The Penn State University Libraries will be holding De-Stress Fest during finals week. These finals week activities will take place Sunday through Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will feature activities focused on reducing levels of stress for students working their way through final papers and exams.

Students interested in de-stressing can stop by the Mann Assembly Room and 103 Paterno to take part in the activities, which include coffee, snacks, games, and more. The first-floor lobbies of the Patee and Paterno Libraries will have Wii games, bean-bag toss boards, and puzzles.

HealthWorks will even be hosting a De-Stress Zone fully equipped with relaxing music, stress management books, and more from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. every day.

Branch libraries at University Park will also be partaking in the activities. The Architecture and Landscape Architecture Library will host an origami workshop all day from Tuesday through Thursday. The Fletcher L. Byrom Earth and Mineral Sciences Library, the Engineering Library, and the Physical and Mathematical Sciences Library will be hosting similar events.

You can find an extended schedule for the De-Stress Fest Activities here.

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University Libraries Hosting De-Stress Fest During Finals Week ... - Onward State

Demand for organic products, like these greenhouse peppers grown by The Oppenheimer Group, Vancouver, British Columbia, continues to rise, shippers say.

Photo by The Oppenheimer Group

Organic food sales in the U.S. reached $40 billion annually in 2016, according to a state-by-state report in March from the Organic Trade Association.

The report says organic items now are in kitchens of more than 80% of U.S. households and account for about 5% of total food sales in the country.

Fruits and vegetables continue to be a pace-setter in the organic category, produce marketers say.

We see the growth of organics in recent years as a key indicator for what consumers want moving forward, and that is why we have focused on expanding our line of organic products like the organic version of Manns Broccoli Cole Slaw, which just celebrated its 25th anniversary at retail, said Jacob Shafer, spokesman with Salinas, Calif.-based Mann Packing Co.

Growers are responding to growing demand, said Steve Lutz, senior strategist with Wenatchee, Wash.-based fruit grower-shipper CMI Orchards.

Washington State Tree Fruit (Association) reports organic Washington apple production is up by 41% over last season, Lutz said.

Organic apples and pears make up about 9% of the entire industry crop, he said.

At CMI, we recognized early on the massive potential for organic foods and began transitioning a large percentage of our orchards to organics, Lutz said.

He said 19.3% of CMIs production was organic apples and pears and the company anticipates more than a quarter of its crop will be transitioned to organics by 2020.

We believe our commitment to organic production truly sets us apart, and we are very well positioned for the expected continued growth in organic consumption, Lutz said.

CMI markets numerous organic apple and pear varieties under the Daisy Girl banner.

The organic categorys success includes vegetables, said Doug Classen, sales manager with Salinas, Calif.-based vegetable grower-shipper The Nunes Co.

Theres steady, incremental growth, Classen said.

Growth also embraces specialties, said Robert Schueller, director of public relations for Los Angeles-based World Variety Produce, which markets under the Melissas brand.

Schueller said a number of his companys organic items have seen double-digit growth in the last year, including ginger, at 40%; strawberries, 25%; mangoes, 15%; Brussels sprouts, 12%; and baby yams, 10%.

The consumption of organics continues to set records year after year as consumers embrace it as a lifestyle, Schueller said.

One reason for the growth is accessibility, Schueller said.

You find it in most retailers across the country, he said.

Stores once thought carrying organics could help them stand out among competitors. Now, the category is becoming a mainstay in mainstream retail produce departments, Schueller said.

Organics no longer are just a trend among shoppers, said Bil Goldfield, director of corporate communications for Dole Food Co., Westlake Village, Calif.

U.S. organic sales posted a new record of $43.3 billion in 2015, up 11% over the prior year and more than three times the overall food growth of 3%, Goldfield said, citing OTA numbers.

Dole is seeing its strongest growth in demand for organic bananas and pineapples, but it also keeps expanding its organic lineup, Goldfield said.

Adding to our long-established business in organic fruits, Dole is answering the increased demand for organic packaged salads with our expanded Dole Organic Salad line, launched in 2016, featuring six organic salad mixes including three new varieties and two all-new organic salad kits, Goldfield said.

Gary Wishnatzki, owner of Plant City, Fla.-based Wish Farms, which grows and ships organic and conventional berries, describes the organic category as having methodical growth.

A lot of merchandising has changed, where consumers are more likely to buy organic, he said.

There still are hurdles the category has to clear, Wishnatzki said.

It will continue to go up, but there are some limitations, he said.

Its difficult to take a field and transition it because of the costs of doing so. Theres no market, really, for transitional product, so its difficult to transition because you get diminished yields without the bump in price.

Otherwise, theres no telling how far organics can go, said Chris Ford, Salinas-based organics category manager for the Vancouver, British Columbia-based Oppenheimer Group.

The skys the limit in terms of growth, he said.

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Demand for organic food sales continues to increase | The Packer - The Packer

Tonya Antle has been named the Ag Woman of the Year by Monterey County's Ag Against Hunger.

Throughout her career, Antle has focused on organics, first in table grapes at Pavich Farms and then as vice president of organic at Earthbound Farm, with the goal of bringing organic food to the mainstream. In January, she cofounded the Organic Produce Network, a digital news source devoted to the organic fresh produce business.

My career and lifes work for the organic produce community has never been about me, but rather about delivering on the promise for our farmers, customers and consumers. To be recognized for my efforts makes me proud that I played a small role in making the organic choice viable, Antle said in a news release.

The award, which seeks to honor women in the Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benitio counties, was presented April 28 at a luncheon at Paradaiso Vineyards in Salinas, Calif.

Antle, along with her husband Rick, was the 2016 recipient of the United Fresh Produce Associations Lifetime Achievement Award. She was named a Packer 25 honoree in 2016.

She has worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in addition to serving on many boards, including the Produce Marketing Association, Organic Trade Association, and Produce for Better Health Foundation.

An active community member and volunteer, Antle currently serves on the Board of Directors of the California State University-Monterey Bay Foundation and mentors young people through the Pack Family/PMA Career Pathways program, according to the release.

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Organic pioneer named Ag Woman of the Year | The Packer - The Packer

Jean Chen Smith, Correspondent 12:03 a.m. ET May 2, 2017

Create a safe and inviting space.(Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

In recent years, the benefits of meditation have been acknowledged not only by spiritual leaders, but also by scientists and researchers alike.

The Dalai Lama says meditation can change your life and celebrities from Oprah Winfrey to pro athletes praise the positive effects of meditating. Meditation has been in existence for more than 2,500 years as way to connect with your inner self and the world around you.

A study done last year by UCLA found long-term meditators displayed better-preserved brains than non-meditators as they aged.

There are over 23 types of meditation styles, so just where does this leave the average person looking to begin meditating in Monmouth County? The good news is that the offerings for meditation are rich in the county alone, there are many different mediation resources.

RELATED: START RIGHT NOW ON PATH TO GOOD HEALTH

Recently, I connected with Jared Martinsen, who teaches meditation at his house every Tuesday night at 7 p.m.

Jareds experience with meditation began 18 years ago in Corvallis, Oregon. He attended a guided meditation and emerged from it with an unforgettable experience, which led him to continue his practice.

Find a private space free from distractions to begin your meditation practice.(Photo: Getty Images)

The first time I went there, I had an experience where I saw a white haze in the room at the end of the meditation. I thought, what is this?

I thought I had something in my eye, but it didnt go away when I rubbed them, he said. I was agnostic and didnt really want to believe in anything strange, but I felt so loving and peaceful that I had to come back and try some more. Over the years, meditation completely changed my life from being extremely shy and having a hard time relating to people to having more friends and dating.

FEEL BETTER: DON'T SUFFER THROUGH ALLERGY SEASON

If you are brand new to meditating, Jared suggests meditating with a group of people or a class.

You might need to find people that you connect with, so try a couple of groups, he said. Have a daily practice, even if its just five minutes a day at a set time. Just a habit like brushing your teeth.

Create a safe and inviting space with items that calm you.(Photo: courtesy of Jean Chen Smith)

Meditation is not about not having thoughts. Its about being aware of yourself having thoughts, he said. Meditation is about becoming more aware and training the mind. Focus the mind on something more interesting than thoughts.

MORE: GET IN SHAPEWITH CROSSFIT

Meditation for beginners

Create a quiet and safe space. Make sure there will be no distractions from family and/or pets. Sit down on a pillow or cushion, relax and

rest your hands on your lap. You can sit on the floor cross-legged or on any chair with your feet resting on the ground. It is not necessary to force yourself into a lotus position if you are not used to it. However, it is important to sit upright and find good posture.

Close your eyes and begin to breathe slowly and deeply. Begin by taking a few slow and deep breaths inhaling with your nose and exhaling gently from your mouth. Dont force your breathing-begin to breathe slowly and deeply.

Kids are fueled by imagination, and yoga can help them grow. Video by Kelly-Jane Cotter

Become aware of your breathing. Become aware of each breath that you take in through your nose and be mindful of each breath that you exhale with your mouth.

If you find your mind straying away from your breaths, gently bring it back. Dont beat yourself up if your mind wanders - whats important is to realize and bring your attention back to where it should be. As you develop meditate more, you will find it easier to concentrate.

Meditation does not need to be long - when you are ready to end the session, open your eyes gently and breathe several long deep breaths before slowly standing up.

Jean Chen Smith is a freelance writer, social media consultant and Pilates studio owner in Corvallis, Oregon. Jean, a marathon runner, is passionate about health, fitness and fashion, which is the reason she started her lifestyle website, http://www.projectcloud9.com and Pilates studio http://www.studiocloud9pilates.com. Email her at info@projectcloud9.com or follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

MEDITATION CLASSES

Find a private space free from distractions to begin your meditation practice.(Photo: Jean Chen Smith)

CREATING A MEDIATION SPACE

Privacy: Find a space that is safe and secure away from the rest of the family. Preferably it is a room in which the door can be closed to prevent disruptions. This is your time.

Space: Make the space pleasant by placing a comfortable cushion for sitting on or bringing in a chair to sit on. Place items nearby which relax and calm you such as plants and or spiritual items, if applicable.

Music: Some people like the relaxing sound of music in the background such as a stream or nature sounds. It is up to you whether you prefer silence or some meditation music. There are many CDs available for the purpose of meditation.

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Meditation for beginners - Asbury Park Press

In our day-to-day work with people who stutter here at the American Institute for Stuttering, we often introduce our clients to various aspects of mindfulness. We describe mindfulness as a calm awareness of what is happening now, internally and externally, without judgment. The application of mindfulness in stuttering therapy has broad implications, but can range froma simple focus of noticing more about a difficult situation, to a daily practice of greater mindfulness. A personmight, for example, apply mindfulness throughout the day in order to become more aware of where they carry tension and/or pay attention to how their automatic thoughts fire.

Based on the experiences reported by our clients, and our own personal experiences exploring mindfulness, we know that it is a skill that requires practice. Sometimes it just seems toodifficult to get out of the emotional haze of the stuttering moment. For many of our clients, this struggle with mindfulness leads them totry meditation. Specific to the social experience of stuttering, meditation can be useful in flexing the mindfulness muscle in preparation for difficult stuttering moments.

If youre hoping to become more mindful, and considering meditation, here are a few basic considerations:

Below is a list of resources for guided meditation that we often recommend to our clients. They are not specifically designed for people who stutter, but are a very helpful way to start practicing mindfulness.

For many of our clients, this is a good starting point for trying out meditation for the first time, especially when they are looking for something free. In this guided meditation by Jon Kabat-Zinn, you are first asked to lie down and then you are guided through a detailed, 30-minute, body scan. Caution, he encourages you to try to stay awake. If you do this one before bedtime, that might be hard to accomplish.

We love his Energy Awareness Meditations album but hes also got a website with a free 20-minute guided meditation, and several podcasts.

Calm: Meditation to Relax, Focus & Sleep Better (iTunes Google Play)

Calm has a bit of free content and large library of meditations with a paid monthly membership. We like the ability to select the background sound/imagery (e.g., babbling brook, fireplace, rainforest, beach sunset, etc.). It also offers a good introduction to daily meditation with a 7-day program.

Buddhify Modern Mindfulness for Busy Lives (iTunes Google Play)

This app currently costs $5. It is designed to provide targeted guided meditations for various life activities. It asks you what you are doing, and offers a handful of shorter (~2 min) and longer meditations (7-10 min) for each.

The Mindfulness App: Meditation for Everyone (iTunes Google Play)

A good, easy to navigate meditation app offering both free and paid premium content. Its useful for advanced meditation, but great for beginners as well.

Sitting Still (iTunes Google Play)

This app is targeted specifically for teens. It is made by the folks who make the Mindfulness App. Similarly, It offers a mix of free and paid guided meditations.

Headspace (iTunes Google Play)

Headspace offersboth free content and an optional monthly membership. We love the buddy system option, if youre interested in trying this out with a friend. This app has a very current, modern look. It might be a bit cartoonish for some, but we like it. The also have an article on their site discussing meditation and stuttering.

Omvana Meditation for Everyone (iTunes Google Play)

This app offers a lot of customization (background, length) for each meditation and a variety of meditation experts, in case you want to experiment listening to different voices.

Insight Timer Meditation App (iTunes Google Play)

The most noticeable feature of this app is the sheer amount of free content, and we lovehow the app brings a sense of community to the experience.

Looking for more information on mindfulness and meditation and the application to stuttering? Check out Dr. Ellen-Marie Silvermans book, Mindfulness & Stuttering, or an ISAD Article she wrote. StutterTalk has published a few episodes on this topic as well one with Dr. Michael Boyle and another with Dr. Paul Brocklehurst.

Like a meditation resource that isnt listed here? Share it in the comments below!

The American Institute for Stutteringisa leading non-profit organization whose primary mission is to provide universally affordable, state-of-the-art speech therapy to people of all ages who stutter, guidance to their families, and much-needed clinical training to speech professionals wishing to gain expertise in stuttering. Offices are located in New York, NY and Atlanta, GA, and services are also available Online. Our mission extends to advancing public and scholarly understanding of this often misunderstood disorder.

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Meditation resources to help in your stuttering journey - American Institute for Stuttering (blog)

A new study has found engaging in a simple meditation exercise for 10 minutes a day can reduce symptoms in people with anxiety disorders.

Anxiety disorders are marked by repetitive, anxious, often baseless thoughts and fears about the future. Canadian researchers say one in four people will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives.

The worrying can become obsessive and prevent anxious individuals from focusing on work and other important activities.

But engaging in a simple daily meditation exercise for 10 minutes, according to researchers at the University of Waterloo in Ontario Canada, may help people keep their minds from wandering, improving their performance on tasks.

The participants in a study conducted by Mengran Xu and colleagues engaged in something called mindful meditation.

Mindfulness is commonly defined as paying attention on purpose and staying in the present moment without judgment.

Xu is a clinical psychologist at Waterloo who led a study of people with symptoms of anxiety, published in the journal Consciousness and Cognition.

We know that anxious people in general, if you ask them to stay on task, it is hard for them. Their minds tend to wander. They tend to worry. But those people who practice mindfulness didnt. They were able to stay on task.

In the study, 82 people with anxiety were asked to perform a computer task that required concentration. They were periodically interrupted to gauge the volunteers ability to stay focused.

Half the group was then assigned to listen to an audio book and the other half to engage in a mindful, meditative activity, paying attention to their breathing, for approximately 10 minutes.

Then they were reassessed using the computer task.

Xu said there was a noticeable difference in performance between anxious people who did the simple meditation and those who did not.

The anxious people who listened to the audio book, they performed much worse over time while the anxious people who practiced mindfulness meditation, they were able to in a way improve and maintain their performance on the task, said Xu.

By increasing awareness of the present moment, researchers found a reduction in the frequency of repetitive, off-task thinking in people with anxiety disorders.

Xu said that wandering thoughts account for nearly half of a persons stream of consciousness.

In people with anxiety disorder, the thoughts tend to occur over and over again, causing worry.

By learning to reign in repetitive thoughts with a simple, 10-minute mind exercise, the findings suggest those with an anxiety disorder may be able to improve their productivity and even safety, so their minds dont wander while driving a car, for example.

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Study Finds Meditation Improves Attention in Anxious Individuals - Voice of America

She was the fairy godmother of style makeovers and then she gave a makeover to meditation.

Suze Yalof Schwartz did style makeovers for everyone who was anyone (and everyone in between) for over 14 years. She worked at all the big fashion magazines. She lived in New York City and traveled the world doing what she loved.

But then she and her family got an opportunity to uproot their big city lifestyle and move to Southern California for a change of pace and some space. And they took it.

What Suze couldnt have anticipated was the introduction she would get to a whole new way of thinking.

It didnt happen overnight, but once Suze found out what meditation was, she was hooked.

After trying to find where she could go to practice, she realized there was something missing in the modern world of meditation --a studio space with daily classes. So she created it.

Fast forward a few short years and Suzes dry bar of meditation studio, Unplug, is a wildly successful and hugely popular one-of-a-kind space in Los Angeles.

Its been featured in all the big press and has a line of people waiting for every class -- and shes just getting started.

But the core of Suzes success is not her awesome connections to teachers or the press, its her core conviction of the power of meditation for anyone, at any time, anywhere.

We discuss the simple truths of how to meditate (no matter who you are) inEpisode 473.

Subscribe oniTunes,Stitcher Radio,Google PlayorTuneIn.

Lewis Howesis theauthor of The School of Greatness. He is a lifestyle entrepreneur, business coach and keynote speaker. A former professional football player and two-sport All-American, he is a current USA Men's National Han...

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Meditation That Works for Anyone - Entrepreneur

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In an interview with Rolling Stone published Monday, the 55-year-old singer-songwriter said a song from her latest album titled Heartbeat Away in which a president launches nuclear weapons was written before Trump received the Republican nomination.

My sleep has been disturbed. My insides are ridden with unease, Crow told the outlet. I wrote that song before Trump got the nomination it already felt apocalyptic that people were entertaining the idea of making a man like that the most powerful person in the world.

Heartbeat Away is a track on Crows latest studio album, Be Myself, which was released April 21. The lyrics of the song include references to the unnamed presidents possible connections to Russia, including a reference to Russia blowing up the phone.

I had to go into deep meditation and find a way to have compassion for the people of this country that are hurting and believe [Trump] cares about them, the nine-time Grammy-winnertold Rolling Stone. Im worried, but my meditation teacher said something fascinating. Her phrase was, This is the way forward.'

In her interview, Crow also opened up about her battle with brain cancer and how it felt to have been embraced by some of her musical idols through her decades-long career in the music industry.

My idea for music was that I didnt want to be great. I wanted to be important, she explained. I wanted to write important music, and so, when you start having a music career and youre certainly not one of the cool kids, but youre embraced by the older class I was just like, Wow, I cant believe these people know me. As hokey as it might sound, I still feel really humbled by that.

Crow has previously spoken out about her dislike of Trump.

Inan October appearance on The View, the singer said she doesnt let her children watch television when Trump is on screen.

I want to be able to say to my kids, being the president of the United States is the most honorable position and it needs to go back to that and we need to change the dialogue, she said at the time.

Follow Daniel Nussbaum on Twitter: @dznussbaum

Excerpt from:

Sheryl Crow Uses 'Deep Meditation' to Stave Off Fear of Trump ... - Breitbart News

Well+Good

Just 10 minutes of meditation helps anxious people have better focus Science Daily The study, which assessed the impact of meditation with 82 participants who experience anxiety, found that developing an awareness of the present moment reduced incidents of repetitive, off-task thinking, a hallmark of anxiety. "Our results indicate ... This is exactly how long you need to meditate for it to workWell+Good Natural Anxiety Relief In 10 Minutes Or Less: Mindfulness Meditation Helps Eliminate Repetitive ThoughtsMedical Daily Want to stay focused? Waterloo study says meditation may be the answerCTV News all 4 news articles »

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Just 10 minutes of meditation helps anxious people have better focus - Science Daily

Learning to meditate is the best thing I ever did for myself. I used to be at the mercy of my mind. It was impossible to focus for more than ten seconds at a time. Distracted was my natural state of being. Meditation taught me how to control my consciousness, which made a huge impact on my quality of life. Want to accomplish the same thing? Follow these thirteen meditation tips and tricks for beginners.

Meditation is not a competitive event. You wont get a trophy for meditating all day. Meditate for a minute. If you can do that everyday for a week, meditate for two minutes the next week. Repeat this process for as long as you like.

Its easy to have aspirations. Its hard to act on them. Dont just say, Ill meditate everyday. Youll get busy and forget. Set-up an alarm in your phone. When that alarm goes off, meditate right away.

Meditate at the same time consistently. Mornings might be best. Its easier to make time for meditation before your day gets crazy (and youll go to work with a calm, focused state of mind).

Sit outside and listen to the birds sing. Closeyour bedroom door and turn on classical music. Meditate in a quiet place where you wont be disturbed. The less noisy distractions, the better!

Texts can wait. Emails can wait. Social media notifications can wait. None of this stuff is so importantthat it needs to be answered immediately. Leave your phone in a different room.

You dont have to sit cross-legged. You dont need a special cushion. You can sit on a chair, bed, sofa, pillow, rock, or whatever. As long as youre not slouching, the specifics dont matter.

How do you feel (physically and mentally)? Dont over-analyze it. Trust your intuition. Dont judge any thoughts or feelings as good or bad. Accept them as they are. Everything is okay.

Paint a mental picture of a surfer riding a giant wave. If he loses focus for one second, hell fall. Ride your inhales and exhales with the same level of concentration. Be one with your breath.

On every inhale, say: One, I am breathing in. On every exhale, say: Two, I am breathing out. (Dont literally say it think it to yourself.) After you reach ten, go back to one anddo it again.

Breathe in through your nose. Follow your breath as it travels to your belly, lungs, and chest. Feel the sensation of air filling up those areas. In what order do those body parts rise and fall?

Dont get upset when your focus wavers. It happens to everybody. If your mind goes elsewhere, go back to one and start counting again.Its a meditationpractice (not a meditationperfect).

You are not your thoughts. Do not identify with them. Perceive them with love and compassion, not fear and judgment. As you continue to meditate, your thoughts will have less power over you.

Are you less reactive during times of stress? Were you able to stay calm when a client got angry? Do you find it easier to focus on your work or studies? Appreciate these benefits as they arise. This will motivate you to stick with your meditation practice.

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Meditation for Beginners: 13 Practical Tips to Easily Build the Meditation Habit - PakWired (press release) (blog)