Instant coffee brand Nescafe has partnered with Japanese bed manufacturer France Bed Co to stage a pop-up caf with beds, to mark World Sleep Day.

Nescafe's Harajuku outlet has been transformed into a 'nap caf', with the venue offering coffees alongside 10 comfy, reclining beds. Guests can take a nap for up to two hours, with relaxing music played through headphones and special lighting in the background.

Before customers go to sleep, they are treated to a free cup of Nescafe decaffeinated cofee and upon waking, are given a cup of regular coffee.

The caf will be open until 26 March, with World Sleep Day falling on the Friday before the March equinox.

More: Last year,US mattress start-up Casper opened a sleep-themed pop-up in London's Covent Garden, aimed at helping individuals to re-energise and recharge. Mattress brand Eve also hosted 'power nap pods' at its Nap Station at The Truman Brewery last July.

Comment below to let us know what you think.

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Global: Nescafe creates Tokyo 'nap caf' - Event magazine - Event Magazine

By Reagan DeVlieger, 5th Grader at OCIS

My father recently asked me why I like Ocean City so much. It inspired me to write the following:

When I think about my home town, the first thing that comes to mind is the beach. I thinkof the beach because, for one thing, this place does have ocean in its name. Another reason I instantly think of the beach is becauseI have been there a lot and I know that there is a countless amount of people at our beach each year. Last year, Ocean Citywon Best Beach in America because of how wonderful it is.

Another thing that comes to my mind when I think about Ocean City is the boardwalk. The boardwalk is one of the main attractions in Ocean City. One thing that makesthe boardwalk so great is thatit is kind of like a mallthat goes on for miles. Since the boardwalk is so close to the beach, you can relax in the nice summer sun after a long day of shopping and rides.

The Music Pier is just amazing, in my opinion. At the Music Pier, there are so many pageants, talent shows and performances each year that I canteven count them all! Almost everyone in Ocean City knows how great the Music Pier is. Thousands of people come tosee all of the performances. There is singing, dancing, acting and more, and everyone seems to want to be there and see it all.

One of my favorite places on the avenue is Glazed Over. I think that it is very fun to just walk in and start painting. One reason that I think itis so amazing is that you can be as creative as you want with whatever item you are painting. I love that ithas some differentitems to paint depending on what season or holiday is coming up.

Yoasis is one of the most relaxing places that I can think of on the avenue. At Yoasis, you can grab a bowl of your favorite frozen yogurt, sit in a chair and relax. There is almost always calming music playing to help take away any stress you may have. I think that Yoasis is truly a yogurt oasis.

Something that I enjoy a lot here in OC is the skateboard park. I am not a great skateboarder, but I really enjoywatching other people skateboard. Almost everyone I know loves the skateboard park. Whenever the skateboard park is open, I see a lot of people there, and everyone looks like they are having a lot of fun.

While I never lived anywhere but Ocean City, I cannot imagine a better place to grow up. Someday, I would like to visit cities all over the world (especially Paris).Butfornow, I will continue happilyliving in Americas Greatest Family Resort.

Original post:

Reagan's View On Ocean City - OCNJ Daily

There has always been one name in the indie rock scene that carries a lot of respect. Of course, we are talking about The Shins.

James Mercer has been in a state of constant evolution since the release of the bands 2012 album Port of Morrow.This isevident in their latest release and fifth studio album Heartworms. This time around we see an almost completely new lineup in the band and, for the most part, it adds a unique freshness.

The Shins can be traced back all the way to 1996 when they started out in New Mexico. Mercer formed the band after performing with another band. The Shins released their first album Oh, Inverted World in 2001. From there the band came out with two more albums before taking a five-year hiatus beginning in 2007. By the time the band got back together, Mercer was the only founding member left and the band was signed to Columbia Records, losing the charm they once had as the little indie band that could. It has been five years since we have heard anything from them and now we finally have Heartworms.

Heartworms is a 42 minute long, 11-track record. This record is different in a way you would not expect it to be from past works by The Shins. While it does look back and reflect on the bands now twenty-year career, this is not the primary focus. Instead the band uses the record to focus on the future and where they are going. We are starting to see some really creative pieces from Mercer as a songwriter and there are plenty of chill tracks to listen to. There are a lot of fun and fast paced tracks to enjoy as well. This record has just about everything you would expect from a modern day Shins album.

This is a soft rock album through and through with a focus on synthetic elements. That is apparent right out the gate with the lead track Name for You. The album starts off crisp and clean with plentyof well mixed tracks. Then it startsto slowly evolve into a more psychedelic vibe. Tracks like Fantasy Island focus more on the melodies. You get some tracks that nail progression and rhythm like in Dead Alive or Rubber Ballz. While the sound is reminiscent of older Shins works, it pays homagerather than showcasing a direct callback. This is probably one of the best features of the entire record.

This album shows that Mercer is most comfortable writing lyrics. Tracks like Mildenhall tell us a complete story. There are a lot of tracks were Mercer turns the pen towards himself in a more meaningful way than previously seen. When you listen to something like So Now What, you can not help but feel some sympathy for the man. While it serves as a nice slow jam, it is immediately followed by the closing track on this record The Fear. It does not take a lot to guess what this track is about, but it does have a more subtle and relaxing quality about it that keeps you coming back time and time again to listen to it. Overall, it is evident that songwriting comes easy to Mercer.

Should you listen to it?: Maybe.

While Heartworms is a pretty good album by The Shins, it is just that: pretty good. Obviously if you have been a fan of the band for a while, you are going to pick up this record and enjoy it with no problem. But it is not exactly the album I would suggest if you are trying to get into The Shins for the first time. While the band may be trying to focus on the future with what is to come, the past holds back this album from taking off.

Here is the original post:

Alec Reviews Music: The Shins look to the future with 'Heartworms' - Rocky Mountain Collegian

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Two high schools in the Las Cruces Public Schools district and two in the Gadsden Independent School District are using sleep pods Restworks Energy Pods. The high-tech pods, a reclined chair with a domed sensory-reduction bubble that closes around ones head and torso, were purchased through grants from the New Mexico Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico to be used in the school-based health centers.

Linda Summers, associate professor at New Mexico State University, says the Restworks Energy Pods help relax and rejuvenate people that use them.

The pods, which vary a little from school to school, generally feature a one-touch start button which activates a relaxing sequence of music and soothing lights. Some have headphones for nappers to wear. At the end of 20 minutes, the pod begins to vibrate gently and an uptempo beat gradually starts playing to wake the student.

Currently, LCPS and GISD are the only school districts in the nation using the pods.

The first one, purchased in 2008, was installed at Gadsden High School. Linda Summers, an associate professor in the School of Nursing at New Mexico State University, helped secure the grant after discovering the pods which, at the time, were being used in a sleep lounge in the basement of the Empire State Building.

Tired New Yorkers would go down there for a short nap in the middle of the day, she said.

Summers, meanwhile, was looking for something better than cots to help students coming to school insufficiently rested. As soon as the sleep pod arrived at the school-based health center, she began learning it had other benefits.

If they came to us and they were tired, we stuck them in there, Summers said. If they had a headache, we stuck them in there. If a teacher had high blood pressure, we stuck him in there.

The sleep pod, which runs on a 20-minute cycle, helped all of them. Of 100 students who used it, 99 were able to return to class within 20 minutes with tremendous increases in energy and mood, Summers said.

It even helped calm down agitated students who had been involved in fights.

In 2011, Summers secured federal funding for three more to be installed at Chaparral High School, Oate High School and Las Cruces High School. In 2015, Summers purchased one for the School of Nursing through legislative mental health funding secured by Sen. Mary Kay Papen, D-Las Cruces.

Sandy Peugh, a longtime school nurse who is now the health services director for LCPS, said she first saw the benefit of the sleep pods when she was a school nurse at Las Cruces High.

We found, as we were using them at the high school, that it was great for kids who werent getting enough sleep at night which teenagers dont, for a variety of reasons, Peugh said. They were coming to school exhausted, and wed put them in the pod. Within 20 minutes, they were coming out refreshed and focused, and they were able to stay at school, so instruction time wasnt missed.

Original post:

Napping goes high-tech with sleep pods - Albuquerque Journal

From June 22nd 24th,Shadefestwillreturn for itsfor its third annual incarnationat River Springs Farmin Avenue, MD. The 2017 lineup features an eclectic mix of Shadefest Family vets and other successful touring acts likePeoples Blues of Richmond,Teddy Midnight,Kendall Street Company,Bencoolen,Surprise Attack,LITZ,Broccoli Samurai,Tropidelic,Formula 5,Of Tomorrow,Jouwala Collective,South Hill Banks, andBig Mama Shakes, as well as a special tribute toWeen byElectric Love Machine!

While the great music, camping and general good times abound at the homegrown festival, what sets the boutiqueevent apart is its beautifullocale, cast in the early summer sun along the banks of Southern Marylands Potomac River. With beautiful beaches for lounging in the sun andpicturesque riverside surroundings,Shadefest offers the perfect opportunity to relax and enjoy great music and positive vibes away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

In addition to the main stage, this years Shadefest will offer late-night bluegrasssets, daily extras for VIP ticketholders, a Zen Den to relax in during the day, an open jam tent, and much more. Every minute of the intimate three-day event promises to offer something exciting to do for any festival-goer, and at just $60 per three-day pass, Shadefest is a financial no-brainer for even the most cash-strapped fans. Whether getting down under the massive stage-side shade tents, bobbing along in an inner tube, or grooving to late-night jams, Shadefest offers a fun-filled weekend adventure for music lovers in Maryland and beyond.

For full lineup, ticketing, FAQs, and any other information you need to know about Shadefest, visit the events website.

[cover photo by Nicole Wade Photography]

Continue reading here:

Shadefest Set To Bring Great Music And Relaxing Vibes Back To Riverside Maryland Locale - Live for Live Music

One of the orange cats let loose in a small room at the animal shelter had figured out there was catnip on some of the yoga mats the humans had laid out that morning.

While it hunted for a treat, about 20 yogis began stretching their arms out for a pose. A few hands caught the attention of the catnip-seeking cat as it roamed.

"When you reach your hands out there, maybe a cat will walk underneath," instructor Karen Bonds said.

Yoga and cats came together for the first time at the Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center in early March, an experiment the shelter plans to continue in the future in the hopes that kitties seeking new homes will meet their soon-to-be owners.

Yoga With Cats (and sometimes puppies) will take place on a monthly basis. Led by Karen Bonds of Longview Yoga Studio, the classes offer beginners' yoga to interested participants.

"The idea is that just basically it's a beginner yoga class, and the shelter cats are just interacting with people," shelter Volunteer Coordinator Jackie Reynolds said. "So it's a great way for them to be socialized, for them to be able to spend some time out of their kennels and interacting with people, which potentially gives them a great opportunity to get adopted."

Bonds first contacted the shelter with the idea, Reynolds said.

"This is something that's trending in a lot of major cities right now, integrating shelter animals with potential adopters," Reynolds said. "So she posed the idea to us. We have a great space; we thought let's try it and see how it goes."

The shelter has two more yoga with animal classes coming up. Cat-Urday Yoga will take place at 9:30 a.m. May 6, and Downward Dog Yoga will take place at 9:30 a.m. April 29. Those interested can register for each class at longviewyogastudio.com.

Other events at the shelter coming up include a Hogs & Dogs Poker Ride on March 25, in partnership with Roughneck Harley-Davidson, the Blessing of the Animals on April 21 and a Strut Your Mutt 1-mile wag walk on May 20.

The Poker Run, in addition to discounted adoption fees, will have prizes, music, free food and motorcycle rides from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the shelter.

Pastors from St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Alpine Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church will provide blessings to family pets to those interested at 4:30 p.m. April 21 at the shelter.

Early bird registration for the Strutt Your Mutt walk, which will raise funds for the animal shelter, is $25 through April 20.

Information on each event is available at longviewpaws.org.

The first round of cats selected for cat yoga were shy at first, huddling in one corner while Bonds led her class in some basic poses. They also were escape-minded, with Reynolds and other shelter staff having to guard the door as yoga participants came in and out of the room before the class got started.

"We're going to ask that you leave your shoes out here just to kind of divert some smells" from the cats, Reynolds told participants. "Come in and out slowly so we don't lose kitties along the way."

Bonds told participants that all of the cats in class that day had come from the same home. She jokingly dared students to tell her they weren't cat people.

"I assume you're here because you like cats and you want to promote this whole cat adoption thing," she said. "So the way this works, Yoga With Cats, is that we really want to while we're practicing, just let the cats be cats. As we begin to ignore them and go about our business of practicing yoga, then the cats will begin to warm up to us because we're going to be giving off this lovely cat vibe that says come around and walk around."

Bonds had shelter staff sprinkle catnip on the mats to help loosen up the cats. And while yoga poses wouldn't mean participants would be picking up and snuggling with cats, Bonds said students could pet or love on cats as they walked by.

"We're mutually going to feed off each other's energy," she said.

Before the class, Reynolds was unsure how the class would go, but she was also excited.

"I don't know," she said. "Karen's very experienced, so I think she can lead the charge and it won't be a problem."

See the original post:

Relaxing with cats, yoga at the animal shelter - Longview News-Journal

Xbox One gamers were recently introduced to Altered Matter's upcoming exploration platformer at GDC 2017. Called Etherborn, the title delivers relaxing music and eye-catching visuals, which Altered Matter have shown off in their latest trailer. The game gives off the vibe of Thatgamecompany's PlayStation titles flOw, Flower and Journey. The story goes that "A voiceless being has just been born in a world where a bodiless voice awaits her arrival. Wandering through the trunks of the Tree of Life, she will have to understand the meaning of what she sees in order to grow and reach her voice."

The "voiceless being" experiences gravity completely different than we do on Earth. For her, gravity works perpendicular to the surface on which she's standing, "allowing endless exploration possibilities."

Players will progress through Etherborn with "a series of navigation-based puzzles; youll have to explore your surroundings in order to figure out each ones underlying logic, find the correct route to advance and unlock it."

Read more from the original source:

Exploration Platformer Etherborn's Latest Trailer Released - TrueAchievements

Sleep hygiene has been dubbed by Gwyneth Paltrow as the biggest health trend of 2017 and it really is the latest lifestyle movement on everyones lips but what actually is clean sleeping and how will it help us get a better nights kip? Silentnights sleep expert Dr Nerina Ramlakhan tells us.

With research led by Silentnight and The University of Leeds finding that 25% of Brits only sleep for five hours or less per night two hour less than the national recommended average its clear that many of us might benefit from cleaning up our act as everything we do during the day affects the cleanness and purity of our sleep.

According to Dr Nerina,its not the hours of shut eye we have that counts but the quality of our sleep that matters: The key issue is that the sleep is pure and hits those rejuvenating depths that enable complete restoration of the body and mind. After getting clean sleep for 7 -10 days you can expect to feel different your sleep will be deeper, you will feel more more energised and, importantly, happier and more positive when you wake in the morning.

When it comes to cleaning up your sleep act, Dr Nerina says you need to have somenon-negotiable factors that you must do every day to achieve clean sleep.

So many of us end up having a deskfast because its convenient and easy to grab something after weve got off the train or driven into work. However if you put your body through the stress of a commute on an empty stomach, you could seriously impact the sleep you have that night. This is because the body ends up running on adrenaline energy on your way to work which is one of the main factors causing shallow, muddy sleep. To achieve clean sleep, eat breakfast every day and within 30 minutes of rising.

If youre already drinking the recommended two litres of water a day and you want to take it to the next level, try adding a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of sea salt to alkalise the water. The body functions optimally at an alkaline PH of 7.35, so hydrating with alkaline water helps our body to work properly; transmitting messages and enabling our physiological processes including to get good restorative sleep.

We all know that cutting down on caffeine will help with sleep issues but very few of us think about the half life of the coffee or tea were drinking. The half life of caffeine is five hours which means if you have a drink at 5pm you will still have half that amount in your blood supply by 10pm. You probably wont feel energised by 10pm but the caffeine is still in your system and its enough to stop you getting deep, clean sleep.

When we get an alert on our phone the brain mentally responds, so even if the message is nothing significant we end up continuing to look at our phones, mindlessly following links on the internet and waking our brain up even more. It might be a tough habit to break but if youre serious about getting clean sleep you need to to stop looking at your phone an hour before you go to sleep. That may even mean banning your phone completely from the bedroom and investing in a good old fashioned alarm clock.

The hours before midnight are a really important part of clean sleeping; they are the hours that are deeply restorative, that heal the body and provide sought after anti-ageing benefits. Even if you get a good amount of sleep, going to bed late is likely to leave a large amount of your sleep being highly inefficient. Try to get to bed around 10.30pm four nights a week to allow your body to access that vital 90 minute phase of sleep before midnight.

Leading sleep expert, Dr Helen Nightingale tells us that we need to set up situations that increase the chances of having a better nights sleep. Her checklist?

Your bedroom should be dark and without noise and the temperature shouldnt be too warm or too cold.

Have a wind-down period between eating and watching TV. Allow yourself an hour before bedtime with no phone, no TV and no tablets.

Nuffield Healthrecommend this acrostic poem (of sort) to help you attain good sleep hygiene. It goes like this and yes, it spells out asleep.

A Alcohol and nicotine Both will interfere with sleep so limit these before bed.

S Sleep environment Make sure the bedroom is dark enough, comfy enough (pillows, mattress), quiet enough with good air quality and appropriate temperature for sleep.

L Leave it out Leave laptops, smart phones, TVs, paperwork out of the bedroom.

E Exercise regularly Around an hours exercise a day will help, but leave a buffer period of at least 2 hours before bed

E Eat a balanced diet Wakefulness can be caused by hunger, but going to bed too full canalsocause wakefulness. As such, make sure you consume a balanced diet throughout the day and aim to have a buffer period of at least 2 hours before going to bed after eating a large meal. If youre up late and havent eaten for four to five hours a small snack before bed might prevent wakefulness due to hunger.

P Plan for sleep Have a pre-bedtime wind down. Think of it as your very own bath, story, bed. Children sleep well when they have a specific routine associated with bed time and so do we. As such, try to develop a wind-down routine at least 60 minutes before you go to bed. This period should involve ceasing doing stimulating activities (e.g. paperwork) and instead engaging in more relaxing activities e.g. having a bath and listening to relaxing music etc.

Zzzz, heres to no more insomniaguys! And, if youmustcheck your phone at night, at least downloada sleep appto help you get yoursleep patternback in sync and avoid any nastysleep disorders.

Read more from the original source:

Sleep hygiene. What is it and how can we all achieve it? - Marie Claire.co.uk

More Meditation Classes Offered

Cant make it to Susi Walters meditation classes in Clinton Township? Similar sessions are set for 7 p.m. May 5, 10 and 17 at LAnse Creuse Middle School North. Call 586-783-6330 to register.

You also can meditate with Walter Saturday mornings at the Shelby Township Senior Center from 9 to 10 a.m. March 11, 18, and 25. She will offer a special workshop on forgiveness April 22 and 29 and May 6 and 13. Call 586-731-0300 to register.

Have you ever tried to meditate? Its no surprise meditation is good for you, and undoubtedly most people have tried to quiet their minds at least once. But to most untrained meditators, thinking about nothing usually leads to thoughts about everything: Am I doing this right? Is this a waste of time? What else could I be doing?

You can learn how to silent those pesky thoughts and how to properly meditate by attending Susi Walters Tuesday evening meditation sessions at the Clinton Township Senior Center. The classes are set from 7 to 8 p.m., with sessions taking place in March, April, May and June. They are open to the public, and all ages are welcome. The cost is $40 per session.

Anyone might consider attending who is interested in learning how to meditate, improving quality of life, and holding peace within, Walter said. Meditation may help in every aspect of life. It is possible to heal the body, mind and spirit through consistent practice.

Walter, who is certified in mindful meditation through the University of Holistic Theory, begins class by discussing meditation techniques. Shell play relaxing music in the background, and the lights are slightly dimmed. She guides the class by reading meditation scripts. She also explains some fundamentals, like chakras (an energy center in the body), and auras (an electromagnetic field that extends about four or five feet around the body).

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Typically, classes focus on relaxing the body, clearing the mind, releasing physical and emotional pain, and seeing and feeling auric energy. However, Walter does offer specialty sessions emphasizing forgiveness, releasing stress and anxiety, living with illness, grief, goal setting, breaking habits, sparking creativity and more. Shes open to suggestions from participants, she said.

Students have the option to sit or rest lying down on the floor with mats and pillows. Its important to be comfortable while meditating, so participants are welcome to sit in a cushioned chair if theyre uneasy about getting down on the floor.

Meditation is now being used in clinical interventions to help improve health and well-being. Higher levels of mindfulness is related to decreased stress, which leads to better health, and evidence suggests meditation can even improve cognitive abilities such as sustained attention and working memory.

I am thrilled that many scientific and modern medicinal groups have begun to validate meditation as a true healing modality. I have had people come to my classes as a last resort for help, said Walter, who has been teaching meditation for 10 years. It has aided so many of them who were in desperate need of healing. Many hospitals are implementing integrative medicine departments and prescribing holistic remedies, such as meditation and energy healing in order to complement contemporary medicine.

The Clinton Township Senior Center is located at 40730 Romeo Plank Road. To register for the meditation class, call 586-286-9333.

See more here:

Learn how to calm the mind, heal the body through meditation - The Oakland Press

Magnetic Magazine (blog)

Travel In Style With Moshi This Spring: Sleek Bags + Headphones, A Relaxing Playlist and Free Tickets To See Hernan ... Magnetic Magazine (blog) Spring is in the air and hopefully you will be too on your way to some exotic destination or even to Miami Music Week. Magnetic has teamed up with SF based Moshi (makers of fine bags, headphones and iPhone accessories) to give you this stellar mix of ...

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Travel In Style With Moshi This Spring: Sleek Bags + Headphones, A Relaxing Playlist and Free Tickets To See Hernan ... - Magnetic Magazine (blog)