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Modified 13 Apr 2020, 19:07 IST

The COVID-19 lockdown is worldwide. It has either paused or stalled everything we are used to do in our day to daily lives. All sports are off schedule, with no real action possible for some time. Now is when mental strength, along with physical fitness, would be put to the test.

It is impossible to run on the road or practice at public parks with your teammates. In these unprecedented times, cricketers can improve their fitness, as well as work on the mental aspects of their games. Players must strive to improve their fitness, with the real challenge to do so being the limited resources available at home, says Jatin Patel, a renowned cricket coach.

Coach Patel expressed his view on how fitness, strength, and conditioning can be improved through a multitude of exercise routines involving, but not limited to, resistance band, cardio, deadlifts, etc.

There will be a time when the Coronavirus pandemic will be over, and sports activities will resume. With this in mind, a player must prepare to be ready once the action begins. Now is the time one can sit down and think about one's game, decide what one wants to do next, and how one can improve further for one's betterment. As is often said, 'the biggest room in this world is the room for improvement'.

Mindset matters the most, and mental preparation is a huge factor in today's sport. A lot of cricketers fail to reach their potential because of a lack of mental strength. This is a time when work can be done on this aspect of the game by reading books, listening, or watching other sportspeople talk about their experiences. Trying to relate to things happening to athletes from across the world, and finding out what suits one the best are also keys in this respect. Virtual/online-based training, mentoring or coaching are huge beneficiaries during these extraordinary times.

"The bottom line here is that there is a lot that can be done as a cricketer"- coach Patel.

Fitness matters most in sports, and a crucial part of sport fitness is mental toughness. Like most sports, cricket is played more in the minds than on the field. It constitutes around 80% of the performance stack as compared to about 20% of a player's skill and talent. Mental skills that cricket demands, are claimed to be higher than that of most other sports. Innovative, on-the-fly problem-solving is an asset in cricket which only the greats possess. It involves combating stress with the right attitude.

"The body achieves what the mind believes".Metrics like self-esteem, stress levels, mood swings, etc. are some essential factors that impact better decision making. With the "mind over body" ideology, one can maintain higher levels of concentration and stay focused. This helps in combating the many distractions that drag you into depression, fear of failure, and performance anxiety.

At the end of the day, what is the use of the muscles, the power, and the dollars if one is not happy within oneself? A stable mindset and a well-balanced mental strength will help athletes perform well, and stay ahead of the competition.

During a recent discussion about mindset and mental strength with coach Jatin Patel, who is also a pioneer in coaching education in the USA, CEO of International Cricket Network ICN360, Yash Khandor interestingly said "If you don't come out of this quarantine a better/improved version of yourself; you never lacked time. You lacked DISCIPLINE."

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Mental strength and Cricket The symbiosis - Sportskeeda

Even as the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic looms large and prisons are becoming dangerous hotspots of contagion, even as the Supreme Court of India directs prisons to release undertrials and convicts on interim bail, even as the Indian nation grinds to a halt following a lockdown, even as hundreds of thousands of migrant workers are stranded and sheltered in schools, there is one thing that no virus appears to be capable of stopping the Indian states persecution of one of Indias foremost intellectuals, Dr Anand Teltumbde.

Why is Teltumbde considered so dangerous by the ruling neoliberal, Hindutva regime?

When violence first broke out at Bhima Koregaon in 2018, the police investigation concentrated on two Hindutva activists Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote. However, the rightwing forces of the Sangh parivar quickly released a report finding fault with this line of enquiry. They instead falsely accused the Elgar Parishad a collective of progressive Ambedkarite organisations and activists that held the annual mass gathering at Bhima Koregaon of having links with the Maoists.

It is common knowledge that Maoist organisations are banned in India. Why was an Ambedkarite Dalit commemorative event portrayed as a Maoist event? Anyone who has followed the events that have transpired since will clearly understand that such a far-fetched, fraudulent link was made with the sole purpose of targeting Dalits and Ambedkarites, making use of the legal apparatus in its most vicious forms.

Soon, even the word Maoist was dropped and for the sake of garnering great publicity and also to build consensus around the arrest of activists from around the country, the ruling dispensation started deploying the term urban Naxal.

This unique terminology allowed them to carry out their witch-hunt of intellectuals and activists in the cities; anyone with the remotest Leftist sympathies could be hauled into this urban naxal net if needed. This allowed them to concoct a headline grabbing plot alleging that there was a Left-wing conspiracy to assassinate the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On the basis of this fabricated plot, they have already sent to jail the respected labour lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj, English professor Shoma Sen, advocates Surendra Gadling and Vernon Gonsalves, social activist and researcher Mahesh Raut, journalist Arun Ferreira, editor Sudhir Dhawale, political prisoners rights activist Rona Wilson and celebrated octogenarian Telugu poet Varavara Rao.

Two more activists were also named in the chargesheet: Anand Teltumbde and journalist-activist Gautam Navlakha, both of whom have been told to surrender to the National Investigation Agency on Tuesday, April 14.

Also read: A Letter to the People of India, on the Eve of My Arrest

The nature of the case and the absurdist fabulous plot has also allowed the police to harass anyone anywhere: a professor in Hyderabad (Dr K. Satyanarayana) and a professor in Delhi (Hany Babu) had their homes searched, their computers trawled for information. Sadly, these might not be the last arrests we see.

Why is Anand Teltumbde being targeted in this vicious manner? Why have the powers-that-be decided that he, along with Gautam Navlakha must go to jail even as the Supreme Court wants prisoners to be released so as to contain the novel coronavirus pandemic?

Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of Babasaheb Ambedkar, has already pointed out that one of the prime reasons behind this targeting is that Teltumbde is a son-in-law of Babasahebs family. The hidden agenda of the BJP-RSS and the cluster of right-wing organisations called the Sangh parivar is to attack the legacy of Babasaheb. Anand Teltumbde neither attended the Bhima Koregaon event, nor was he involved in the organising team, so why is he being singled out for this witch-hunt? This is because of the politics that he articulates, a politics that is anathema to the rightwing, neoliberal regime.

He is one of the followers of Babasaheb who has continuously highlighted the need to fight Hindutva on both the social and economic front. One the one hand, he has laid bare the Brahminical anti-social casteist nature of the Sangh parivar, while on the other he has relentlessly attacked the anti-people economic policies of Neoliberal Hindutva. One of his recent publications is titled Republic of Caste: Thinking Equality in the Time of Neoliberal Hindutva. He upholds Ambedkars radical vision of ushering social and economic democracy in India through the annihilation of caste and state socialism.

Teltumbde has pointed out the explicit socialist vision of Babasaheb Ambedkar:

I should have from that point of view expected the Resolution to state in most explicit terms that in order that there may be social and economic justice in the country, that there would be nationalisation of industry and nationalisation of land, I do not understand how it could be possible for any future Government which believes in doing justice socially, economically and politically, unless its economy is a socialistic economy(December 17, 1946).

In the same article, he quotes Babasaheb again to emphasise the importance of anti-caste revolution for the success of socialism,

Men will not join in a revolution for the equalisation of property unless they know that after the revolution is achieved they will be treated equally and that there will be no discrimination of caste and creed. The assurance of a socialist leading the revolution that he does not believe in caste, I am sure, will not suffice. The assurance must be the assurance proceeding from much deeper foundation, namely, the mental attitude of the compatriots towards one another in their spirit of personal equality and fraternity.

Furthermore, this programme and doctrine of annihilation of caste alongside socialism is articulated by a scholar from a Dalit background and it is the Dalit-Bahujans who form the majority of Indias de facto working class. This means challenging caste will also present the greatest challenge to untrammelled, exploitative capitalism.

This radical vision of Babasahebs anti-caste socialism is directly antithetical to the RSS-BJPs Neoliberal Hindutva, which wants to thrive on caste, class and gender inequality in society. The targeting of religious minorities is its main weapon to polarise and divide India on communal lines to achieve that regressive end.

Also read: Dont Pity Anand Teltumbde, Pity the System that Incarcerates Him

Right from its genesis, the RSS has worked as the stooge of British imperialism and upholder of Manuvad. When British colonialism was exploiting Indian resources and Indian people for their own interest, RSS chief M.S. Golwalkar had famously uttered at the peak of Indian freedom struggle, Hindus, dont waste your energy fighting the British. Save your energy to fight our internal enemies that are Muslims, Christians, and Communists.

It is another matter that patriotic Indians, including Hindus, never listened to anti-national Hindutva and fought British colonialism tooth and nail till the country got independence. In another instance, Golwalkar, praising Manu wrote,

It is this fact which made the first and greatest law giver of the world Manu, to lay down in his code, directing all the peoples of the world to come to learn their duties at the holy feet of the Eldestborn Brahmans of this land.

However, much to the Sanghs discomfort, the constitution of India Article 15, clearly laid out prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.

Also read: Why We Must Defend Anand Teltumbde

Teltumbde belongs to that league of Ambedkarites who stands like a progressive intellectual wall against the neoliberal Hindutva of the RSS-BJP. It is important for the anti-people, RSS-guided Central government to breach this progressive intellectual wall for their forward march towards an unequal, regressive society of Hindutva ridden with caste discrimination, class inequality and patriarchal domination. They want to accelerate this time machine which will take us into the dark ages. For this reason, they have concocted a fake story of Maoist instigated violence and save the Hindutva activists who were behind the Bhima Koregaon violence and falsely implicate the Ambedkarite-led Elgar Parishad.

However, the truth will eventually prevail. For this reason, it is important that all patriotic Indians must refute this nefarious attempt of the Sangh, using the Modi-Shah led Central government machinery to discredit progressive and egalitarian Ambedkarite intellectuals like Teltumbde.

His planned arrest on Ambedkar Jayanti is a blot on our nation. We demand his immediate release, and we demand the release of all the activists, thinkers and advocates who have been jailed in the Bhima Koregaon case.

Jignesh Mevani is MLA for Vadgam, Gujarat. Meena Kandaswamy is a poet and writer. Her most recent book is Exquisite Cadavers.

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Why Is Anand Teltumbde So Dangerous for the Narendra Modi Government? - The Wire

FREDERICTON -- While life, in general, is becoming more difficult amid the COVID-19, it can be especially hard on days such as Easter Sunday. With many residents at home in self-isolation, an New Brunswick therapist wants residents to know they can overcome these difficult times, and that there is no shame in seeking help.

Therapist and mental health advocate, Laura Gatien, says when the pandemic was first declared, dozens of people cancelled their therapy sessions. However, recently, business is picking up again, with people seeking help for growing feelings of anxiety, fear, worry, hopelessness, and helplessness.

"What I've been helping people do is try to really work on the things that they can control," says Gatien. "So, that is their perspective and their attitude right now."

She says many of her patients express how much they miss their family and friends, and how difficult that can be on their mental wellbeing especially on a holiday weekend when families gather.

Recently, Premier Blaine Higgs acknowledged his Easter weekend wouldn't be as family-filled as usual.

"My mother and I were talking about this weekend, and she said: 'are you coming home for Easter dinner?'" said Higgs during a recent press conference. "I said 'absolutely not,' and we discussed the reasons why; she was very understanding that this would not be an Easter that we should celebrate together."

Higgs also acknowledged the difficulties of the lifestyle change to which many residents have had to adapt.

"We believe there's a balance here, because if people don't have a job, if they don't have income, if they don't have a future that they see and a livelihood, they can become more stressed," said Higgs. "We can have social situations that become unbearable we don't want to see that happen."

In the meantime, New Brunswick's Department of Health has authorized health care professionals to see their patients virtually including those working in mental health services, like Gatien. She acknowledges the challenges of the times but says brighter days are ahead.

The way my mom put it is: 'we're not cancelling Easter, we're just postponing our celebration as a family,'" says Gatien. "We're doing what we need to do right now for the greater good. Focusing on that in itself, and knowing that you're doing what needs to be done, can give you a sense of empowerment."

Meanwhile, Gatien notes she and her team are available to meet online at any time and is offering low-cost counselling as well as free Friday sessions from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. for those struggling financially.

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N.B. therapist says there's no shame in seeking help amid COVID-19 - CTV News

Dr Joshua Michaels

A SURGEON has thanked the public for observing lockdown restrictions in testing times and described how a change in attitudes has boosted NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline.

Dr Joshua Michaels, who lives in West Hampstead, said there was a new positive momentum building among his colleagues as stories about reckless sunbathers and social-distancing flouters began to subside.

The 29-year-old, who works in the intensive care unit at the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, said there was now more of a collective unity with the public on the wards. He has this week launched a fundraising page for the Barts Charity, which helps staff in his hospital. It has received more than 10,000 donations in just a few days.

Speaking before his 13-hour night shift, Dr Michaels told the New Journal: At the beginning of the lockdown there was the disdain for the measures, there were a lot of stories about the difficulties people were finding in sticking to the rules the fears people were facing every day. The daily death count is not helpful for people suffering from anxiety. It would have been very easy for people to get stuck on this wrong path.

But the positivity we are seeing now in the hospital has come from the change in peoples attitude. There is a sense of collective duty, you feel that when you see the empty streets.

Dr Michaels added: There are a lot of people in West Hampstead, for example. There are three stations and supermarkets. But when I look outside, I cant see single person right now. And we are all getting a boost from that at work. I cant urge enough people to stay at home, and I cant thank people enough for doing so.

He added: My resounding message is that its not just people on the frontline that needs celebrating. It is not just the charity work that is being done. It is also the people that are sticking to guidelines in difficult circumstances; the single mother who lives in high rise flat and who wants to go outside; a grandmother who lives by herself.

I lost my father six months ago. My grandmother, whose son it was, also lost her husband in the space of a year. She now lives in isolation but she is sticking to the guidance. Without the support of people observing the guidance and staying at home, the fight will falter and we will fail.

Dr Michaels said he had decided to put himself forward for the intensive care unit at the Royal London because of a passionate sense of what was right and the greater good. He had worked as a surgeon specialising in Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) for one year after four years at medical school.

He said: They have this fantastic system at work its called a traffic light system. At roll call they ask you to raise your hand if youre feeling motivated thats green. You raise your hand if feeling apprehensive amber. And red is understood as being very scared. Then what happens is a green person teams up with an amber person. They share their fears together you have that mental support and buddy system to help get through the day. It is so important to have that network to bounce ideas off.

It would be naive to say there are people with no concerns though. I have worries at times. Personally, I use the Headspace app outside of work. I go for runs and listen to it, and before I go to sleep. It helps release the stress. There are counsellors and guidance co-ordinators.

Dr Michaels said he was aware of shortages of protective equipment but his experience was there was enough at his hospital.

He said he had set up the fund particularly to help patients access technology needed to talk to relatives, adding: We are providing patients with iPads and tablets so they dont just see a masked face all the time and can communicate with their relatives. If i was a patient, and I spent every day seeing masked, hooded figures I would find it very worrying. We want to give patients a face to look at.

Dr Michaels said funds were needed to support staff in the rest of the hospital, where there are still cancer patients, emergency surgery, motorcycle accidents, car accidents, stabbings, adding: Horrendous things are still going on that need to be responded to.

Speaking on the pressures facing the NHS, he said: You are always going to have waiting lists, they are impossible to remove. The supply and demand is never going to be in favour of patients. It takes a long time to train doctors, but the answer is always going to be yes to more money in NHS.

Dr Michaels is calling for donations however large or small to help provide our hospital, staff and patients the vital equipment and support we need. It has raised almost 10,000 in just a few days.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/joshua-michaels

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West Hampstead doctor says coronavirus staff are inspired by those staying indoors - Camden New Journal newspapers website

Meditation is an ancient wellness practice that focuses on training awareness, attention, and compassion.

In recent years, research has found that meditation can reduce stress and anxiety, improve focus and concentration, and increase feelings of calm and relaxation.

The good news is anyone can do it, and it's a simple practice to pick up but it will take practice and consistency to feel the benefits. Here's how to do it.

While most people find guided meditation easier at the start either through a class or app mindfulness meditation can be done anywhere that you can focus. Mindfulness meditation is just one form of meditation. For more examples, keep reading after the tutorial.

Here are a few steps to help you meditate:

Getting distracted when meditating is inevitable, and one of the biggest worries for beginners but distraction is a necessary part of the process.

"The moment when we notice that the mind is distracted is a moment of awareness, and is equally important as sustaining our attention on the breath or another anchor," says Ralitsa Ivanova, a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction meditation teacher at Enhale Meditation Studio. "No matter how often the mind wanders off, we bring it back this is how we re-learn to pay attention."

Harvard recommends meditating for two 20-minute sessions daily to experience the maximum benefits, while a 2019 study on the efficacy of the meditation app Calm found that stress, mindfulness, and self-compassion were all significantly improved in the intervention group, who were using the mindfulness meditation programs for an average of 38 minutes per week.

For beginners, the most important part is getting into a routine five to 10 minutes each day is a good place to start. Ivanova says that consistency is more important than the length of time you practice, and you can always increase your time later.

"It's like creating a new, healthy habit: it requires some level of discipline and commitment," Ivanova says. "The good news is that it works, but it takes time and patience. It doesn't happen overnight."

Meditation originated in Eastern wellness traditions, such as Ayurvedic practices in India, or traditional medicine therapies in China and Japan. It's now practiced across the world and is growing in popularity in Western cultures. For example, in the US, the use of meditation increased by more than three times from 2012 to 2017.

Because there are varying practices across cultural, spiritual and religious traditions, there are lots of ways to meditate. Some types include movement meditation, mantra meditation, and transcendental meditation.

"Depending on the technique used, you can have a focused attention meditation, body scan, loving-kindness meditation, visualization or mantra meditation, to name a few," says Ivanova.

Mindfulness meditation is one of the most regularly-practiced forms in the US, according to the Global Wellness Summits' 2019 Trend Report.

Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), describes mindfulness as awareness that comes from paying attention in a purposeful way, on the present, and without judgment. MBSR is an eight-week evidence-based mindfulness meditation program that Kabat-Zinn founded with the University of Massachusetts Medical Center.

According to Ivanova, mindfulness meditation involves focusing on 'anchors' such as breath, sounds, sensations in the body, and even visual objects. Having an anchor is an important way to begin improving concentration and awareness, which can then help you be more mindful the goal is to ultimately pay attention to your own mind without judging your feelings.

"We also observe and hold in awareness our thoughts and emotions, cultivating the stance of an observer, without over-identifying or getting caught up in them," Ivanova says.

According to the American Institute of Stress, 77% of people in the US regularly experience physical symptoms caused by stress, with 48% saying stress negatively affects their work or home life. While a certain amount of stress is good, too much can lead to burnout.

However, mindfulness meditation can allow you to better cope with stressful situations when they happen, as you can build up your ability to remain calm and de-escalate to a relaxed state.

One of the reasons mindfulness meditation's popularity has soared in recent years is the wealth of scientific studies that have confirmed its benefits.

A study from Harvard Medical School in 2011 was the first to showcase the effects of mindfulness meditation on the brain's grey matter, demonstrating that meditation increased the parts of the brain associated with memory, controlling emotions, and identity.

Moreover, in a 2016 study, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University focused on the neurobiological effects of mindfulness meditation, discovering that the practice stimulates the part of the brain that aids with stress, concentration, and decision making.

Improved focus, concentration, sleep, and stress management are just a few of the health benefits. Ivanov says mindfulness meditation can also reduce symptoms of depression or anxiety, help manage chronic pain, and contribute to an increased sense of well-being.

For example, a 2018 study showed that just 15 minutes of mindfulness meditation had the same effect as a day of vacation, while a 2016 study on 42 schoolchildren in South Korea reported lower levels of anxiety and aggression after an eight-week meditation program.

Most recently, a number of studies have showcased meditation's effects on pain. A 2020 meta-study of more than 6,400 participants across 60 trials found that mind-body therapies like meditation could help reduce pain in those who suffered from acute, chronic, or post-surgical pain that was being treated by opioids, and also resulted in lower opioid drug use in those patients.

Read more here:

How to meditate: A guide to mindfulness meditation - Insider - INSIDER

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Meditation may have been around for thousands of years, but it's only recently become mainstream in America. Research is limited, but regular meditation may lower anxiety, reduce stress, and improve sleep, according to the National Institute of Health.

That all sounds great, but starting can be difficultor even stressful for some. It's common to worry about how long or when you should meditate. These 10 apps can help you get started with your practice.

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1 Headspace

The most recognizable meditation app, Headspace offers hundreds of guided lessons to help you sleep, focus, or feel more energized.

People who enjoy more physical activities will like move mode, which includes short workouts ranging from yoga to light cardio.

Cost: $5.83 to $12.99 per month, but there are plenty of free practices at https://www.headspace.com/covid-19

Find it: Apple Store and Google Play

2 Calm

This app is great for beginners and people who are short on time. Guided sessions start at just three minutes, but there are longer options, too. Even better, you can choose to focus on the areas you want to work on most, like gratitude, anxiety, or self-esteem.

Cost: Free, in-app purchases

Find it: Apple Store and Google Play

3 Aura

Aura offers personalized meditation based on whatever mood you select. There's also calming music, stories, and life coaching sessions available.

Cost: Free, in-app purchases

Find it: Apple Store and Google Play

4 Insight TImer

Practice with some of the most famous teachers and musicians in the world, including Tara Brach, PhD, founder of Insight Meditation Community of Washington; Gil Fronsdal, PhD at Stanford University; and Moby.

Cost: Free, in-app purchases

Find it: Apple Store and Google Play

5 Smiling Mind

Mindfulness is a key part of meditation, and this free app aims to help you be present. It was developed by a psychologist to improve sleep, lower stress, and increase focus. Use it alone or before you meditate.

Cost: Free

Find it: Apple Store and Google Play

6 Simple Habit

Convinced you don't have time to meditate? Simple Habit claims to be the meditation app for busy people. Recordings are short and can be practiced even while commuting. There's a lesson to improve nearly every aspect of your life, including love and sex.

Cost: Free, in-app purchases

Find it: Apple Store and Google Play

7 10% Happier

Based on the popular book by journalist Dan Harris, the app is geared towards people who are skeptical of meditation. Sessions are presented in a straight-forward and humorous approach. New content is released weekly, so there's always something new to look forward to.

Cost: Free, in-app purchases

Find it: Apple Store and Google Play

8 Journey

If you thrive off real-time classes, Journey may be the app for you. They offer live meditations throughout the day, so it feels like you're working with a teacher IRL.

Cost: $19.99 per month

Find it: Apple Store and Google Play

9 Glo

Glo is costly, but it's more than a meditation app. You'll also find yoga and pilates to suit a variety of experience levelsall taught by top-notch instructors. In fact, the instruction rivals in-person classes, according to some reviewers.

Cost: $22.99 per month

Find it: Apple Store and Google Play

10 Sattva

Saatva offers meditations based on ancient Vedic principles. In addition to guided meditations, you can also enjoy sacred Sanskrit chants, mantras, and music. View your progress by using the mood tracker before and after meditations.

Cost: 12.99 per month

Find it: Apple Store and Google Play

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10 Best Meditation Apps in 2020 - Men's Health

Twin Peaks director David Lynch thinks the world will be a kinder place after the coronavirus pandemic as his transcendental meditation foundation offers free help to exhausted medical workers.

Lynch, 74, believes COVID-19 is a sign the world has gone down a wrong path. I have a feeling that Mother Nature is running the show on this, and said, Lets just hold on and stop this crazy world for a while so that people can reflect and think about what we are doing as human beings on this planet,' he told Page Six.

I think the world is going to be different when this virus goes, it is going to take with it a lot of the old and the new is going to be better a kinder place. I think it is already bringing the world together.

The David Lynch Foundation launched Heal The Healers Now to provide free transcendental meditation training to medics to cope with the stress surrounding the pandemic and protect against burnout.

Transcendental Meditation has been said to reduce stress-related disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder and decrease anxiety and depression. Celebrities such as Katie Couric, Jerry Seinfeld, Robin Roberts and hedge fund billionaire Dan Loeb have all practiced TM.

A pilot study of physicians in the Emergency Medicine Department at New Yorks Weill Cornell Medical Center-New York Presbyterian Hospital one of the busiest hospitals in the US in the fight against COVID-19 found significant reductions in burnout, insomnia, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress over a three-month period in those practicing TM.

Lynch, who also wrote and directed Mulholland Drive, explained, They say that this is like a war, the enemy is the virus. The doctors and nurses are on the front line they are under a lot of stress and some of them, when the war is over, they will be like soldiers coming back from war.

Urging medics to go to the David Lynch Foundation website to find a TM teacher, he continued, the David Lynch Foundation will work in any way it can to get it to them for free and they can walk away from suffering and stress and infuse the happiness and creativity, energy and peace, that lies within every human being.

Lynch has been home in Los Angeles during the lockdown, building lamps in his woodshop. And unlike many others, he is enjoying the isolation. I love it, I love it so much, I love thinking about things and working on small projects I am running a little low on food right now, but thats cool, Ive got coffee, Ive got materials in the woodshop and Ive got my transcendental meditation.

I have a couple of houses that are close to each other, and I have my family in one and Im in the other. So we see each other from a distance, and we blow each other kisses.

He added, This is a chance to reflect, a great time to meditate, dive within and unfold that treasury. It will lead to great ideas, great solutions to problems, great relationships It is a brand new world.

The rest is here:

David Lynch offering transcendental meditation to healthcare workers fighting coronavirus - Page Six

Goldie Hawn thinks meditation has helped to "stabilize" her mind.

The 74-year-old actress was initiated at a Transcendental Meditation centre in the 1970s, and she's admitted it was a life-changing moment.

Reflecting on her experiences of meditation, she shared: "The more important thing is not what the title is on it, because meditation is just the way you train your brain to quiet down and so forth.

"There's all kinds of names for it now. But my experience was visceral, it was amazing.

"I rediscovered something in that one sitting. I can't explain the joy that was brought back to me. It was a transformational 'Aha!' moment for me.

"It stabilized my mind and gave me a piece of my interior that was all mine. No one could touch it. It was my internal universe and it's something I've been doing ever since."

Goldie also thinks her background in dancing helped her to meditate.

She told the Guardian newspaper: "Starting out as a dancer gave me an aspect of mindfulness that I didn't even realise that I was getting, because to dance is to be aware of every piece of your body while you're moving. It's like a meditation unto itself."

Meanwhile, Goldie previously claimed that her relationship with Kurt Russell is sustained by their ability to "resolve" arguments amicably.

The actress - who has been with Kurt since 1983 - said: "You have to learn how to work your way through an argument and be skilful about it and resolve it.

"Things happen during a marriage or a union, things that are said that shouldn't have been said, or things that are done that shouldn't have been done, or you feel neglected.

"If two people really want to be together there's something to cherish, so you keep it fresh by surprising each other. Go to a hotel room, go take a hike. Make something happen that's unusual."

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Goldie Hawn: Meditation helped to stabilize my mind - Crow River Media

In the late 1960s, faced with the devastation of the Vietnam War and a political climate plagued by corruption, the pioneering musician Pauline Oliveros turned her practice inward. Seeking refuge from the chaos around her, she began experimenting with a practice shewould later come to call deep listening. Influenced by her studies of Tai Chi, bodywork, Kinetic Awareness, improvisation, and drone music, the ardently feminist, queer composer would develop a distinct style of experimental music, attuned to the sounds and movements of our bodies and the natural world around us. Never one for escapism, Oliveros believed intentional introspection could spurmore thoughtful action, in times of crisis and more generally.

Oliveross Sonic Meditationscontinue to influence a generation of musicians and artists, among them fellow experimentalist John Cage, the MacArthur award-winning flutist Claire Chase, and the celebrated performer and playwright Ione, who among many things was Oliveross creative partner and spouse for 30 years. This Saturday (April 18) and next (April 25), Ione, with Chase and fellow musicians Raquel Acevedo Klein, Bridgid Bergin, and Ross Karre, will carry on Oliveross legacy by presenting a World Wide Tuning Meditation via video call.

Requiring no musical experience at all, the meditation invites participants to take part in a world-wide musical exchange through a series of synchronized breathing and tonal exercises. The meditation is being presented as part of MUSIC on the REBOUND, an online, interactive music festival designed to bring people together and support performing artists affected by the COVID-19 crisis, hosted by the Brooklyn-based International Contemporary Ensemble.

Since its debut on March 28, the World-Wide Tuning Meditation has unfolded on screens internationally three times, with its latest iteration welcoming over 900 participants from more than 30 countries, according to lead organizer Raquel Acevedo Klein. One participant, artist and Hyperallergic contributor Anthony Hawley, who took part in an early test run in March, even remarked, In our new endless Zoom, Google Hangout, FaceTime reality, I can say this was one of the most profound experiences I have had in this format. Another, Ellen Pall, exclaimed during a session, This is so beautiful Im already crying!

So, if youre looking for a bit of mindful re-centering amid these frightful times, tune in and join them for a sonic respite.

When: April 18 and April 25, 5pm EST Where: Online, via Zoom

Visit MUSIC on the REBOUND for more details on how to participate.

Excerpt from:

Tune Into a World-Wide Sonic Meditation, Inspired by Pauline Oliveros - Hyperallergic

Calm is one of the most popular meditation and mindfulness apps available for iOS and Android, and its simple to use. You can get a feel for the type of exercises it offers by visiting http://www.calm.com, clicking Get started and trying one of the sample breathing exercises.

You can use Calms premium features free for seven days, after which it costs $69.99/28.99 (about AU$110) a year, billed annually. Alternatively, you can pay $399 (about 320/AU$630) once for lifetime access. Thats a serious outlay, but if it proves to be a real game-changer for you, you might want to support its developer with a big cash contribution.

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Unlocking Calm gives you access to an original Calm (a type of mindfulness exercise) every day, hundreds of hours of guided meditation, music tracks to help you relax and sleep better (with more added weekly), a library of Sleep Stories (narrated tales to help you nod off), masterclasses taught by experts, and lessons on stretching and gentle exercise.

All of the apps content is developed in collaboration with academic researchers and clinician, and the companys director is an associate professor at Arizona State University in the College of Health Solutions, Exercise and Wellness program.

Calm wont be for everyone, but its well worth taking the seven-day free trial for a spin to see if it helps you feel better in these difficult times.

Start by installing Calm from the App Store or Google Play. There are several lookalike apps, but you want the one developed by Calm.com.

Before you can use Calm, youll be prompted to read and agree to the apps privacy policy. This covers any information you enter into the app when you register for an account, make an in-app purchase, complete a survey form or interact with the developer via social media.

It also allows the developer to receive information on how you use the app, and any third-party apps (such as app stores and calendars) you use in conjunction with Calm.

Its all fairly standard, but take a moment to read through and make sure you agree before proceeding.

Youll now be asked whats prompted you to install Calm (reducing stress or anxiety, building self-esteem, sleeping better or something else). Completing it will allow the app to make better recommendations for exercises that will help you achieve your goals. Select all those that apply to you, then tap Continue.

Youll now be prompted to register for an account using an email address, or sign in using Facebook. This step is optional during the seven-day trial, and can be dismissed by tapping the cross icon at the top left, but youll need an account if you decide to upgrade to the paid-for app later. Creating an account will also allow you to save your progress, whereas skipping this step means youll start from scratch every time. If you opt to sign up with an email address, youll also need to enter your first name and a password.

Youll then be prompted to subscribe, but you wont be charged for the first seven days, or at all if you cancel within that period. Its a good idea to mark the trial expiry date in your calendar so you can weight up the pros and cons before the deadline.

The app will now ask a few more questions to tailor your experience, including whether youre interested in meditation (its a major part of the app, and well worth considering). If you fancy trying it, youll be asked when youd like to try it (consistency is important) and how much experience you have (though you dont need any to get started). You can skip this step by tapping the cross icon at the top left.

Youll now receive some recommendations based on your answers. These might include a beginners guide on how to meditate, an introductory guide to calming anxiety, or a toolkit for managing stress.

Programs are divided up by days (most are seven days long, so you can try a full one during your free trial) and teach your practical tips that will help you stay calm, manage your stress levels and cope with difficult situations. Each program is written by experts and read aloud so you can listen without distractions. While listening, you can skip forwards or backwards 15 seconds, pause the playback, adjust the volume and add the course to your favorites. You can also share a course if you think it might help a friend or relative.

Scrolling down the homepage will reveal more recommendations, including the daily Calm mindfulness exercise, a selection of relaxing music, a set of two-minute lessons, mental fitness guides, sleep stories and guided meditations. Just pick whatever takes your fancy its up to you to decide what feels right today. During any exercise or music track, youll notice a download icon at the top right, which you can tap to save the current track or guide to your device. This is a particularly good idea if youre going to be flying somewhere (once travel restrictions are lifted) and find air travel stressful.

The apps wallpaper (a serene lake) can be changed by opening the apps settings (tap the More icon at the bottom right) and choosing Scenes. A night-time version of your chosen landscape will be shown after dark, helping you wind down and prepare for bed.

If youre feeling particularly anxious, tap More and choose Breathing exercise. Select how many minutes you want to spend calming yourself, then tap Start breathing. A bubble on screen will appear showing you when to breathe in and out, accompanied by audio cues.

The More menu also contains a link to Calm Body, where youll find a selection of quick stretches and simple yoga moves to help relieve tension, improve your posture and loosen tense muscles. Again, these are well worth a try if youre feeling especially tense, as well as at regular periods throughout the day (there are suggested morning and evening stretches).

Youll notice that some of these activities are available offline, which is again particularly helpful for flights and other occasions when youre away from home and feeling tense.

Another option in the More menu is Calm Kids. The Sleep Stories here are particularly good for helping children switch off at night, and taking their minds off the worries of the day.

It could also be a helpful way to add some variety if you're homeschooling, taking the place of an assembly where teachers would normally introduce a new concept like mindfuless or give a lesson on self-care.

See the rest here:

How to use Calm: meditation and mindfulness for tough times - TechRadar India