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Strength of CDC helps Peak Performance flex its muscles – OrilliaMatters

Posted: November 23, 2019 at 8:47 pm


The following 'success story' was submitted to OrilliaMattersby the Orillia Area Community Development Corporation:

Starting a business in an already crowded industry can be daunting for some. For Brandon Peacock, it was an exciting opportunity to carve out his niche and break away from the crowd.

Unlike most gyms, Peak Performance is a studio focused on functional fitness, quality movement, and elite personal training.

Being a former employee of Anytime Fitness and Barrie Athletic Club, Peacock saw the need for business professionals to have access to an elite gym where they could receive high quality training.

Peacock sayshe wanted to create something exclusive for his clients.

In order to start his new concept, Peacock knew he required financial support and a solid plan.

Susan Stacey, Loans Officer at the Orillia Area CDC, worked with Peacock to develop a financial plan, secure a loan, and develop projections.

She asked me questions that I never even thought about. Her advice was extremely helpful and made me think about things from a different perspective, he said.

When Peak Performance got off the ground, Peacock began to work exclusively with business professionals, improving their overall fitness through core prep, mobile strength training, rehabilitation, and body mechanics.

He worked with each client to develop a personalized plan for their body in order to help them achieve their fitness goals. His brand was built on providing a high quality service to his members.

After two years in business, many of Peacock's clients had asked him about training their children in sports, so he reached out to Taylor Bazinet, a certified athletic trainer and performance coach, to bring an athletic component to the gym.

The Orillia Area CDC stepped in again and provided Bazinet with funding to buy into Peacock's business as a partner, and expand the gyms overall offering.

Over the years, the CDC has introduced us to so many influential connections in our community helping us to grow our customer base. They are phenomenal.

In just a few short years, Peacock and his partner Bazinet have experienced rapid growth and success. They have already expanded their business once, adding 1,200 square feet to the building in 2017, and are looking at an additional expansion later this year.

Through his journey, Peacock learned the importance of creating a well thought-out plan.

Doing a lot of research to understand the market, working hard every day and not being afraid to ask for help from the Orillia Area CDC were all vital to making this gym a reality," said Peacock.

To get in touch with Peak Performance, call705-826-1169 or visit their website.

For more information on the Orillia Area Community Development Corp. (CDC), please contact info@orilliacdc.com or visit http://www.orilliacdc.com

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Strength of CDC helps Peak Performance flex its muscles - OrilliaMatters

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November 23rd, 2019 at 8:47 pm

Army project may lead to new class of high-performance materials – Space Daily

Posted: at 8:47 pm


Synthetic biologists working on a U.S. Army project have developed a process that could lead to a new class of synthetic polymers that may create new high-performance materials and therapeutics for Soldiers.

Nature Communications published research conducted by Army-funded researchers at Northwestern University, who developed a set of design rules to guide how ribosomes, a cell structure that makes protein, can incorporate new kinds of monomers, which can be bonded with identical molecules to form polymers.

"These findings are an exciting step forward to achieving sequence-defined synthetic polymers, which has been a grand challenge in the field of polymer chemistry," said Dr. Dawanne Poree, program manager, polymer chemistry at the Army Research Office. "The ability to harness and adapt cellular machinery to produce non-biological polymers would, in essence, bring synthetic materials into the realm of biological functions. This could render advanced, high-performance materials such as nanoelectronics, self-healing materials, and other materials of interest for the Army."

Biological polymers such as DNA, have precise building block sequences that provide for a variety of advanced functions such as information storage and self-replication. This project looked at how to re-engineer biological machinery to allow it to work with non-biological building blocks that would offer a route to creating synthetic polymers with the precision of biology.

"These new synthetic polymers may enable the development of advanced personal protective gear, sophisticated electronics, fuel cells, advanced solar cells and nanofabrication, which are all key to the protection and performance of Soldiers," Poree said.

"We set out to expand the range of ribosomal monomers for protein synthesis to enable new directions in biomanufacturing," said Michael Jewett, the Charles Deering McCormick Professor of Teaching Excellence, professor of chemical and biological engineering, and director of the Center for Synthetic Biology at Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering. "What's so exciting is that we learned the ribosome can accommodate more kinds of monomers than we expected, which sets the stage for using the ribosome as a general machine to create classes of materials and medicines that haven't been synthesized before."

Recombinant protein production by the ribosome has transformed the lives of millions of people through the synthesis of biopharmaceuticals, like insulin, and industrial enzymes that are used in laundry detergents. In nature, however, the ribosome only incorporates natural amino acid monomers into protein polymers.

To expand the repertoire of monomers used by the ribosome, Jewett's team set out to identify design rules for linking monomers to Transfer ribonucleic acid, known as tRNAs. That is because getting the ribosome to use a new monomer is not as simple as introducing a new monomer to the ribosome. The monomers must be attached to tRNAs, which are the molecules that carry them into the ribosome. Many current processes for attaching monomers to tRNAs are difficult and time-consuming, but a relatively new process called flexizyme enables easier and more flexible attachment of monomers.

To develop the design rules for using flexizyme, the researchers created 37 monomers that were new to the ribosome from a diverse repertoire of scaffolds. Then, they showed that the monomers that could be attached to tRNAs could be used to make tens of new peptide hybrids. Finally, they validated their design rules by predictably guiding the search for even more new monomers.

"With the new design rules, we show that we can avoid the trial-and-error approaches that have been historically associated with developing new monomers for use by the ribosome," Jewett said.

These new design rules should accelerate the pace in which researchers can incorporate new monomers, which ultimately will lead to new bioproducts synthesized by the ribosome. For example, materials made of protease-resistant monomers could lead to antimicrobial drugs that combat rising antibiotic resistance.

The research is part of the Department of Defense's Multidisciplinary University Research Initiatives program, supported by ARO, in which Jewett is working with researchers from three other universities to reengineer the ribosome as a biological catalyst to make novel chemical polymers. ARO is an element of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command's Army Research Laboratory.

"It's amazing that the ribosome can accommodate the breadth of monomers we showed," Jewett said. "That's really encouraging for future efforts to repurpose ribosomes."

Research paper

Related Links U.S. Army Research Laboratory Space Technology News - Applications and Research

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Army project may lead to new class of high-performance materials - Space Daily

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November 23rd, 2019 at 8:47 pm

Monastic Ordination in Theravada Buddhism – The Good Men Project

Posted: at 8:46 pm


This is the fourth of a series of blog posts looking forward to the British Library exhibition on Buddhism, 25 Oct 2019 23 Feb 2020

The Buddhist rainy season retreat or Buddhist lent, which started on Dhamma Day last month (17 July), is used by many Theravada Buddhists to enter the monastic order, Sangha, for the whole three months of the Buddhist lent. Ordination can also be for a shorter or longer period of time, depending on personal circumstances and decisions.

The practice of monastic ordination goes back to the time of the historical Buddha. Soon after he attained enlightenment, the Buddha founded a community of disciples called the Sangha. He started to form his bhikkhu-sangha with only five monks; but because of the rationality of the Dhamma he soon gained a large number of followers.

Yasa, the son of a rich man, joins the monkhood to become the sixth bhikkhu after the Buddhas five chief disciples. Fifty of Yasas friends followed his example and joined the Sangha. Burmese manuscript, 19th century. British Library, Or 14553, f. 2

The Sangha is central to Theravada Buddhism. In the context of Buddhist monasticism, one who enters into a monastic life should for all purposes aim at the extinction of the three root causes of suffering (dukkha) ignorance, aversion and greed in order to put an end to the cycle of rebirths (samsara). Monastics shave their heads, wear robes in a shade of yellow, orange or ochre, study the Buddhist doctrines, observe a particular number of precepts depending on their religious advancement, practice meditation and spread the Dhamma, the Buddhas teachings. Eight requisites (attha parikkhara) allowed to a monastic include three yellow, orange or ochre robes (i.e. the lower loincloth, the upper inner robe and the large top robe), an alms bowl, a razor to shave the head, a needle for mending clothes, a water strainer, and a cloth girdle.

The eight requisites of monastics and some additional items like a ceremonial fan and a shoulder bag for travelling are normally donated by the lay community as acts of merit, along with food, medicines and objects for daily use. Making merit is at the centre of Theravada Buddhism and shapes the interaction between Sangha and the lay community. High levels of merit-making are regarded as a sign of peace, happy relationships and prosperity within the community or the entire country.

The Sinhala Ordination was introduced into Burma from Sri Lanka in the 12th century. In 1423 CE, twenty-five monks from Chiang Mai and eight monks from Angkor travelled to Sri Lanka and brought the Sinhala Ordination to Thailand. In 1476 CE, twenty-two monks from Burma were sent in two ships to the island. They were duly ordained by the Mahavihara monks at the consecrated sima (ordination hall) on the Kalyani River, near Colombo. Upon the return of these monks, King Dhammaceti (1471-1492 CE) built the Kalyani Sima in Pegu (Bago), where monks from neighbouring countries received their ordination.

In mainland Southeast Asia, two types of ordination ceremonies are held in the sima: ordination for novices (pabbajja), and ordination for monks (upasampada). To become a novice, the follower has to recite the Ten Precepts as well as the Three Refuges of Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha. In order to become a monk, the Sangha or monastic community will perform the upasampada ordination on fulfilment of the five conditions: Perfection of a person, Perfection of an assembly, Perfection of the sima, Perfection of the motion, and Perfection of the Kammavaca. The most senior elder leads the assembly for the newly-ordained monk, while selected monks will recite the upasampada Kammavaca ordination text taking great care with articulation and pronunciation.

There are 227 monastic rules for a bhikkhu (monks) and 311 monastic rules for a bhikkhuni (nuns) as described in the Vinaya Pitaka under the section of Patimokkha, which includes abstaining from eating after midday and refraining from handling money. After the death of King Suddhodana, father of the Buddha, the widowed queen Mahapajapati Gotami went to the Buddha and asked him to allow women to be fully ordained. The Buddha initially refused her request as the reality of living nunhood posed a hardship for the women. After the Buddhas disciple Ananda pleaded, the Buddha granted the request of Gotami on her promise to accept certain important rules to qualify her for ordination. Gotami, the Buddhas foster mother was the first woman to be ordained in Buddhism to become a bhikkhuni. After Gotamis ordination and the ordination of her five hundred followers, more and more women became nuns during the life time of the Buddha.

Although there is currently no formally acknowledged Order of Bikkhuni in Burma, Thailand or Laos, upasika (women who take vows) play important roles in society. They shave their heads, wear light yellow or white robes, keep eight or ten precepts, study the Buddhist doctrines, practice meditation and spread the Dhamma. They are also educators for women who wish to become upasika. They help carry out religious rituals and ceremonies, and they give support to elderly women, widows and orphans who are left without family. Currently, there are strong endeavours to revive full ordination of women and to get formal acknowledgement of the bhikkhuni-sangha in several Southeast Asian countries. It is said that the bhikkhuni-sangha and ordination of nuns in the Theravada tradition had died out about 1000 years ago. Nonetheless many manuscripts containing the entire Bhikkhuni-patimokkha were still produced in Southeast Asia during the 18th and 19th centuries, and this leads to the question as to why this was done, if the Order of Bhikkhuni had indeed been non-existent for centuries.

San San May, Curator for Burmese Jana Igunma, Lead curator, Buddhism exhibition

This post was previously published on bl.uk and is republished here under a Creative Commons license

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November 23rd, 2019 at 8:46 pm

Posted in Buddhist Concepts

How the Question’s evolution from right-wing vigilante to Zen Buddhist inspired Watchmen’s Looking Glass. – Slate

Posted: at 8:46 pm


Looking Glass, Rorschach, and the Question.

Photo illustration by Slate. Photos by HBO, DC Comics, and DC Comics.

In Little Fear of Lightning, the fifth episode of Watchmen, Looking Glass eats beans from a can.

Its a minor detail in an episode that also features psychic squid attacks and clone dog incineration, but for fans of the Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons comic books on which the show is based, it is a significant detail. When Looking Glass, aka Wade Tillman (Tim Blake Nelson), shovels cold beans into his mouth, readers recall a similar meal enjoyed by Rorschach, the nihilistic detective from the original comic.

Bean dinner is only the latest connection Watchmen has drawn between the two characters, from their mercurial masks to their dire assessments of contemporary society. As a detective for the Tulsa Police Department specializing in psychological profiling, Looking Glass drives one of the most memorable scenes in the series first episode, in which he interrogates a member of the white supremacist group the Seventh Kavalry. Sitting in the Poda circular interrogation room whose walls project charged images, including Klan rallies, Gen. Custer, and the American flagGlass asks his prisoner a series of probing questions. The blur of images on Glass silver mask recall the amorphous blobs that cover Rorschachs face and give him his name, and if the connection was not clear enough, the sequence ends with one last image on the Pod screens: a blot from a Rorschach test, the same one Gibbons and Moore use in a chapter about Rorschachs origin.

Damon Lindelof and co. trouble a clear analogy between Glass and Rorschach by making the latters presence more clearly felt in the form of the Seventh Kalvary. Fully embracing the racist undertones of Rorschachs conservatism, Kalvary members wear discount versions of their heros black-and-white mask and quote from his journal as if its Scripture. But unlike other characters in the new series, Glass does not appear to be a hatemonger in disguise, nor does he even seem to adopt his predecessors violent ways. Glass does not prevent his partner Sister Night (Regina King) from brutalizing suspects, but he doesnt participate either. He doesnt mince words when describing the shortcomings of his murdered friend and colleague Chief Judd Crawford (Don Johnson), but he doesnt deny the sorrow he feels at his friends loss. In the series first five episodes, Looking Glass has been less a ruthless truth seeker and more an aloof voice of reason, one whose most effective interrogation technique is forcing his subjects to look into their own eyes.

A detail in Little Fear of Lightning reminds us that, despite the superficial similarities between Looking Glass and Rorschach, these are two very different men. As Wade kisses a potential love interest, episode director Steph Green momentarily cuts to a medium shot, which captures the lovers holding each other in silhouette outside a bar. Wade indulges in some very un-Rorschach-like behavior here, and not just because he kissed someone smoking a controlled substance (tobacco, which is outlawed in the world of the show). The image of entwined lovers is a motif Gibbons laces throughout the comic, one that Rorschach describes in less than romantic terms when it appears as graffiti: Silhouette picture in doorway, man and woman, possibly indulging in sexual foreplay. Didnt like it. Makes doorway look haunted. Where Rorschach sees depravity, Looking Glass sees tenuous acceptance.

We have not yet been given a plot reason for the physical similarities between Looking Glass and Rorschachis Wade a fan, or does he see himself as Rorschachs mirror image? But we can trace both of them back to Rorschachs comic book forerunner, the Question.

The brainchild of Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko, the Question is a faceless crime fighter in a blue fedora and trenchcoat. Conceived for Charlton Comics Action Hero line, the Question gave Ditko a platform to espouse his Ayn Randian objectivist politics: Whenever news anchor Vic Sage uncovered a mystery, he punched his way to answers as the Question, content to let evildoers suffer horrible fates as the just reward for their poor decisions.

The Question and his fellow Action Heroes made appearances over the following decades, but they didnt reach wider audiences until DC Comics acquired the rights to Charltons character in 1983, just as Alan Moore began writing Watchmen. Barred by DC from using the new properties in their superhero deconstruction, Moore and Gibbons made their own analogues, and thus the Question became Rorschachgiving Moore opportunity to draw out and critique Ditkos worldview.

Looking Glass has been less a ruthless truth seeker and more an aloof voice of reason, one whose most effective interrogation technique is forcing his subjects to look into their owneyes.

Watchmens legacy has so defined its source characters that the Question is now commonly written as an unpleasant nut. But in 1987, the same year Watchmens final issue was published, writer Dennis ONeil and artist Denys Cowan launched a Question series with a very different take on the detective. The first issue begins like a Ditko-era tale, with Vic Sage discovering a new wrong and punishing evildoers as the Question, but it ends with him being shot in the head and left for dead. Somehow, Vic survives, and the next 40-plus issues follow the Question as he abandons objectivism for the more peaceful and complex precepts of Zen Buddhism. ONeill and Cowan never show Vic fully completing his transformation. Hes in a constant state of growth and failure, highly conflicted about his superheroic methods. During his meditation states, or when hes debating with his mentor Aristotle Rodor, Vic controls his anger and disavows violence. But when investigating crimes around the city, he constantly feels compelled to fight and even kill, to give criminal scum what they deserve.

ONeil and Cowan acknowledged their characters tangled lineage in 1988, with an issue in which Vic reads a copy of Watchmen while on a plane. Though impressed by the heavy stuff he finds, Vic drifts off to sleep and dreams that he is Rorschach. Although a man in the dream sacrifices himself to save Vic, this hybrid character cannot call him a hero. Maybe there are no heroes and no villains, either, Question/Rorschach opines. Maybe there is not one damn villain in the world.

Thats a concept unfamiliar to not only Rorschach and Ditkos Question, but to superheroes in general. Whether it be Green Arrow, with whom the Question teams later in that issue, or Looking Glasss partner Sister Night, superheroes make distinctions between good guys and bad guys, between the moral good of harming a villain and harming the innocent. But while Vic gets into a fight in nearly every issue of his 80s series, ONeil and Cowan never make him a clear hero. Hes a broken man who cant always tell the difference between himself and the villains.

In the original Watchmen, Moore and Gibbons imagined superheroes as sad people who use costumed adventures to avoid their problems. That concept returns in Sister Night, the protagonist of Lindelofs remix. Sister Night isnt just a good cop looking for justice; shes a deeply violent woman whose simplistic morality obscures her bad deeds.

Little Fear of Lightning shows us that Looking Glass is less like Sister Night or Rorschach, and more like ONeil and Cowans Question. The episode opens with a flashback to young Wade as a Jehovahs Witness missionary in 1985, certain that the world is about to end. But it ends in 2019, with Wade, whos spent three decades living in constant terror that the interdimensional squid that nearly destroyed New York will return, learning that it was all a hoax. Disillusioned and shattered, he betrays Sister Night and delivers her into the clutches of the FBI. As they come to take her away, Wade looks up at his partner and asks, Is anything true?

Thats something Rorschach would never ask. Nor, it seems, would Sister Night or any of her fellow costumed cops. These heroes see right from wrong, and would never compromise, not even in the face of Armageddon.

But as we watch Wade pull the silver mask over his sorrowful face, we know that Looking Glass cannot believe in such certainties. He doesnt have answers. He only has questions.

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How the Question's evolution from right-wing vigilante to Zen Buddhist inspired Watchmen's Looking Glass. - Slate

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November 23rd, 2019 at 8:46 pm

Posted in Buddhist Concepts

‘Friends’: Phoebe, the Buddhist Beacon in an Otherwise Rolling Mental Health Crisis – LIVING LIFE FEARLESS

Posted: at 8:46 pm


As Jennifer Aniston broke the Internet by joining Instagram and getting 1.4 million followers in the first five hours, causing the site to crash, and as millions of fans around the world celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the television series Friends this fall, theres one thing worth noting:

Not every Buddhist is a fan.

To many of us, the show was a rolling mental health crisis, says Boston Lama Surya Das, the founder of the Dzogchen Foundation and author of the new childrens bookThe Yeti and the Jolly Lama, (When the legendary Yeti terrorizes a small Tibetan village, the local lamaa cave-dwelling, meditating hermitshows us howgenerosity,patience,and asense of belonging can turn an Abominable Snowman into an adorable one.)

According to Das, who is called The Western Lama by Tibets Dalai Lama,The Friends are silo-ed city apartment dwellers who dont travel, relate to whats outside their area, and seem to have little or no social conscience or ambitions and aspirations. They are often petty and immature, have little or no health consciousness or environmental concerns, dont seem very creative or talented, and their friendships and loves are all they seem to have.

They are rarely if ever in the moment.

AND JOEY DOESNT SHARE FOOD.

The exception, says Das, might be the loving, kindness-filled Phoebe, typecast as the groups airhead.

Phoebe is free and unedited, spontaneous and delightful, goodhearted, Das says. Perhaps the best Buddhist term that might apply to her is the famous and controversial crazy wisdom that the Buddhist pioneer Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche coined and used to great effect in the 70s and 80s.

According to Das, Phoebe has what Tara Wagner of The Daily Positive calls radical honesty.

Instead of taking responsibility for other peoples emotions and reaction, she was radically honest

When faced with a direct uncomfortable question she never sugar-coats things to avoid causing awkwardness or embarrassment, he says. Instead of taking responsibility for other peoples emotions and reaction, she was radically honest, believing that the truth will set you free, even if it makes people angry. (Your collective dating record reads like a whos who of human crap.)

And she clearly has great karma, says Das. In The One With the Thumb, when Phoebes bank gave her $500 and a clock radio by mistake and refused to take it back, she gave the money and clock to a crazy homeless woman, who bought her a can of soda to thank her. The soda contained a severed thumb, and the soda company gave her $7,000 in compensation, says Das. Talk about what goes around, comes around.

WBTV

Coincidentally, a friend of Das in France was over-credited 2,000 Francs by her bank in the 80s when he lived there for eight years in silent contemplation in a Tibetan cloister. She asked the Elder head lama, a Tibetan, and he said: Keep it, unless they ask for it back. Use it generously for good deeds. You mustve done something to receive this little boon.

According to Das, it is hard to quantify karma, but the general principle of sowing what you reap applies: Who the You is and in what decade or lifetime is part of the mysterious equation.

it is hard to quantify karma, but the general principle of sowing what you reap applies

Perhaps Phoebes good Karma was in return for the loving kindness she showed by acting as surrogate mother for her half-brother and his wifes triplets, Das says, or for the care she gives to animals, another Buddhist value.One of the most relatable things about Phoebe is her passion for animals. Not only is she a vegetarian, but shes also against fur unless its a family heirloom, of course, says Das. And we are forever indebted to Phoebe for the Smelly Cat song.

As to rest, says the Lama, Phoebe clearly had some major Buddhist beliefs. In The One With The Cat, Phoebe found a cat that she believed was the reincarnation of her mom.Reincarnation is not only a major tenet of Buddhism, but of Hinduism and many New Age philosophies as well. It was nice to get a shout out to the countrys many religions, even if the writers did mean it mockingly, he says.

Das recalls a recent tweet of composer Lin-Manuel Miranda:

He hopes if the Friends ever do reunite, they will strive to be present and want more.

Meanwhile, heres some helpful Buddhist practices that might help the rest of the gang:

Joey: Could use and start with focusing meditation like Mindfulness of Breathing, a concentrative and mind-quieting meditation practice. Sometimes called Breath Watching, and even using breath counting in zen sitting if needed.

Ross: Buddha Manjusris Wisdom mantra chanting (co-meditation with sound and prana), for sharpening discriminating awareness and developing discernment and wise judgment.

Rachel: Equanimity and detachment meditation, observing impermanence and the ephemeral and contingent nature of things

Monica: Loving-kindness benevolence meditation (Metta), wishing well for others and developing empathic compassion for others as just like ourselves in wanting and needing what we do and suffering from ignorance, anxiety, doubt and insecurity.

Chandler: Mindful anger management and The Sacred Pause (consider before you (re)act.)

The Friends were played by actors Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer (and with Paul Rudd).

Lama Surya Das is the best-selling author of Awakening the Buddha Within and a leading voice in Western Buddhism. The founder of the Dzogchen Center in Cambridge, Mass., his latest book is a childrens book called The Yeti and the Jolly Lama. Tibets Dalai Lama calls him the Western Lama. He is a resident of Cambridge, Mass.

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November 23rd, 2019 at 8:46 pm

Posted in Buddhist Concepts

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

Posted: at 8:44 pm


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.

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

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November 23rd, 2019 at 8:44 pm

Posted in Relaxing Music

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

Posted: at 8:44 pm


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

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November 23rd, 2019 at 8:44 pm

Posted in Relaxing Music

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

Posted: at 8:44 pm


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

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November 23rd, 2019 at 8:44 pm

Posted in Relaxing Music

Soothing the soul – mySanAntonio.com

Posted: at 8:44 pm


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

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November 23rd, 2019 at 8:44 pm

Posted in Relaxing Music

13 things to do in South Jersey before Thanksgiving – Courier Post

Posted: at 8:44 pm


Visit South Jersey, Special to the Cherry Hill Courier-Post Published 5:00 a.m. ET Nov. 21, 2019

Are you celebrating No Shave November? Missing summer food trucks? Getting a jump on your holiday shopping?

There is an event to match each of those desires this weekend in South Jersey.

Just because it's colder out doesn't mean you can't find food trucks, such as Oink and Moo, at events throughout South Jersey.(Photo: Oink and Moo BBQ)

Food Truck Third Thursday Tonight! Nov.21 | 5 - 9 PM,Main Street, Medford. Join Medford Township for itsmonthly Food Truck Third Thursday.The event features more than 10food trucks, live musicand easy parking. Many local shops and restaurants will have specials, sales, and events going on as well. This event runs monthly from March through December. Visithttp://www.facebook.com/events/555330248283620/

Paint Night at White Horse WineryTonight! Nov.21 | 6 - 8 PM,White Horse Winery, Hammonton. White Horse Winery is hosting a paint night.Choose between two beautiful holiday-themed wine bottles complete with fairy lights.Themes to choose from include snowman and evergreen tree. Cost is $45 andincludes your bottle, lights and a delicious glass of WHW wine.Visithttp://www.whitehorsewinery.com/live-music-calendar

4th Friday in Uptown PitmanFriday, Nov.22 | 6 - 9 PM,Uptown Pitman. Stroll along Broadway andenjoy live music, vendors, classic cars, great shops, old-fashioned games, localrestaurants, beer, wine and lots of fun. Experience the unique, small town feel of historic Pitman. Visituptownpitman.com/fourth-friday/

Fresh hops decorates a table at Human Village Brewing Company in Pitman.(Photo: Human Village Brewing Company)

Name that Tune NightFriday, Nov.22 | 7 - 9:30 PM,Devils Creek Brewery, Collingswood.Come out for a Friday night game night.Theyll be serving up three rounds of questions and 12 different beers! Three teams will win.Visithttps://www.facebook.com/events/565287550904859/

Wine & Oldies Night with Jim TigheFriday, Nov.22 | 7 - 10 PM,Summit City Winery, Glassboro.Things are always hopping in the winery on Oldies Night.Come by for a glass or two and some great oldies tunes with Jim Tighe. Cost is $10 per person cover charge. You are welcome to bring your own food.Visithttp://summitcityfarms.com/events/

Saturday Live Music SeriesSaturday, Nov.23 | 6 - 9 PM,Sharrott Winery, Hammonton.Come enjoy wine and live music at Sharrott Winery. Jay LaBoy will be performing in Sharrotts tasting room with indoor and outdoor seating available. Wine tastings are $10 per person and include six samples of Sharrotts award-winning wines. Cant make it out? Dont worry, Sharrott Winery has live music every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Visithttp://sharrottwinery.com/events-archive/

Visitors to Sharrott Winery sample wine at one of the new tasting room bars.(Photo: Camden County)

Wine and Chocolate Weekends at 4JG's WineryNov.23 & 24 | Noon- 5 PM,4JGs Winery, Colts Neck.Sip award-winning wines, sample hand-crafted chocolates and relax. The fire pit will be going (weather permitting), so why not join in the fun? $15 entrance fee includes samples of nationally award-winning wines in a souvenir etched 4JGs Vineyard wine glassand chocolate samples. Visithttp://www.4jgswinery.com/events-1/2019/wine-and-chocolate-weekends

LIVE! From the Vineyard StageSaturday, Nov.23 | 7- 9 PM, Auburn Road Vineyards, Pilesgrove.Presented by Woodstown Music!,Enoteca favoriteBetween Sleep & Awake is now Bougie & The Beasts.Reservations strongly suggested.Enjoy wood-fired brick- oven pizza cooked on-site by Ravello Woodfire Pizza.Also, try gourmet Good Karma panini, salad, fresh organic bruschetta and antipasti each Saturday night. Visithttp://www.auburnroadvineyards.com/saturday-night-live-from-the-vineyard-stage/

Mt Holly Music SeriesSaturday, Nov.23 | 5 - 7:30 PM,Tomasello Winery.Kick off your weekend with live performances by local talent at Tomasello Winery.Enjoy a wine tasting and snacks while taking in the sounds of these sensational artists. Performing this week is UkeTronik. Visithttps://www.facebook.com/events/542627363200290

Decorate your beard for No Shave November.(Photo: RyanJLane, Getty Images)

Saturday on the CrushpadSaturday, Nov.23 | 11 AM - 6 PM.Hawk Haven Vineyard, Rio Grande.Warm up your palate with an educational wine tasting, then head to the crushpad with a glass of your favorite where youll kick back and enjoy the vineyard views. A variety of musical performances by local singer-songwriters rounds everything off into a perfect getaway. This weeks music: Nate Cwik Duo. Visithttp://hawkhavenvineyard.com/events/saturday-on-the-crushpad/

Decorate your beard for No Shave November!Saturday, Nov.23 | Noon- 1:30 PM,MADE. Artisan Marketplace, Woodbury.Brought to you by The Painted Bridge Espresso Bar & MADE. Artisan Marketplace. They are asking for a donation of $10 per participant (solo or couple), of which 75 percentwill be donated to a local cancer foundation to aid in their continuous efforts to support families who have been affected by testicular or prostate cancer. All creative supplies will be provided and beard and mustache safe. Visithttps://www.facebook.com/events/498588934066983/

Rancocas Woods Handmade Artisans MarketSaturday, Nov.23 | 10 AM - 4 PM,Rancocas Woods, Mount Laurel.The Rancocas Woods Handmade Artisan Market takes place on the fourthSaturdays from March through December in Rancocas Woods.Experience an outdoor handmade artisans market featuring an eclectic mix of local craft vendors, food trucks, live music andmore. Visithttp://www.facebook.com/madeandfoundmkt

Matt Adams at CRVSunday, Nov.24 | 2 - 5 PM,Cedar Rose Vineyards, Millville.Local musician Matt Adams is back for a relaxing Sunday afternoon! As always, Cedar Rose events are free to attend, and your own snacks are welcome.Seating is first-come, first- served. Visithttp://www.facebook.com/events/362631784621684/

For more events, check out VisitSouthJersey.com

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13 things to do in South Jersey before Thanksgiving - Courier Post

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November 23rd, 2019 at 8:44 pm

Posted in Relaxing Music


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