So when you hear the term organic food, what does it really mean? Is there one simple definition of organic food?

Organic foods are produced according to certain production standards. For crops, it means they were grown without the use of conventional pesticides, artificial fertilizers, human waste, or sewage sludge and that they were processed without ionizing radiation or food additives. For animals, it means they were reared without the routine use of antibiotics and without the use of growth hormones. In most countries, organic produce must not be genetically modified.

Now that you have a simple definition of organic food why should you make organic foods apart of your diet?

Good Question, there are two clear reasons to go organic:

Well first it just plaintastes better.Organically grown foods have basic standards some of which are is keeping soil healthy and fortifying it naturally, not with synthetic fertilizers. Healthy, fortified soil means healthy, strong plants, which translates to better-tasting food.

Secondly, organically grown foods havemore nutrients.Healthy soil of organic farmland also provides more nutrients for growing plants. Studies are showing they have more vitamins and minerals, like vitamin C and iron.

One of the biggest studies into organic food has found that it is more nutritious than ordinary produce and may help to lengthen peoples lives.

The study found that organic fruit and vegetables contained as much as 40% more antioxidants, which scientists believe can cut the risk of cancer and heart disease. They also had higher levels of beneficial minerals such as iron and zinc.

Professor Carlo Leifert, the co-ordinator of the European Union-funded project, said the differences were so marked that organic produce would help to increase the nutrient intake of people not eating the recommended five portions a day of fruit and vegetables. If you have just 20% more antioxidants and you cant get your kids to do five a day, then you might just be okay with four a day, he said.

Leifert said the government was wrong about there being no difference between organic and conventional produce. There is enough evidence now that the level of good things is higher in organics, he said.

Organic foods are essentially free of pesticides, while nearly every type of conventional fruit and vegetable has at least one type of pesticide applied to it sometime from when the seeds are put into the ground to when they are sold. Logically then, eating organic foods rather than conventional foods will reduce your familys exposure to pesticides. And for me that is enough to make organic foods apart of my familys diet.

If you enjoyed this article, Definition of Organic Food you might like to learn more about specific foods that you should buy organic read my articleIs Organic Worth It?

Over the past year, my friend Dave at PaleoHacks has been working on a secret cookbook with world-renowned Le Cordon Bleu chef Peter Servold.

Well, today this new this new incredible Paleo Cookbook is finally available to be shipped right to your door for FREE

Thats right as a special launch promotion, were offering our brand new Paleo fat loss cookbook to you for free (Chef Pete lost 60 lbs using these recipes!) All you have to do is just cover a small shipping cost (international shipping is a bit more).

Get your FREE copy of Paleo Eats Here. (Grab this today, because we only ordered a small batch of these cookbooks for this freebie promotion, and they will sell out FAST!)

See more here:

What is the Definition of Organic Food? : Healthy Holistic ...

A shopper surveys the produce at Pacifica Farmers Market in Pacifica, Calif., in 2011. AP hide caption

A shopper surveys the produce at Pacifica Farmers Market in Pacifica, Calif., in 2011.

Yes, organics is a $29 billion industry and still growing. Something is pulling us toward those organic veggies that are grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.

But if you're thinking that organic produce will help you stay healthier, a new finding may come as a surprise. A new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine finds scant evidence of health benefits from organic foods.

"There's a definite lack of evidence," says researcher Crystal Smith-Spangler at Stanford University School of Medicine, especially when it comes to studies of people.

She and her colleagues collected 200 peer-reviewed studies that examined differences between organic and conventional food, or the people who eat it.

A few of these studies followed people who were eating either organic or conventional food and looked for evidence that the choice made a difference in their health.

One study, for instance, looked at whether eating organic food while pregnant would influence the likelihood of eczema and other allergic conditions among children, and another looked at whether eating organic meat would influence the risk of a Campylobacter infection, a bacterial food-borne illness. When the researchers looked at the body of evidence, they found no clear benefits. But they say more research is needed.

It's important to note, though, that such studies have a really hard time uncovering subtle effects of our environment, or what we eat, on our health. Too many other powerful influences get in the way. Also, these studies only followed people for a very short time about two years or less. That's hardly enough time to document any particular health benefit.

Most of the studies included in this collection looked at the food itself the nutrients that it contained as well as levels of pesticide residues or harmful bacteria.

As you might expect, there was less pesticide contamination on organic produce. But does that matter? The authors of the new study say probably not. They found that the vast majority of conventionally grown food did not exceed allowable limits of pesticide residue set by federal regulations.

Some previous studies have looked at specific organic foods and found that they contain higher levels of important nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals. We've reported on one particularly ambitious experiment, which is supposed to go on for a hundred years, comparing plots of organic and conventional tomatoes. After 10 years, the researchers found that tomatoes raised in the organic plots contained significantly higher levels of certain antioxidant compounds.

But this is one study of one vegetable in one field. And when the Stanford researchers looked at their broad array of studies, which included lots of different crops in different situations, they found no such broad pattern.

Here's the basic reason: When it comes to their nutritional quality, vegetables vary enormously, and that's true whether they are organic or conventional. One carrot in the grocery store, for instance, may have two or three times more beta carotene (which gives us vitamin A) than its neighbor. That's due to all kinds of things: differences in the genetic makeup of different varieties, the ripeness of the produce when it was picked, even the weather.

So there really are vegetables that are more nutritious than others, but the dividing line between them isn't whether or not they are organic. "You can't use organic as your sole criteria for judging nutritional quality," says Smith-Spangler.

Of course, people may have other reasons for buying organic food. It's a different style of agriculture. Organic farmers often control pests by growing a greater variety of crops. They increase the fertility of their fields through nitrogen-fixing plants, or by adding compost instead of applying synthetic fertilizer.

That can bring environmental benefits, such as more diverse insect life in the field or less fertilizer runoff into neighboring streams. But such methods also cost money. That's part of what you are buying when you buy organic.

So if you really want to find the most nutritious vegetables, and the organic label won't take you there, what will?

At the moment, unfortunately, there isn't a good guide. But a lot of scientists are working on it.

They're measuring nutrient levels in all kinds of crops, and discovering some surprising things, as The Salt reported last week such as supernutritious microgreens. They're trying to breed new varieties of crops that yield not a bigger harvest but a more nutrient-rich harvest.

The problem is, farmers still get paid by the pound, not by the vitamin. And consumers buy their food the same way. What this really requires is a whole new food system that can track those extra-nutritious crops from farmer's field to consumer's shopping basket.

Maybe, down the road, you will actually see signs in the supermarket that advertise, for instance, iron-rich beans. Maybe they'd be organic, or maybe not.

Read the original post:

Why Organic Food May Not Be Healthier For You - npr.org

Reader Approved

Yoga is a physical and mental practise that originated from Hinduism in ancient India. Get the benefits of yoga; Relax in a few minutes with an easy yoga series. Learn yoga from a video with beautiful music. The first ten minutes we learn some basic yoga exercises and the last minutes we meditate with some mantras and the muscle relaxation. If you have little time, make only the yoga exercises or the meditation. Do yoga at least twice a week so that you stay healthy, fit and happy.

1

Lie down on your back and relax. Feel the air around you, and breathe it in and out. Try to relax your body, and clear your mind of thoughts.

2

Raise the outstretched right leg and hold it in the air. Then raise the left leg in the air and hold it.

3

Raise both legs and the head in the air. Hold it as long as possible and breathe, relaxed, on your belly.

4

Go into the candle, raise the butt and the legs to the sky. The hands will strengthen your back. Move your feet and relax a minute in the candle.

5

Lie down again and rotate the spine some times. Turn the pelvis to the right and the head to the left. And the other way round. Twist the spine as far as possible.

6

Turn in the prone position and raise the right outstretched leg. Hold it and breathe, relaxed, in your belly. Then raise the left leg and hold it in the air.

7

Put your head backwards and bring your feet as far as possible to the head. The legs are in the air and the hands lie beside the body on the ground. They support the position. We hold the bow, breath relaxed into the belly and move the feet.

8

Lie the head on your hands, move your feet and relax.

9

Sit cross-legged or in the heel seat. The back is straight and the belly relaxed. Think one minute, the mantra "Om Shanti", an important Hindu chant. Think it so fast, that all thoughts come to rest. Then move a hand in blessing and think: "I send light to (name). May all people be happy. May the world be happy."

10

Lie down and make the muscles relax. Tense the muscles of the legs and feet. Relax. Tense the muscles of the arms and hands. Relax. Tense the muscles of the head and the face. Relax. Tense the muscles of the whole body. Relax. Move the feet. Relax completely for some minutes. Go peacefully and happy your way.

Is it bad for me to criss cross my legs?

wikiHow Contributor

No, only if you feel extreme pain or discomfort while doing it, then just criss-cross them as comfortably as possible.

How can I do yoga when my body is not flexible?

wikiHow Contributor

Be patient, and respect your body's limits. If you approach yoga too aggressively, you won't see much improvement, and might hurt yourself. A skilled yoga teacher can help you adjust each pose to work within your limits, and gradually expand them. Many poses have several variations, and the goal is to pick the variation where you can stay relaxed with good form but still be challenged. Don't be afraid to pick an "easier" variation, but perform it well, instead of straining through something too advanced. Learn how to use props (blocks, bolsters and straps) to support your body.

Please tell me that how many days and how much time is required for each step?

Do yoga every day for a quarter of an hour.

What if I can't put my head to my feet?

wikiHow Contributor

It's okay if you can't put your head to your feet, everyone's body is different. Go as far as you comfortably can, the idea is to get a good stretch. You may find you become more flexible over time.

Whats are the benefits of yoga exercise?

wikiHow Contributor

It helps to relax your body and remove stress. If you do yoga regularly, you will feel calmer and less angry or stressed.

Will yoga help strengthen my body?

wikiHow Contributor

Yes, yoga will strengthen your muscles and increase your flexibility.

Dose yoga help with heart problems, diabetes, and high blood pressure?

Yoga can be helpful with a lot of medical problems. Yoga is used for relaxation, strength, flexibility, and posture correction. That said, it should NEVER be used to replace medication.

How many calories does yoga burn?

wikiHow Contributor

The number of calories you'll expend doing yoga is based on your body weight and workout duration. If you weigh 125 pounds, you'll burn about 120 calories, and if you weigh 185 pounds you'll expend 178 calories in 30 minutes doing yoga, according to Harvard Health Publications.

How do I relax before a musical recital?

wikiHow Contributor

Go to your happy place, a place that calms you down and relaxes you and when you get on stage and you are feeling, then nervous go back to that place.

My mind is always running and I can't relax. Any tips for relaxing?

wikiHow Contributor

Try chakra meditation, as well as meditation. Healing your chakras will especially help.

Ask a Question

Categories: Yoga

In other languages:

Deutsch:Yoga fr Anfnger machen,Espaol:hacer yoga para principiantes,Italiano:Praticare Yoga per Principianti,Portugus:Fazer Yoga Para Iniciantes,: ,Franais:pratiquer le yoga lorsqu'on dbute,Bahasa Indonesia:Berlatih Yoga Pertama Kali,: ,Nederlands:Yoga voor echte beginners,Ting Vit:Tp yoga cho ngi mi bt u,:

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,116,412 times.

YesNo

See the original post here:
The Best Way to Do Yoga for Absolute Beginners - wikiHow

Please go to our NEW face book page here

"Rain Retreat" Week 2: the Monastics (Monks & Nuns) hold their "Rain Retreat" August 9th - August 23rd, 2015.Sunday, August 16th Vietnamese "Rain Retreat" (2nd Sunday) continues through Sunday, August 23rd "Parents' Day," ("Vu Lan"). "Rain Retreat" got it's name because in Asia it occurs during the rainy season between "Buddha's Birthday" and "Parents Day." On Sunday, August 23, 2015, Quan Am Monastery will celebrate "Parent's Day" (also known as "Ancestors' Day) on Sunday, August 23, 2015. For more info on "Parents' Day" Call (901) 679-4528 or see below:

If one's ancestors or parents are living, then the family member wears a red rose. Offerings are intended to assist the ancestors in their spiritual journey in this world. If the ancestors (or parents) are deceased, then the family member wears a white rose. Our intention is for our offerings to help deceased relatives in their journey to higher realms. In addition to the annual celebration, which is determined by the Lunar calendar, offerings and practices are done by family members during important traditional or religious celebrations, the starting of a new business, or even when a family member needs guidance or counsel. Quan Am Monastery will celebrate "Ancestors' Day" starting at 10am on Sunday, August 23, 2015. Everyone is invited to attend! Stay afterwards for a light "veggie" lunch on the porch outside the Temple or dine inside the house.In Vietnam, the anniversary of a loved ones death holds significance and is an important occasion. Family members gather for a banquet in memory of the deceased. Pictures with the names of the loved ones are on the ancestor altar. Offerings consist of favorite foods, which are prepared for the altar, fruit and incense.Respect for ancestors goes across all sectors of Vietnamese culture. Having an ancestor altar in the home or business is a common practice of all Vietnamese, regardless of religious affiliation (Buddhist or Christian).For more information or questions: Call(901) 679-4528 or Email: buddhistmemphis@gmail.com

Yoga Class 5:45pm every Tuesday - weekly. Everyone invited! Young & Old! Everyone enjoys this class. Suggested donation: $10 Adults; $7 Students;$7 Special Discount for Cooper Young Community Association members, upon presentation of card.

6pm Friday Meditation & Dharma Talk - WEEKLYRelax after work ~ Bring a friend. 10 min. from U of M. 12 min. from Midtown/East MemphisCall (901) 679-4528 to RSVP and for infoon what to wear.Bring any questions you may have. It's a good time to ask and for discussion. (You're invited to stay for light snacks afterwards. Get acquainted. Discuss Buddhism.) If you are running late, no worries. Just grab a cushion and join in. Cushions and chairs are available at the Monastery. Dress modest, lightweight, loose clothing & "Slip-On" shoes and Socks!Chant books in English - Just read along. Sessions are broken up into: 1) Chanting the "Heart Sutra" in English 2) "Silent Sitting Meditation" 3) Dharma Talk

Family Friendly Day Retreat Sunday, August 2, 2015 ~ Learn to Meditate.

RECAP: Vegan Pot Luck Dinner & Movie was great Saturday July 25th! There was Lasagna stuffed with Vegan Cheese; Vegan Chicken & Dumplings; 3 huge bowls of Green Salad; Fabulous! Organic Tofu Vegan "Deviled Eggs" prepared by a Vegan Chef & Food Scientist; Organic Watermelon & Vegan Banana Bread. Great company and everyone enjoyed each other. And we did a brief tour of the Temple and saw the harvest from the Monastery Garden. Enjoyed the "Vegucated" movie together. Highly enjoyable evening!

Visit link:
Buddhist Memphis - MEDITATION

The wordashramcomes from the Sanskrit word, Srama, which means "religious exertion." However, in more recent times the term "ashram" is used to describe any facility used by a spiritual community. They can vary in size from a small hermitage housing just a few people to multiple building complexes which are home to hundreds, including whole families.

Ashrams have existed in India for thousands of years, and, more recently, many ashrams have been established in other parts of the world. Traditionally, ashrams were located away from the mainstream of human population. Nowadays, ashrams can be found in most parts of India, and range from cheap accommodations for westerners to closed communities with strict rules and codes of conduct. Most ashrams are either led by a living spiritual teacher or follow the path laid out by a particular lineage. Ashrams tend to have a set schedule, followed by the permanent residents, which visitors are invited and sometimes expected to join. Some ashrams also served asgurukulas or residential schools for children, adhering to a particular tradition.

Westerners often have the impression that most Indians practice silent meditation and yoga asanas on a regular basis. While this may be true for some, the average Indians spiritual practices are more of a devotional nature. Most Indians will have a small shrine in their home, dedicated to the family deity, and will visit their local temple to participate in prayers and rituals. Pilgrimages to sacred sites are also very much a part of an Indians spiritual duties. Ashrams play an important role by offering food, housing, and support to the thousands of pilgrims constantly on the move in India.

In general, an ashram is a sacred place and very different from a hotel. It represents an opportunity to step away from worldly affairs and return to a simpler way of living. Its a place to nourish your soul, deepen your spiritual practice, and awaken to your true Self. An ashram is a place for inner freedom.

I have been connected with an ashram community called the Shree Satuwa Baba Ashram in Indias sacred city of Varanasi for almost 14 years. During this time, I have visited it two to three times each year, spending between a few weeks to several months there each visit. The Ashram dates back 300 years, and, although touched by the modern world, still functions in accordance with ancient Vedic traditions. It is home to a residential school for boys training to become Vedic priests and provides temporary accommodations for several thousand pilgrims a year, all on a donation basis. Because of its traditional nature and fairly basic facilities, it receives few western visitors. Fortunately, even though I am something of an anomaly, I was quickly accepted into their family.

The former head of the Ashram, Maharaji, who left us physically four years ago at age ninety-nine, was the purest, most highly evolved human I have been blessed to meet. He became my Guru and gave me my spiritual name Raghavanand. Although it was clear he had a great depth of profound knowledge, our language limitations restricted our conversations to simple subjects. At first, this created a bit of a dilemma for me, as I had spent the previous thirty years listening to spiritual discourses, reading sacred texts, and questioning everyone.

Nothing happens in an ashram without the Grace of the Guru, and I was soon to receive that blessing. Sensing my confusion, Maharaji invited me to just be with him, to watch, listen, and breathe in his divinity. And so, this is what I did at every opportunity. After spending years in Himalayan caves and returning to become Guru of the Ashram, Maharaji lived very simply. He slept on a mat on the floor in the same room where he spent much of the day meeting the many visitors who came for his advice or blessing.

I would rise early in the morning, bathe, and then quietly enter his room, where he would have already begun his morning prayers and pujas. Sitting as unobtrusively as possible, I would meditate or simply observe his devotion. During the day, with me in tow, he might visit a neighboring ashram, take a boat ride on the Ganges, or cross the river to visit the ashrams farm and cows. During all of this, Maharaji would always make sure I was taken care of. He ate very basic meals, but made sure I was properly fed and insisted on me drinking a cup of warm milk with him every evening before bed.

Looking back, I realize that the time I spent with Maharaji, though mostly in silence, was as important to my spiritual growth as anything I have read in a book or heard from a discourse. Here are six lessons I learned:

I learned to accept that the moment is perfect as it is. Indian clocks seem to move at an entirely different speed than those in the rest of the world, and this is particularly evident in ashrams. Some mornings Maharaji would announce that he wanted to visit somewhere. In my usual westerner eagerness to be ready on time, I would inquire when we would be leaving. The answer was always the same, When Lord Krishna decides. I soon learned that this could mean five minutes, several hours, or even days.

From watching Maharaji, I have begun to learn the gift of humility. Even though he was respected in spiritual communities throughout India, his door was open to everyone who came. Whether a poor village farmer, a pilgrim, or important politician, everyone was welcomed with the same degree of respect.

Maharaji lived simply, and being with him encouraged me to do the same. Over the years, the luggage that I thought was necessary to take with me to the ashram became less. Sleeping on a wooden bed, having no heat in the winter, bathing from a bucket of cold water, and sitting on the floor to eat my meals without utensils has now become my ashram norm.

Seva (service without regard for the self) and the practice of Karma Yoga is very much a part of ashram life. Everyone is invited to pitch in with whatever needs doing. However, I soon learned that Indians who had grown up chopping vegetables on the floor, serving food to long rows of hungry people from a bucket, or sweeping the floor with a broom made of twigs were much more efficient than me. After frustrating everyone with my slowness, I finally asked Maharaji what job could I do. Without hesitating he replied, official ashram photographer, and to this day, thats what I am!

Ive always enjoyed my quiet time. Whether it was my meditation, reading, or walking in nature, this has always been a regular part of my daily routine. This, however, doesnt always work out in an ashram with 70 young boys. The main focus of their education at the Ashram is learning Sanskrit, learning the Vedic chants, and performing sacred rituals. Recently, a daily English class has been added, so now my quiet time is invaded by little boys eager to practice what theyve learned. I remind myself that the reward of patience is patience.

Although the ashram had a school, the actual school building had fallen down years ago, and the boys slept and studied scattered throughout the ashram. One day, Maharaji called me into his room and said he wanted to rebuild the school, but needed my help. My first fear was that he expected me to start mixing cement and laying bricks, but he told me that my role was to raise the money. I mentally debated whether laying bricks would be easier. When I expressed my hesitation, he said, Dont worry, Lord Krishna sent you to help us. Definitely no pressure! I had no experience in raising large sums of money, but I told him I would do my best.

A week later, I returned to the U.S. and received a phone call from a good friend who had traveled with me in India and who was also a successful businessman. During the conversation, it occurred to me to ask his advice on raising the money. When I explained how much was needed, he said that it was no problem and that he would pay for everything. Wow! I immediately phoned the ashram to tell Maharaji the great news. When I told him I had all the money, he matter-of-factly replied, Of course, I knew you would. Weve already begun the construction.

If you havent already, find an opportunity to visit an ashram one day. In the meantime, bring the energies of an ashram into your home:

Ultimately, your personal ashram is that place of pure love you always carry with you in your heart.

Embrace a unique opportunity to step away from the demands of daily life and explore the richness of your spirit at Silent Awakenings, an intimate silent retreat with Deepak Chopra. Learn More.

Continued here:

6 Important Lessons From the Ashram | The Chopra Center

The Christian Ashram Experience

Each Ashram today continues to follow the original format instituted by Dr. Jones.The unique Ashram format offers a break from everyday demands to allow space and time for learning, prayer, reflection, fellowship, and rest.

Open Heart

Early in the retreat experience, participants gather into small groups to express in a heartfelt way the blessings, needs, and spiritual desires that they have coming into the Ashram. This time lays the groundwork for the openness and closeness that will be shared over the next few days.

Bible Hour

The Ashram experience is rooted in the practice of listening for God. Each day, a gifted and qualified Bible teacher provides substantive, Scripture-based lessons for reflection and discussion.

Prayer Groups

Journeying together throughout the retreat, prayer groups offer each Ashram attendee the opportunity to reflect on what they have heard, share what they feel, receive encouragement, and join in prayer for one another in love.

EvangelisticSermons

Opening to God's Spirit and rekindling the fire of our faith is an essential goal of the Ashram experience. Gifted and qualified Christian Ashram evangelists are dynamic, bold, and relevant in their proclamation of the Word.

Healing andWholeness

Often a pivotal moment during the retreat, each Ashram includes a time when participants are given the opportunity to receive physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual healing through prayer and community support.

OverflowingHeart

As the Ashram draws to a close, the entire community in attendance gathers to reflect and share how each one has been blessed, challenged, and equipped for continuing growth and ministry during the retreat. This special time of praise to God and encouragement of one another prepares us all to return to our lives ready for what God has for us to do.

Christian Ashrams are not just for adults -- the entire family is welcome to attend!

Children's programs include storytelling, singing, crafts, and games.

Youth programs provide relevant, Bible study, worship, and fun for teens.

Grow together and grow in faith. Attend the Ashram as a family!

The rest is here:

What is an Ashram? - United Christian Ashrams

The Emotional Challenges of Student Veterans on Campus by Ann Cheney, from The Conversation,11/09/2017

On Veterans Day, Americans honor the heroism and sacrifice of the men and women who have served in the U.S. military. Among them are student veterans. Though the GI Bill has facilitated access to higher education, it doesn't prepare student veterans for the emotional and psychological stress often experienced during the transition to student life. Here's a look at the unique challenges they face and how college campuses support them.

by Winona Weindling,11/07/2017

Millennials have many of the same perceptions of higher education as members of previous generations, but have some differing views as well. To gain a more personal perspective, HigherEdJobs spoke to individuals from three different generations -- a baby boomer, a member of Generation X, and a millennial. Here's a look at their perceptions on the value of higher education.

by Bruce Harshbarger,11/03/2017

Bruce Harshbarger has worked in Student Affairs for nearly 40 years. He first got into the field because of his passion for working with college students, but much to his disappointment, he has found that the higher he rises in rank, the less face time he gets with students. With some creativity, though, he has found a way to fulfill his duties while still being accessible to students. Here's how he's making a difference by simply sitting in a rocking chair.

Link:
HigherEdJobs - Jobs in Higher Education

Guest Faculty Workshop #1:Potentials and Pitfalls on the Spiritual PathA 90-minute Audio Workshop with Ken Wilber

While many of us have some understanding of what a spiritual life entails, moving from an idea to a lived reality is a jump that many of us struggle to make. Ken Wilber, the worlds foremost authority on Integral and spiritual consciousness, will help us to better understand the obstacles that often prevent us from reaching the higher potentials were seeking to awaken.

In this virtual workshop, you will learn:

Ken Wilber is one of the most widely read and influential philosophers of our time, credited with creating a genuine world philosophy. Ken has a deep expertise with most of the worlds mystic traditions, and has explored academically and experientially the many states of consciousness that different spiritual practices produce. He is the author of 25 books, the founder of Integral Institute, Inc., the co-founder of Integral Life, Inc., and the Senior Fellow of Integral Life.

Meditation plays an indispensable role in our spiritual growth and evolution, but what happens when we get up off the meditation cushion and step into the world of action? From our intimate relationships to our workplaces, from making big decisions to navigating conflicts, the real fruits of our practice emerge in the day-to-day. How can we live an authentic spiritual life amidst the complexities and challenges of our increasingly chaotic modern world?

In this evocative workshop, Feminine Power founder Claire Zammit will illuminate how you can awaken to the evolutionary impulsethe powerful creative force that animates the universeand align with it so that your entire life is infused with deeper meaning and higher purpose. In practical yet inspiring terms, Claire will reveals how you can begin to access this vital energy and approach life through this empowering perspective. And shell offer specific practices that will allow you to begin cultivating an evolutionary relationship to life today.

In this LIVE workshop, youll discover

Claire Zammit Ph.D.(c) is a transformational teacher, leader, and mentor to women in more than 100 countries worldwide. She is the founder of the Feminine Power Global Community, which offers online trainings, advanced courses and coaching certifications that serve hundreds of thousands of women. Her mission is to empower women to fully express their gifts and talents by sharing the Feminine Power teachings that she created and which she credits as the source of her own fulfillment, success and impact. In 2014, Claire received Just Like My Child Foundations Womens Leadership Award in recognition of her contributions to funding The Girl Power Project thats now set to impact over 1 million girls with leadership and self-esteem trainings in the developing world. Claire is an active member of Jack Canfields prestigious Transformational Leadership Council and was the recipient of its achievement award. She is also a participant in Deepak Chopras Evolutionary Leaders Forum.

We have all been deeply conditioned to relate to the world from an assumption that something is wrong. In certain circumstances, this is useful because it helps us avoid problemsbut it too easily becomes pathological. It generates a fundamental neurosis that leaves us existentially uncertain in a world that feels inherently unsafe. During this LIVE workshop Jeff Carreira will share the meditation practice he calls The Practice of No Problem. You will be asked to just sit and not make a problem out of anything that happens. At first you will assume it will be easy, but soon you will realize that you have no idea how not to have a problem. You will see how your how your habits of control make life feel like a struggle and you will see how you bring these habits with you into meditation. As you learn to gradually give up control you will find yourself floating in a space of ease and simplicity that takes you far beyond fear, worry and self-concern.

Jeff Carreira is a contemporary mystic, a spiritual guide and a philosopher who teaches meditation and transformative philosophy throughout the world. As a spiritual guide, Jeff offers retreats and courses leading individuals in a form of meditation called The Practice of No Problem. Using this simple and effective orientation toward meditation Jeff has guided thousands of people on journeys beyond the confines of fear and self-concern into the expansive liberated awareness that is our true home. Jeff is the author of six books including The Miracle of Meditation, The Practice of No Problem, Radical Inclusivity and The Soul of a New Self.

View post:
Practice of Direct Awakening - Meditation 2.0

Selling Power is pleased to announce the 2016 listing of the Top 20 Sales Training Companies. This year's application pool was one of the most competitive so far. Each company on the list submitted a comprehensive application and had at least four clients submit a brief survey on their experience working with the training provider and the results provided.

The four main criteria used when comparing applicants and selecting the companies to include on this year's list were:

Note: This list is organized in alphabetical order and no priority or ranking is implied.

The singular focus of The Sales Board (Action Selling) is improving the salesperson's ability to sell and the manager's ability to coach. While many industries are neck deep in big data, the sales training industry has not been until now. Since 1990, we have trained, tracked, and certified more than 400,000 salespeople from 3,500 companies using the Action Selling LearningLink system. With more than 78 million data points, The Sales Board has tangible proof of how Action Selling is the world's most effective sales training methodology.

Then you need AXIOM. We have completely redesigned how to improve the effectiveness of sales teams. We provide you with an integrated solution, including a proven behavior model, sales enablement technology, inline learning assets, and a dedicated sales success team. All are designed to work seamlessly together inside Salesforce.com. With Axiom, learning is continuous and so is improvement. Enlightened learning and inspired selling, that's AXIOM.

The Brooks Group's coaching methodology ties together live coaching by an SME, peer accountability, gamification, management participation, and on-the-job application of concepts to guarantee learners have the tools needed to apply concepts quickly and permanently to get stakeholders the results they're seeking.

Carew takes a holistic approach to sales and business development honing the skills, methods, processes, and attitudes needed to drive lasting sales performance improvement. Our hallmark is developing sales professionals who are able to cultivate productive, long-term customer relationships and elevate themselves to a business advisor role inside their customer organizations while creating value for their customers.

Our client list includes industry leaders such as American Airlines Cargo, American Express, BlackRock, BMO, Chobani, Direct Energy, EMC, General Electric, HSBC, Molson Coors, Nucor, Pfizer, PwC, SAS, Scotiabank, Telus, and many others.

Headquartered in the UK and with offices in the United States, Europe, and Asia Pacific Imparta delivers national and multinational programs with local knowledge and experience. Delivery to a global audience has positioned Imparta as a leading blended learning provider of sales and service training as well as a pioneer in the field of business simulations.

Integrity Solutions increases leadership's ability to align and engage their teams with a specific focus on their attitudes, values, motivations, and beliefs. We go beyond skills and process to boost self-belief and release achievement drive often-overlooked performance accelerators. Our core solutions are grounded in values and ethics and tie well to the importance of integrity and values in the corporate world. Integrity Solutions has more than 45 years of experience delivering innovative and sustained learning on a global scale across the business spectrum.

Janek's research-based sales training programs and skill sustainment solutions have allowed clients to consistently deliver this and more. There is a reason we refer to ourselves as a sales performance company. "Performance" is part of our identity and our entire team of experienced consultants, instructional designers, and facilitators is laser-focused on providing comprehensive solutions that produce long-lasting, positive results for our clients.

Mercuri International provides open courses in a number of countries, but the majority of the business is built on customized in-company sales development projects. Based on the global footprint, number of consultants, size of client base, and the results achieved by clients, Mercuri International is one of the global market leaders in sales development.

Miller Heiman Group, a TwentyEighty company, is one of the largest dedicated performance improvement companies in the world, bringing game-changing insight to sales performance, customer experience, and leadership and management. Backed by its Be Ready set of solutions, Miller Heiman Group helps companies build and sustain successful, customer-focused organizations that drive profitable revenue and predictable top-line growth on a global scale.

Richardson is a global sales training and performance improvement company. We collaborate with sales organizations to achieve greater levels of success by changing the behaviors of their salespeople and sales managers. Our approach is highly collaborative, with a focus on enabling the right sales activity and effective customer dialogues. To help you achieve your goals, we partner with you to develop customized training programs and a culture of continuous learning to help drive improved organization performance.

By partnering with us, some of our clients have been able to eliminate the classroom altogether. Our footprint spans six continents with support for over a dozen languages. Most of all, we never deliver a program off the shelf every project is a partnership defined by our client's unique business challenges and aimed at achieving their specific sales goals and objectives. Contact us and you'll feel the difference immediately!

A key enabler for our clients' success is our SPI-1 sales performance improvement platform. SPI-1 empowers sales leaders to drive continuous, data-driven sales improvement and offer sales managers greater insight and control over performance. Our extensive sales performance expertise, deep industry knowledge, global resources, and technology innovation uniquely position SPI as the go-to partner for organizations that need to rapidly transform sales in a disruptive and increasingly competitive world. SPI is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, with offices in Brussels, London, and Shanghai.

Leveraging our extensive curriculum library, our programs are custom tailored to each client's unique development needs and promote skills adoption and retention through a highly engaging, interactive program methodology and blended training delivery methods.

Sandler Training is a global training organization with more than three decades of experience and proven results. Sandler provides sales and management training and consulting services for small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) as well as corporate training for Fortune 1000 companies. Our proven methodologies and specialized tools develop top-performing sales, management, and executive teams that excel in a fluid, fast-paced, global business environment.

ValueSelling Associates guides sales managers and their teams in using the ValueSelling Framework, a proven formula for accelerating sales results. The ValueSelling Framework is the first and only methodology with a toolset integrated throughout the entire sales lifecycle. Since 1991, thousands of inside, outside, direct, and channel sales professionals have adopted the ValueSelling methodology to better qualify prospects, advance bigger contracts, and close deals faster. To drive overall adoption, ValueSelling Associates proven sales professionals and leaders themselves tailor the simple and practical ValueSelling Framework to be relevant to your business, engaging for your teams, and localized to your region. Our highly customized sales training, tools, and consulting services provide a proven formula for accelerating your sales results.

Vantage Point Performance is the sales management training partner of choice for leading companies such as 3M, FedEx, GE, HP, Roche, and Samsung. Based on the groundbreaking research in the best-selling book, Cracking the Sales Management Code, Vantage Point is redefining sales management by deploying simple but powerful frameworks that finally put sales managers in control of sales force performance. The company partners with global corporations to replace stale coaching models with a powerful sales management methodology. Vantage Point simplifies sales managers' lives and empowers them to lead by providing intuitive, straightforward insight into the levers that drive sales performance.

Our holistic approach combines proven sales development content, consulting expertise, and coaching with an array of learning services and an award-winning reinforcement and sustainment system. Our sales solutions align with clients' sales and business priorities to improve the impact of their sales teams and business performance. For example, our work with a sales team at a global chemical company increased revenue by 12.8 million and grew market share from 7 percent to 10 percent in one year.

Selling Energy is revolutionizing the sales training industry. Mark Jewell, our lead instructor, conducts live workshops throughout North America as well as online/on-demand courses that focus on reframing and expressing proposed solutions so they capture decision makers' attention and motivate action. Selling Energy's training artfully combines professional selling and sales management, advanced approaches to cost/benefit analysis, and segment-specific business acumen.

More here:
Selling Power | Top 20 Sales Training Companies in 2016

Buddhists believe in reincarnation meaning that they believe that people are reborn again after dying. They believe that people continually go through the cycle of birth, living, death and rebirth.

The three trainings or practices in Buddhism are sila, samadhi and prajna. Sila is the practice of virtue, morality and good conduct. Sila is the classic "golden rule" of Christianity, do unto others as you would wish them to do unto you. Samadhi is the mental development of the person and refers to concentration and meditation. Buddhists believe that developing one's mind is the best way to lead to personal freedom. Prajna is the discernment or enlightenment where wisdom emerges into a person's calm and pure mind.

The four noble truths of Buddhism explore human suffering. The first is Dukkha, which is that suffering exists. It states that suffering is universal and everyone will feel suffering. The second is Samudaya, which is that there is a cause for the suffering that everyone experiences. Buddhists believe that the desire to have and control things is what leads to suffering. The third is Nirodha, which is that there is an end to suffering. Buddhists believe that in achieving Nirvana then the mind is free to experience complete freedom and non-attachment. The fourth is Magga, which is that the eightfold path is the way to end suffering.

Read more:
What are the main beliefs of Buddhism? | Reference.com