditate immediately, app-based, so its 'Headspace' for me. Then I try to write a gratitude list. Writing music is a safe space for me and playing onstage is a safe space for me where I can share my most vulnerable moments of my life to the world in a fun little puzzle piecing way."

Before expressing those sides of himself onstage for either the Jonas Brothers or his other band DNCE, Joe requests a slap in the face as a part of his pre-show ritual.

"The slap in the face wakes me up, gets me amped. Theres also the safer, healthier sides like some tea for my throat and honey and some meditation, then plenty of tequila," he says. "Its a balance."

However, indulging in more meaningful self-care on the road can be difficult.

"When Im home Im getting up pretty early, but on the road, the hours are strange," he says. "Im going onstage at 9 and then getting offstage and then youre wide awake for two, three hours because you just performed and your energys going. There are tight quarters and tight spaces."

With limited downtime, it's also important for Joe to take care of his physical health in the most efficient way possible. He recently got an EVO ICL lens procedure done to fix his eyesight without a more invasive surgery.

"It was 24 hours that I was walking around New York seeing things clearer than Ive ever seen them and then, on top of that, the recovery process was really simple and now I can see better than ever," he says.

Medical doctors aren't the only professionals he relies on to keep him going, especially after the "stressful, scary times" following the coronavirus pandemic. "Therapy is great," he says. "Talking to my therapist and being able to open up, so Im not just going to my partner, my brothers or friends that probably dont need to hear this. Its nice to talk to somebody, a professional."

Although it's taken time for the singer and actor to nail down a routine that works for him, it's most important at this time in his life to be able to maintain success in his career while also showing up as a husband to his wife actress Sophie Turner and their two children.

"Im just so grateful I still get to do what I love for a living after all these years," he says, noting the difficult balance he's learned to strike. "I pinch myself every day."

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Joe Jonas says he relies on therapy, meditation and tequila to maintain his mental health: 'Its a balance' - Yahoo Life

In 2017, Manjeet had a hectic life as the founder of an edtech startup when he was diagnosed with Lumbar Spondylosis - a form of chronic pain that affects the lumbar region of the spine.

At one point, he found himself exhausting all treatment options - physiotherapy, chiropractic, and sports therapy. When surgery seemed like the only solution, he decided to try one last alternative treatment at the behest of a friend: yoga.

Within two months, Manjeet recalls that his condition had improved and life became much better. It was during the pandemic that he took this suggestion of yoga to a friend, Amit Bhayani, a fitness enthusiast who used a gym on a daily basis and would later be his co-founder.

When Covid-19 hit and everything started to shut down, I started to think about ways to remain fit. This is when Manjeet introduced me to Yoga and I was amazed at the positive results it brought to my life - physically, mentally, and spiritually. This is when we thought of building a wellness platform focusing on traditional health practices, he says.

Together, Amit and Manjeet, set up FlexifyMe in Pune last October.

It is a website-based health and wellness platform that helps people achieve peak physical and mental wellness. FlexifyMes looking to change the way chronic illnesses are managed with a special focus on correction of lifestyles. Primarily, it looks to reverse these illnesses without the intervention of surgery or medicines.

FlexifyMe competes with the likes of HealthifyMe, Cult.fit, and Mindhouse. Amit says that many of these apps prioritise mostly either the physical or the nutritional aspect of health with very minimal regard to mental health.

FlexifyMe focuses on instructor-led live, interactive yoga, meditation and nutrition sessions. Clients can choose between one-to-one sessions or group sessions that are priced between Rs 500 to Rs 13,500 depending on the number of sessions or the kind of subscription they want - quarterly, half-yearly, or annual.

Once they have selected a plan, users can access the standardised, artificial intelligence (AI) programmes on the website. As the user performs a particular move or asana in front of their laptop or phone camera, the AI will make accurate predictions about the person's flexibility, strength, susceptibility to chronic illnesses like spondylosis and other parameters in real-time. In order for more specialised training, the user will also need to add key pieces of information like their height, food habits and sleeping patterns.

The clients typically are working professionals aged 30 and above. They generally are seeking natural solutions to lifestyle issues such as stress management, weight loss, and chronic illness. At present, there are 900 paid subscribers on the platform.

FlexifyMe isn't the first stint forManjeet and Amit. Amit, who graduated with BE in Mechanical Engineering from Mumbai University, co-founded Telestax which was bought by Mavenir in October 2021. He was also in the core team that developed the application server JBoss which RedHat acquired in 2006. As for Manjeet, he had previously co-founded companies like Buddy4Study, Pinig Tech, and others.

Being from entrepreneurial backgrounds, we had good connections in the industry, I got a few technical guys, Manjeet got some sales guys and this is how we built our core team, adds Amit.

FlexifyMe is yet to make a filing with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. However, the team mentions that it usually makes a monthly revenue of $50,000.

While the ideas are in place, building a company like FlexifyMe is not without its challenges. For Amit and Manjeet, building the right team is one of them. As a result, they are constantly on the lookout for fresh hires.Based on the data collected, the team prescribes fitness and nutrition recommendations to the user.

For now, it has 55 members, with around 40 Yoga, meditation and nutrition coaches.

Despite the challenges, the co-founders persisted. In May 2022, FlexifyMe raised $300,000 in a seed round from investors such as Ravi Bhushan, founder of BrightChamps; Amit Ratanpal, founder of Blinc Management; Sachin Anand, Sales Director APJ, Intel; and Dipen Shah, Managing Director at VAG-group.

Commenting on the investment made, Amit Ratanpal, co-founder and CEO of Blinc Management says, Considering that chronic pain/disease is a $110 billion market size and there is no one who is focusing on holistic Health, FlexifyMe has huge potential to grow.

The global health tech market was valued at $250 million and projects a growth of $880 million by 2030 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.3 percent from 2021 to 2030, as per the reports of Allied Market Research. FlexifyMe will soon look at expanding into other geographies, the first being United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Singapore.

Before expanding into international markets, we looked for the countries where the ratio of chronic illnesses was higher and natural therapies were accepted as a potential cure, along with the peoples awareness and inclination towards yoga. Hence, Dubai emerged as one of the growing markets for us, Amit says.

FlexifyMe is focusing on incurring a $100 Million Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) in the next three years with about 1 lakh paid customers.

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FlexifyMe takes the traditional route to treat chronic diseases - YourStory

The Ministry of Culture organised a mediation and self-realisation programme recently in 75 chosen prisons of the country. While the initiative is laudable, it is livelihood and economic rehabilitation of inmates that should become the main focus of prison reforms. This will not just ensure a better future for the young inmates but also contribute to the overall welfare of society.

Most states do not have well-calibrated, organised and fully state-funded skill development and livelihood programmes in its prisons. But most of these programmes are carried out by a well-meaning and motivated prison leadership with the help of civil society and minuscule funding from the state. The redeeming feature, however, is that many states have notified that all government departments will purchase certain products from the jails only.

An initiative that the Union home ministry can stitch in partnership with the Ministry of Textiles is to create a handloom cluster in one of the prisons in every state. Weaving is part of the trades practised in most state prisons. Some private social groups are promoting handlooms in prisons. Handloom weaving, otherwise, is a dying art replaced by power looms. There is a need for the revival of this craft and the ministry of textiles can embrace prisons to achieve that goal.

There is great demand for quality handloom products. This writer upgraded the handloom workshops in prisons of Himachal Pradesh under Har Haath ko Kaam project in 2017. More handlooms were either purchased or fabricated in the prison carpentry workshops. Better training, designs, raw material, and post-processing were ensured to produce premium handloom products such as shawls, stoles, tweeds, blankets, etc. Textile Ministry was also approached to authorise the handloom products made in Himachal prisons to carry the handloom logo.

As per the NCRB report, a total of 39,313 prisoners were provided with various vocational training during the year 2021 which is not even ten per cent of the prison population. The bulk of the training was in handlooms and weaving, carpentry and agriculture. The trades associated with the digital economy continue to be a far cry for the inmates.

Also read: In the process of evolving How a Madras HC judge is making Tamil Nadu LGBTQIA+ friendly

Union Home Minister Amit Shah made a profound statement while inaugurating the sports meet for prison officials in Kankaria, Ahmedabad, The jail administration cannot be ignored and we need to change the approach the prisons are seen in this society. All the convicts serving jail terms are not born criminals but circumstances force them to get involved in criminal activitiesIt is the responsibility of the jail administration for the re-induction of those who are not natural, born, habitual criminals into society.

He laid emphasis on providing libraries for prisoners, rehabilitating them by providing training and education, and establishing good hospitals and mental development activities.

Prisons do not have adequate skilled trainers and educators. The Ministry of Skill Development and Enterprise needs to step in to create prisons and prisoners-specific programmes which will equip even illiterate inmates in fending for themselves when released from jail. The ministry is believed to have developed over five thousand skill programmes for a vast clientele. Including prisons in their ambit will be a game changer for the inmates.

It is hoped after the union home ministers statement, his ministry will assume a greater role in coordinating with other ministries for developing programmes for skilling the prisoners. Most such programmes in closed environments like prisons suffer from a top-down approach resulting in partial success and satisfaction. A participatory approach alive to inclination of trainees, skill requirement of industry and trade, available infrastructure and qualified trainers can deliver winsome formula in this space.

Also read: Heard of famine wages? How British rulers thrift policies shaped Indian capitalism

Wages paid to the prisoners vary from state to state. The average per diem wage for a skilled worker is Rs111, Rs 95 for semi-skilled and Rs 88 for an unskilled worker in the prisons as per the latest 2021 report of NCRB. The minimum wage for unskilled work paid by Himachal Pradesh is Rs 300. There is definitely scope for upward revision of wages for variously skilled inmates.

Mere training and manufacturing will not help. The products made in prisons are generally in great demand. The NCRB data pegs the value of prison products at Rs 238 crore in the calendar year 2021. Wider market access will have to be provided at the central and state levels for people to sample and buy jail products. Iconic places like Dilli Haat must provide representation to prison products from states by rotation.

National Informatics Centre (NIC) can build a portal and a mobile app for sale of jail products from all the states so that they reach a large population of the country. Private retailers have no interest in promoting prison products on their platforms due to less margin offered by the prisons.

Also read: Prisoners are twice as likely to die by suicide. Existing laws do little to help them

According to a study conducted in prisons, 46 per cent of inmates are the sole breadwinners for their families. The message from these inmates, who show signs of frustration, anxiety, helplessness, depression and anger at not being able to support their families, is loud and clear. It is Bhooke bhajan na hoye Gopala! Only meditation and chanting bhajans will not satiate the hunger of their nears and dears.

Let us look at the prison demographics for 2021, released recently by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Eighty-seven per cent of all prisoners are in the productive age group of 18-50 years. This is the age when their families need them the most. Imprisonment makes their families secondary victims of crime suffering social stigma, abuse, ostracisation, financial hardship and above all depriving them of the presence and support of the head of the family.

The other data suggests that literacy and crime also bear a direct link. Twenty-five per cent of prisoners are illiterate, while another 40 per cent are below matriculation. Add to this another 24 per cent that is below graduation. A whopping eighty-nine per cent of inmates have below graduation educational qualifications.

Prisons are often blamed for being seminaries of crime. The above demographics should suggest that thousands of youths are readily available for recruitment in crime syndicates, drug and liquor cartels, mercenary gangs and other anti-social and anti-national groups if not weaned away from the life of crime by skilling them appropriately to lead an honourable life in society.

Nelson Mandela famously said, It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones.

The focus of policymakers should be on those 46 per cent of inmates whose families eat only when they earn.

Somesh Goyal is a former Director General of Police, Himachal Pradesh. He is an alumnus of National Defence College. He is knownfor his project Har Haath Ko Kaam which aims at providing livelihood opportunities to inmates inside and outside the prisons for their better integration with society. Somesh Goyal writes frequently on prison, police, and internalsecurity issues.

(Edited by Ratan Priya)

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Prison reforms need to go beyond music and meditation. Try handloom - ThePrint

Petchabun, Thailand

EKAR architects and landscape architects Groundsplay team up to create Walk / House, taking cues from nature to transform physical space into a boundless mediation on mental and physical states of being.

Surrounded by trees and mountains Walk/House is located in a tranquil part of a temple in Petchabun, Thailand.

The project is conceived as a walking meditation, not only a place for an abbot to live but also to maintain his daily ritual practice together with other monks.

For its inspired twist on the traditional home, Walk / House has recently been awarded a 2022 International Architecture Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

Instead of designing a traditional house, the key concept of walking meditationwhich is a concentration on the present dimensions of earth and sky to enhance awareness of mental and physical stateswas reinterpreted in the architectural context.

The configuration of the house is wide and long, facing the east to receive gentle morning light, with respect to the vast landscape of this faraway temple.

The continuous 59-meter long roof covers the whole space, with a slope that follows the mountains contour.

The space below and above the roof is designed to accommodate and support daily practices, including walking.

Some parts of the roof are indented, allowing trees to grow and sunlight and rain to pass through.

Meanwhile, the form of the long, curved roof helps divert rainwater flow to the middle line and to fall on the ground at the very endimitating a natural water flow on the mountain.

Under the bent roof, the lowest ceiling space, there are different functional areas for the abbot, including a sleeping area, working area, and praying area.

The interior space is compact, which is an attempt to comprise the nature of Buddhismhumbleness, in the place.

The long continuous path that also follows the natural contours makes a gentle slope for a comfortable walk.

Step, flat, and curve are the elements featured in the path, together with different simple materials, such as paving blocks, mosaic tiles, earth, and grass, allowing monks to walk barefoot and feel different textures.

The objective of the Walk / House is to offer no boundary for monks to meditate by walking, with the hope to enhance their ritual practice anywhere.

Project: Walk/HouseArchitects: EKAR ArchitectsLead Architect: Ekaphap DuangkaewDesign Team: Thaywin Wannabamroong and Saranyu KamphukaewLandscape Architects: Groundsplay (Athipat Ae-uam, Pacharee Sophonphaisit)Contractor: V-SathapatProject Management: Thaywin WannabamroongTechnician Assistant: Saranyu KamphukaewStructural Engineer: Pimol NontaleeClient: Dhammayan TemplePhotos Courtesy of Ekaphap Duangkaew

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Based on three path elementsstep, flat, and curveWalk / House enhances the walking meditations and daily rituals of monks - Global Design News