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Novotel Hotels has announced a multi-year global partnership with Calm, a leading app for sleep, meditation and relaxation, which promises to help hotel guests achieve inner calm and enjoy a more restful travel experience.

Beginning in January 2020 at Novotel locations in the United Kingdom, the partnership with Calm will be introduced at more than 530 hotels across 60 countries throughout the year.

According to an announcement, the forward-thinking partnership emphasizes the vital role of sleep, mindfulness and self-care while traveling, and is a leading example of a global hospitality brand integrating mental wellbeing into its guest programming.

Wellness travel is growing twice as fast as tourism overall, with sleep and mental wellbeing proving to be extremely important to consumers in new or unfamiliar environments, such as hotels, said Aleena Abrahamian, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Calm.

As part of Novotels Time is on Your Side campaign, which enables travelers to discover relaxing moments, guests will experience the positive benefits of Calm including guided meditations, atmospheric music, nature soundscapes, and over 150 Sleep Stories all of which are designed specifically to instill a calmer mindset.

Traveling often takes people out of their usual comfort zones and so we feel it is vitally important to help our guests regain that comfort through mindfulness and relaxing environments, said Nadege Keryhuel, Vice President of Novotel Brand.

Sleep Stories is among Calms most popular content, offering soothing bedtime stories often narrated by well-known voices, that transport millions of adults and kids into a calmer, deeper sleep.

To celebrate its partnership with Novotel, Calm has released a new Sleep Story called Nightfall, narrated by award-winning actress Eva Green in English and in French.

Novotel is brand of Accor, a world-leading augmented hospitality group offering unique experiences in 4,900 hotels and residences across 110 countries.

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Novotel Goes 'Calm' with New Relaxation App - GTP Headlines

Contributed by Glenn Schweitzer December 2, 20192019-12-02T00:00:00-06002019-12-02T00:00:00-0600

Of all the hardships we face in life, there are few things worse than watching a loved one suffer from a debilitating health condition.

The feeling of powerlessnessof wanting to help so desperately when there is nothing you can doits devastating, especially when there isnt a cure or simple answer.

At its worst, tinnitusthe medical term for ringing in the earscan become like torture, completely destroying a sufferers quality of life. Anxiety and stress levels go through the roof, sleep becomes more and more difficult, and the noise is inescapable. The sound never stops and so far too often, hope is not a part of the equation.

Its excruciatingly difficult to watch someone you care about suffer so severely.

Most people in this situation ask, How can I help? or What can I do?

But with a complicated health problem like tinnitus, the answers arent obvious, and your loved one may not know either.

The good news is that you do have the power to help, both directly and indirectly, in ways that actually make a difference.

(If you are suffering from tinnitus yourself, share this with your friends and family!)

The first thing you need to understand about severe tinnitus is that when you dont look sick, everybody automatically thinks youre healthy. But youre not, youre suffering greatly, and nobody really understands what youre going through, assuming they even believe you in the first place.

This is a major challenge for invisible illness patients across the board. But in the case of tinnitus, its even worse, because most people have experienced temporary ringing in their ears after a loud event in a way that was not problematic at all. As a result, they will think you are overreacting. They experienced it themselves and it wasnt an issue, so it couldnt possibly be as bad as you describe.

They are wrong.

You know that terrible feeling you get when you hear nails on a chalkboard? How it grates on your nerves in the most uncomfortable way imaginable? When its bad, tinnitus is exactly that, only exponentially worse, because it never ends.

You know that terrible feeling you get when you hear nails on a chalkboard? How it grates on your nerves in the most uncomfortable way imaginable? When its bad, tinnitus is exactly that, only exponentially worse, because it never ends.

Anxiety and stress levels rise to uncontrollable levels, as panic takes hold. The noise makes it hard (if not impossible) to sleep, and the chronic sleep deprivation only increases the suffering.

Work is a challenge too, if you still are able to work at all. It is incredibly hard to focus with the sound of tinnitus constantly blaring in your ears, 24-hours a day, 7-days a week.

Doctors dont always help the problem, either. So many tinnitus sufferers are told that there is nothing they can do, that they just have to live with it. This is simply not truelasting relief is entirely possiblebut most people wont question their doctor. And so they only end up feeling more hopeless and afraid.

Your loved one is suffering terribly and most of the people around them will never even try to understand.

But you can be the person who believes their pain is real. You cant take away their suffering, but you can validate their experience, and that makes all the difference in the world.

You can be the one who understands.

Educating yourself is a good place to start. Take time to learn more about tinnitus and the specific nature of your loved ones suffering.

You will never have the power to take away your loved ones pain but its important to spend time really trying to understand their situation because it opens the door to empathy.

Here are some of the basics to get you started: Tinnitus is the experience of hearing sounds when no external sounds are present. It is not a condition in itself, but a symptom of many different conditions, like hearing loss, head and neck injury, temporomandibularjoint disorder (TMJ), vestibular disorders like Menieres disease,and acoustic neuromas, just to name a few.

Its much more prevalent than most people realize, affecting 10-15% of the general population by most estimates. Thats over 50 million people in the US alone, with hundreds of millions of sufferers worldwide. And as of right now, there is no cure.

Fortunately, treatment is entirely possible. Many coping tools can help tinnitus patients find temporary relief in the middle of a difficult moment, and lasting relief is also possible through a mental process called habituation. Sufferers can get to a place where the sound no longer bothers them, where their brain just starts to tune out the sound from their conscious awareness more and more of the time.

But it takes time, regardless of the strategy employed, and its not an easy journey.

Talk to your loved one. Ask them about their experience, and when you dont understand something, ask them to explain.

They wont have all the answers, and thats OK. Just trying to understand what theyre going through is a comfort and puts you miles ahead of everyone else who doesnt care.

So try to put yourself in their shoes. The better you understand their situation, the more authentic your support will be in their eyes.

On a daily basis, tinnitus patients are confronted with massive amounts of stress and anxiety. They are essentially stuck in an extreme state of fight or flight, and its a vicious cycle. The stress and anxiety further exacerbate the tinnitus, causing only more anxiety, and so on.

When actively suffering, there may be a number of things that your loved one can do to feel better, but its very difficult to think or act rationally in the middle of such an intensely negative emotional experience. Its incredibly hard to have the presence of mind necessary to get up and do something about it when doing something about it requires effort.

Fortunately, relaxation techniques can be an effective way to cope with tinnitus. And you can make a real impact on your loved one's emotional state by helping them to relax, both mentally and physically, in the middle of a moment of suffering.

You can help them to relax mentally by encouraging them toward a relaxing hobby, physical exercise,breathing techniques, aromatherapy, meditation, gratitude practice, sex,music,brainwave entrainment, or really any other activity that your loved one enjoys.

Addressing physiological stress is important too, because when the body is deeply relaxed, the mind generally follows. The mind-body connection is realits just not always obvious. But its why you feel so calm after a great massage.

You have a lot of options here. You can give your loved one a massage, or suggest self-massage with a lacrosse ballor foam roller (also known as myofascial release). You can encourage them to take a hot bath or shower, or take them to a sauna, steam room or hot tub. Really anything that helps your loved one to relax physically will help them to relax mentally and emotionally.

The morerelaxation techniques you can help your loved one put to use, the better theyll be able to cope.

Sound masking is one of the simplest coping strategies available to tinnitus sufferers. When the sound is bothersome, temporary relief can be found by drowning some of it out with background noise.

Its not a perfect solutionif your loved one has hearing loss, or if their tinnitus is too loud, masking may not work very well, if at all.

But as a coping tool, when it works, it can be extremely effective. And its something you can do for your loved one to help them directly.

All you have to do is put on some background noise. Music, nature sounds, broadband noise (white, pink, or brown noise) and podcasts or radio shows can all work well. Really any soundthat your loved one finds relaxing or entertaining can do the job, so its a good idea to explore different masking options ahead of time, when they arent suffering as much.

Just make sure to keep the volume of the background noise below the volume of their tinnitus whenever possible. Otherwise, their tinnitus volume might spike a bit when the masking is turned off.

As obvious as all this advice may seem, Ive found that many tinnitus sufferers resist sound masking when they are struggling. In my 1-on-1 tinnitus coaching practice, a lot of my clients express that turning on sound masking feels like giving up, like theyve lost the battle in some way, so they often avoid it altogether.

I understand the sentimentIve even experienced it myself in my own journey with tinnitusbut its unhelpful. If putting on background noise is all it takes to feel a better in the middle of a difficult moment, they shouldnt hesitate.

But if they do, you can be the one to help.

All of us are fully capable of tuning out background noise from our conscious awareness with a mental process called habituation. We do it automatically, all the time. Its how were able to carry on conversations in loud restaurants and stay focused on our work in noisy office environments.

But when it comes to tinnitus, there is a big problem: We evolved to use sound as a way to monitor our environment for threats, and its simply impossible to ignore a sound that the brain interprets as danger.

When we hear the sound of something dangerous, we have a fight-or-flight stress response. The issue here is that the brain isnt very good at telling the difference between real danger and imagined threats like tinnitus. So we react to the sound as if the danger is real, only the fight-or-flight response never really ends, because tinnitus doesnt just magically go away.

But most sufferers are able to ignore the sound of their tinnitus at least some of the time. The challenge is that it usually only happens when they are completely engaged with some activity they really enjoy.

This kind of distraction offers temporary relief, and its also a small taste of what it feels like to habituate (the difference is that when you fully habituate, it feels like this most or all of the time, not just when you are very distracted).

The next time your loved one is having a hard time you can help them cope more effectively by distracting them from the sound.

Encourage them to participate in any activity they enjoy that helps them to ignore their tinnitus. Better yet, be a part of the distraction yourself!

More often than not, this can be enough to help your loved one get through a moment of crisis.

The hardest part of seeing a loved one struggle with a chronic condition like tinnitus isnt the tinnitus itself. Its the never ending, repetitive nature that makes it so difficult. They suffer, then they suffer again and again.

As you try to support them, you will often feel frustrated, but its important to try to remain calm. When your loved one is suffering, they are at the mercy of forces outside of their control. They dont want to feel what they are feeling, and so they might get angry, emotionally needy, distantor sad.

In any case, its safe to say your interactions will not always be as rational as you would expect under normal circumstances. And its easy to lose your cool when your good intentions are met with hostility, or a reaction you didnt expect. Pain brings out the worst in a person.

But if you can remain calm, and keep a cool head, the difficult moment will pass. And you will be supporting your loved one in a way that actually makes an impact.

Its challenging, but its worth the effort in the end. Because you can make a real difference in your loved ones quality of life.

See the article here:

How to support someone with tinnitus - Healthy Hearing

When you think of Jamaica what comes to mind? The Caribbean island nation is not just the birthplace of Bob Marleys music or Usain Bolts speed but also James Bond 007. Back in the 1950s British author Ian Fleming penned his iconic novels about the MI6 spy from his home on Jamaicas north coast at Goldeneye. Not only were the books a global success, but they went on to spawn one of the most famous film franchise of the last half-century.

And to date three of the 25 official James Bond have been shot in Jamaica. The very first was in 1962, which saw Sean Connery meet Ursula Andress on the beach, as she submerged from her search for seashells before the pair took on Dr No at Crab Key.

Now the latest Bond movie, Daniel Craigs No Time To Die (April 3, 2020) has brought the latest incarnation of 007 back to Jamaica to retire from MI6. Scenes were shot in Ocho Rios near Goldeneye, with set photos seeing Bond reunited with Jeffrey Wrights Felix Leiter.

And last, but certainly not least, was 1973s Live and Let Die, which saw Jamaica itself play the fictional island of San Monique.

In this classic Bond outing, Roger Moore shot scenes at the classic resort of Half Moon, Montego Bay, where he took on a venomous snake and double agent.

A part of 007 history, Half Moon now offers a James Bond experience package - one that gave Express.co.uk a licence to thrill, fill and chill.

Just a short 10-minute drive from Montego Bays international airport, the Half Moon resort is spread across a generous two miles of sandy beach, giving guests a wonderful feeling of spacious privacy.

No wonder its been the place to stay in Jamaica for the British Royal Family over the years from Her Majesty The Queen and Prince Philip, to Princes Charles and Harry, not to mention, JFK and Jackie Kennedy.

Half Moon was first formed in the 1950s by a group of American, British and Bermudian entrepreneurs who wanted to spend their winter holidays on the tropical beaches of Jamaica.

Purchasing the land and opening a hotel, the resort gets its name from the half-moon shape of the shoreline where the 10 surviving original cottages are located one being where Moore shot his Bond scenes for Live and Let Die.

From the moment we arrived at the columned open-air entrance to the lobby, it was clear there was something very authentic about Half Moon. Not just the beautiful period furnishing that could have featured in an episode of Poirot, but also the exceptional service from the staff.

As soon as our car door was opened we were welcomed with warm smiles and acknowledgment by name an impressive touch across the board.

Given our own golf buggy to get around the resort, we ventured a short way past palm trees and friendly characters to our upstairs apartment in Cottage No 4.

The sizeable rooms, again stunningly equipped, featured a lounge area and large balcony right on the beachfront. Were going to spoil you this week, one of the maids assured us. Wed arrived in paradise and in luxury lodgings that Bond himself would be more than happy with especially the wonderful air-conditioning.

Licence to Thrill (Bond-related activities)

As part of the James Bond experience package, we had the opportunity to try out Half Moons exciting activity programme. This kicked off with a speed boat tour around the bay, looking out for Dr Nos henchmen across the ocean while having a go at driving across some pretty choppy (but incredibly fun) waves.

Next up we channelled Goldfinger with a round of golf across the road at the awarding-winning 18-hole course, accessed from the main site by an underground tunnel via our buggy how very Bond!

Opened in 1962, PGA tournaments have been held at this beautiful walking course that was once a sugarcane estate. Each hole has its own character, but watch out for the surrounding palm trees as they can particularly difficult to escape if you find yourself stuck in a group of them.

Luckily, Half Moons golf course is equipped with expert caddies some who have worked there for decades who know the course like the back of their hands, and are very helpful with the odd technique tip even if youre not quite a pro just yet.

Last, but not least, our active highlight on the Bond experience was scuba diving. Sean Connerys 007 found himself in a few sticky situations during Thunderball, but luckily the Water Sports team located at Half Moon were on hand for a simultaneously exhilarating and relaxing experience.

Sadly it was a bit warm to wear a tuxedo under our diving gear, but we were quickly trained up in the Olympic-sized swimming pool before heading out in another speed boat to plunge deep into the Caribbean sea. Following a rope down to the bottom, we landed softly on the ocean floor and found ourselves surrounded by a variety of large (but friendly) tropical fish.

It was literally like being inside an aquarium. But, being cautious that Blofelds henchmen could be hiding in nearby coral, our trainer Asquith lead us around the reef, pointing a wide-eyed, but shy, puffa fish hiding in a cave, not to mention a particularly flamboyant sting ray who seemed to be off in a bit of a hurry.

Before long it was time to resurface, but having never scuba dived in the past, we can safely say its an experience we definitely want to try again and again. Also, a whole host of other Water Sports were on offer, including sailing, while back on land the tennis courts and putting green were a welcome addition.

Licence to Fill (Food and Drink)

If youre an avid reader of Ian Flemings James Bond books youll know his spy is a very serious connoisseur when it comes to what he eats and drinks.

The author often shares very precise instructions from Bond to his servers of exactly how he likes his food and beverages down to a tee. No doubt then, 007 would sincerely appreciate whats on offer at Half Moon.

The Seagrape Terrace right on the beach hosted a very generous buffet breakfast each morning, offering favourites youll be used to but also with a distinct Jamaican twist. The coconut rice pudding and omelettes made to order just as you like them were a particular highlight, beautifully accompanied by an array of freshly-squeezed tropical juices and Blue Mountain coffee, which the ever-cheerful staff kept assuring us was the best in the world certainly a contender!

Come lunchtime and the Seagrape offered welcome Jamaican favourites like Jerk Chicken, or if we fancied, good ol steak and chips freshly cooked to order.

In the evenings we were really spoilt for choice. Stopping by the shore side Cedar Bar was an absolute must to kick things off with James Bond-inspired cocktails. Naturally, we ordered gin and vodka martinis (shaken, not stirred, of course) to sip as the sunset overhead.

A band of local musicians were a relaxing accompaniment as they serenaded us with some Bob Marley classics. As for evening fine dining, there were a number of tasty options. A more casual party atmosphere was the beach BBQ buffet which included a scrumptious and tender suckling pig to try. While the table-side entertainment of fire-eating and extreme limbo dancing was just like a scene out of Live and Let Die. Additionally, Il Giardino, the Italian restaurant was a real treat.

When we visited the chef offered us an improvised tasting menu, with the homemade pasta courses being particularly memorable. But the real stand out restaurant has to be the Sugar Mill. Located by the golf course, a five-minute shuttle bus delivered us across the road to this outstanding venue.

After a couple of cocktails at the bar, we received first-class service from a staff who really knew and loved the menu. The well-chosen wines accompanied the buttery Grilled Lobster Tail beautifully. While the pice de rsistance had to be Solomons Brochette. A succulent skewer of beef, pork, sausage, fish and shrimp flamed in front of you with aged Jamaican rum.

Licence to Chill (Relaxation)

Of course, even James Bond needs time off from saving the world. So once wed been off on all our active adventures and filled up on delicious food and drink, we were in need of some serious relaxation. A trip to the Fern Tree Spa for a Jamaican All Spice Sugar Scrub, massage and Reflexology was just what was needed.

A recuperating and peaceful environment, the spa was just what an agent needs before heading back out on his next mission. Meanwhile, the main pool, equipped with water fountains and a swim-up bar and nearby jacuzzis were particularly soothing.

Lying back on a sun longer, reading Flemings Live and Let Die was wonderfully accompanied by a Caribbean Zombie rum cocktail. But probably our favourite spot for sunbathing, reading and being steps away from a swim in the sea, right back on the iconic Half Moon beach. A perfect spot for relaxation with a drinks menu always on hand.

Final Word

All in all, Half Moon is an outstanding Jamaican resort with a lot of history. Offering a unique and classic stay compared to other hotels on offer, the resort really stands out from the crowd. No wonder, it is the choice place to stay for British Royalty. Were James Bond himself to holiday in Jamaica in-between battling SPECTRE, the high-class and quality of this location from the rooms, food and drink to activities and relaxation would be the top of his list.

Double rooms at Half Moon start from $331 (256) per room per night in low season, and from USD$325(251) per room per night in high season. Please note that there is a daily accommodation tax of $4 (3). Breakfast is included. For more information, please visit http://www.halfmoon.com.

Meanwhile, non-stop flights to Montego Bay, Jamaica from Gatwick Airport are available through Virgin Atlantic.

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James Bond Experience at Half Moon Jamaica review: A Licence to Thrill in Double-O Heaven - Express

Whether it feels like "the most wonderful time of the year" or not, the holidays are synonymous with extra stress.

The period from late November through January in the US includes the country's busiest travel day, as well as the most calorie-drenched meal Americans eat, and what's generally regarded as the drunkest night of the year.

Insider spoke with four psychologists and hormone experts, who explained how our brains and bodies respond to these seasonal changes and offered suggestions for holiday survival.

The experts all agree that whether your holidays are full of glad tidings or not, the season of near constant get-togethers can be an especially anxiety-producing period. This makes self-care even more important.

"Overall, there's an intensity to the experience that we don't typically have in our day-to-day lives, so often our feelings and interactions feel heightened," psychologist Paraskevi Noulas, an assistant professor of psychiatry at NYU Langone Health, wrote Insider in an email.

The different layers of stress we may experience "can cause significant anxiety, irritability, and tension," she said.

These schedule changes can disrupt our daily hormone patterns, sending levels of stress-related steroids in our bodies, like cortisol, diving and soaring in real-time.

Cortisol, our primary stress hormone, may go up and down a lot over holiday breaks, Robin Edelstein, an associate professor of psychology who studies hormones and relationships at the University of Michigan, told Insider.

"For some people, going home could be this very comforting experience, which could lower stress, decrease cortisol," she said.

But that is not always the case. For example, imagine you're about to miss your flight, and you're running for the gate.

"Cortisol would go up really quickly," Edelstein said.

This kind of acute stress can influence the hormones of significant others, too. During an argument, one person's cortisol spike could make their partner's skyrocket, which scientists have discovered is often a hallmark of relationship troubles. Conversely, the presence of a trusted partner could help another person feel less stressed when traveling. It all depends on the dynamics of the relationship, the situation, and the people involved.

The holidays can also shift sex hormone levels, which may prompt temporary changes in testosterone in both men and women.

"If you think of sort of the warm, happy, relaxing holiday weekend, that could probably lower testosterone," Edelstein said. "But to the extent that there is competition and conflict, it might increase it."

Oxytocin, another hormone that's involved in some of our closest relationships and bonding experiences, can also wax and wane over the holidays, which may be a good thing during this period of extra pressure. Oxytocin is considered a natural antidote for stress, and it's often called the "love hormone," as it's released during activities like hugging and sex.

"Physical contact, especially kind of caring, warm, physical contact, is related to changes in oxytocin levels," Jennifer Bartz, an associate professor of psychology who studies interpersonal relationships and social behaviors at McGill University, told Insider.

A surge of oxytocin can relax a nursing mother, and it may help us recognize our kin and lubricate social connections, too. (It's even been successfully trialed to boost social skills for some children with autism.)

But a rush of oxytocin, despite it's glowing reputation, doesn't universally provide people with a warm and fuzzy boost. In some individuals, extra oxytocin can trigger anxiety and discomfort, a tendency that researchers like Bartz hypothesize may be linked to more anxious and avoidant attachment patterns.

It's another reminder that how bodies react to the holidays is never a one-size-fits-all equation, and it's dependent on a variety of internal and external factors.

"It's not a pleasing answer, but these things are really complicated and no hormone or neurotransmitter acts in isolation," Bartz said. "Taking a step back and thinking about what might be most adaptive for humans, it probably makes sense for there to be checks and balances, different factors that would make you not behave similarly in all situations."

But any moment-to-moment changes in testosterone or cortisol levels experienced over a holiday trip won't likely have a lasting effect on the body, Edelstein said. This is unlike chronic stress, which can damage both mental and physical health, raising blood pressure and even contributing to obesity.

If the holidays make you feel like you're falling into old, negative behavior patterns with family members and friends, investigate why you're feeling how you feel and what you might do about it, psychologists told Insider.

"As they say, old habits die hard," said David Susman, a clinical psychologist and assistant professor of psychology at the University of Kentucky. "So you do have to be intentional and [plan out] how you're going to try to be different."

Strategies for breaking out of toxic patterns include clear communication, a change in scenery, or an offer to help others with household chores.

"You need to communicate," Susman said. "The first time you're bringing maybe a boyfriend or girlfriend home, it's like, 'Okay, what are the sleeping arrangements going to be? The first time you bring the baby home it's like, 'Okay, well, where are we going to put the little portable crib?' There are a lot of practical details that I think have to be talked about."

Advance planning can also help is if you know tensions are going to run high at a gathering based on how things have gone in the past.

"'Hey, I'd love if this year we could all pitch in to clean up after dinner,'" Noulas suggests as a prompt, "Or, 'Can we make this a no-politics discussion this year, given what happened last time?'"

The experts we spoke with about holiday stress each said it's even more important than usual at these times to make sure you're getting enough sleep and exercise, finding time to relax and unwind, and putting healthy food and drinks in your body.

If you're traveling or preparing to spend time with others, both Noulas and Susman suggest finding relaxing sounds to surround yourself with, like some favorite music or a podcast.

"The more you're managing your stress level and feeling calm, the easier it will be to speak to mom as your 35 year-old self, not the 5 year-old version of yourself," Noulas said.

Once you're at an event, getting out for a walk, journaling about your day each evening, taking a break from the action when you need it, and even calling a friend to vent if you're feeling upset are all "soothing activities," according to Noulas.

"If the humans are stressful, you find some animals," Edelstein said.

Read the original here:

What happens to your body and brain over the holidays - INSIDER

If youre a human strutting on this little planet we call Earth, theres a good chance that there are some things you arent happy about. But as Victor Frankl said, If there is meaning in life at all, then there must be meaning in suffering.. Meanwhile, if youre looking at ways to relieve stress and have a moment of peace from the hustle and bustle of daily life, heres a list of games and applications that will help you do just that.

Altos has to be on the top of the list when it comes to games that have a soothing effect on a tired soul, at least for me. Altos Odyssey marries eye-pleasing visuals with lulling music and presents an experience that can prove to be cathartic to some. The best part about the game is the Zen Mode that lets you indulge in the game without having to worry about besting your high score or completing some objective.

Altos Odyssey is available on Android and iOS for free with in-app purchases.

If you didnt know already, colouring has the ability to relax the fear center of your brain. That is one reason why you find yourself filling the counters of letters in the newspaper. But with smartphones being more accessible now, the Colorfy application can help you deliver a similar experience. Colorfy is a colouring book application that lets you colour mandalas, cartoons, patterns and all sorts of drawings.

Colorfy is available on Android and iOS for free with in-app purchases.

If trees and music doesnt sound like a good combination already, allow me to further explain what Prune is all about. Prune is popularly described to be meditative and its quite obvious why when you start playing. The game revolves around a bonsai tree that can be trimmed to whatever shape you desire. If youre not too sure about paying for the app, this review by a user on the Google Play Store might help you make a decision.

Absolutely phenomenal. If anyone is on the fence about buying- afraid it'll be boring - you don't need to. Gorgeous music, mechanics, and storyline. It will make you feel emotional despite no words being said and no characters as a medium. The progression of the trees and the allusions to humanity crushing them are just wow.

Prune is a paid app and available on Android (INR 100) and iOS (INR 299).

Have you ever indulged in fluid art? Well, if you havent you need to install Fluid Simulation to see how relaxing playing with colours can be. To clarify, this isnt a game. The application simply provides a plain canvas to let users play with fluid colours that makes for a gorgeous visual experience. Add some soul-touching music to the mix and youll be floating in a bubble of elation.

Fluid Simulation is available on Android and iOS for free with in-app purchases.

A lot of tranquillity and comfort can be garnered from the growing and nurturing a plant. While I really recommend that you actually do this, theres also an application that lets you pander to this activity while youre on the move. Viridi lets users nurture a small pot of succulents that grow in real time. These virtual plants require care and attention just like the real deal. Even when people will leave you, these succulents wont desert you.

Viridi is available on Android and iOS for free with in-app purchases.

Read more:

5 Calming Games And Apps For Android, iOS That Will Help You Relieve Stress: Altos Odyssey, Colorfy And More - Mashable India

THIS WEEK

Personal Emergency Preparedness Workshop: Nov. 28, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; North Delta Recreation Centre; This free personal preparedness workshop will teach you the risks, how to make an emergency plan, and what to do in an emergency or disaster. Register at deltareg.ca (barcode: 437192) or by calling 604-952-3000.

Open Mic Night: Nov. 29, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Kennedy Seniors Recreation Centre; Singers, musicians, actors, poets and dancers are welcome to take part in this monthly variety show, the last one before the summer break. Entertain and be entertained with emcee Patti McGregor. Admission is $5 for performers and audience, and theres free coffee and teas. Doors open at 7 p.m. and performance starts at 7:30 pm. For more info call 604-581-6270 or 604-752-3072.

Osteofit Free Try-it Session: Nov. 30, 9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.; Kennedy Seniors Recreation Centre; The Kennedy will be hosting a free Osteofit try-it session to promote a course that will be offered in January. Osteofit is a certified exercise, education and falls prevention program for individuals with osteoporosis, low bone density or who are at risk of fractures and falls. Osteofit aims to provide safe and gentle exercises for individuals with minimal previous exercise experience. Find out if this is the program for you at no cost. To register, please contact 604-594-2717.

Get Up and Go! Free Try it Session: Nov. 30, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; Kennedy Seniors Recreation Centre; The Kennedy will be hosting a free Get up & Go! session to promote registered programs for January. Get Up & Go! provides an entry level exercise program for seniors with balance and mobility impairment who would otherwise be unable to attend a community based exercise class. Come see if this is the right exercise program for you at no cost. To register or for more information, please call 604-594-2717.

Canskate Bring a Friend Day: Dec. 1, 9:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.; Sungod Recreation Centre; Join us for Bring a Friend Day of Canskate! All skaters aged 3-12 are welcome to join us. The rental shop will be open for complementary skates and helmets and our coaching team will be on-ice leading lessons and games. We hope to see your skater and their friends for this fun session.

North Delta Christmas Tree Lighting: Dec. 1, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.; North Delta Social Heart Plaza, 84th Avenue and 114th Street; On Sunday, Dec. 1, the City of Delta will be hosting its North Delta Christmas tree lighting at the North Delta Social Heart Plaza. The event will feature a variety of activities including a public skate at North Delta Recreation Centre (3-4:30 p.m.), face painting, crafts, live entertainment, hot chocolate, food and family activities beginning at 4:30 p.m. The event will culminate in the official tree lighting by Mayor George Harvie at 5:30 p.m.

Celebrate-a-Life Tribute Card Event: Dec. 2-31, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Centre for Supportive Care, 4631 Clarence Taylor Cres., Ladner; This event offers an opportunity to honour those who are important to you whether they have passed, or are in your minds and hearts during difficult times. Visit between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Canskate Bring a Friend Day: Dec. 3, 5:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.; Sungod Recreation Centre; Join us for Bring a Friend Day of Canskate! All skaters aged 3-12 are welcome to join us. The rental shop will be open for complementary skates and helmets and our coaching team will be on-ice leading lessons and games. We hope to see your skater and their friends for this fun session.

A Taste of Reach Charity Fundraiser: Dec. 3, 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Tasty Indian Bistro, 8295 Scott Rd., North Delta; Last years tremendously successful Taste of Reach event raised almost $90,000 for Reach Child and Youth Development Society. Dilawri Group returns as presenting sponsor of this celebratory evening at Tasty Indian Bistro in North Delta, featuring gourmet Indian cuisine paired with beer and wine tastings from The Drinks List, Charton & Hobbs and LaStella. A South Asian family who has received Reachs services will share their story to inform guests about help available for children with special needs. Grey Cup champion Marco Iannuzzi will emcee and Delta South MLA Ian Paton will assist with the live auction, with excellent lots including two tickets to the Vancouver Canucks vs. the Arizona Coyotes coupled with dinner and a stay at Century Plaza Hotel. Proceeds from this fundraising evening benefit the Reach Foundation and children with developmental disabilities. Tickets cost $125 and are available at tasteofreach2019.eventbrite.ca.

Vaping, Substance Use and the Importance of Connection: Dec. 3, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Seaquam Secondary School, 11584 Lyon Rd.; Parents and youth, please join us for an informative evening of learning presented by Fraser Health and the Delta Police Department about vaping, substance use and the importance of connection. This evening presentation is facilitated by the Delta School District, in partnership with Fraser Health and the Delta Police Department. Door prizes and refreshments will be available for participants.

Holiday Hazards Cat-Proof Your Home: Dec. 5, 6:30 p.m.; Delta Community Animal Shelter, 7505 Hopcott Rd.; This class is free. Class space is limited so register early. Minimum registration of five people per class. To register, call 604-940-7111. Hosted by DCAS.

A Morning with Santa North Delta: Dec. 7, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.; North Delta Recreation Center; Take photos with Santa Claus, enjoy a delicious breakfast, make crafts and go for a skate. Be sure to bring your camera, imagination, a warm jacket, skates and a CSA-approved multi-impact helmet. Tickets are available for $10.50 at North Delta Recreation Centre and Sungod Recreation Centre. Children under the age of 1 get in for free.

Acrylic Art with Dawn: Dec. 7, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.; Kennedy Seniors Recreation Centre; Come spend an afternoon with Dawn and let your creativity and inner artist shine. No experience is necessary in this fun and relaxing atmosphere. Dawn will take you through the steps to build your masterpiece from the blank canvas to a beautiful finished product you will be proud to display. Class costs $15 and all supplies are provided. All that is required is an open mind and a creative heart. To register, please contact 604-594-2717.

Family Dance Party: Dec. 8, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.; George Mackie Library; Put on your dancing shoes! Jump about and shake your sillies out at the librarys family dance party. This program is for children of all ages and their caregivers. Come learn songs, dance moves and take a picture with your family in front of our green screen.

Holiday Fun with Cubetto: Dec. 8, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.; George Mackie Library; Its never too early to begin learning logic and coding. Cubetto is a friendly wooden robot that teaches the basics of computer programming through stories and activities. Come and create a reindeer costume for Cubetto, and then learn to program Cubetto the Red-Nosed Reinbot to go on a winter wonderland adventure. For children ages 5 to 8. Families are encouraged to participate together. Registration is required at fvrl.ca.

Coffee With A Cop: Dec. 10, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; Kennedy Seniors Recreation Centre; The centre will be hosting this free information event. A constable from the Delta Police Department will be available in the lobby to answer your questions. Feel free to drop by and have a cup of coffee and discuss any issues you face or thank them for their service. Please contact the customer service desk at 604-594-2717 for more information.

Santa in the Library: Dec. 10, 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; George Mackie Library; Introduce children to the love of books and language with a festive Christmas Storytime. Children and caregivers will enjoy interactive stories, songs, rhymes and more. Storytime prepares children to learn to read. Dont forget to bring your camera as Storytime will be followed by a visit from Santa Claus.

Holiday Greetings: Dec. 15, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; George Mackie Library; Tis the season! Drop by the library to create a holiday card. Well provide the paper, markers, crayons and crafty supplies. Enjoy holiday music while you explore your creativity.

Creative Writing Club: Dec. 15, 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.; George Mackie Library; Calling all young writers! Sign up for Creative Writing Club at the library to explore your imagination and develop your creative writing skills. If you are between the ages of 8 and 12, join us for monthly creative writing activities, story games and writing challenges. Registration is required. Visit the events page at fvrl.ca to register.

Christmas Concert: Dec. 17, 7 p.m.; North Delta Arts Centre, 11425 84th Ave.; Come enjoy a free holiday concert featuring the Delta Concert Band and a local choir. Entry by donation to the food bank. This is an all ages event.

Sungod Skating Club Annual Christmas Recital and Party: Dec. 20, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Sungod Arena; Mark your calendar for an evening of family fun and holiday cheer. First, enjoy a wonderful one-hour holiday spectacular show from 6-7 p.m. featuring our Sungod skaters, then stay for refreshments a dessert potluck, a family and friends skate from 7-8:30 p.m., and a very special appearance all the way from the North Pole! Skate rentals are free.

Delta Scottsdale Lions Club Christmas Tree Chip: Jan. 4-5, 2020, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sungod Arena parking lot; This annual fundraiser raises money which is donated back into our community by way of scholarships, hampers, dry grads, community dinners, families in need, the food bank and others.

Ladner Hospital Auxiliary Christmas Store: Delta Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Shop, 4816 Delta St., Ladner; The Ladner Hospital Auxiliary Christmas store is now open and will continue until Christmas time. Open Mondays 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesdays to Saturdays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 604-946-1455 for more information.

Port Guichon Winter Market: Nov. 30, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Port Guichon Elementary School, 4381 46A St., Ladner; Come out and support many local businesses at the Winter Market. Its a great opportunity to purchase your Christmas gifts, homemade cards, local honey, epicure, books, Norwex, Sweet Legs, crochet items & much more, plus a baked goods sale, concession, 50/50 raffle draw and crafts for kids.

Gray Elementary Christmas Market: Nov. 30, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Gray Elementary School, 10855 80th Ave., North Delta; Featuring 40 tables, a school bake sale and door prizes, come and get your Christmas shopping done at a popular market featuring local artists and vendors. Email grayelementarypac@gmail.com for more info.

Trinity Lutheran Church Christmas Bake Sale: Dec. 7, 12 p.m.; Trinity Lutheran Church, 11040 River Rd., North Delta; Trinity Lutheran Church is having our annual big Christmas sale on Saturday, Dec. 7. We will have lots of wonderful baking (including Norwegian Rosettes and Krumkake), gift baskets and a soup lunch. For more information, please call the church office at 604-584-0111.

Country Christmas Market: Dec. 8, 10 a.m to 4 p.m.; 17276 18 Ave., Surrey; Christmas music in the air, hot cocoa or apple cider around the crackling fire. Enjoy wandering through our new farms country town for those special holiday ornaments, wreaths, reindeer, jewelry and more; many handmade treasures to be found. Meet and greet the baby goats and rescue animals, and dont forget to make a wish on the Christmas wishing tree.

Paint n Palette Paint Party: Dec. 8, 2:30 p.m.; Royal Canadian Legion Branch 289, 1835 56th St., Tsawwassen; Come and join us for a fun-filled afternoon and take home this beautiful Christmas painting. Cost is $40 cash, cheque, or e-transfer; all supplies included, no experience necessary. To register, email catheytylertrp@gmail.com ahead of time to ensure there is a place waiting for you.

Maker Monday: Mondays through Dec. 2, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.; George Mackie Library; Start the week creatively. If youre between the ages of 8 and 12, drop in for Maker Monday and engineer something with KEVA Planks. Something new will be designed and made each week; you could be constructing cardboard structures or creating Robot Art on Sept. 30. Some of the other amazing things well be doing are designing electronic inventions with Makey Makey and building with Magformers.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly: Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.; Deltassist, 9097 120th St.; A non-profit organization. We have a friendly group to help you lose weight. For more info call Eileen Labron at 604-596-0233.

Kennedy Seniors Choir: Tuesdays, 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.; Kennedy Seniors Recreation Centre; Janette Sobkowicz, choirmaster with a bachelors of music degree and 20 years of experience teaching music and conducting choirs, starts the newest program at Kennedy Seniors Recreation Centre. Join Janette and seniors from the centre in singing and socializing. For more information please call 604-594-2717 or visit the centres customer service desk. Please note: this drop-in activity requires a punch pass.

Storytime: Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays through Dec. 6, 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. (Tuesdays and Fridays) and 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. (Sundays); George Mackie Library; Introduce kids to the love of books and language with Storytime. Children and caregivers will enjoy interactive stories, songs, rhymes and more. Storytime prepares children to learn to read. Suitable for ages 2 to 6 years.

Relaxation Circle: Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.; Centre for Supportive Care, 4631 Clarence Taylor Cres., Ladner; Are you an adult living with cancer or serious illness and would like to relax body and mind? Then join the Centre for Supportive Cares free Relaxation Circle where you will learn and practice relaxation techniques and experience soothing touch by volunteers, guided imagery and live music by our music therapist. Open to family members and friends too. No need to register, just show up! For more info, call 604-948-0660.

Suicide Grief Support Group: Tuesdays through to Dec. 3, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.; Centre for Supportive Care, 4631 Clarence Taylor Cres., Ladner; Recent loss due to suicide and want the support of others in similar circumstances? Join a free adult suicide grief support group where you can share your feelings and thoughts in a safe and supportive environment, learn about coping strategies and resources, and develop community with others. For more info and to pre-register, call 604-948-0660.

Settlement Workers Punjabi/English: Alternate Tuesdays, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; George Mackie Library; Are you a newcomer to Canada who needs help adjusting to your new life? Free and confidential services are offered to help newcomers with all their needs during the process of settling into their new community. Settlement and integration services are free for immigrants, refugees and their families in B.C.

Lego Club: Tuesdays, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; George Mackie Library; Love Lego? We provide the Lego, you bring your imagination. Come play, create, and experiment. Lego Club is a fun afternoon program for kids. Children under 5 must be accompanied by an adult.

Recovery International Weekly Meetings: Tuesdays, 7 p.m.; North Delta Evangelical Free Church, 11300 84th Ave.; Recovery International is a weekly community-based self-help mental health group that offers tools and techniques that participants can use to deal with depression, anxiety, impulse control, anger management and a variety of other nervous and mental health issues. Meetings are led by trained group leaders.

Bridge at East Delta Hall: Wednesdays, 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursdays, 9:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; East Delta Hall, 10379 Ladner Trunk Rd.; The Duplicate Lite Bridge Clubs is conducting their games in Delta. Cost is $8 per session, including refreshments. First time players are invited to come give bridge a try. Register by emailing ljsimpson@telus.net or calling Lynda Simpson at 604-788-4721. For more info about the bridge clubs, visit duplicatelite.ca.

Settlement Workers Arabic/Mandarin/English: Alternate Wednesdays, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; George Mackie Library; Are you a newcomer to Canada who needs help adjusting to your new life? Free and confidential services are offered to help newcomers with all their needs during the process of settling into their new community. Settlement and integration services are free for immigrants, refugees and their families in B.C.

Supporting Family Resilience Group: Wednesdays, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Delta office Canadian Mental Health Association Vancouver-Fraser, 4871 Delta St.; The Canadian Mental Health Association Vancouver-Fraser offers a no-cost support group for parents and caregivers of youth and young adults who are working through mental health and/or substance use concerns. Facilitated by both peers and counsellors, the group meets weekly at our Delta office. Please register prior to your first meeting by phone: 604-943-1878, or email: info.delta@cmha.bc.ca.

Babytime: Thursdays until Dec. 5, 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.; George Mackie Library; Make language fun, and start early with Babytime. Help your baby develop speech and language skills. Enjoy bouncing, singing, rhyming and stories. Babytime is a fun, social bonding activity for babies and caregivers. Suitable for babies 23 months and younger.

Parent Time: Thursdays through Dec. 5, 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; George Mackie Library; Relax and mingle after the fun social bonding activity of Babytime. Parent Time provides parents and caregivers an opportunity to meet other parents, learn new parenting skills, share information and resources. Suitable for parents of babies 23 months and younger. Schedule: Nov. 28 speech and language with Fraser Health; Dec. 5 breastfeeding clinic.

Mental Health Resiliency Support Group: Second and fourth Thursday of each month, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; South Delta; Canadian Mental Health Association Vancouver-Fraser offers a mental health resiliency support group in South Delta for individuals living with a mental health concern or experiencing symptoms. Please call the Delta office at 604-943-1878 or email info.delta@cmha.bc.ca to register for your first meeting.

Knit & Stitch: Fridays, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.; George Mackie Library; Pack up your needles and yarn, crocheting or any other projects and head to the library. Join members of all ages and abilities to share ideas, techniques and good conversation.

Teen Advisory Group: First Thursday of each month, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; George Mackie Library; TAG is a group of committed teens (ages 13-19) who volunteer their time and energy to help staff develop teen-oriented programs, assist at library events and act as library representatives in North Deltas teen community. Membership is a resume booster and helps earn volunteer hours. There is time to socialize and plan. Did we mention that there is free food? If interested, apply at the library.

Evening Book Club: Second Tuesday of the month, 7:15 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; George Mackie Library; Join us to discuss books in a casual setting. New members are welcome. Books are provided.

Poetry Night in Punjabi: Third Tuesday of the month, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.; George Mackie Library; Come hear two published poets/authors read and discuss their work and answer questions from the audience. Held in collaboration with Kendri Punjabi Lekhak Sabha, Uttari Amrika and Punjabi Lekhak Manch Vancouver.

Cubetto Storytime: Third Saturday of the month, 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.; George Mackie Library; The little ones can get into the action with Cubetto Storytim. Cubetto is a friendly wooden robot that offers a fun first step into the world of programming while encouraging imagination. Kids aged 3-5 can use Cubetto to learn the basics of coding, logic and pattern recognition. There are no screens to stare at and no reading to do. Join Cubetto for a fun, hands-on storytime every third Saturday of the month until November.

Teen Night Pizza & Games: Fourth Tuesday of the month, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; George Mackie Library; Do you love to play board games? Are you between 12 and 19 years old? Then come to the library for a fun night of gaming and free pizza provided by Imperial Hobbies.

Afternoon Book Club: Fourth Thursday of the month, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.; George Mackie Library; Join us to discuss books in a casual setting. New members welcome and books provided.

Crossroads United Church Monthly Community Dinner: Fourth Saturday of every month, doors open at 4:30 p.m., dinner starts at 5 p.m.; Crossroads United Church, 7655 120th St.; Crossroads United Church invites you to their monthly community dinner. Come and enjoy this free nutritious meal served in a casual, safe environment. It is a sit-down served meal and is open to anyone who would benefit from good food in a safe, family-friendly setting. For more info go to crossroads-united-church.ca.

Baby Bump Book Club: Last Monday of the month, 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; George Mackie Library; Are you a mom-to-be? Have you heard about the new Baby Bump Book Club at the Mackie Library? Check it out on the last Monday of the month. This group is very organic; it can be whatever you need it to be.

Preschool Science Storytime: Last Friday of the month through to Nov. 29, 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.; George Mackie Library; Join us the last Friday of every month for a special Preschool Science Storytime. A different subject will be featured every month and will include a story (fiction or non-fiction), a group re-telling of the science aspects of the story and a hands-on activity. Lets build preschoolers to become not only good readers but inquisitive citizens too.

Prostate Cancer Support Group Surrey: Last Saturday of every month, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (except July and Dec.); Valley View Memorial Gardens, 14644 72 Ave., Surrey; PCSG Surrey provides awareness, support and education for the prevention, treatment and cure for men diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer in Delta, Surrey, Langley and White Rock. Spouses and guests are welcome. For additional info visit procansupport.com or call 604 574-4012.

Book A Librarian in Punjabi and Hindi: Available by appointment; George Mackie Library; Learn how to download books from the library, find what you need on the library website, research and learn using the librarys computer-based services, what books you might like based on your interests, basic internet and basic computer. Book your personalized 30-minute session by phone (604-594-8155) or in person.

Delta Music Makers Concert Band: Did you have fun playing in a band in high school? If so, dust off your instrument, contact Curt Jantzen (cjband7@gmail.com), then join us in Ladner Tuesday evenings. The Delta Music Makers Concert Band is a fun group of adults who love to rehearse and play concerts in the community. Especially needed now are trumpets and clarinets, or any instrument except alto sax (that section is full).

Delta Scottsdale Lions Club: Second and fourth Tuesday of each month; The Lions Club, a service club that welcomes both ladies and men, is looking for new members. If you would like to be involved in helping in your community, join us on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at the Delta Golf Course (11550 Ladner Trunk Rd.) from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Meetings are not mandatory; if you are interested in giving back to your community it is not a huge commitment. For more info call Sue or Al Joys at 604-594-8783.

Canadian Federation of University Women, North Delta/Surrey: CFUW is a national non-partisan, voluntary, self-funded organization working to improve the status of women and to promote human rights, public education, social justice and peace. Every year, CFUW and its clubs award close to $1 million to women to help them pursue post-secondary studies and also provide funding for library and creative arts awards. CFUW clubs provide learning and fellowship through lecture series, book clubs and issues groups, work to prevent violence against women and child poverty, and promote early learning and child care. North Delta/Surrey club meets monthly and is open to all women graduates, students and associates. Call Barb (604-594-6145) or Eleanor (604-589-3631), or email northdeltasurreycfuw@gmail.com for info.

North Delta Newcomers and Friends: NDNF is a ladies social club. Please call and arrange to attend some of our morning walks, coffee times, stitch-and-chats, card games, par-3 golf, potlucks and monthly dinners. For more info please call Kathy (604-583-3691) or Diane (604-543-7345).

Gamblers Anonymous: Has gambling taken over your life or the life of someone you know? Call 1-855-222-5542 to take back your life. Gamblers Anonymous is a non-profit fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem. Call 1-855-222-5542, email friend@gabc.ca or visit gabc.ca for more info.

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Original post:

What's happening: week of Nov. 28 - Cloverdale Reporter

Its the end of the semester, final papers and projects are piling up and youre ready to pull your hair out. Mental health is just as important as physical health, stress is never good and sometimes the best thing to do is just relax.

Finding a way to relax is easier said than done, but music can easily help students destress before finals and is one of the most accessible stress-relieving tools. Thanks to the advent of streaming, music for stress relief is affordable, you can listen to it while you study and it wont force you to break a sweat like a run would.

Whether you decide to study, relax or even sleep to these, you should throw on these albums recommended by The Spectrums arts desk and let all your stress and anxiety wash away with the music.

John Martyn - Bless the Weather (1971)

British folk singer John Martyns tranquil voice sounds and feels like a gentle breeze on a cool summers night. Bless the Weather is the audio equivalent to a trip to the spa, as soothing melody after soothing melody melts away your worries.

The music here is simply gorgeous and infinitely comforting - as if the songs were written specifically for you by a close friend. Without raising its voice above a whisper, Bless the Weather seamlessly blends folk, jazz, blues and psychedelia to satisfy a wide variety of listeners. This album is an absolute must-listen for those seeking relaxation.

Jesu - Conqueror (2007)

Courtesy of Hydra Head Records

Conquer your stress with this fantastically unique record that melds lush soundscapes with massive waves of guitars. Songs like Transfigure, Stanlow and Medicine completely envelop the listener in comforting blankets of synths, guitars and ethereal vocals, while tracks like Weightless Horizontal and Brighteyes induce a serene, trance-like state.

Conqueror, at times, boasts riffs that rival the density of the heaviest bands around, but the album never betrays its beauty and calming atmosphere. Turn the volume up as loud as you can tolerate and give in to Jesus Conqueror to allow its otherworldly magic to take effect.

Suffocation - Effigy of the Forgotten (1991)

Courtesy of RC Records

Serene and gentle music will certainly help alleviate your concerns, but sometimes you need to put on some seriously p----d-off jams and let it all out. Suffocations seminal death metal release Effigy of the Forgotten is the perfect rage-infused album for this.

This record is 37 minutes of blissful brutality. It is even cited as the first album to feature slam riffs, and oh boy does it slam. By the end of the opening track Liege of Inveracity, youll be ready to run straight through a wall.

After the closer Jesus Wept, that 10-page English paper youve been stressing over will seem like an anthill compared to this mountain of riffage. Do yourself a favor and let Suffocation suffocate all of your stress and anxiety.

Aldous Harding - Designer (2019)

Courtesy of 4ad Records

The second album by New Zealand folk artist Aldous Harding is one of the most meditative and relaxing albums of the decade. At times, it recalls the rootsy pop rock of The Beatles (aka The White Album), the third Velvet Underground album and even occasionally Bon Ivers work.

The instrumental palette is always tasteful, with acoustic and electric guitars, reserved drums, peppy basslines, strings and Hardings soft vocals. Opener Fixture Picture is the clear highlight, but on tracks like Zoo Eyes, Harding shows off her impressive vocal range and ability to create some of the best music for just chilling out to.

Plus, this album has some of the most peculiar but greatest music videos of all time attached to it.

Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works 85-92 (1992)

Courtesy of Apollo Records

Have you ever needed to get in the zone and just get a paper or study session over with? Have you ever needed a soundtrack to go along with it? Look no further than electronic artist Aphex Twins magnum opus.

Selected Ambient Works 85-92 is 74 minutes of hypnotic, cold and clinical music unlike anything that came before it. Contrary to the title, almost none of it is ambient music and is closer to early EDM if anything.

It sounds like it was recorded in a cave converted into a lab where microbiologists perform some of the most complex experiments thinkable. Its also relatively danceable, believe it or not.

Go up to the fourth or fifth floor of Lockwood, get a desk, put this on your earbuds and watch your productivity skyrocket. Its gotten me through more marathon paper sessions than I can count.

If this album doesn't satisfy your desire for productivity, try his slower and more disturbing 1994 album Selected Ambient Works Volume II. Its almost three hours of creepy ambient music but just as good for getting work done.

The arts desk can be reached at arts@ubspectrum.com.

See original here:

Five albums to reduce your stress - University at Buffalo The Spectrum

Massages are great gifts for those people who have everything.

Last-minute gift shopping is like a one-way ticket to feeling overwhelmed and frustrated -- especially when you find yourself wading through overcrowded shopping centers. But there's a healthy gift idea that virtually everyone will love that requires no time or wrapping paper -- a massage gift card. Can you honestly think of one person who wouldn't want one of those (especially during the busy holiday season?).

Massage services like Zeel and Soothe offer on-demand, in-home massages that make it easier and more convenient than ever to get a massage and feel relaxed fast. Long gone are the days of having to book a massage weeks in advance, and waste precious time commuting to and waiting in a spa. Now, you can get one in the comfort of your own home, with as little as 1 hour's notice.

Both Soothe and Zeel offer on-demand, in-home massages practically any time of the day and most days of the year (including holidays). And both services offer special membership pricing if you lock into a monthly or yearly subscription, letting you save a significant amount of money than if you were to book one-off massages. Keep reading for more details and how to decide which option is best for you or someone special in your life.

Slightly cheaper than Zeel, more international location options

Soothe on-demand, in-home massage offers therapists that can come to you 7 days a week, and any day (including holidays). Soothe offers pretty flexible time slots, with the ability to book massages starting at 8 a.m. until midnight. And you only need about 1 hour's notice to book a masseuse. Soothe offers six different types of massages, including sports massage, prenatal and couples massage options. Once you book through the app, you can expect a masseuse to arrive with everything you need for a spa-like in-home massage experience. They bring the table, sheets, lotion/oil and even provide relaxing music to make the experience complete.

Although you can book a one-time massage through Soothe (and you can purchase a gift card for one), a membership can save you a significant amount of money in the long term.

This is the standard pricing that Soothe offers, but the rates are subject to change based on location/region.

60-minute massage

90-minute massage

120-minute massage

Soothe Plus Monthly and Yearly memberships offer you a significant discount and allow your massage credits to roll over if you don't use them each month -- and they don't expire (which is a huge plus). If you're thinking about joining, you should know that you can cancel the monthly membership at any time, but you won't be allowed to resubscribe for 6 months. If you cancel the yearly membership, you won't be refunded and you can't subscribe again for another 6 months. However, the yearly credits will remain on your account and you can still use the remaining credits.

Soothe is available in 66 cities across the US, Canada, UK and Australia. If you travel a lot, this is a huge plus since you'll have access to massage therapists almost anywhere.

Better for people who travel often in the US

Zeelis pretty similar to Soothe in terms of services, availability and price, except for a few differences. You can still expect the same on-demand, in-home service, and you can book a massage up until midnight in most places. Similar to Soothe, Zeel offers membership options that allow you to save a significant amount on massages if you commit to a monthly or yearly plan. The biggest difference between Zeel and Soothe, is that you can't book a one-time massage with Zeel and you have to commit to at least 2 months or two massages.

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Like Soothe, Zeel's pricing is based on location/region. The prices below are the rates for booking in the Chelsea area of Manhattan, in New York City. (Zeel does include tax and tip in the prices.)

60-minute massage

Like Soothe, Zeel does offer options for longer massages, but the monthly credit only covers 60 minutes, so you will have to pay more for a longer service (Zeel doesn't advertise the cost for longer services). The credits you accrue each month for a massage do roll over if you don't use them, and they don't expire. Zeel has more locations (70+) than Soothe, but all of them are in the US. So if your travels don't take you outside the country much, Zeel may be a better fit.

Deciding which massage service is right for you or a loved one is all about personal preferences and lifestyle. If you're willing to commit to a yearly membership and love the idea of having a professional massage table at your house, then Zeel may be right for you. But if you travel often, especially overseas and still want to take advantage of your monthly massage membership, than Soothe may be your best bet. Both services give you tons of options in terms of location, type of massage, and offer similar price points, with Soothe costing slightly less.

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Soothe vs. Zeel: Which on-demand massage service is best? - CNET

Share on PinterestThe stress of your daily commute can take a toll on your health over time, but listening to music can help reduce this effect. Getty Images

When youre stuck in heavy traffic, its very common to feel stressed. Many things can go wrong while youre on the road, causing your heart to race and your blood pressure to soar.

Research indicates that the stress of your daily commute may take its toll over time. Driving stress has been implicated as a risk factor of both heart disease and heart attack.

You dont have to succumb to this stress, however. Researchers say your best weapon against it may, in fact, be your car stereo.

In an October 2019 study published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine, researchers looked at how music affected heart stress.

They chose five healthy women for the study. They were 18 to 23 years old.

Study author Vitor Engrcia Valenti notes only women were chosen for this study because previous studies provided evidence that women are more sensitive to auditory stimulation.

Valenti says he and his team chose people for the study who they considered to be non-habitual drivers.

They did this because they felt that more experienced drivers would have an easier time coping with stress.

The researchers then had the five women drive the same route under the same circumstances on two different days. The only difference? The second day they were listening to instrumental music on the car stereo.

To judge how stress was affecting the women, the researchers used heart rate monitors attached to their chest.

They used the monitors to look at heart rate variability.

Heart rate variability refers to changes in the amount of time between heartbeats that occur as you go about your daily life.

Heart rate variability increases during relaxation and decreases during stress.

When the researchers looked at the data from the heart rate monitors, they found that heart rate variability was greater when the women drove with music, meaning they were more relaxed.

According to Valenti, During a stressful situation, the sympathetic nervous system releases catecholamines (adrenaline and noradrenaline) in the blood, increasing cardiac demand, heart rate, and blood pressure.

When this occurs, he said, Persons with cardiovascular risks (obese, diabetics, high LDL cholesterol levels) are more vulnerable to sudden death caused by stress.

Dr. Satjit Bhusri, assistant professor of cardiology at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, further noted, We are starting to understand more and more the concept of stress-induced heart disease, otherwise known as broken heart syndrome.

Broken heart syndrome, or takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is a condition that can be triggered by stress or extreme emotion. It can sometimes also be brought on by illness or surgery.

During an episode of broken heart syndrome, part of the heart is temporarily unable to pump normally. The rest of the heart either continues on as usual or pumps more forcefully.

People with broken heart syndrome may experience symptoms similar to a heart attack, such as chest pain.

However, its a treatable condition. Usually the heart returns to normal within a few days or weeks.

Can chronic stress cause additional problems with the heart?

Dr. Ragavendra Baliga, a cardiologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, thinks its possible.

It is well recognized that extreme stress for example loss of a child can result in enlargement of the heart (takotsubo cardiomyopathy). It would not surprise me if lesser amounts of stress have an impact on the heart, but generally it is a resilient organ, he said.

Considering that stress during driving is one of the more intense risks for cardiac sudden complications, this scientific evidence provides results to motivate people to listen to music during driving, Valenti said.

As far as the type of music you should be listening to, Baliga points to a 2017 study that suggests that low arousal classical music was the most likely to put someone in a more relaxed state.

Valenti and his team used instrumental music for their study, noting that language content in the music has a different impact, depending upon the individual.

Moreover, a previous study published by our group reported that the same instrumental music improved the effects of antihypertensive medication, he said.

So, when stress hits, your best bet for relaxing yourself is probably to play something slow and soothing without any voice content, such as classical or instrumental music.

In addition to playing relaxing music, there are other things you can do to reduce your stress even more.

Geico offers the following suggestions for reducing your stress while driving:

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Listening to Music While Driving May Put the Brakes on Driving Stress - Healthline

Photo: Diane Anderson|For Hearst Illinois

Amy Camie is not one to rest on her laurels. Shes always growing, always pursuing the next level, with most of it revolving around her talent as a harpist and her love of music, most particularly about the healing powers it can invoke.

And shes bringing the relaxing sound of her harp to the area for a holiday concert at the Jacoby Arts Center, and two conscious self-care programs in St. Louis to give everyone a chance to experience it.

Originally from Godfrey, Camie now lives in Creve Coeur, Missouri. In August, she graduated as what she said is the only certified clinical musician in Missouri. Many of the concepts taught to become a therapeutic musician are the same as what Camie has been sharing for years in presentations such as Vibrational Awareness & The Healing Power of Music.

I realized Ive always been a therapeutic musician without the credentials, she said. In August, I completed the Harp for Healing certification program, accredited through the National Standards Board of Therapeutic Musicians. I now have a name for the type of music I play naturally - inspired therapeutic solo harp music.

This awareness led to a newly released compilation CD, Loves Gentle Embrace that includes specifically chosen tracks from her previous CDs, along with a new extended single, recorded during her certification process, reflecting a specific style of therapeutic playing that transports the listener into a state of deep relaxation, comfort and peace.

Camies music has provided comfort to people for more than three decades, after accidentally discovering its healing powers when she played it for a sick friend, who said it made her relax and feel better.

It all really started with a homemade cassette tape I did for my friend, Pat Clark, in 1987, Camie said. It is truly a dream come true that it has touched so many people since then.

Camie began playing the harp when she was in the fourth grade, encouraged by her musical parents, Jean and Ken Conrady, both former music teachers in the Alton School District.

Her solo harp CDs, specifically The Magic Mirror, have been used in several research studies indicating how her music increases neurological functioning, supports the immune system and reduces pain, distress and anxiety levels, and is beneficial for general relaxation and stress reduction.

Ive always felt like a steward of the music; gently listening and following a higher conductor as the energy of the music expands around the globe, Camie said.

Earlier this year, she and a group of doctors compiled the qEEG brainwave and immune system biomarkers research they originally performed several years ago with The Magic Mirror into a paper entitled Effect of Specific Music on Psychoneuroimmunological Responses that was published in The International Journal of Oncology Research, an open access, peer-reviewed online medical journal. Additional authors of the piece are Drs. Abdul Waheed, David Kossor and William Collins.

My passion for exploring the healing benefits of music continued this year by collaborating with a team of researchers at a prestigious cancer center, Camie said. We designed a new feasibility study with The Magic Mirror CD, and are in the final stages of approval. This study can help further increase the awareness between music therapy and therapeutic music, a distinction not currently well-known within the healthcare field.

One of the differences between music therapy and therapeutic music, Camie said, is that music therapy involves prescriptive or outcome-based work, with specific and personalized goals that address the needs of each patient.

Therapeutic music, on the other hand, involves playing music for patients, often at the bedside, without any specific goals or outcomes, she explained. Therapeutic musicians are trained to address the needs of the whole person and play music to promote the natural healing process.

Benefits of therapeutic music include pain management, increased relaxation, anxiety relief, lowering of blood pressure and assisting the dying by easing their transition. Patients can benefit greatly from both music therapy and therapeutic music, she added.

Camies dream is to gift the recorded music to patients and families to reach more of those who could benefit from it.

Music can soothe, motivate, console and inspire, all through the concepts of resonance, sympathetic vibration and entrainment. Taken a step further, since everything in the universe is vibrating energy, I love demonstrating how music, sound and vibrations impact our thoughts, emotions, relationships with others, and our overall health, she said.

To help alleviate stress and burnout, especially for those who care for others at home or within their occupation Camie introduces the same concepts of resonance in conscious self-care programs that empower others with the awareness of why its important to put themselves back in their lives.

In the past, I thought I didnt have time to take care of myself, mostly because I was always taking care of others, she said. It took a cancer diagnosis for me to finally slow down and start loving myself again. I had no idea how disconnected I was from my feelings, fears, dreams and desires.

During my cancer journey, I remembered how to listen to my body, how to honor my needs and how to choose what was most supportive for me. Now, Im able to share my love more fully with others, because I continue to make conscious self-care choices for myself, she said. Our relationship with ourselves affects how we interact with others. Those interactions affect productivity, the work environment, job satisfaction, patient outcomes - and more.

Upcoming free conscious self-care programs combine therapeutic healing harp music, personal experiences and a clear understanding of vibrational resonance, expanding the perceptions of conscious self-care.

The two programs will be presented from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 24, and from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 4, at the Mercy Chapel, Mercy Conference and Retreat Center, 2039 N. Geyer Rd, St. Louis, MO 63131

The holiday solo harp concert, Embracing the Spirit of Christmas, will be presented at 2 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 22, at the Jacoby Arts Center.

To register for an event or for more information and resources, visit amycamie.com.

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Soothing the soul - mySanAntonio.com