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not not true

After a 24 hour closure for repairs over the alumni weekend, Duke students and alumni alike were shocked to find that every restaurant in the newly-renovated West Union had been repealed and replaced by the vegan-only restaurant, Sprout.

Gone are the stations of Indian fare, the $10,000 pizza oven shipped over from Italy and the ramen station. All have been replaced by sprouts of the Unions least popular vegetarian and vegan outlet, Sprout. The pok have been replaced with a make-your-own-kale-salad station, the caf turned into an almond-milk-only station and the Faculty Commons succeeded by a farm-to-table tofu restaurant.

According to YikYak, recent postings on the Duke Fix My Campus Facebook page and the two juniors recently back from Copenhagen whom I overheard on the C1, students are outraged that theyve lost the dishes they had learned to love to hate.

An anonymous first-year who proudly received a B- in Econ 201 last semester told Monday Monday, Id eaten Sitar every day for lunch for four months and I was only just now learning how to complain about the monotony of the Duke Dining experience to my friends and neighbors. What am I supposed to do now? The laws of supply and demand wont keep this up. LMo will have to make the change back.

A small group of students have begun assembling in the upstairs teaching kitchen, demanding the Duke administration bring back the crepe station with the watery nutella at the very least, in addition to establishing a $15 minimum wage and abolishing all prisons in the contiguous United States.

Tents have sprouted up in the past hour as more and more students join their protest, which was quickly dubbed W-Ville for continuitys sake, even if it doesnt rhyme with K. The administration has already begun alternative plans for the demonstration schedule on Earth Day by celebrity chef, Guy Fieri.

When asked about the recent changes, Doctor, Vice President of Student Affairs, Grandfather, Email Enthusiast and Vegan Czar Lawrence Moneta, PhD, admitted he was pretty excited about these changes.

Im not going to lie, he told Monday Monday. It was all me. The whole West Union? Yeah, it was me. Oh, and the vegan thing? It was me too. Did you know Im a vegan?

He noted that the lack of soda in the West Union was his first step at total health domination. The Italian soda was a cute afterthought to try and appease the student body while he executed his real plan for making the student body subsist on a powerful, plant-based dietfree of dairy, processed sugars and meat.

According to Moneta, most of the new eateries in the West Union will be sustained by the Duke Campus Farm which that weird P-Wild kid from down your hall goes to on occasion. Students were shocked to learn that the campus farm actually existed, as most only knew it as a sticker found on the laptop of the edgy TA who went to Bard for undergrad. However, because its only early spring, most of the vegetables will be shipped in from local places like Ecuador and Costa Rica.

This shift in the West Union towards strict veganism is symbolic of a larger change on Dukes campus towards freedom and diversity of thought. Moneta added that 2017 would bring a number of sizable changes to the gothic wonderland that students had begun to know and bemusingly despise. The university has already committed to destroying Central Campus and building a new center of campus by 2025, assuming that mold doesnt sprout up and take over before then.

The mold is vegan too, Moneta added excitedly.

He said the faculty council had made big plans to hire one conservative public policy professor before 2020, though political science professor and token Republican Peter Feaver had been told by President-Elect Vincent Price not to hold his breath.

The change Moneta is most hopeful about, however, is the committee of students, faculty and staff he has been leading, titled, Veganism: A Culture Under Siege. An anonymous Duke Student Government Representative and McKinsey 2017 summer analyst on the committee added they were incredibly excited about the findings, which concluded that the only way to properly establish a culture accepting of Veganism at Duke was to create a question on the application for admission. They added that the application for the Class of 2022 will feature a drop-down menu in which students can choose their meat consumption identity. The common application will feature Carnivore, Pescetarian, Vegetarian and Vegan choices, in addition to a write-in-your-own meat consumption identity.

Dean of Admissions and avid sunhat wearer Christoph Guttentag is hoping to use this method as a way of expanding the diversity of the class. The dean, who only reads applications for the exotic island of Manhattan, noted that the new question will distinguish the candidates from Horace Mann, Stuyvesant and Fieldston more distinctly, in addition to giving them direct insight into their parents earnings and potential Duke Annual Fund giving, despite a need-blind application.

You think a kid from Midtown who eats a strictly green, ovo-vegetarian diet has parents who arent going to give $1,000 to Duke Forward in the coming year? Please, Guttentag said, after ordering an unsweetened vanilla almond milk, holding the coffee.

Written while enjoying day-old vegan pumpkin bread from Vondy.

The Chronicle is your source for Duke news, sports, culture and dialogue.

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Vegan Czar Larry Moneta declares war on junk food - Duke Chronicle

And each of us can do something about it, today, by taking what we eat as seriously as we take climate change.

The effect of greenhouse gas emissions seems like an intransigent problem to curb, much less to solve. How can we play a role in influencing what humans are doing to the planet? And how can we approach these issues when political and economic forces can undermine efforts to address the climate crisis?

One answer lies in the choices that we make every day: what we eat.

Within that spectrum, fewer animal products are what's best for the planet, and our collective future. The Mediterranean diet alone (one that includes lower amounts of animal products) will still result in increased emissions, and the pescetarian diet (a vegetarian diet that includes fish) will lead to only a small degree of reduction in emissions.

However, a global vegetarian diet, the same study showed, would be the most effective of all diets (not including vegan) in achieving a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, as well as a decrease in agricultural land demand and land clearing.

So, what keeps us from following a plant-based diet? It requires overcoming our habits and our tastes, learning new ways to cook, planning during travel, and navigating the social aspects of eating and meal sharing. However, when seen through the lens of the fate of Earth's climate and resources, don't these challenges all of a sudden seem minuscule?

Choosing plant-based diets can promote environmental sustainability.

It is rare that a single choice of ours can have a broad and decisive impact on the climate crisis. We have a moral imperative to choose and advocate for plant-based diets for the health of our planet and the well being and survival of generations to come.

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Go vegan, save the planet - CNN.com - CNN

On the top floor of the Robert Hoag Rawlings Public Library on Sunday, a group of about two dozen Puebloans gathered in the Ryals Special Events Room to eat, socialize and listen to presentations from speakers who'd come to discuss their ideals on National Farm Animal Day.

The event was like many held at the Ryals Room: impassioned speakers, engaged listeners, informative pamphlets and a full spread of food for those who wandered into the event with an empty belly.

The primary difference between this event and others like it, however, is that at Sunday's happening the food, the message and the majority of the people were all vegan.

National Farm Animal Day is a nationwide annual event that began in 2005 as an initiative by animal activist Colleen Paige to shed light on the plight of animals that are abused and slaughtered on farms.

Joshua Chappell and Sandrah Burrier, co-organizers of the event at the library and orchestrators of the Pueblo Vegan and Vegetarians group on meetup.com, said that the goal of the National Farm Animal Day event was to prompt thought and discussion about the role that animals play in relation to human diets.

"I would hope that somebody would walk away from this event really contemplating their relationship to non-human animals," Burrier said.

"I think most of us want to call ourselves animal lovers or consider ourselves animal lovers, but eating and killing someone when you don't have to -- since humans don't biologically need meat or dairy to live -- isn't an act of love. And our culture does a really god job of keeping our eyes closed to that."

Since moving to Pueblo about 9 1/2 months ago, Chappell and Burrier have organized about 18-20 events in Pueblo to promote veganism and animal rights with film screenings, documentaries, potlucks, community meetings and even game nights.

In organizing Saturday's event, Burrier said the group chose to feature speakers who have seen firsthand the production side of the animal agriculture industry.

"Kind of our theme was to have speakers that have been on both sides of the industry, so people who have willingly participated in commodifying animals and then who have kind of had an awakening so to speak, and are now speaking on their behalf," Burrier said, "Each of our speakers in some way has been involved in animal agriculture."

The day's speakers included Julia Cameron Weingardt, the founder of a Greeley-based activist group called The Greeley Cow Save and Becky Bottomley Bernholtz, an Animal Rights Activist with Direct Action Everywhere.

The keynote speaker of the event was Renee King Sonnen, a well-known figure in the vegan activism community who lives in Texas and addressed the crowd via Skype.

"She started with (a blog called) 'Vegan Journal of a Ranchers Wife' -- she essentially married a cattle rancher, had no idea what cattle ranching entailed, fell in love with the animals and then essentially bought her husband's entire herd and turned their 90-acre cattle ranch into a sanctuary to protect these animals. She's like a huge name within the vegan community right now," Burrier said.

Although not every participant at the National Farm Animal Day occasion came to, or left the library as a vegan, the non-vegans in attendance undoubtedly departed with a fuller understanding of what veganism means.

"We try to sum it up with three main angles," Chappell said.

"The first and most important, we believe, is the rights of the animals -- that they're individuals with individual experiences. So today is primarily focused on that aspect. The other two are the impacts on your personal health, which are very profound, as well as the impacts the food industry has on the environment, so that's the trifecta of veganism we say."

zhillstrom@chieftain.com

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Vegan group hosts National Farm Animal Day event - Pueblo Chieftain

Hey everybody! What do you get when you combine your favorite soul food and a vegan restaurant? Savannahs first vegan-only spot: Natural Selections Cafe.

Its still so surreal, says owner/operator Davida Harris, laughing. The other day I sat in the parking lot across the street and watched people come in and eat. I just sat there and said, Im a restaurant owner. Im a vegan restaurant owner.

Davida opened her doors in early March and already the response has been so huge, shes extended to evening dinner hours.

Its fun, she says. Oh, yeah. Its my food. I want to be here with it.

And you wont believe the menu.

We have macaroni and cheese and greens old Southern favorites leave out of the door like hot cakes, she says.

Let me say as a dairy-loving, devout carnivore, this food is really good! You wont know its not the real thing.

But theres also a hearts of palm Crabby Cake, a seitan (a common vegan staple) Not Chicken Salad that youd swear your mama made (this is my favorite tastes great and even the texture is perfect) and an incredible cinnamon roll cheese cake that Davida says she cant keep in the store.

Davida started cooking vegan for herself 15 years ago, but it wasnt until five years ago that she started catering vegan meals. This past summer, she had an event that was way too large for her in-home kitchen and decided it was time for a restaurant.

The customers come in and thank me for opening this, she says. I know how difficult it was for me to find places to eat in Savannah that were all vegan. Most vegans dont want to eat in a kitchen that has meat or dairy products cooked in it.

Davida went vegan for health reasons but says she wasnt willing to give up the taste. And her customers approve.

Were part of Savannah Veggies and Vegans and they were posting about it, says Bluffton resident Meredith Johnson, sitting next to her husband Jason Telmos. They were posting photos of the mac n cheese and me being a pregnant vegan, I was like, Were driving 45 minutes to get this mac n cheese.

Technically, they were in town for an appointment with their midwife, but couldnt pass up the chance to check out Natural Selections. So far, they love everything theyve tried.

Oh, it was fantastic, says Jason. The crab cake was really, really good. Meredith picks it up from there: The crabby cake was amazing.

About that cheesy southern staple

Mac n cheese was on point, says Jason. Meredith adds, You would never know it was vegan. Tastes just like mac n cheese; it was amazing.

Jason takes it one step further, It was really, really good. And the baby approved. Meredith laughs and agrees.

The whole time my photographer Drew and I were in the restaurant, there was never less than three tables (there are about 10 tables total) with customers enjoying Davidas fine vegan cuisine and there were constant take-out orders. That says something for demand when customers are seeking out a brand-new vegan restaurant open for barely a month.

She also has what you think of as more standard vegan fare: kale, brown rice and quinoa. But it was the vegan soul food that really surprised me.

One side note: the prices are really reasonable. The most expensive thing on the menu is $10 and most items were way cheaper. Not to mention, you can get half sizes on the sandwiches and salads and a smaller serving of soup.

You can also order and pay online at NaturalSelectionsCafe.com.

Like Davida says, she didnt give up the taste, and its paying off in happy customers and a good time.

This is fun, she says. This isnt even like work, this is fun cause I like cooking. Its fun and I like to see people eat my food.

To see more of Davidas story and learn more about Natural Selections Cafe, tune in to The Bridge on WSAV at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Rene LaSalle is co-host of The Bridge, which airs at 11 a.m. Monday-Friday on WSAV. Contact her on Facebook by searching Rene LaSalle WSAV, on Twitter @WSAVReneeL or email her at rlasalle@wsav.com.

Rene LaSalle is co-host of The Bridge, which airs at 11 a.m. Monday-Friday on WSAV. Contact her on Facebook by searching Rene LaSalle WSAV, on Twitter @WSAVReneeL or email her at rlasalle@wsav.com.

Natural Selections Cafe

Address: 1526 Bull St.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday

Info: NaturalSelectionsCafe.com, 912-660-0878

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The Bridge: Natural Selections Cafe offers all-vegan options on Bull Street - Savannah Morning News

Verily

4 Things You Should Know About Organic Produce in 2017 Verily When you're grocery shopping, chances are that you still eye the two categories of berries and wonder: Should I buy organic? While the hype surrounding organic food may seem so 2010, new data released by the Organic Trade Association found that ...

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4 Things You Should Know About Organic Produce in 2017 - Verily

PortCityDaily.com is your source for free news and information in the Wilmington area.

WILMINGTON Farm to table cuisine revolves around two interlocking ideas: environmental sustainability and good tasting food. Its the philosophy pushing the Wilmington food scene, but its also expensive.

As Chef Craig Loveof Surf House told Port City Daily in a recent interview, the philosophy has to do with how food gets on your plate.

If people want fresh tomatoes when theyre not in season here, that means putting them on a truck and shipping them from somewhere else, California or Mexico. The tomato that ends up on your plate has been sitting in a truck for a long time, and youve burnt a lot of fuel to get there. Its bad for the taste, and its lousy for the environment. You get the tomato you asked for, but you dont really get what you want, Love explained.

The idea is this: the closer the food is to your plate from the start, the better it is for everyone. But while the price of industrially farmed foods has dropped worldwide due to ever-increasing mechanization and declining oil prices,according to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization, the costs of local and in particular local organic produce has risen.

In the American southeast, organic produce costs on between 30 percent and 50 percent more than conventional produce, according to the USDAs regional produce report (you can compare prices on fruits, vegetables and other products here). The same is true of local produce which, like organic produce, frequently comes from smaller farms without the economy of scale of industrialfarming, marketing and distribution.

The local organic produce that has been the foundation of farm to table cooking is expensive. That cost at the supermarket, let alone on the restaurant table can be prohibitive.

So what can you do? Grow your own.

In a coastal region with a high percentage of apartment living (about 40 percent of New Hanover County rents) and large swathes of sandy soil, not everyone will have access to a garden, let alone a tilled plot of hearty soil. But if you have room for a few planters somewhere that gets eight hours of sun, you can grow a variety of cultivars of tomato, squash (which will grow vertically), cabbages, peppers and a number of herbs.

Port City Daily set up a demonstration model garden, planting several herbs from Shelton Herb Farm and two kinds of heirloom tomatoes (Black Krim and Green Cherokee) from a local farm in Burgaw. (To prepare for the garden, we visited the Herb & Garden Fair at Poplar Grove on April 2. We spoke to several local farmers for background, and attended a lecture on gardening in southeastern North Carolina given by Meg Shelton, whos family runs the Shelton Herb Farm in Leland).

The investment is moderate: $75 for a shovel, compost, potting soil, plant food, planters and seedlings. The potential return is far more. According to Shelton, a single Black Krim tomato plant can produce 12 20 pounds of tomatoes (which sell, locally, between $5 and $6 a pound). So one tomato plant could net you at least $60 worth of heirloom tomatoes.

For the demonstration garden, we used organic plants, compost, soil and plant food. The difference in cost was about $3 for the soil, $2 for the plant food, and less than a quarter for the actual plants. Leaving aside the contentious debate between organic and conventional growing methods, it does seem clear that the cost difference ingrowing produce is less than the cost difference in buying produce.

At the recommendation of Shelton, the herbs and tomatoes were left outside in small planters for about a week. They were brought inside during the extreme winds last week, as well as during one violent thunderstorm. Otherwise, the plants were left outside.

This was done about two weeks after the last potential frost, when the nights are no longer going much below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. (The weather in southeastern North Carolina has been unpredictable this year, and several farmers we spoke to had different opinions. But in general Shelton said, early April is a good bet.) This process, according to Shelton, hardens the plants, toughening cell walls and preparing them for the shock of being transplanted into the ground or in this case larger planters.

Next, prepare a mixture of compost, soil and plant food.Whether youre planting in a garden box on top of sandy soil or using a planter, this mixture is important as it replaces the nutrients created by worms and microbes in fertile soil.

Before planting, it is important to shake loose some of the original potting soil, gently exposing the roots. Some plants like heirloom tomatoes also benefit from a small sprinkling of Epsom salts in the potting hole.

Tomatoes, as well as several varieties of squash and peppers, grow well vertically. This method keeps the ripening vegetables off the ground, but also puts a strain on the plant; using a trellis or a cage allows you to secure the plant as it grows. Secure the trellis or cage early, rather than later, to allow the root system to adapt to it.

What comes next? Vigilance and knowing your crops. For one example: Tomatoes are thirsty plants and can be watered every day, a herb like thyme can succumb easily to root rot, and doesnt need as much water.

It can seem overwhelming, but theres a great deal of information available online. Theres also a lot of local knowledge. In addition to information from the Shelton Herb Farm (in Leland), Port City Daily also spoke to the Green Seasons Garden Center (in Wilmington). Several local farmers hold informal information sessions at the Poplar Grove Farmers Market (off Highway 17 in Wilmington), which runs April 19 through late October.

A good general rule of thumb: dont be afraid to ask questions when and where you buy your seeds and plants. Finally, both New Hanover and Brunswick counties have Cooperative Extensions, resources centers for commercial farmers and backyard gardeners alike.

Sunlight, water and vigilance are all you need now. (Photo by Benjamin Schachtman)

DIY, food costs, local food, Wilmington

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Local organic produce is expensive, here's how to grow your own - Port City Daily

Every Wednesday from noon to dusk, a piece of the park, Lake Ella, is transformed into an organic food market called the Growers Market at Lake Ella. Started as an initiative in the community by Florida A&M Universitys (FAMU) School of Agriculture and Food Sciences and their FAMU statewide Small Farm program, the Growers Market at Lake Ella has managed to stay afloat for the last 13 years.

According to Jennifer Taylor, Ph.D., associate professor and coordinator of Small Farm Programs at the FAMU s College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, the Growers Market at Lake Ella was a FAMU initiative.

We were having a series of workshops about organic farming, organic agriculture, and what it was about. The benefits of organic farming and organic integrated management, all of these different kind of strategies that support organic farming systems, said Dr. Taylor.

The development for the Growers Market at Lake Ella, didnt stop at a meeting table.

They came to me and said, Well Jennifer we actually need a different kind of market, can you help us develop a market? continued Dr. Taylor.

According to Dr. Taylor, there are a total of four markets in Tallahassee, but what makes the Growers Market at Lake Ella so unique is it is the only organic methods market, where only organic farmers are able to sell produce.

The Growers Market at Lake Ella features many of farmers from surrounding counties who go through strategic planning processes to thoroughly execute a Wednesday at the market.

According to Annette Layton, owner and farmer of Little Eden Heirloom Farm in Crawford, Fla., preparing their produce for sell, is impossible to do at the last minute.

It really starts months in advance. Its going to take two to three months for this to harvest. Basically its an everyday thing, Layton said.

According to David Newman, farmer of Ripe City Urban Farm in Tallahassee, Fla., his Wednesdays begin with early morning preparation.

Wake up fairly early, harvest everything the same day, package it in some kind of bag. Whatever units, I sell each particular item and then put that in the cooler then put it in the truck. Then prepare all of the marketing stuff. It is pretty routine now, Newman explained.

To the average person, farming may seem like a heavy cross to bear, but to farmers like David Newman and Annette Layton, farming equals steady income and food sustainability.

It is literally a full-time job. This is the only job we have right now. Every now and then Ill do some art, Layton said

I got passionate about growing food in a healthy and sustainable way. This is my form or major income, I also get into real estate on the side, explained Newman.

At the Growers Market at Lake Ella organic food seekers get the opportunity to meet the farmers, without a third party, who nurtured and grew their food. For many of the produce buyers, attending the Growers Market at Lake Ella every Wednesday is more than just buying produce and going home, but also building relationships with the people in the community.

According to Bennett Hoffman, Little Eden Heirloom Farms frequently visiting customer, Little Eden Heirloom Farm is what brings him back to the Growers Market at Lake Ella.

They have great stuff, the people are nice. Thats why I like to come to the market because I like to know what I am getting and who I am getting it from, Hoffman explained.

The diverse love for organic food is what the Growers Market at Lake Ella used as a great tactic to bring the community together.

According to Dr. Taylor, for the last 13 years after searching for a place to host the market, the Tallahassee community has welcomed the Growers Market with open arms.

I searched several places around town that would be a great place to have a market. Somewhere where the community needs to come and see and supportand we got that mix here [Lake Ella] and the people support us.

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Lake Ella becomes organic hotspot - Famuan

Author and public speaker Tim Ferriss interviewed over 200 high performers and business leaders, and found that 80 percent of them meditate.

I liked how he described meditation is like taking a warm bath for your brain. Ahh, that sounds so good. Most of us love a nice relaxing bath. Why not take one for the brain?

I believe some of the reasons people do not meditate are:

Let me dispel some of these beliefs.

Meditation can be done pretty much anywhere, at any time, for any length of time and in many different ways. It is about finding a way that works for you personally.

My daily ritual is to meditate when I get into bed. Every night I decide how I want to meditate and for how long. Sometimes it could just be for a minute, other times an hour. Other times I listen to a guided meditation, occasionally I just sit in silence or soak up some soothing music.

One of my favorite ways to meditate is to visualize how I would like to see something play out in my life. My favorite experience of this is when I was preparing for my hike up Mt. Whitney. Every night I would visualize the hike. When I actually did the hike and made it to the top, it was if I had done the hike many times before.

The power of visualization is that the brain takes it in as if it is truly happening. Then the brain is working while you are asleep or doing other activities to make your visualization happen. This is why 80 percent of leaders meditate. They know it works.

So what is it that meditation does and why is it that people swear by it?

Here is a list of 50 different benefits that studies have shown on the benefits of meditation.

With this list, why would we not meditate? To help you get started or assist you in your meditation practice, here are some wonderful Android and iOS apps for you to explore: Insight Timer, Buddhify, Calm, Headspace, Mindbody Connect, Mindfulness App.

And speaking of technology, lets see what happens when we combine meditation with technology.

In your minds browser, clear your cache Now delete your historyNow navigate to a blank web page (Joyoftech.com).

Contact Dr. Shelly Zavala at DrZavala.com or [emailprotected]

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Insights: Meditation is a Warm Bath for Your Brain - Newport Beach Independent Newspaper

by Wilson Walker April 9, 2017 7:26 PM

A woman meditates during a "sound bath" at the Conservatory of Flowers. (CBS)

SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) As night falls on Golden Gate Park, people file in to the Conservatory of Flowers, past the exotic plants, carrying yoga mats.

They arent here for a yoga class, however.

What were trying to do is create an environment where people can unplug from the day unplug from their life for an hour, Guy Douglas explained.

Douglas describes himself as a sound practitioner and he wants to help people tune in the music of the spheres.

Were all carrying our own vibrations as we walk in here from our day. So its really an aligning of frequencies to kind of align you with these pure harmonics and tones very organic and astral, designed to take you out of your mind, Douglas said.

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Squelching Stress With Sonic Meditation at Conservatory of Flowers ... - CBS San Francisco Bay Area

Mindfulness is a hot commodity these days. The market around meditation and mental well-being has, in recent years, ballooned to more than $1 billion, with countless websites, YouTube series, mobile apps, and subscription services existing on top of your traditional in-person classes and studio memberships. With just a few finger taps or mouse clicks, you can find a whole world of self-help gurus and zen advisors that are eager to help you, oftentimes for free, enhance your self-awareness and better cope with negative emotions.

The sheer enormity of the industry is enough to overwhelm any stressed or anxious individual, to say the least. And thats precisely what drew me to Sway. The iOS app, costing just $2.99, is a different kind of mindfulness software. It uses the motion of the phone, as measured by the accelerometer, to try and put you into a relaxed and meditative state for about 20 minutes per day.

Sway is bite-sized mindfulness for medtiation novices

The idea centers on moving your phone around in a gentle circular motion, while lush nature sounds from the app help facilitate the calming effect. You can also walk at a steady rhythmic pace, while leaving the phone in your pocket. If youre moving too fast, or too slow, the app will alert you so you can adjust. In my time using the app every day for the past week, I found it be a pretty low-effort but surprisingly high-reward experience. Ive ended up using Sway about once every two hours or so to clear my head and write this article, it turns out.

The app was conceived by interaction designer Peng Cheng and developed in partnership with digital design studio Ustwos Malmo, Sweden, division. You may recognize Ustwo as the brand behind breakout mobile game Monument Valley. That app was a blissful and meditative experience of its own, relying on mind-bending graphic design, cryptic narrative elements, and abstract and atmospheric sound design to create an otherworldly experience. Much of the same visual and audio aesthetics can be found in Sway, which employs minimalist colors and scatters sparse lines of text on-screen only when absolutely necessary.

Its Chengs philosophy, however, that gives Sway its power. The designer worked with Ustwo three years ago to develop Pause, a similar mindfulness app that had you tracing shapes with your finger on the phone screen. With these apps, Chengs design outfit Pauseable is trying to create the effect of simple meditation without the intense instruction and repetitious practice that makes modern mindfulness apps feel like chores. The goal with Sway is pretty simple: let anyone anywhere meditate using only the motion of their hand and a pair of headphones. Cheng tries to achieve this by treating the smartphone not as a detracting force you have to ignore, but as a tool thats essential to the process.

The idea of Sway is actually really simple: we want to bring the mind back to the body. Most of the time we use our body in a rather mechanical or automatic way, but the body is actually an amazing tool for mindfulness practice, Cheng says in a promotional video for Sway. Were using technology to sense human voluntary attention. The music and the visuals are just there to help sustain the focused attention, he adds. In fact, the visuals arent integral. Pauseable and Ustwo designed the app so you wouldnt need to look at the screen at all.

Its this embrace of the phone as an object necessary to this particular meditative practice and not just a window to an on-screen guide that sets it apart. Most apps of this variety, like the mobile mindfulness leader Headspace, rely on whats known as guided meditation. They ferry you, through voice lessons and illustrated graphics, like a teacher would. The goal is to help you learn the tenets of meditation and explore a number of ways to apply those lessons to your work performance or your diet or even your dating life.

The apps themselves are mostly there to gamify the experience letting you unlock new levels and earn rewards for hitting your goals and to act as databases for a multitude of different existing techniques for you to explore. In the case of Headspace, that means paying a subscription fee that costs anywhere between $6 to $13 a month (or a whopping $419.95 for a lifetime membership) to access a majority of the content. Its certainly an option for those looking to get quite serious about making meditation and mindfulness practice a big part of their daily routine.

But there is an inherent contradiction in relying on software to help you find peace of mind, when so much of modern lifes anxieties feel linked to our hyper-accelerated news feeds and dependencies on social networks and the steady drip of messaging notifications. If youre seeking a healthier and more mindful mental state, it seems more difficult to do so while staying helplessly tethered to a smartphone screen and LTE data connection. Of course, you can take your learnings from an app like Headspace and leave your phone behind. Or you could sign up for a good old-fashioned meditation class at a yoga studio. But it still begs the question: how at peace can these practices be when theyre impossible to access without staying plugged in?

Sway, at the very least, embraces the contradiction. It doesnt treat technology as a foe, but its not also completely dependent on it. It recognizes that our smartphones will reasonably be with us at all times. It then uses that fact to create a meditation system thats always at your fingertips, and devoid of the burdensome feeling of a gym membership. Of course, it may not be as intensive and thorough as Headspace, or as life-changing and rigorous as traditional meditation practice. But its bite-sized mindfulness for when the news notifications feel like an avalanche and Twitter feels like a vice, which is just when you might need the relaxation the most.

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Sway embraces the contradiction of meditating with your smartphone - The Verge