ABINGDON, Va. Twice a week, Karen Sorber reclines in a chair, relaxes to quiet music and breathes in refreshing salt air.

Sorber isnt on vacation. Shes enjoying a salt therapy session in downtown Abingdon.

A new health spa on Main Street is offering Sorber and other clients the same healing properties trusted by people centuries ago.

Tonya Page said her business, Salt of the Earth, is a recreation of salt rooms or caves that exist naturally throughout the world. The modern healing rooms are popping up across the country with spas similar to the Abingdon business no closer than Asheville, North Carolina.

Inhaling salt is very beneficial for people who suffer from allergies, asthma, colds, bronchitis and sinus conditions, she said.

The all-natural, holistic business in Abingdon is attracting clients from as far away as Greeneville, Tennessee.

A couple of years ago, I had a respiratory illness, so Im doing this as a preventive measure, said Sorber, an Abingdon resident. Its made a huge difference. I get a monthly membership when I come twice each week.

She traveled to Asheville for the salt therapy before the Abingdon business opened in June.

Salt therapy is proving to be a new lure for people who want to improve their health.

I think this town is catching up with other cool little towns in the country because more people are eating farm-fresh foods and going in for whats natural. Salt therapy just goes along with that. I guess you could say Salt of the Earth is getting back to the basics. Were going back to the basics with essential oils, herbs and salt that God put on earth for us, said Page.

According to the business owner, salt therapy has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that clear toxins in the lungs and skin. A 45-minute session is equivalent to several days at the beach, she said.

Salt therapy sessions begin at $22.50 for seniors, $15 for children, ages 4 to 17, and $25 for adults. Clients visits once to a few times each week, depending on their needs.

Salt therapy, also called halotherapy, supposedly originated centuries ago. According to Pages research, halotherapy more recently can be traced back to the mid-1800s when a doctor in Eastern Europe discovered that salt mine workers had healthy respiratory systems, free from lung diseases suffered by people who didnt work in the mines.

The doctor concluded that the natural sodium chloride contained in the air in salt mines helped to reduce inflammation in the lungs.

Therapy takes place in a climate-controlled room with a halogenerator machine that disperses a fine aerosol mist of high-grade sodium chloride particles and negative ions into the air.

Our bodies are constantly bombarded by positive ions from the use of cell phones, computers, microwaves, televisions and other electronics. Salt therapy provides negative ions to restore balance, said Page.

Dimly-lit therapy rooms have comfortable chairs and relaxing music. Bare feet sink into a floor covered with 2,500 pounds of Himalayan pink salt from Pakistan. Himalayan pink salt bricks cover the walls for dcor and therapeutic purposes.

Its also good for headaches," Page said. "The first week I opened, a client tried out the salt therapy and left saying her migraine was gone after suffering from it all day.

Another client told me his son slept through the night without coughing after just one salt therapy. A client came in and told me she had been to urgent care for an ear ache. After salt therapy, she couldnt believe how her pain was completely gone.

Page was attracted to salt therapy after a sinus infection nearly landed her in the hospital for surgery a year ago. After she tried salt therapy at a spa in Asheville, she was sold on the holistic treatment.

One session made me feel the best I had felt in months. I knew Id be fine if I could use this treatment more often.

At 53, Page, was looking for a new career. She found and renovated a vacant building in town in March and opened the business three months later.

I think we needed a facility like this here in Abingdon. I dont know anyone who doesnt suffer with sinuses and allergies around here.

In addition to salt therapy, Page incorporated treatments with infrared therapy and red light therapy, both offering the healing power of wavelengths of light.

She said infrared energy increases circulation, reduces inflammation and promotes healing when delivered to injury sites and other painful areas.

Sorber, who visited the business last week, also received an infrared treatment.

I threw my back out lifting something heavy. Four ibuprofen pills didnt touch the pain. I took an infrared therapy, and there is no sign of it now. Im a big believer.

According to Page, red light therapy is a skin care treatment that speeds healing of conditions including acne, rosacea and sun spots. It fades scars and stretch marks, assists in boosting collagen, adds moisture to the skin, and can stimulate hair growth over time.

Page is such a believer in the positive benefits of salt therapy, she sells salt products for home use, such as Himalayan salt blocks that can be used as cooking surfaces. The flavor is amazing. You use so much less salt on your food.

In addition, her business has salt lamps that help improve indoor air quality.

Page also enjoys the benefits of essential oils, many of which she stocks at her business. The oils are concentrated essences derived from different parts of plants. Many of the oils promote relaxation while others have anti-inflammatory properties.

To learn more about Salt of the Earth, visit the Facebook page or call (276) 477-4101 for reservations.

Carolyn R. Wilson is a freelance writer in Glade Spring, Virginia. Contact her at news@washconews.com.

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New salt spa in Abingdon offers a natural way to fight colds and allergies - Southwest Virginia Today

4 July 2017, 16:53

Classical music makes everything better. Including those moments of ravishing hunger, when all you crave is a cone of salty chips and the greasiest meat-based item on the menu.

Why do junk food restaurants play classical at night?

Playing classical music in the late hours of the day appears to be part of the mass fast-food chain effort to combat rowdy behaviour in their branches. The soothing sounds of Chopin and Debussy are said to create a calming atmosphere and encourage more acceptable conduct among customers.

The trend began when McDonalds customers in Liverpool, Cambridge, Huddersfield, Swansea, Southampton and London were reporting instances of a Wagnerian accompaniment to their late-night burger and chips.

McDonald's then confirmed it was their intention to feature classical playlists, to put an end to anti-social behaviour. The Stockport branch of McDonald's have long been a fan of this idea, with councillor Philip Harding hoping that [customers] would disperse as its not their scene.

Is it a good idea?

So there are a couple of possible interpretations of this approach. Firstly, the fewer people hanging about, the more room there is for classical lovers to indulge in some wraps n' Rhapsodies. And secondly, we can't think of a more perfect amalgamation than quick, tasty food accompanied by our favourite Brahms Piano Quartets.

But realistically, will classical music lovers really turn to McDonald's for an audio experience? Seems unlikely. And while classical music can often be relaxing, it can also be as aggressive as any other genre when the time is right. Try chowing down on a Royale with Cheese while the finale of Don Giovanni rings out across the drive-thru - it ain't gonna work.

Original post:

This is why fast food restaurants play classical music at night - Classic FM

The Sarva Dharma Ashram building which is situated in Welbedacht.

In an effort to raise much-needed funds and stay true to its slogan of the home of love, compassion and sacrifice, the Sarva Dharma Ashram will host a massive charity event that will feature a host of vocalists, dances, comedy and entertaining sketches. SAs top show band, Dilkash, led by the talented Rajive Mohan, will also perform at the highly-anticipated event.

Organisers are going the beyond the call of duty to ensure that the function is a tremendous success and is encouraging the community of Durban and surrounding areas to show their support. Due to an increase in demand for help by the local community, the ashram often embarks on initiatives that can benefit underprivileged individuals.

The show has been held for the past 10 years and during this time, the ashram stayed true to the fundamentals of social responsibility by bearing all the major costs.

This years event will take place on Friday, July 28, 2017 at 6pm at the Kendra Hall in Durban. Sumptuous vegetarian meals will also be provided. For tickets or more information, contact the ashram on 031406-3766 or 082-355-3123.

Originally posted here:

Ashram to host fundraising charity event - Rising Sun Overport

CAYUGA COUNTY - WSYR-TV - Deputies in Cayuga and Onondaga Counties are telling boaters to exercise caution on waterways due to record rains and recent flooding.

Debris like logs and other vegetationmay have been washed into lakes and rivers, sometimes floating below the surface.

If people are going 20 or 30 mph, they're not going to see a log floating in the lake, said Dep. Tracey Baldwin, with the Cayuga County Sheriffs Marine Patrol.

For the past two days, Cayuga Countys Marine Patrol has been scanning the surface to catch those logs before they catch a boater off guard.

"A large boat is going to damage their prop, a smaller boat, it could actually throw everybody out into the water, which is obviously something we don't want to see, Baldwin said.

It's a problem on Owasco Lake and across Central New York after flash floods carried trees and debris into busy waterways. Its the same story for patrols on Skaneateles Lake and boaters spotted piles of logs right in the middle of Otisco Lake.

With the water levels so high, jet skis and small boats are creating waves that make their way to the shore and the small boats docked there break free and end up floating out into the middle of the lake.

Docks and moorings might not be visible below the water surface, and debris can damage a boat if hit.

Those out on the water should be mindful of their wakes and use extreme caution when navigating until conditions improve.

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Deputies: Boaters in Cayuga County told to excercise caution on - WSYR

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the leadership of military and paramilitary groups in Osun state, on Monday declared their readiness for the July 8, Osun West Senatoral Bye Election.

Speaking in turn at a stakeholders meeting held at INEC state office in Osogbo, Baritor Kpagih, the Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner deployed to Osun to conduct the poll, assured all that the body has concluded arrangements to conduct a credible election.

Giving further details, Kpagih said voting will commence across wards in the Senatorial District by 8am and end by 2pm with a caveat that, whosoever on queue by 2pm will still be allowed to vote.

He added that accreditation and voting will take place simultaneously, noting that eleven political parties are fielding candidates in the election

Explaining that only the electorates with Permanent Voters Cards, verified by card readers would be allowed to vote, the REC said the materials to be used are customized on local government basis, which makes it difficult to divert them.

In his remarks, the State Commissioner of police, Olafimihan Adeoye, said there would be restriction of vehicular movement between the hours of 6:00am and 6:00pm on the election day, with an exception of Ibadan/Ife expressway, which shall not be blocked to traffic.

Warning that anyone caught formenting trouble would be made to face full wrath of the law regardless his or her party affiliations, Adeoye said those who have no role to play in the election should stay off polling area.

Speaking in similar vein, the State Director DSS, said the service has list of trouble makers already, positing that due attention is being paid to already identified flash points across West Senatorial District.

The state Director of NYSC, Emmanuel Attah, assured all political parties that the corps members that would be deployed for the excercise would be fair and warned politicians not to harass or intimidate them.

He dispelled insinuations that there are fake corp members already parading the state and said anyone that attempts to impersonate corps members that are election duty would be detected and handed over to security agents.

Meanwhile, Governor Rauf Aregbesola has called on the people of West Senatorial District to vote APC candidate, saying returning Hussein would allow him build on his achievements while in office between 2011 and 2014.

The governor who stated this while speaking at the mega rally held in Ejigbo, Aregbesola also called on the electorates to be peaceful during the poll.

Bola Bamigbola, Osogbo

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We are ready for Osun Senatorial Bye Election INEC, NYSC, security agencies - BusinessDay (satire) (press release) (registration) (blog)

The list of best burgers in Philly is almost 100-percent beef, but a meat-free option could soon join the lineup if BurgerFi has anything to say about it. The burger chain is adding Beyond Burgers to its offerings starting today at just eight locations nationwide, including the one in Philly (44 N. 12th Street). Beyond Burgers are already sold in grocery stores but BurgerFi is the first national chain to put them on the menu. Its no surprise Philly was picked to be a test market out of BurgerFis 101 locations, given the citys impressive vegetarian and vegan scene.

The vegan patty looks, cooks, and satisfies like meat, swears Beyond Meat, the company that makes the burger, and has 20 grams of plant protein, no soy, and no gluten. At BurgerFi, its served green style, meaning vegan, with diced onion, tomato, pickles, ketchup, and mustard on a vegan bun. Up the plant quotient by getting it wrapped in lettuce instead. Or go for the vegetarian version, which has American cheese, pickles, diced onions, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, mustard, and ketchup on a potato bun. That one is going for $8.27; the all-vegan option is $8.77.

Plans are to add the Beyond Burger to all 101 shops by the end of the summer. For now, its in New York City; Poughkeepsie, New York; Malibu, California; and Coral Gables, Coral Springs, and Delray Beach in Florida.

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BurgerFi Is Testing Out a Vegan Burger in Philly - Eater Philly

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - A local vegan restaurant has been closed in the wake of this weekend's shooting at a downtown club that left 25 people with gunshot wounds.

The Veg LLC sub-leased ground floor space in the same building where the shooting took place along W. 6th Street.

Owner Shiem Swift says his beloved restaurant that employs four will be back in business soon.

I fully understand why the city of Little Rock has to close this building, and I am now searching for a new location to bring healthy and humane dining options back to Little Rock, Swift says in a news release. My heart and thoughts are with all who were injured.

Swift says the closing has left Little Rock without a full-time vegan restaurant.

He is eager to start services again soon and is appealing to the city or any private individuals to assist in opening his restaurant again in a new location.

The Veg on Facebook.

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LR Vegan Restaurant Closed Due to Mass Shooting - KARK

*Drool* (Picture: Grumpy Panda/Instagram)

Some national foods are more vegan-friendly than others.

While a vegan curry is hardly difficult to imagine, totally-meaty, totally-cheesy dishes are something weve come to accept are out of bounds.

In other words, most British and American food.

Until now, as a vegan American-style diner is opening in the UK.

Grumpy Panda is opening its doors in Gateshead, Newcastle for the first time tomorrow and claims to be the North Easts first entirely vegan diner of its kind.

Serving up full fry ups featuring Pigless Pudding, Baecon and Eggz as well as waffles with a variety of animal product free toppings, the restaurant isnt messing around.

It also sells The Mac n Stack (vegan mac n cheese), Chikin n Waffles, Chili Cheez hotdogs and Pastramee grilled sandwiches

The wacky names are thanks to the fact that they make their own eggs cheese and meats on site, so they know exactly whats gone into them.

And while their coffee bar is vegetarian rather than vegan friendly, they keep prep areas, fridges and equipment separate to eliminate the chances of cross contamination.

We started out as an events catering company and found the North East was lagging behind on the vegan scene, the restaurants website reads.

So out popped our lovely little diner, right in the heart of Gateshead town centre,

15 children's party food items ranked worst to best

You can now buy dairy-free Hagen-Dazs ice cream

Oreo's making avocado, unicorn and carrot flavours because we asked for them

As it comes, everything on our diner menu is served 100% vegan!

Oh, and if you havent bought your ticket to Newcastle already, its dog friendly too.

MORE: A new vegan burger bar is opening in London next month

MORE: These are the most beautiful raw vegan cakes youll ever see

MORE: Rejoice, for Pizza Express will soon give you the option of vegan cheese on all their pizzas

MORE: A vegan meatball joint has opened up in East London

MORE: Top 10 vegan dishes to devour in Mexico City

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A vegan American diner is opening in the UK - Metro

Music is an integral part of human cultures around the world. Common wisdom suggests that listening to music has an affect on mental states, for better or for worse. Rock and roll music can pump you up, while soothing classical piano can mellow you out. However, are these effects real? What is really happening in the body when you listen to say, a track of relaxing music? Is it any different from simply listening to pleasant sounds or resting quietly? Scientists in a collaborative team in the US, Germany, and Switzerland ventured to find out.

Previous studies on the effects of music on the body usually only tested the music on very small groups of people, which can lead to bias. Many also failed to measure actual biochemical markers of stress, making it difficult to determine if changes in the body are actually occurring. In this study, the researchers tested various types of sounds on 60 healthy people, all female, between the ages of 20 and 30 and then measured actual biochemical stress indicators from the womens saliva. The researchers explained that, because the stress response differs by sex, they wanted to confine their group to only one sex in order to avoid variation in results from drowning out any real changes in stress levels. It is worth noting that applicants who had clinical depression, tinnitus, or music training, as well as those who drank alcohol and smoked regularly, were not accepted as study participants.

Prior to the experiment, the participants were given standardized tests that measure depression, anxiety, and emotionality. They were also given a survey to determine their music preferences, and it is worth noting that preference for classical music was high in this group. These measures were taken to ensure that depression and music preferences did not play a role in how relaxed the women became as a result of the study. For example, an anxious person might have a more difficult time becoming relaxed despite any intervention, and a person who hates classical music may not feel relaxed while listening to it.

Now, onto the experiment. The participants were divided randomly into three groups. One group listened to Miserere by Gregorio Allegri. The second group listened to a recording of flowing water. The third group rested quietly with no music. Each groups session lasted for ten minutes. Saliva was sampled from each participant before and after the intervention to establish a baseline. This would be used later to measure various stress markers. Then, the participants were put into a stressful situation a mock job interview. This particular scenario was chosen because it is a common stressful experience, and thus, stress could be induced ethically. After the stress test, a third saliva measurement was taken. The participants also filled out a set of questionnaires reporting how stressed they felt after the mock interview.

This begs the question how do we measure stress anyway? Simply asking a person if they are stressed can lead to bias since stress is different for everyone. It is also a very general term describing many different experiences. Researchers decided to accompany the self-reported stress levels of the participants with actual biochemical and physical measurements cortisol levels, salivary amylase, heart rate, and respiratory rate.

Cortisol is a hormone that is commonly elevated when a person is stressed. Salivary amylase is an enzyme produced by the digestive system, but it is also an indicator of the fight or flight response and another sign of stress. These chemicals are secreted in the saliva, making measurement convenient. Elevated heart rate and changes in what is called the Respiratory sinus arrhythmia or the syncing up of heart rate with breathing, can also change in response to stressful situations.

As it turns out, listening to relaxing music before a stressful event actually increased cortisol levels! This surprised the researchers. On the contrary, listening to relaxing music did seem to help the participants recover from this heightened fight or flight mode more effectively after the stressful event was over. Self reported anxiety, depression, and emotionality were not affected significantly by any of the interventions.

Despite doing their best to control for confounding factors and using objective stress measurements, they do mention that because the study was done on such a narrow demographic (young, female, healthy) that it may not be applicable to the general population. More research in this area would be needed, possibly on different groups of people with different preferences, genders, and health statuses.

Nevertheless, the study was well designed and produced provocative results that corroborate past research on music and stress. The major conclusion here is that the effect of music on human psychology is a highly individual experience and affects a symphony, pun intended, of hormones, enzymes, and cognitive processes that require many studies to fully understand.

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Relaxing Music May Not Be a Useful Stress-Reduction Strategy - Sciworthy

SIERRA VISTA For pets, Independence Day can be a stressful time as the loud pops and sudden bangs of fireworks sound off in the dark of the night. The holiday makes for one of the busiest weeks for animal shelters across the nation because of the amount of dogs that get out of their yards during firework shows.

Dogs get frightened with fireworks and escape, so pretty much that whole week, we are taking in strays, said Arleen Garcia, the animal control supervisor at the Nancy J. Brua Animal Care Center.

Nationally, July 4 is the busiest day of the year for animal control in general. Animal shelters experience a 30 percent increase in stray population right after the Fourth, according to Pet Amber Alert, a pet recovery service. On average, only 14 percent of lost pets are returned to their owners.

Last year, the Huachuca City Animal Shelter took in a few animals related to July 4 escapes and all were returned to their owners.

It was a little unusual, but good, said Nikki Haines, the Huachuca City animal control supervisor. Im really glad about that.

These animals were lucky, most dont make it back home. Pet Amber Alert reports between 30 to 60 percent of July 4-related strays are euthanized in the U.S.

Loud noises can be distressing to some dogs, prompting them to make a quick getaway. Other dogs might get the urge to find their owners during the loud blasts, Haines said.

There are, all of the sudden, these loud noises that dont normally occur and [the owners] are not there, so [dogs] arent able to protect their owners, she said. Youre part of the pack and they cant protect you when youre not there.

Leaving pets indoors is the best way to ensure that they dont escape. Both Garcia and Haines said, for some animals, a kennel or crate inside a secure room can do the trick.

Unless theyve had their dogs around firearms, like hunting dogs, most people should keep [their dogs] at home or possibly inside, Haines said.

To help drown out the noise, both Garcia and Haines suggest leaving relaxing music or the television on to distract their pets from the noise. Leaving on sounds that dogs are often around also helps with stress, Haines said.

If a dog or cat is extremely stressed out by loud noises, Haines suggests seeking help from a veterinarian for medication to alleviate anxiety. She said pet parents can also find over-the-counter medication but they should follow all directions and check with a pet professional before administering it to their furry friend.

This Independence Day, Haines wants pet parents to remember that a fear of loud noises can come with an age, Haines said. She said some animals mightve been able to handle the noise while they were young but developed a fear as they got older.

You should know your pet, she said. You may want to leave them home at this time and make sure that they feel safe.

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Fido fears fireworks - Sierra Vista Herald