Cold comfort: Wim Hof (centre) leads Carney (left) and other trainees through a meditation session to find their inner warmth. Photograph: Jeremy Liebman

Before Scott Carney set about climbing a Polish mountain in his underwear in temperatures 10 degrees below zero, he believed his days of adventure were just about over. He was in his mid-30s. An anthropologist by training and a journalist by vocation he had written two books about the dangerous extremes to which humans go to find salvation the first about the black market in organ donation, the second about the fatal consequences of a particular meditation practice.

His journey to the Polish mountain called Snka, 5,300ft, the pinnacle of the Silesian mountain range had begun one afternoon at his computer in Long Beach, California, with palm trees swaying gently outside his window. He had been idly Googling when he came across a picture of a man in his 50s sitting cross-legged on a glacier in the Arctic Circle, unclothed.

The man was Wim Hof, a Dutch evangelist for an extreme physical method that he claimed allowed him to raise and lower his body temperature at will and to control his immune system with the power of his mind. Carney was intrigued, but also highly sceptical. He decided to investigate Hofs claims, and persuaded Playboy magazine to sign him up for a week-long initiation into the Dutchmans methods that took place in a shack in Silesia in January.

He assumed that the story would be about another guru with an eye to the main chance, another investigation into the ways in which the gullible can be parted from their money in the name of enlightenment (the week cost Carney and his fellow disciples $2,000 each).

His scepticism did not last long. By the end of the week, after a short course in the breathing techniques that Hof demonstrated, and controlled exposure to the winter elements and icy water, Carney felt transformed. Not only could he climb Snka in 2ft of snow, but he discovered a kind of elation and an enormous sense of internal warmth. He was converted.

His latest book, What Doesnt Kill Us, explores the science and the philosophy of Wim Hofs methods, which promise to unleash dormant inner fire by creating the mitochondria-rich tissue brown fat that is produced when the body is exposed to extreme cold.

By the time Carney met him, Hof had achieved notoriety by running a barefoot marathon in the Arctic and climbing 25,000ft up Everest in his shorts. Carney went on not only to relish the Dutchmans regime of ice swimming, but also to accompany him in a shirtless climb up Kilimanjaro. The guru-buster had been won over by a man who claimed that a few simple physical techniques can promote world peace and win the war on bacteria.

But Carney is enthusiastic rather than being easily won over when it comes to Hofs more grandiose claims. The book is pretty exhaustive in its investigation and he provides anecdotal evidence for Hofs belief that his regime can improve the lives of those with auto-immune conditions such as Parkinsons, Crohns disease and rheumatoid arthritis and this comes with caveats. The biology of the method focuses on the potential of vasoconstriction the narrowing of blood vessels in response to extreme cold. The philosophy behind it suggests that our bodies and brains require exposure to physical extremes to realise what they are capable of.

Speaking to me about his conversion, Carney explains his belief that we have forgotten how to access the powers Hof describes. Our technology has advanced to such a degree that we no longer see ourselves as part of nature, he says. But we are just big smart monkeys, right? One of the driving forces in our technological progress has been to try to maximise comfort and convenience and that has had consequences.

Whether that progress is thermostatically controlled room temperature, a decent sofa, or easy navigation, the aim, Carney suggests, is to protect ourselves from things that are hard physically and mentally. Without those everyday challenges, he argues, we have undermined our natural biological armoury. The Hof method which begins with hyperventilation and culminates in lots of ice is designed to switch on and wake up inbuilt energies, and to trigger immune responses those same responses that allowed our ancestors to trek across tundra and thrive in unheated caves.

Its designed to trigger the immune responses that allowed our ancestors to thrive in unheated caves

The idea is seductive, but isnt Carney wary about evangelising what are potentially dangerous practices? He claims there is some evidence to support Hofs theory, although its not conclusive or wholly supported by science. There is always the risk that people take these things to extremes, he says. Certainly one of my worries about writing this book is that someone might read it and think: Oh my God, I can be immune to the elements! and then die on a mountaintop. That is not the message I am pushing

He is cautious, too, as he describes the health claims Hof has made, but is clearly personally persuaded. He has moved with his wife to Boulder, Colorado, in the foothills of the Rockies, where he can experience temperature extremes more easily than on the coast. Still, he stops short of describing himself as a brown fat disciple. Though he was seduced by Hofs philosophy, he attempts to balance that with a clear-eyed examination of the Dutchmans frailties.

Hof comes across as a kind of freaky Spartan, but not a charlatan. The good thing is that you would never want to be him, Carney says. He has a very disorganised life. Kids with different women, alcoholism in his past. He is flawed and human. I feel that if you hang out with him that makes you trust his really good qualities.

Its four years since the pair of them first met in Poland and they remain close friends. Carney has kept up his regime. I had a cold shower this morning, did my 70 push-ups and 15 minutes of breathing exercise with my wife (who is also a convert). But it is the understanding of the connection between his health and his environment that has changed his life. I am much more comfortable with being uncomfortable now, he says. The understanding of extremes provides, he believes, a sense of physical perspective. He feels not only healthier, but part of the natural scheme of things. While our fight or flight responses are as likely to be triggered these days by worrying about the mortgage or getting outraged by the internet, he says, contact with the elements reminds us both of our frailty and our strength.

The regime becomes addictive. A cold shower might release a few endorphins, but it is only a gateway drug. Carney craves the sensation of plunging through ice. Jumping into very cold water and knowing you will feel warm is pretty cool, he says. He does it as often as he can.

His book links the psychological appeal of the practice to the attractions of punishing obstacle course challenges, such as Tough Mudder. Carney sees not only a health benefit in those challenges, but also the kind of rite of passage that society rarely affords: The idea used to be a war will make a man of you, he says. An idea that obviously doesnt do us any favours. With these kinds of disciplines, you are putting yourself in a challenge and proving you can overcome it. There are many benefits of that.

As an anthropologist, with an interest in eastern religions, I wonder how much he sees it in an ascetic, monastic tradition. Isnt it just masochism?

They are related, but they are not the same, he says. Ascetics deny the flesh to get closer to God. That is not the heart of this. It is celebrating what our bodies can do. You dont have to do it all day every day. You can wear a coat sometimes if you want. I am not suggesting you become a cavemen and ditch the internet and forget modern medicine. It is about balance, he pauses. But I guess it certainly shows there can be a joy in pain.

What Doesnt Kill Us by Scott Carney is published on 11 May by Scribe Publications at 14.99. To order a copy for 12.74, go to bookshop.theguardian.com

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Ice baths and snow meditation: can cold therapy make you stronger? - The Guardian

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Nagpur: Sarvodaya Ashram, situated at near Bole Petrol Pump, Dharampeth, has organised a combined meeting at its premises on Tuesday, May 9, for chalking out a plan to celebrate sesquicentennial (150th) birth anniversary of Ba-Bapu. The meeting, to be presided over by President of Sewagram Ashram President Jaywant Mathkar, is being held on the joint auspices of Nagpur Zilla Sarvodaya Mandal, Mahatma Gandhi Vichar Manch, Servants of India Society, Jagrut Nagrik Manch and Maharashtra Gandhi Smarak Nidhi.

The meeting will be held at 5.30 pm on Tuesday, May 9, 2017.

Kasturba and Mahatma Gandhi were of the same age. The 150th birth anniversary of both is commencing from next year. The meeting is being held to chalk out a detailed plan to celebrate the anniversary. During the meeting, Senior Editor and Writer Suresh Dwadashiwar will deliver a lecture on the topic India Today and Political Legacy of Gandhi and Gokhale. Gopalkrishna Gokhale was political guru of Mahatma Gandhi. Renowned Sarvodayi thinker Anantrao Ahmedabadkar will be felicitated on the occasion of his 75th birthday. Similarly, IIT-Mumbais retired Professor and writer Ravindra Pandharinath will elaborate on Gandhi 150 celebrations.

A meeting of Nagpur Zilla Sarvodaya Mandal is also being organised just before the combined meeting at 4.30 pm to discuss following subjects: 1) Election of new executive, 2) A proposal to organise triennial convention of Maharashtra Sarvodaya Mandal and 3) Preparations for centenary celebrations of Champaran Satyagrah and Gram Swavlamban Agitation.

For detailed information, those interested can contact the organisers on 9822253229.

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Sarvodaya Ashram meeting to chalk out plan to celebrate 150th birth anniversary of Ba-Bapu on May 9 - Nagpur Today

Come and enjoy music and art at the depot May 8, 2017.

Vendors and art begin at 6:00 PM; music at 7:00.

A free will offering will be taken on behalf of the musicians.

Event is held rain or shine as we move inside the depot if the weather is bad

For a relaxing evening, come and enjoy music and art at the depot. Bring a chair and your family and friends.

This weeks featured musicians will be Woodrow an electric/acoustic duo featuring original songs and covers of classic rock, folk, and alternative hits from the 60s through current day. They add their own spin to songs you know and love. Their tone is mellow and perfect for a coffee house, restaurant, or outdoor festival or concert, although they do perform a number of pretty rocking tunes as well. Their repertoire includes Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, 10,000 Maniacs, Grateful Dead, Radiohead, The Beatles, The Allman Brothers, The Pretenders, Train, and much, much more.

The duo features Brian Bramkamp on guitar and vocals and Theresa Ratliff on lead vocals. Brian writes all their original songs and is an accomplished guitarist with a varied background in blues and classic rock styles, taking notes from the likes of Warren Haynes and Jerry Garcia. Theresa has been a professional vocalist since she was 12 years old and has performed not only as a rock and pop vocalist but also in professional Broadway-style musicals. Her vocal style has been compared to powerhouses such as Grace Slick, Janis Joplin, and Melissa Etheredge.

The duo performs regularly at concerts and community events in the area. You can view their show schedule at http://www.Facebook.com/wearewoodrow.

Marie Herman is our featured artist.

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Music on Mondays at Dansbury Depot - Pocono Business Journal

Media Release from Tekapo Springs

May 8 2017

Star gazing tours and new pools are hot attractions at Tekapo Springs

The introduction of star gazing tours married with the launch of new pools have put Tekapo Springs firmly on the global tourism map.

Star gazing tours in one of the worlds top clear sky locations was launched by Tekapo Springs in New Zealands Mackenzie country just two months ago, taking viewing the Southern night sky to whole new levels.

Development of stargazing tours followed on from a multi-million-dollar investment into two new pools and an aqua play area at the complex, bringing the total number of pools to five.

Both investments have ensured the multi-award-winning South Island tourism attraction, renowned for its innovation and continued business developments, continues to be at the forefront of must-do activities for visitors.

Tekapo Springs owner Karl Burtscher said Tekapo Star Gazing had been extremely well received by international and domestic visitors as it combined the top two attractions in Tekapo.

The tours take advantage of the fact that the tiny township of Tekapo sits within the worlds largest international dark sky reserve (4144sq km), only the fourth such reserve in the world.

They incorporate a 40-minute guided night sky tour with trained star guides followed by a 40-minute soak in the hot pools. Guides continue to give information, answer questions and story tell on request, while guests chill out to relaxing astro music. Guests can also get closer to the stars and planets by looking through one of three powerful telescopes installed at the pools.

Developing a product that marries our beautiful Southern night sky with a visit to the relaxing Hot Pools makes for an exceptional experience, said Mr Burtscher.

Visitors have called it an out of this world experience or said they felt like they were floating in space, and our guides have been praised for being so knowledgeable about some of the closest and brightest features in the night sky such as stars, planets, constellations, and galaxies.

Mr Burtscher said bookings were highly recommended as some tours were booked out well in advance.

Even if the weathers not perfect for star gazing, our guides provide an indoor audio visual about the night sky using the same content, with a high definition projector screen and astro photos and videos, he said.

It makes the tour an all-weather attraction, and we even have a cosy open fire to warm up the night too!

The tours will operate on a winter schedule until October 31 with tours departing seven nights a week at 9.30pm (Mandarin-speaking), 10.30pm (English tour) and 11.30pm (both languages). The latest tour will also cater for visitors who like astro-photography.

From November 1 tour times change to 10.30pm, 11.30pm and 12.30am.

Last year Tekapo Springs also officially launched its new pools to great acclaim, proving hugely popular with visitors and locals and resulting in a significant increase in visitor numbers.

We now have two busy seasons both summer and winter, said Mr Burtscher.

The pools are popular throughout the year, perfect for visitors in summer who want to relax while enjoying views of the lake and surrounding mountains, while in winter theyre a magical escape for visitors day or night.

We just keep adding more and more reasons to visit Tekapo Springs including our winter ice skating rink, winter snow tubing and a huge inflatable summer waterslide.

Tekapo Springs is a year-round attraction nestled on the shores of stunning Lake Tekapo, beloved by visitors from all around the globe and winner of multiple tourism awards. The new pool additions themed High Country Tarns, each with its own distinctive shade of aqua green are part of Tekapo Springs long-term growth strategy for expanding its aquatic attractions and offering a wider range of water temperatures and features.

ENDS

Scoop Media

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Star gazing tours and new pools are 'hot' attractions - Scoop.co.nz (press release)

Im in the process of moving seamlessly from the care and maintenance of cats to the ditto and ditto of chickens.

The cats were the usual pair at Swanky Towers, home of my frequently holidaying friends, and the beasts c&m was complicated by the fact that one of them has a thyroid problem, which puts him off his grub.

He has pills for it but refuses to eat them. Even if, after deploying a variation on the Heimlich manoeuvre, you manage to get one down his throat, hes quite capable of regurgitating it five minutes later.

The best method is crush the pill into his wet food. But, by the time I arrived, hed stopped eating, a problem complicated by the fact that sybaritic Bertie, the other beast, will scoff the food containing the medication, given half the chance.

Honestly, you need eyes in the back of your bean. For three days, Jeeves stayed off his food, but fell eventually for the pill being crushed into some kitty milk concoction that he drinks. After that, he was eating for Scotland, even helping himself to Berties provender, if the latter didnt get his bib on quickly enough.

No sooner had I departed from Swanky Towers, like some Rabbie Poppins of the pet world, than I was called to the countryside for a tutorial on looking after chickens.

These other pals are holidaying in July, and Ill take over their demesne for a fortnight, with my main duty concerning the hens, ken? Ill have to remember that. Sometimes, I fetch up at Swanky Towers, help myself to the drinks cabinet and any posh chocolates I can find, put some relaxing music on (sound system to die for), and sit back in the lap of luxury. Hours later, I leap up, crying: I forgot about the cats!

Its a business, this beast maintenance. Indeed, one of the dog walkers on the suburban hill has suggested I take it up as a profession, as my usual one is degenerating into a hobby. People have asked me to look after their mutts but, as a man in my position cannot be seen picking up poop, Ive had to pooh-pooh that idea.

In the meantime, chickens and cats will suffice. Feeding and housing the former turned out more complicated than expected, and Ive warned my friends not to expect all five beasts to be alive when they get back.

However, if all goes well, I shall have all the eggs I can eat in moderation (dubious effect on the prostate, some say) and, indeed, have been starting every other day since my tutorial visit with a fried egg, and feeling fairly fabulous for it.

Better even than the ovate bonus from chickens, though, was that I got a go on a mini-tractor for the grass cutting. I cannot recall ever being so happy. Again, it all seemed terribly complicated, with buttons to press and levers to lift, but once Id mastered it I was off, turning left and even right at times.

I know: we can all see this ending badly. Youre picturing tractor-shaped holes in the hedgerows. But I picture myself happy as a sandboy: munching fried egg sandwiches as I mow as much of the world as I can.

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From kitties to chickies - The Courier

One of the oldest and most used meditation apps, Calm offers hundreds of hours of lessons and exercises.(Photo: Calm.com, Inc.)

Between calendar notifications, pushed emails, and intrusive messaging platforms, you might believe smartphones contribute to your daily stress levels. Ironically, that same device could also help nudge you to take much-needed breaks throughout the day thanks to a handful of meditation and mindfulness apps.

I often say that mindfulness isnt hardwhats hard is remembering to be mindful, says Sharon Salzberg, renowned meditation expert and bestselling author. Ones device is the perfect implement to offer those reminders, not only for a time-out of 5 to 10 minutes, but for what we call short moments, many times taking a few breaths to return to ourselves and return to the moment."

Salzberg, whose new book Real Love (Flatiron Books; $24.99) is available June 6, believes theres an increased interest in meditation in the West, perhaps because the incredible busyness and sheer unrelenting pressure of potentially always being on. Salzberg says several apps could help with reminders and bite-sized lessons at home or the go.

Given the fact May is Mental Health Month, the following is a brief look at five picks available at both the App Store (for iOS) and Google Play (for Android), unless otherwise specified.

A new player with some exceptional meditation and mindfulness teachers, Simple Habit gives you a daily break from the grind.(Photo: Simple Habit, Inc.)

One of the newest players is also one of the most impressive.

Simple Habit is an on-demand meditation platform built for busy people. With simple 5-minute lessons, the app features more than 1,000 meditations guided by mindfulness teachers from around the world and for a more tailored lesson, you can choose the time, place and cause of your stress. For example, tap Tough Day or Big Event (perhaps before public speaking), or Morning Meditation, or At Work.

You can also pick a lesson by Series (Drift to Sleep, Sharpen Focus, Meditate in Nature), and by Teacher of your choice (check out Australias Kate James, with her soothing voice and helpful instruction).

More than 50 sessions are free, with the option to upgrade to a Premium version for $11.99/month or $99.99/year. Its also available through a desktop website, and Simple Habit will remember where you left off.

Calm lets you track your progress and choose a meditation topic that matters most.(Photo: Calm.com, Inc.)

One of my favorites, Calm is a meditation and mindfulness app with guided sessions in varying lengths, ranging from 3 to 25 minutes, and with content designed for beginners, as well as intermediate and advanced users.

Similar to some other apps of this kind, you can choose a topic that matters most to you: Calming Anxiety, Deep Sleep, Self-Esteem, Forgiveness, Happiness, Managing Stress, Focus and Concentration, and so on. Track your progress with gamification elements, such as daily streaks, as well assessing a tally of time spent meditating.

While theres some free content to get you started, subscriptions are $12.99 per month, or the heavily discounted $59.99 per year. Subscribers get full access to all the instructions, along with a new 10-minute program added daily, more than 20 Sleep Stories, 7- and 21-day programs, breathing exercises, relaxing nature sounds, and more.

The Headspace app has been described as "the gym membership for the mind."(Photo: Headspace Inc.)

Your gym membership for the mind, Headspace wants to teach you how to meditate in just a few minutes a day.

Endorsed by Emma Watson, this UK app features a clean and easy-to-use interface, and offers a free beginner series called Take10 10 sessions, each 10 minutes, over 10 days using proven meditation and mindfulness techniques that could help clear your head, reduce stress, sleep better, and enjoy greater overall happiness. Available for iOS, Android, Amazon, and the web, the lessons include stat tracking, rewards, and an optional buddy system (for friends to motivate each other).

If you want more than the introductory Take10, Headspace offers a subscription service ($12.99 per month or $94.99 per year) for access to many other meditation lessons, guided and unguided, as short as 2 minutes and as long as 1 hour. Some deal with applying mindfulness to everyday activities, while others cater to managing stress (S.O.S. sessions) and life-altering situations.

As part of Headspaces Get Some, Give Some program, for every subscription someone signs up for, the app will donate a subscription to someone in need, says the company.

A book, app and podcast rolled into one, 10% Happier is an app for "fidgety skeptics."(Photo: Change Collective)

Designed for fidgety skeptics, 10% Happier offers clear and simple meditation lessons.

Led by New York Times bestselling author and ABC news anchor Dan Harris who suffered an on-air panic attack in 2004, which prompted him to write the book 10% Happier the app (iOS, web) features quick meditations by many respected teachers, include Salzberg, which you can do whenever you have a spare moment.

10% Happier Free offers free access to a 7-session introductory course, with daily meditation videos (with offline access), guided audio lessons (for when you cant look at a screen), advice and tips to applying mindfulness to your personal and professional lives, and new content added monthly to keep things fresh. While the app is free to download and use, members get a lot more content for $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year. Too bad theres not an Android version, given its the worlds no. 1 operating system.

Reminders to take a time-out arent just on your smartphone, but are prompted by your smartwatch, too. Built into the latest Apple Watch operating system is Breathe, Apples own app that encourages you to relax, focus, and (you guessed it), breathe.

Youll feel a slight tap on your wrist every four hours, and when you glance down at the screen the app will ask you to start a session, if youre able to. The app will guide you through some deep breaths over a one-minute session of seven breaths, but you can tweak these session lengths. Follow the animated circles on the screen to inhale and exhale, plus you can feel a tap on your wrist to inhale, if you want to do this with your eyes closed.

A summary screen, with heart rate info, is shown at the end.

Other recommended meditation apps for both iOS and Android include Buddhify, The Mindfulness App, Take A Break and Omvana.

Follow Marc on Twitter: @marc_saltzman. E-mail him at askmarcsaltzman@gmail.com.

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Breathe. These meditation apps bring calm to stressed, busy lives - USA TODAY

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

'The Rules Do Not Apply' is a meditation on grief Pittsburgh Post-Gazette This book doesn't pretend to be anything but a meditation on grief, in the tradition of Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking and Cheryl Strayed. In the preface, the author writes, It has been made overwhelmingly clear to me now that anything ...

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'The Rules Do Not Apply' is a meditation on grief - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Mindfulness is a type of meditation thats said to enhance emotional well-being. Its become extremely popular in recent years, with major companies such as Google, Goldman Sachs and General Motors encouraging its practice amongst their employees. NASA, the US Olympic team and the Navy SEALs are just three organizations said to use this type of meditation as part of their training. Mindfulness has also been promoted by celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Kobe Bryant and Emma Watson. So what exactly is mindfulness and how is it practiced?

What exactly is mindfulness?

Worry and anxiety often enter our minds via thinking about what has happened in the past or what may happen in the future. Mindfulness is a way of controlling this type of instinctive, yet negative thinking. By being fully focused on the present moment, it means you are not thinking about the past or future and the worries or anxieties that may accompany this. As such, practiced regularly, mindfulness is said to have long-term benefits on how to cope with the stresses of everyday life.

What are the origins of mindfulness?

The name mindfulness is a translation of the Sanskrit word for remembrance or awareness. Its known mostly as a form of Buddhist meditation but is also thought to date back to ancient Hindu traditions 2,500 years ago. It has gained popularity and recognition in recent times, most notably through Jon Kabat-Zinn who introduced the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Program at the University of Massachusetts in the late 1970s. Mindfulness has continued to grow in popularity, becoming an accepted part of modern-day psychology. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is the most recent innovation of this stress-reducing technique, building on work achieved with MBSR.

Who can benefit from practicing mindfulness?

Mindfulness can be beneficial to anyone wishing to reduce stress and worry. Its particularly helpful for people suffering from psychological conditions such as severe anxiety, depression and addiction. Its also thought to help with physical ailments such as heart disease, gastrointestinal problems and chronic pain. This is, in part, because those suffering from medical conditions like depression and physical pain are more prone to negative thoughts.

Mindfulness in more detail.

Without realizing it, at any given moment, the brain is a hub of hyperactive mental activity. Thoughts can be racing away in many different directions, making connections, one thought leading to another and another. Often these thoughts lead to possible negative scenarios or memories of past events that have caused worry, emotional or physical pain. Mindfulness stops that. It creates a barrier between those runaway thoughts and your consciousness. It makes you more aware that this type of negative thinking is there in the first place. By doing this and slowing thoughts down at a given time, it lets you take a moment to just be, to experience a present moment and nothing else.

Mindfulness itself has also highlighted the strong connection between psychological problems and physical problems. In other words, how we think can have an effect on what we physically feel. This is why many people experiencing a condition such as chronic pain say practicing mindfulness helps them cope better with that pain.

Is there any scientific evidence mindfulness works?

There has been a number of controlled, scientific studies that have highlighted the positive effects of mindfulness. For example, a study by neuroscientists from Harvard University showed an eight-week program of mindfulness therapy produced changes in brain structure that were beneficial to patients. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, they revealed that participants practicing twenty seven minutes of mindfulness a day increased grey matter density in the hippocampus, the part of the brain that is associated with compassion, self-awareness and introspection.

Meanwhile, the area of the brain that is associated with depression and anxiety, the amygdala, decreased in density. This made many patients more open to a positive way of thinking thus reducing stress, pain and/or depression. A similar study published in the British medical journal The Lancet concluded that MBCT was just as effective as drug treatment in preventing patients relapsing into depression. Mindfulness being a lot less expensive than medication means its both beneficial for patients and medical practitioners.

How do you practice mindfulness?

To begin the practice of mindfulness, find a quiet environment for yourself. Try to be as fully relaxed as you can be. Regulate your breathing. Become more aware of this breathing rhythm. As you breathe in and out, become aware of your senses. Dont judge or think about them, just sense where you are in the present moment. Sense, for example, your body against the chair. The temperature of the room. Sounds you hear. What you smell. However, dont let thoughts randomly enter your mind or wander off. Whenever you feel this is happening, bring your thoughts back to your breathing rhythm. Only sense that present moment where youre practicing mindfulness. The aim here is to be in control of your thoughts, to make the present moment everything. Once you are only aware of the here and now, you are on your way to successfully practicing mindfulness.

Incorporating mindfulness into your daily life.

Although it can be helpful, its not necessary to be in a completely quiet environment to practise mindfulness. Once you learn the technique or, ideally, adapt a technique thats best suited for yourself, you will be able to practice it almost anywhere. It could be while sitting on a bus or train, at work or during leisure time. Likewise, the amount of time a mindfulness session can last is up to you. For example, you could begin with short periods of around ten minutes a day and build up your time practicing mindfulness to forty minutes a day as you get used to it.

The more you practice mindfulness, the more beneficial it can be. Mindfulness is not a miracle cure for a number of psychological or physical conditions. It is, however, recognized more and more as a very effective help to anyone who wishes to lead a more stress-free life.

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A Mindful Meditation Technique - Chicago Defender

Gisele Bundchen told Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight ShowFriday that meditating has been a great stress reliever in her life and joked that it even helped the New England Patriots win Super Bowl LI.

That was a very big nail-biter, Bundchen said about the big game, which was one of the greatest comebacks in sports history.

Surrounded by intense Atlanta Falcons fans, Bundchen first handled her stress by screaming and praying and calling my family and asking everyone to pray, she told Fallon. After that? I started meditating, because it was the only thing that could calm me down, because it was kind of crazy, she said.

The Pats wound up defeating the Falcons 34-28 in overtime, coming back from a 25-point deficit.

I channeled some great energy and, really, I feel like a little responsible, Bundchen said, laughing.I brought love and peace and clarity and calmness into the game. It shifted after that, I must tell you.

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Gisele told Jimmy Fallon her meditation skills helped the Pats win ... - Boston.com

Home Thursday, May 4, 2017 20:09

By MUTHOKI MUMO

When you were a kid, were you ever asked what kind of superpower you would want?

I nod not because anyone ever asked me any such question but because Andrea Hartleys smile is so wide that I do not want to interrupt this train of thought.

Everyone responds flying. Everyone wants to fly, she says.

This, to Andrea, is the essence of the aerial aerobics class shes been teaching twice a week for the last five weeks. And she is right.

When I try aerial aerobics, I am reminded of those moments when I have come as close as one can to flight without a plane: when I was pushed too high by my sister on a swing or when my father picked me up as a young girl and swang me around until I thought I might vomit.

This feeling, hanging upside down suspended from the rafters by two ribbons of fabric, is terror. Then when I relax, let go of the fabric and my body swings freely, this feeling becomes exhilaration. Just like flying.

Aerial aerobics is an exercise. The burn in my arms, the sheen on my forehead and the sweat leaving an itchy trail down my back attest to that. However, when Andrea performs aerial aerobics, it looks more like art.

Gym-goers use two lengths of fabric, the silks as they are called in the lingo, to support body weight as they carry out gravity-defying moves while suspended mid-air.

Andrea started out with aerial silks four years ago when she was still a university student. When she moved to East Africa she brought her silks with her.

Some of her earliest students were her roommates and her partner, Neel Chandaria, who now helps her run her classes. Today, shes miles away from that university student who let loose an expletive when she faced her first silks.

On a Wednesday afternoon at CrosfitKwetu gym in Gigiri, Nairobi, Andrea spirals, does splits in mid-air, and inverts her body all with the grace of a dancer.

Her moves are reminiscent of a Cirque du Soleil performance. Only the redness of her face reveals the strain it takes to perform these moves. This workout, she says, elegantly brings together gymnastics, yoga, and strength training.

She separates her class into two: the beginners and the advanced students. The other beginners put me to shame. Michelle inverts herself on her first try. Molly claims that this is her first class but the ease with which she navigates the silks leaves me suspicious.

When it is my turn, my first task is lift my body off the ground. Easy, I think. The silks go round my wrists.

Fold your knees to your chest and lift yourself up, Andrea tells me.

Not so easy. I am able to hold myself suspended off the ground for about half a second before I let go, nearly collapsing onto the cushioned floor.

My fellow beginners clap: Good job. Youve got it. Try again. They are not being insincere. This is the ambience in Andreas class. They urge each other along. They clap. They high-five me when I manage to fold my feeble, soft body into even the most basic of tricks.

This cheering is infectious. When Michelle performs a new move, I feel a sudden burst of joy, as though this achievement were my own. My turn again on the silks and Michelle gives me a quick lesson.

Its all about the core, she tells me. Tense those muscles up as you lift yourself up. This is problematic because I have less of a core in my middle and more of a mixture of chocolate and fat.

But the benefits of class begin to make themselves known early on. By the end of my first session, I have found not only my core but my biceps too: I know they exist because they hurt.

Andrea tells me that combining aerial aerobics with other strength-training and flexibility focused exercises can make the going easier.

Despite my misgivings, aerial aerobics seems not-so-hard to pick up. The women in the advanced segment , swinging themselves fearlessly, have had three, four of Andreas sessions. And the classes are growing. Andrea is about to begin classes at Mom3ntum gym in Westlands.

Hanging upside down turns out to be very good for clarity of thought. As I shriek in fear, I know that I will be back.

I want to fly again, and perhaps this time I will be more of a graceful swan than a confused chicken.

See the rest here:

Aerial aerobics catches on - Business Daily (press release) (blog)