Here is what you'll need!

Ramen Any Vegan Or Vegetarian Will Love

1 tablespoon ginger, minced

1 cup shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and sliced

Peppers, sliced and sauted

Rainbow carrots, diced and sauted

Onions, sliced and sauted

Jalapeos, sliced and sauted

In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic, ginger, and onions and saut until onions become translucent.

Add vegetable stock, water, shiitake mushrooms, and soy sauce. Stir and simmer for at least 45 minutes, up to 3 hours. The longer you simmer, the more flavorful the broth will become.

Uncover the pot, add the miso paste, and stir.

Ladle the broth into a bowl and add noodles and toppings of your choice.

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Ramen Any Vegan Or Vegetarian Will Love | Food and Cooking ... - Lincoln Journal Star

Cake Thieves' vegan creations can be found at some San Antonio coffee shops. The owners hope to eventually open a vegan diner.

Stacey Welsh, KENS 7:04 PM. CDT June 23, 2017

The owners of Cake Thieves start working at around 3 a.m. to make doughnuts fresh that morning. (Photo: KENS)

SAN ANTONIO - Doughnuts don't have to be made with eggs, milk or traditional butter to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Cake Thieves bakery is working to bring the vegan lifestyle into the mainstream. Those who eat a vegan diet don't consume food made with animal products.

Our slogan is 'we make vegan things that dont taste vegan, because that would be gross.' Its a sarcastic, yet playful, jab at the thought that vegan stuff doesnt taste good," Cake Thieves founder Lauren O'Connor said.

O'Connor first started the business six years ago when she was living in Brooklyn, New York. When she moved to San Antonio about a year and a half ago, she continued Cake Thieves.

"About eight years ago, I became vegan after watching a couple of documentaries on the meat industry and the dairy industry," she said.

Along with Cake Thieves co-owner Kia Geronimo, the two make dozens of vegan doughnuts and other pies and pastries daily.

All it really is that we replaced the eggs, the butter and the dairy in it. There are vegan versions of all of those. Theres vegan butter, theres almond milk and there's egg replacements. We just use all of that in our baking," O'Connor said.

Cake Thieves also makes custom orders for cakes, doughnuts and other baked goods. (Photo: KENS)

Cake Thieves' products are available at local coffee shops, including Mila Coffee on Broadway Street Monday-Sunday, White Elephant Coffee Company Monday-Sunday and Larder at the Hotel Emma on the weekends.

They expect to start selling at Rise Up Beverages on Broadway in the near future, and you can also place orders with Cake Thieves.

"Its just word of mouth, basically. People follow us on Instagram. I think people have a misconception that a lot of vegan things taste bland, like they dont have any flavoring, but you would be surprised," Geronimo said.

Cake Thieves hopes to eventually open a vegan diner, complete with other traditional diner food like pancakes and burgers.

"I would encourage people to try it, because it tastes just like the alternative product. Theres less guilt involved, and its delicious," O'Connor said.

2017 KENS-TV

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Cake Thieves bakery adds sweets to the vegan lifestyle | kens5.com - KENS 5 TV

Walking into El Palote Panaderia in Pleasant Grove, the pale yellow paint on the walls makes things feel a little underwhelming. The banda music and northeas that blare from the speakers are the only real signs to those who might be unfamiliar with a typical taqueria that this could be the vegan bakery and taqueria that theyd been promised.

This is what you should expect from a small Mexican restaurant, though. Theres no flash or pizzazz here. Instead, all of the focus is on the food. But even when demanding ones full attention, the dishes served atEl Palote everything from tortas and tacos to menudo and tamales could fool any foodie at first sight and make them think that theyre being served real meat.

While that peculiar nature of the restaurants food is what brings in the crowds, the supposed departure from Mexican tradition is what has garnered the medias attention.But Aaron Arias, the youngest son of the Arias family that operates the business, thinks El Palotes food fits right at home with palates for traditional Mexican cuisine.

I see that were different, but its the younger generations in our community that are open to trying these things, Aaron says. Theyll eat it and enjoy it. And its still theirs.

There are tofu options on the menu, but most every dish at El Palote centers around soy although soys usual spongy texture doesnt often come into play in this kitchens output. Anything that isnt stewed iscrisped on the skillet in the very same way most meat would be at any other taqueria.Of course, the soy in the menudo does provide a bit more resistance but hey, thats just how all menudo works. In the tamales, the soy isnt really much of a concern either because, as with all tamales, the real draw here is howdelicious the moist, soft maza is.The bakerys output, though, is where El Palote really shines. Itspan dulceis a must-have because well, itspan dulce.Sure, some of them are a little dense, but thats just vegan bread for you. Also, if you dont have regular access to Mexican pastries (vegan or otherwise), the giant chocolate doughnut with sprinkles is also a must-get.

The salsas offered here could use a bit more of a kick, but vegan and vegetarian diners seeking authentic Mexican food are sure to find something to suit their tastes on El Palotes menu.

Interestingly, these recipes only exist because of a humbling experience that the Arias family had about 10 years ago when Aurelio Arias, the patriarch of the family, came dangerously close to a heart attack due to his high cholesterol levels and blood pressure issues.That health scare forced him to adopt a plant-based diet.

It was as close as you ever want to be to a heart attack, Aaron says. He didnt know what [veganism] was until he went to the doctor.

It didnt take long for Lily Arias to join her husband in his efforts to be healthier, and preparing dishes for the family in a vegan form. She also started to bake vegan pan dulce, which was such a hit with family and friends that the Arias family began selling vegan food and pastries out of their home.

Then, at the suggestion and investment of their eldest son, Aurelio Jr., Lily and Aurelio set out to open a restaurant where they could continue exploring their new culinary path. Their dream was originally to open with a fully vegan menu, but they didnt see a market for it.So when they opened their doors in December of 2015, they served regular food, but set up a Vegan Thursdays special to keep an eye toward their initial goal.

The restaurant didnt have much success in those early days, though.

It was really sloppy at first, Aaron says. Our dates were weird. Our times were weird.

Once a few local veggie bloggers caught wind of Vegan Thursdays, though, sales started to climb, and El Palote went from serving two or three Vegan Thursday customers to having diners endure a three-hour wait each week.

Now, the shop, which is openThursdays through Mondays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., servesvegan options all the time. In fact, Aaron says,the family is toying with the idea of opening a second location in the near future, even if their priority is to get things running as smoothly as possible at their current 2537 South Buckner Boulevard home.If we were to go anywhere, it would be Fort Worth, Aaron says. But its just an idea right now. Were still at this place where were scared to go out there and possibly fail. But we would love to go out to Funkytown and bring food that people would love.

For the time being, El Palote is content to let its customers come to them which is certainly the case, as Aaron acknowledges that only a portion of the restaurants customers are from the Pleasant Grove neighborhood it resides in. But as the restaurant continues to set down its roots here, the Arias family hopes that will change. Theyd love nothing more, Aaron says, to introduce the introduce the local Hispanic community to the healthier way of eating traditional Mexican dishes that their family has embraced. In both their personal and professional lives, that embrace has been a godsend, Aaron says.

Meat isnt a necessity on a daily basis, he says. If you can cut it out of your diet entirely, thats ideal. But even if its not gonna be a daily thing you eat, thats still a positive change.

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All's Vegan At El Palote Panaderia, Even The Tacos. | Central Track - Central Track

Before Bobbi Brown started whipping up beauty bowls, Kimberly Snyder was spreading the message that what you eat is the ultimate beauty product. The nutritionist and multi-time New York Times best-selling author of the Beauty Detox book series and Radical Beauty knows what she preaches. After struggling with weight issues and acne for years, Kimberly landed on a vegetable and fruit-based diet focused on whole, good-for-you foods no calorie counting involved.

Her philosophy has grown to an empire: she creates recipes, owns an organic smoothie & juice company Glow Bio, hosts a health-focused podcast, and has worked with celeb clients like Drew Barrymore, Fergie, Hilary Duff, Dita Von Teese, Kerry Washington, and Reese Witherspoon. Kimberly answered The Lookbook's pressing questions on healthy eating, and we learned two new things: we should all be familiar with the phrase "Soil-Based Organisms" and that there's a smoothie for every occasion.

What's the #1 change you should make if you want to prioritize your health?

An easy change people can make to increase their health is creating a healthy morning routine by beginning their day with soil-based organism (SBO) probiotics followed by a Glowing Green Smoothie (GGS). SBO probiotics are a great way to aid in digestion, bloating and get your body ready for a full day of eating. My Glowing Green Smoothie is a great way to start the morning, it is packed full with beautifying and energizing nutrients and is an easy way to hydrate in the morning. GGS is full of fiber and will keep you full for hours.

Do you find that celebrities have the same struggles with weight loss/healthy eating as everyone else?

Of course! We all put pressure on ourselves to look a certain way and try to live a healthy lifestyle, which results in all of us facing the same struggles to achieve those goals. Regardless of our profession, we all have temptations and obstacles that hinder our weight loss and healthy eating progress.

Do you think people are realizing the food-beauty connection you've written about more than ever these days?

There is definitely an amazing movement happening of an increasing awareness about the powerful connection between food and beauty. People are starting to reflect more about the food they are choosing to buy and consume and the effects of that decision. There are more people now than ever advocating for a healthy, primarily plant-based diet due to the availability of information on the internet and the increasingly popularity of living a healthy lifestyle as portrayed on social media.

Do you have any tips for stress eaters who turn to comfort food when things get tough?

Stress is inevitable, but there are more effective ways to cope with stress than turning to comfort food. It is important to first recognize the source of your stress. It is helpful to write them down and take some time to think about them. One should also find stress-reducing tools that are effective for them. Some mechanisms that work for me are meditation, yoga, quiet and solitude, spending time in nature, listening to relaxing music, and going for a walk or working out.

While meditation may work well for me, it may not work for everyone, so it is important to figure out what personally works best for you. If you do find that you cant stop turning to food when stressed, change what food you turn to. Bananas, cucumbers, avocados, blueberries, asparagus, and celery help reduce stress and its negative effects on your body.

What about for people who do so well trying to kick processed food, until the afternoon/end of the work day rolls around? Is there a snack they can turn to to keep on track?

A great afternoon snack is my Power Protein smoothie. Smoothies are a great option because they are super easy to make and quick to consume because you dont have to chew! This smoothie has over 18 grams of protein and is a great source of fiber, which will help keep you full and energized for the rest of the day.

The Lookbook is Bravo's home for inspiring content and experiences that feed fashionistas with a steady diet of share-worthy styles, personalities, and industry news. Like us on Facebook to stay connected to our daily updates.

Originally posted here:

Celebrity Nutritionist Kimberly Snyder on How to Stop Stress Eating For Good - Bravo (blog)

John Reynolds Staff Writer @JohnReynoldsSJR

ASHLAND -- Mike and Martie Senkler had one of the best camping spots around Saturday for the annual Crazy Horse Bluegrass Festival.

The couple, from the small town of Dunfermline, which is south of Canton in Fulton County, had a spot just behind the Crazy Horse lodge. The back porch of the lodge served as a stage for the festival, which meant the Senklers could sit at a picnic table under their campers awning and watch and listen to the bands.

This is the first bluegrass festival Ive been to where the stage is outside on a back porch. Usually, youre inside a building sitting in a row of chairs. This is a lot more informal, Martie Senkler said. I can sit here, listen to the music and read my book.

Andy Egolf, one of the owners of the Crazy Horse Campground, said that this is the 10th year for the festival. The campground has a rural Ashland address and is about halfway between Virginia and Jacksonville.

The festival usually draws a couple hundred of people, which includes people like the Senklers who camp for the weekend and others who stop by for the day to hear the music. While the Senklers had their picnic table, other people brought chairs or blankets and set up on the grass lawn behind the lodge.

The crowd here, especially the bluegrass crowd, is a wonderful crowd, Egolf said. Theyre very happy and easy to get along with -- very polite. Its a great crowd.

Eight groups were scheduled to play at this years festival. As the Senklers sat outside their camper Saturday, they listened to High Fidelity, a bluegrass band out of Nashville, Tennessee.

Jan Lease of Jacksonville, who helps books the acts at the festival, said High Fidelity is an award-winning bluegrass band.

Most recently in 2014, they were the national champions of the SPBGMA, the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America. SPBGMA has an annual competition in Nashville, Lease said.

Michael Feagan and Fiddlegrass Band also played at the Crazy Horse festival. Feagan previously played with Bill Monroes Blue Grass Boys. Monroe, who died in 1996, is known as the father of bluegrass music.

The Crazy Horse festival started Friday evening and concludes Sunday morning. When theyre not on stage, the musicians have time to visit with the fans.

This is a small, intimate setting. It makes it more personal, Lease said. You dont stand in long lines to talk to the performers. In fact, many times at festivals such as this youll see a young musician from the local area come in and they might even sit down with him and show him how to play this tune or that tune.

The only event scheduled for Sunday is a gospel service, which runs from 10 to 11 a.m. Admission to the gospel service is $5 per family. The address for the campground is 2113 Crazy Horse Road, Ashland.

Egolf said next years festival will be held June 22-24.

The Senklers said they will back next year in the same spot.

Its a very relaxing weekend. We enjoy it out here, Mike Senkler said.

Contact John Reynolds: john.reynolds@sj-r.com, 788-1524, twitter.com/JohnReynoldsSJR.

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Bluegrass Festival brings out campers - The State Journal-Register

Nancy Hastings nhastings@hillsdale.net nhastingsHDN

HILLSDALE The Tuesday Night Summer Concert season starts Tuesday, offering another season of free summer concerts.

Since 2004, Mrs. Stocks Park has been the setting for these 7:30 p.m. concerts. The concert season will go from June 27-Aug. 8.

Organizer Cory Champion said he believes this will be the 15th season of concerts in the park.

We are looking forward to our 2017 Tuesday's in The Park series at Mrs. Stocks Park in downtown Hillsdale as the line up for entertainment is high quality, exciting and diversified, Champion said.

First up is Band of Tara, which covers many genres of music. Some of the talent in this group are multi-talented, giving the band a sound of a six to eight-piece group, Champion said.

Tara's vocals are strong and her voice will grab your attention, he said. Some people say they have goose bumps after hearing her strong, wonderful voice.

The Band consists of Bob Pogue on guitar and vocals, David Kincade on keyboards and vocals, Otis Marti on bass and vocals as well as Kent Bowen on percussion. Band of Tara is a return group who made their first visit last summer.

They are looking forward to another great night being able to entertain right here at home in Hillsdale County, Champion said.

The next scheduled night is July 4 and in the past, a concert has not been scheduled on this date.

This year, Champion felt compelled to have a program featuring local talent in a family-friendly event by encouraging Americana, Patriotic and a bit of formal music.

Since July 4th seldom falls on a Tuesday, after speaking with some local talent, we just decided to try it out, test the waters and see what happens, Champion said.

Refiners Fire Brass Quintet will be performing a variety of classical music, including some Americana selections, as well as a tribute to our armed services. After the brass quintet finishes, which is half of the program, a group of local musicians will finish up with some Americana music from the country music genre. The yet-to-be-named group consists of Bob Pogue, guitar and vocals, Tim Nichols, keyboards and vocals, Cory Champion, bass, acoustic guitar and vocals, Nathan Wiley, acoustic guitar and Scott Donihue on drums.

Weve really had a good time fellowshipping and practicing together for this gig, Champion said. While Champion, Nichols and Donihue have been playing and performing together for over 15 years, this is the first time any of them have worked with Pogue, and it's Wileys first public appearance on guitar.

Continuing with the regular Tuesdays in The Park series brings Dennis Guizdala from Bay City July 11. Guizdala is a high energy, gospel jazz saxophonist and vocalist. He said he is living his dream of a Christian recording artist, touring across the country.

Music has been and always will be a big influence in my life, Guizdala said. I am living a very blessed life in that I get to play music for a living. God is Good!

July 18 brings the Town and Country Chorus, ready to entertain with their variety of classic barbershop harmony with a great mix of humor, Champion said.

Ive been working with them in the park for over 10 years, and they have yet to disappoint! he added.

July 25 introduces the Day Break Trio from Coldwater.

Husband and wife team, Dan and Barbara Hefner along with long time friend Rob Cooper, will bring a great blend of oldies and folk in three part harmony, Champion said. This will be a relaxing, entertaining and delightful evening.

August 1 brings another new act to Hillsdale. Colin Dexter is an Elvis tribute artist from Jackson, who just graduated from high school and has traveled throughout Michigan and Canada.

August 8 will wrap up the 2017 concert season with Dave Trippett and The Marcella Singers.

We thank the community so much for the support they have shown over the past number of years, Champion said. We look forward to a great season.

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Concert series diversified - The Hillsdale Daily News

Need a little creativity and color in your life? Visit the 17th Annual Arts Alive, a fine arts festival this weekend at Northside Park on 125th Street to enjoy culture in a beautiful setting. Set near a picturesque bayside park, attendees can enjoy a scenic stroll while perusing art from more than 90 booths, featuring artists from the tri-state region. Other artists have traveled from from states up and down the East Coast to show off their work, be it paintings, jewelry, sculptures or furniture, in Ocean City. More than half of the vendors at this weeks festival will be new additions. All artists will compete for roughly $5,250 in prizes in nine juried categories. Awards for best in show and peoples choice will be presented at the artist reception Saturday night at the Art League on 94th Street. Attendees can take home their own masterpiece, from soap carvings or ceramics. If youre looking for a family-friendly outdoor event this weekend, this is the one, Ocean City Special Events Director, Frank Miller said in a press release. Arts Alive is more than a fine art festival. Musicians will also help set a relaxing ambiance in Northside Park. Janet Spahr, who performs with handpans, will create a soothing, ethereal music for the walks on Saturday and Sunday. Island Fusion will perform on Saturday, and will be fusing traditional island tunes with classic rock, blues standard and other music during their set. River & Rhodes, a acoustic duo, will also entertain at the festival on Sunday. Free childrens activities, including soap carving, drawing and painting, will be offered to younger visitors to make the event more pleasurable for the whole family. Rosenfelds Jewish Deli will be there and provide variety of delicious food options, like their world-famous reubens and dill pickles. Smoothie lovers can stop by the Maui Wowi smoothie stand for a refreshment if it gets too hot during the Arts Alive festival. Vendors will also sell beer and wine to adult patrons, truly making that stroll through our 58 acre park just a little more enjoyable, Frank Miller said. Bring the whole family and enjoy art. Like last year, official Arts Alive merchandise will be sold during the event, giving guests another option to take home the festival with them. Merchandise includes pins and T-shirts. Arts Alive will take place rain or shine from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on June 24-25. For more information on this free event, contact the Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department at 410-250-0125 or go to ococean.com.

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Take a art walk this weekend - Ocean City Today

Organic food sales have gone through the roof. Its no wonder. Its widely believed that organic foods are more nutritious and safer than non-organic; theyre even said to fight cancer even though the evidence is far from clear. Consumers have been paying a lot to eat organic; food certified as organic sometimes costs twice as much as conventional products. The premium prices may not be buying everything thats promised. The Situation About three-quarters of grocers in the US sell organic food, including specialty markets, like Sprouts, and mass-market retailers, like Wal-Mart and Target. While thats only 4% of total food sales, demand in the US and Europe is growing. The trend is driven both by rising interest in locally grown food two-thirds of US farmers markets have at least one certified organic producer and fears about food safety. Roughly 48mn Americans every year become sick and 3,000 die from food borne diseases. To be labelled organic, the US Department of Agriculture says food must be grown without synthetic fertilisers and must be free of genetically modified organisms; meat must be raised without antibiotics and growth hormones and the animals must have access to the outdoors. There are similar standards in the European Union and Japan. In China, demand for organic food is skyrocketing after a series of scandals over tainted food has consumers willing to pay double for organic items. The Background Until the invention of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, all agriculture was organic. Sulphuric acid was first used to extract phosphate from bones and rock for use as fertiliser in the mid-1800s. Poison gas research in World War I led to bug-killing nerve gases, including sarin and DDT, which was so effective at killing malaria-carrying mosquitoes it won its inventor a Nobel Prize. After Rachel Carsons book Silent Spring documented the dangers of DDT, the chemical was banned for use as a pesticide in the US in 1972. In the 1970s, the first industrial-scale animal farms in the US began popping up, first for egg production, later for pigs and cattle. Yields increased, but so did worries: These animals are often treated with antibiotics and consumption of the meat has led to more drug-resistant infections in humans. Health-food stores began appearing in the 1960s; New Age Natural Foods, opened in San Francisco in 1965. In 1990, after the USDA passed the Organic Foods Production Act to develop national standards, organic products became more common. Mainstream grocery chains started their own lines of organic food, while large foodmakers began snapping up smaller organic startups. Coca-Cola bought juice and bar maker Odwalla in 2001; Stonyfield Farm, an organic dairy producer, became a subsidiary of Danone in 2004; and Hain Celestial Group bought Rudis Organic Bakery in 2014. The Argument Proponents say that organic produce has more nutrients, including antioxidants and vitamins that may prevent or delay cell damage, than conventionally grown fruits and vegetables. They also argue that eating organic produce and meat reduces diners exposure to toxic chemicals, such as pesticides and fertilisers, that may increase the risks of certain types of cancer. A 2016 study found that organic milk and meat have more essential fatty acids and other key nutrients. Eating organic can also help the environment by supporting farms that send less toxic runoff into water and soil. Big supermarket chains like Aldi and Kroger are filling more shelves with organic products, driving down prices for low-income shoppers and biting into the bottom lines of traditional organic and natural-foods stores like Whole Foods. Non-organic makers also see the commercial appeal and have piggybacked on the organic reputation by using labels like all-natural or local, though these can contain pesticides and chemicals. Just because food is organic doesnt mean that it wont make people sick, and fertilising crops with improperly composted manure can result in E. coli contamination. Some say eating organic food doesnt improve health. In fact, plenty of foods labelled organic arent inherently healthy. (Organic gummy bears?) And fears of pesticides may be driving people away from eating enough fruits and vegetables. Nutrition aside, one thing organic foods have going for them is popular opinion 41% of Americans say organic tastes better than non-organic.

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Organic food - Gulf Times

CROMWELL, Conn. Anirban Lahiri has covered the emotional spectrum this week at the Travelers Championship, following his opening 73 with a 63 on Friday that moved him to 4 under par.

For most players, those kinds of swings can be difficult. But then Lahiri isnt most players.

Following his runner-up finish at the Memorial a few weeks ago, Lahiri spent 12 days at the Dhamma Dhara Vipassana Meditation Center in Shelburne Falls, Mass. For nine of those days, he did not speak.

You go to the center for 10 days, you switch your phones off. There is no TV, you're not allowed to read, said Lahiri, who has gone through the Vipassana program three times since 2004. You're meditating. You're not allowed to talk. So there is like complete silence for nine and a half days or so, and you're meditating 10, 12 hours a day.

Travelers Championship: Articles, photos and videos

Lahiri, who admits he can be his own worst critic, said the program has helped him deal with the inevitable on-course issues a professional will face, but the real benefit comes when hes away from the course.

I find it very healing for me, and a lot of people who have gone there benefited from it, he said. It's not something I do specifically for my golf, but it's something that's helped me.

It was interesting that Lahiri spent his time at the Vipassana Center during the U.S. Open, which he almost qualified for with his tie for second at Muirfield Village. While most players would be upset they narrowly missed qualifying for a major, the 29-year-old considered it an opportunity.

After [the Memorial] my wife was like, what are you going to do if you [qualify for the U.S. Open]? I said, I don't know what I'm going to do because I really want to go meditate. I guess it all worked out, Lahiri said. Funny I say it worked out in the sense of me not getting in, but that's what I wanted to do at that point in time.

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Anirban Lahiri Extols Virtues of Meditation | Golf Channel - Golf Channel (blog)

A couple years ago, I heard ABC News anchor Dan Harris speak at Chicago Ideas Week. He told all of us in the audience how mindfulness meditation changed his life. He was a self-proclaimed "fidgety skeptic" who had an on-air panic attack, then discovered meditation and became a happier, more focused person. I was sold.

Though I wouldn't necessarily categorize myself as a "fidgety skeptic," I often feel like a human ball of chaos, trying to balance work, getting things done at home, spending time with family and friends, exercising, and just chilling out. I struggle with anxiety. I get overwhelmed and stressed easily. And the more my to-do list and calendar fill up, the less focused I become.

So if taking even a few minutes a day to literally just breathe would help me manage all of that, I was definitely down. I loved the idea of starting every morning with a nice, peaceful five- to 10-minute meditation to clear my head before diving into my day. I thought for sure it would be the answer to slowing down, calming, and focusing my mind. Instead, it made me kind of angry: I tried meditating on my own using various techniques I read about and under the guidance of all sorts of apps, but I just couldn't keep my mind from wandering to all the stressors I was trying to avoid. So instead of waking up and taking those five to 10 minutes to myself before starting in on emails and work, I begrudgingly (and sporadically) tried and failed to find my zen. Two-and-a-half years later, I hadn't completely given up, but I'd gradually come to view meditation as a chore, and not one I feel satisfied after completing.

And then I heard about sound baths. After the initial letdown when I found out they weren't some sort of cool spa experience involving water, bubbles, and perhaps some aromatherapy, I became intrigued by what they actually were: an ancient form of sound therapy that uses gongs and quartz crystal bowls during meditation to promote healing and relaxation. "Different parts of our bodieseach organ, bone, etc.vibrate at a specific frequency that is unique to you when we are in a state of health and well-being," says Elizabeth Meador, owner of Anatomy Redefined, the Chicago sound meditation and Pilates studio. "When we become ill, stressed, encounter disease, etc., the frequency of various parts of our body actually changes, and our own body can experience literal dis-harmony. Through the sound meditation, your body is able to absorb sound waves to help restore harmony to the body, mind, and spirit."

To be honest, I wasn't (and am still not) sure if gongs can really help me heal on that kind of level. But I did read that the sounds give your mind something to focus on, making it easier to ease into the meditative state, which did make a lot of sense. "In our busy, modern world, our minds are so used to having something to focus on," says Meador. "We are switching from phone to computer to tablet and so on, leaving the mind racing. To take the average worker and place them in a silent room after a chaotic day can be challenging for anyone, let alone those new to meditation. With a sound meditation, the soothing music actually gives the mind something to focus on to keep it occupied, gently guiding you into a state of deep meditation." Maybe what was missing this whole time in my efforts was a good, strong sound to focus on. Still wanting to embrace meditation despite the struggle, I headed to Meador's studio to try it myself.

First, let's be honest: I wasn't in a good mood when I got there. It was the end of a long day, I was tired, and I drove through Chicago's patience-testing rush-hour traffic for pretty much the entire four miles from my condo to the studio. When I walked in, I really just wanted to be home on my couch, hanging out with my cats and my husband, catching up on Bravo's latest. But I tried to put those feelings behind me, which did get easier when I entered the studio itself. It was a dark room, lit only by candles and some soft decorative fixtures. Five gongs and six white bowls in various sizes were in front, and on the floor were six rectangular cushions, each set up with a couple pillows (one for propping up feet or legs, if I wanted), a blanket, and an eye cover. I took my place on one of the cushions.

Meador, who was leading the class, took a few minutes to explain the benefits of a sound bath (also known as gong meditation, gong bath, or sound meditation) and the instruments she'd be using. There are four "planetary gongs," which she says vibrate at the same frequencies as their corresponding planets and pull in "the energetic, emotional, and astrological qualities of the planets." If you're still with me, I'll give you an example: The Venus gong theoretically helps with matters of the heart or with encouraging feminine energy; while the Mars gong encourages "warrior" energy and inspires courage. Meador also plays a "Flower of Life" gong that she says "has a very grounding and soothing energy that nurtures the nervous system." As for the singing bowls, she says some sound practitioners believe each note coordinates to a specific energy center or chakra on the body, though it's hard to know if each sound affects each person's body in the same way. Regardless, the notes blend well with the gongs for a balanced sound experience. (Related: Everything You Need to Know About Energy Workand Why You Should Try It)

Meador told us she'd play for an hour and asked us to lie down and get comfortable under the blankets. She noted that our body temperatures would drop by about one degree in the meditative state. I immediately had mixed emotions: There was panic upon realizing that I'd be lying there for an hour with only sounds and not some vocal guidanceI can't meditate for five minutes on my own, much less an hour! Then again, the setup was pretty comfy. All of my meditation apps tell me to sit upright with my legs crossed or feet flat on the floor. Lying on a squishy cushion under a blanket seemed much more my speed.

I closed my eyes and the sounds started. They were loud and, unlike the ambient sounds that sometimes accompany meditations, impossible to ignore. For the first few minutes, I felt pretty focused on my breathing and the sounds and, if my focus did begin to fade, each new hit of a gong brought it back. But as the time passed, my mind did begin to wander and even those loud noises faded into the background. Over the course of the hour, I did recognize several times that I had lost focus and was able to bring myself back to the task at hand. But I don't think I ever fell into a fully meditative state. For that, I was a bit disappointedpartially with the sound bath for not being the miraculous meditation solution I wanted it to be, but more so with myself for not being able to successfully submit to the experience.

I thought about it some more when I got home that night. The bad mood I was in when I arrived at the studio was gone, and I did feel more relaxed. And sure, that could have been the case after any screen-less, "me"-time activity I could have done after a long day on my computer. Then again, I also realized that, while there was some disappointment, I didn't come out of that meditation frustrated and angry like I did with my many, many previous attempts. So I decided not to discount it.

I downloaded a Gong Bath app and started the next day with a five-minute session, lying on my squishy shag rug under a blanket. It wasn't a perfect meditationmy mind still wandered a bitbut it was...nice. So I tried it again the next day. And the next. In the month since I took the class, I've used the app more mornings than not. I don't know if my internal frequencies are being reharmonized or my chakras are being realigned with each mini-session, and I'm not sure I buy into the whole planetary thing. But I do know that something about this sound bath keeps me coming back. Rather than feeling obligated, I feel compelled to do it in the mornings. When the timer goes off at the end, I sometimes start it over for a few extra minutes, rather than feeling relieved it's done.

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I Took a Sound Bath And It Changed the Way I Meditate - Shape Magazine