Agree with it or not, we love complex situations because we find it challenging. Even in the case of getting rid of stress, we will try every complex alternative and skip the simple tricks that work every time!

Here are some of the easiest ways in which you can get rid of stress immediately.

When youre stressed, any music is good for you. However, if you have a preference and listen to your favorite music tracks, it will be easy for you to get into the mood quickly and find relief at the earliest.

If youre confused, listen to relaxing music because playing calm music will have a positive effect on your brain and body.

One of the easiest ways in which you can relieve stress is by talking to someone. Remember that talking about random topics can help, but if you talk to them about your problems, youll feel light and better.

To get quick results, talk to someone whose reassuring voice can make you feel good.

If youre worried about your company's poor reputation, get in touch with credit repair companies and let them help you with it. Similarly, if youre going through a troubled relationship, talk to your partner and get rid of the misunderstanding.

In short, look for this solution and don't wait for things to happen magically. Remember that your life can be as good as any movie, but we need to keep magic out of it.

Joining a laughter club to relieve stress is a great idea. Watching a comedy movie or TV show can help. Reading a joke will even do the trick. Thinking of the funniest moments in your life will help you bring a smile on your face.

We are giving you these suggestions because simply laughing at nothing can make you look crazy, especially if there are many people around you.

What can be easier than going for a walk to relieve stress? You can walk in the park or even walk to and fro from work to help you get rid of stress.

Walking is difficult for people who are addicted to chairs and comfortable couches. However, if you want to get rid of stress, try this for a week, and you'll not be disappointed.

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Simple ways to relieve stress - TG Daily - TG Daily (blog)

What could be better than a comfortable, peaceful sanctuary for mom on Mothers Day? You guessed itthis sanctuary is your session room.

Your session room has to be a place your clients lovea place where clients can simply think about and feel relaxed before they even arrive.

With a little bit of creativity, intuition and a small expenditure, you can design a sanctuary-like session room moms will adore, thereby taking their session experiences beyond the ordinary.

Here, massage industry expertsJean Shea, Rodella Shastro, Jordan Mariah Reed, Brad Pressman and Shoona Cookexplain how the scents, sounds and sensations of your session room add up to a blissful experience on Mothers Day.

While looking for a quiet location, make sure the office location is also odor-free. This means that it will not smell like cooking, painting or anything else that might be offensive to your clients.

Burning an aromatherapy candle creates a pleasant scentbut aromatherapy scents mixed with food smells are unpleasant to many people. Try to eat your meals well before your clients appointment and far away from your therapy room if possible.

When burned on their own though aromatherapy candles can help create a healing environment.

An aromatherapy scented candle can disperse a soothing, uplifting or rejuvenating aroma, depending on which type of pure essential oil is used, explains Jean Shea, CEO and founder of BIOTONE.

Burning lavender-scented candles, for instance, can have a relaxing effect, whereas a mandarin aromatherapy candle can help create a calming environment and relieve anxiety.Aromatherapy candles with citrus oils can be used to improve concentration.

Furthermore, never underestimate the importance of providing clients with an opportunity to take the great experience home, Shea adds.

Every time they light the candle, she says, whether it was chosen primarily for the therapeutic effect or for the experience, they will be transported back to your treatment room.

Aromatherapy can be added to a session room in a variety of ways such as through a diffuser, candle or aroma stick to name a few examples. .

Aromatherapy diffusers come in all forms.You can also use cotton balls, tissue or cosmetic pads scented with essential oils to put under pillows, sheets or near the client. This is a more passive method of diffusing because there is not a fan or electrical device used to disperse the essential oils.

A step far above this is a mechanical diffuser. A diffuser might be fan-generated, which can cover either small or larger spaces. Higher-end diffusers would be ultrasonic nebulizers. They work by emitting very fine particles of water and oil into the air and usually cover a large area.

Scents are found in massage products as well, such as creams used for facial massage, and specialty oils. Be sure to ask your clients if they are allergic to any essential oils or other ingredients and offer a sample scent before beginning the session.

First, you need to find a location as quiet as possible. Sometimes, depending on your office location, noise can be difficultbut not impossibleto control.

Insulating windows and doors helps a lot. A draft guard across the bottom edge of the door works wonders to cut down on noise. You can also use a combination of air cleaners with fans for white noise, a window-mounted air conditioner in the summer or a space heater with a fan in winter. A large water fountain also masks noise and is soothing. Of course, playing gentle music on a CD or iPod player creates comforting sounds.

Music that carries qualities of relaxation, peacefulness, meditation and silence can be of great contribution to any healing modality, says Rodella Shastro, president of Malimba Records.

According to music expert Jordan Mariah Reed, the right music should help the client feel not only relaxed but also comfortable so he enters a receiving state.

You can also have the client choose her own tunes for the session, suggests Brad Pressman, president of Water Music.

The wrong music during a massage or facial can be detrimental to the therapist-client relationship and could lead to a one-hit wonder with the guest never to return, he says. Whatever style is chosen, music will either enhance or detract from the overall guest experienceand it is inherently plausible to have the guest choose their preferred style or even bring their own mix to the treatment room.

To add a warm feel and help muffle sound in the room, your floor should be carpeted wall to wall or covered with a thick rug.

By using all of these techniques, my clients say they cant hear any noise encroaching from outside my session room despite the fact cars are driving by, dogs sometimes bark and other people are moving around in my building.

The lighting you choose is also very important. It is useful to have a variety of mood lighting, so you can use bright light while clients change and dim light as you work.

You need enough light to see your client as you work, but the light should be low enough to allow them to relax. A soft, three-way lamp, electric candles or string lights will all help create a relaxing atmosphere.

Lighting trends include battery-operated candles, which means you can put mood lighting almost anywhere safely.

In addition to buying a sturdy, well-made table that will last as many years as you need it, you might want to invest in a hydraulic-lift table. Each client you see has a different body size and requires a different working table height, and a hydraulic table can contribute to your career longevity. A headrest that adjusts in several directions helps provide the most effective session.

Cover the headrest and massage table with lambs wool, then add a memory-foam pad on top. Next add a table-warming pad. (Your clients will love you for it, so dont skip it.) This pad should be used year-round as it warms the muscles and relaxes the body. Use flannel sheets in the winter for warmth and jersey-knit sheets in the summer.

Your tables linens represent one of the most intimate impressions left on clients. Your client might, upon entering a treatment room, respond to the sight, smell and touch of the linen and blankets.

Wrinkled and worn sheets will evoke images of unsanitary and used linen. This certainly is not the first impression you want. Drape your client in luxurious, soft, clean linens that convey professionalism, luxury and an environment of health and well-being.

Another nice touch is to provide two mirrors: a small one to check makeup and hair, and a full-length size to check clothing. Another necessity is a lubricant warmer, which keeps oil or lotion continuously warm for the entire session.

I provide clients a comfortable chair to sit in when writing out checks to me, and next to this chair, I have a small table for clients to put glasses and personal items on. I keep a carafe of water, paper cups and tissues there as well.

Hang a few relaxing photos and paintings, along with your massage certificates, but make sure not to create a cluttered feel. Hang curtains on your windows for a softening effect. Professionally produced posters that communicate the benefits of massage therapy will also augment your session-room environment.

By adding attractive posters, you create inviting, relaxing surroundingsa tranquil sanctuary, explains Shoona Cook, R.M.T., creative director and owner of Fingerprintz, which sells massage posters and other products. When a client enters your beautiful space and feels welcomed and comfortable, you have enhanced the entire massage experience.

Clients make a powerful connection between massage and health and well-being when they see poster images and messages about massage, Cook continues. By reinforcing the message that regular massage is an important proactive part of their health care, you have empowered clients by the experience.

I have also covered my session-room ceiling with shear, billowing blue cloth for a cozy, cloud-like feel. This softens the feel of the room and adds another relaxing element.

A small wind chime hanging on the therapy-room door allows you to gently ring the chime to wake any client who may have fallen asleep. It acts as a quiet alarm, waking clients easily rather than jarring them from their relaxed state.

Once you have your therapy room furnished and decorated, dont make any drastic changes. Remember, your clients are thinking about your roomvisualizing the way it looks and how they feel being therelong before their scheduled appointment time.

On Mothers Day, if clients walk into a room that doesnt match their vision, it may shock them out of that relaxed state.

As creative massage therapists, you will come up with some terrific ideas to add on your own. Anything you can do to make your clients as relaxed and happy as possible will keep them coming back.

Your clients wont mind paying a little extra when you have provided a beautiful, stress-free haven for them to visit after a difficult day. The extra time and expenditure it takes is not only well worth it, but it will pay you back again and againand with a great first impression, youll convert your Mothers Day clients into regular customers.

Sara J. Blazo, N.C.T.M.B., has run a successful private practice incorporating Swedish massage, deep-tissue and neuromuscular therapy in Forest Grove, Pennsylvania, since 1997.

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On Mother's Day, Treat Mom to a Massage - Massage Magazine

Harvard Gazette

Tai chi can prevent elderly from falls, add mental agility Harvard Gazette With relaxing music playing in the background, the students shift their weight from one leg to the other, turn their waists, and rotate their arms as if they indeed were clouds. When class ended, Elaine Seidenberg and Fran Rogovin, both 84 and close ... and more »

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Tai chi can prevent elderly from falls, add mental agility - Harvard Gazette

There are few moments in my day that are experienced in silence. This is due to my ample consumption of music, mostly thanks to a Spotify subscription. I listen to music as I walk to class, as I eat meals, while I do homework, while I exercise and even sometimes as I fall asleep. But I almost never listen to music, simply to listen.

I took a world music appreciation class last year and our professor asked us when the last time we really listened to music was. My first instinct was to say it was just prior to class, as I had my headphones in on the way there.

However, this was not what he meant at all. He advocated for the quiet, uninterrupted intake of music. He said true appreciation of music comes when it is given your full attention. Not when youre doing homework or getting from place to place, but when you can give your whole presence of mind to the music and fully absorb its qualities.

When I considered this, I realized I might not have ever truly listened to music. I couldnt recall a single time when I had listened without distraction or intrusion.

We so rarely focus on individual tasks. Even as Im typing this, Im doing something else at the same time. Were almost never concentrated on one thing at a time. You need to multitask constantly to be truly productive.

While music can be consumed simultaneously, maybe it shouldnt be.

Im not saying you cant appreciate music while youre in the car or studying for your finals, but you should find time to admire it on its own, too.

Listening to music uninterrupted and undistracted is not only therapeutic and relaxing but can also give you a deeper understanding of the music you already appreciate.

This year, I really took some time to set aside parts of my day, every once in awhile, to listen to music I thought I would appreciate. Whether it was Kanye West, John Mayer or a classical romantic symphony, I tried to really listen to music and do what my professor taught us.

I even spent an hour over spring break laying in bed listening to every second of Drakes new album at 1 a.m., the moment it was released.

Listening to albums in their entirety, or even individual songs or pieces, is time consuming but incredibly rewarding. When you listen to music without any other distraction you can truly appreciate the nuances of the sound.

You pick up on things other than the beat and melody and begin to really appreciate the work the artist put into each song individually, and as a whole contribution to the album or the artists other work.

Not only has this more intense style of listening increased my appreciation of music, it has allowed me to become a better listener and consumer of music. I pay more attention to the composition of the work and its easier for me to pick up on the themes and tonality of songs. Truly listening to music allowed me to focus my attention on the purpose of each song and the artists intent.

When you truly listen to music it enhances your experience and leads to a greater appreciation of sound and the artist who produced it.

So next time you find yourself with an hour or two to spare, get your headphones, settle down in a quiet space and revisit an album you already love or want to explore for the first time. Listen to the music and really focus on the sound. Cast your other thoughts away and truly appreciate the work produced for your enjoyment.

arts@dailynebraskan.com

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GLEASON: Take moment to truly appreciate, listen to music - Daily Nebraskan

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How many times have you forgotten to pay a bill, write an email, make a phone call or cancel an appointment? And every time you do, you probably say to yourself I should get an assistant. However, if for whatever reason hiring another human to share your workload is not the answer for you, perhaps hiring a machine is, or at least time-sharing it

by Beata Socha

Do you remember PAC-MAN? If youre too young to remember it, you must have seen it in a movie or a TV show. The classic 1980s game keeps making comebacks in popular culture, a nostalgic nod to the wonders of arcade gaming.

Either way, everyone knows that the yellow circular characters goal was to eat all the pac-dots in the labyrinth while avoiding being eaten by his four enemies (Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde). The interesting thing is that the enemies appear to be somewhat intelligent when awake, theyd follow Pan-Man through the maze. By todays standards, its hardly impressive. It would be fairly easy to program the game so that the enemies calculated the shortest route to Pac-Man at any given moment, but with 1980s computing power, it was not an easy feat. The games creators came up with a rather ingenious way to do it. They programed Pac-Man to leave a trail a stench if you will, that fades away with every move he makes and every second that passes. So when the enemies came across the trail, they just followed its gradient the stronger the stench, the more recent the trail. Thats just one of many examples of how very simple rules can create seemingly intelligent behavior.

Imagine that you walk into your home and your house lights up immediately, your favorite relaxing music is already on and your cappuccino machine has just served you a cup of hot, foamy deliciousness. When you take off your coat, your TV switches on and lists all the programs it has tivoed for you in order of importance. While youre watching, your phone chimes and reminds you that ticket sales to your favorite bands concert are about to start and you should log on the site to get the best seats. Half an hour later your phone chimes again to tell you that youve only walked 5,000 steps today and you may want to go out jogging, especially since its a warm and sunny afternoon. It seems too good to be true, but it isnt. In fact, all of this is possible today.

We have been gradually automating our lives for years: a standing bank order to pay the rent, Google alerts telling you about the latest reports on a topic of interest, lights running on proximity sensors all of these are in common use. Now, all these processes can be combined, intertwined and tweaked to your liking using very simple rules that altogether make for an excellent virtual personal assistant.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

An increasing number of manufacturers equip their products with technology that allows them to send and receive information and respond to it. The only question that remains is how they can understand the information they receive from other products and services, made by other manufacturers. Your phone, your dishwasher, your car and your thermostat all speak different languages and what they need is a universal tongue, a lingua franca if you will. There is a number of such platforms that can be used for that, but one in particular seems to be catching on more quickly than others: the If This Then That technology (IFTTT). There are already over 400 service providers that equip their products with IFTTT which means that they can send and receive data from the IFTTT platform via the internet. If you have two devices furnished with IFTTT, they will be able to communicate and respond to one another.

The way it works is quite simple. You create a rule, which are called Applets in the IFTTT language (previously also Recipes). One of the devices serves as a trigger and the other performs an action. Lets say you are allergic to pollen. If the weather report says the level of pollen is high in your area, the weather website that supports IFTTT (e.g. Weather Underground) will know to initiate the rule. What it does is send your phone a message to notify you of the pollen situation, e.g.: High pollen concentration. Take allergy meds. This is called an action.

You can create rules for your social media accounts (e.g. if someone tags you in a photo, you can have it automatically saved to your dropbox), cars (if youve ever lost your car youd be glad to have a map with your location emailed to you every time you park in the city), home appliances (you can tell the Alexa device to locate your phone, for instance), and much more. You can even trigger your phone to give you a phantom call if you are in a middle of an awkward conversation and in need of an easy way out. The collection of existing applets is growing at an astronomical pace. Thats because they are extremely easy to program, so anytime someone comes up with a useful new rule, they can make it available to all IFTTT users. There are tens of millions of rules already in use. Most big internet services support IFTTT: Google Drive, Gmail, Dropbox, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, BuzzFeed, eBay, Craigslist you name it.

SAFE AND COMFY

Even if social media is unchartered territory for you, youll still find many uses for automated rules in your home. An automatic response in case of fire detection and flooding seems like a must in a modern home. Automation can also prevent burglary. After all, how satisfying is it to watch your security camera feed after your house has been broken into? But what if the system catches the perpetrator in the act and alerts you to their presence so you can in turn call the police? Smart homes with motion sensors can do that. The system detects movement in the apartment while were away and sends an alert to your smartphone whenever something unsettling happens. This allows you to immediately take action and, for instance, notify the security in the building, explains Mikoaj Pertek, developer market expert at Fibaro. The system can check a number of conditions before sending the alert: if its night time and youre at home, the system will ignore your stroll to the kitchen, but it will start beeping if someone opens the balcony door and enters your home.

Thermostats were supposed to be the ultimate solution to temperature regulation, but they are not impervious to human error and forgetfulness. If you open the window to get cool air, your thermostat will compensate for the breeze, using even more power. By applying a few simple rules, and allowing the thermostat to communicate with your smart home central computer the devices will automatically respond to temperature changes resulting from opening a window, and will not try to heat a room when its inefficient, said Pertek.

The number of possibilities that devices connected to the internet offer is expanding rapidly. All it takes it to turn on a few simple rules you can choose from a menu. And yes, there are always safety concerns, as with every new technology. But with the number of things we deal with on a daily basis, automation seems like the only way to remain sane.

The Internet of (vulnerable) things

As the Internet of Things market increases, so does the number of incidents involving breeches in security of internet-connected devices. Only recently, an industrial dishwasher-disinfector was discovered to have system flaws that allowed a hacker to access and plant malware on it, which could later be used to attack other devices in the network. Given that this type of dishwasher is almost exclusively used in restaurants and cafes, such a hack could potentially have dire consequences (e.g. the malware could compromise the conditions at which food products are refrigerated, which could lead to dangerous infections and poisoning). Earlier this year, IoT forums were buzzing about a brand of internet-connected teddy bears that had reportedly exposed over 2 million voice messages between parents and children to online hackers. There is no way of knowing how much of the information actually got into the wrong hands, but its not too difficult to imagine how it could aid criminals in planning e.g. a burglary or even a kidnapping.

OUT OF THE BOX

Some automation rules can be very handy, others are a little out there, and then there are some that will make you smile and think: What would anyone ever need that for? Heres our selection of some of the more interesting IFTTT Applets.

SHHHH! TURN IT OFF!

Ever felt embarrassed in the movies when your phone suddenly buzzes, or worse, when your Gangnam style ringtone that youve been meaning to change in like forever goes off? You can create a rule that will switch your phone to mute whenever youre in a place where phone use is frowned upon, like the movies, libraries or churches.

NEED COFFEE, NOW!

Would you like to literally wake up to the smell of coffee? You can hook up your fitness band Fitbit to your coffee maker so that when your pulse indicates youre waking up, the machine will automatically start brewing you a nice hot cuppa joe.

THATS NOT VENUS

Imagine youre looking up at the stars with a date. You point to a brighter dot flying overhead and you say: Did you know that the ISS is flying above us right now? Who wouldnt be impressed? Or maybe youd like to know when an astronaut is launched into space?

HONEY, DID YOU WANT ME TO GET SOMETHING?

Whenever youre shopping your phone can automatically send a text message to your spouse asking them if they need anything from the store. Think about all those unnecessary repeat trips to the store you will never have to make again!

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Running on autopilot - Warsaw Business Journal

Cuba Points to Urban Farming to Boost Organic Food Production

Not far from Havanas iconic Revolution Square, a Green plot of land offers a welcome break from the skyline and hubbub of Cubas capital.

More importantly, it guarantees the people an assortment of fresh Organic fruits and vegetables year-round.

This urban farm, like numerous others like it, grows leafy greens, such as cabbage, lettuce, chard and occasionally arugula, ensuring fresh vegetables feature on local dinner tables.

Thanks to a government program begun 30 yrs ago, urban farms today produce more than 1-M tonnes of Organic crops.

The program, which has spread across the country and is present in almost all major cities, was strengthened in the early 1990s after the collapse of the Soviet Union, then Cubas main political and economic ally.

The produce goes from the plot to our plates, says a retiree, who at least once a week visits the urban farm near her home in a populous Havana neighborhood.

It is a good source of Organic vegetables to complement the typical Cuban dish of rice, beans and pork, she said.

By Y 2020, government plans to invest more than $96-M, 80% from international financing to expand urban farms, according to the programs executive director.

The investment will be earmarked to develop irrigation, seed production, organic fertilizers, agro-ecological management and use of renewable energy, among other aspects, he recently told a Congress of urban, suburban and family agriculture in Havana.

As part of the program, locals will receive training to produce Organic vegetables and fruits, including local production of seeds, organic fertilizers, farm implements, bio-control and other factors.

Director of development for Cubas Agricultural Business Group, Alina Beltran, said the program has in the past year produced 70% of the lettuce seeds it needs, 80% of the Chinese cabbage seeds and 40% of radish seeds.

The program also teaches children how to plant and harvest vegetables, herbs and fruits.

By Y 2019, officials expect to produce around 1.2-M tonnes of Organic fruits and vegetables at 10,000 hectares of urban farms throughout Cuba.

Agriculture production is a priority of the national push to modernize the economic and productive system, with the goal of producing up to 60% of the countrys food needs.

Cuba currently spends some $2-B a year on imported food products, according to government officials.

Eat healthy, Be healthy, Live lively

Cuba, farms, fruits, government, organic, produce, program, urban, vegetables

Paul A. Ebeling, polymath, excels in diverse fields of knowledge. Pattern Recognition Analyst in Equities, Commodities and Foreign Exchange and author of The Red Roadmasters Technical Report on the US Major Market Indices, a highly regarded, weekly financial market letter, he is also a philosopher, issuing insights on a wide range of subjects to a following of over 250,000 cohorts. An international audience of opinion makers, business leaders, and global organizations recognizes Ebeling as an expert.

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Cuba Points to Urban Farming to Boost Organic Food Production - Live Trading News

More than 800 residents spread around the northeast metro area have joined a Stapleton-based food cooperative with the goal of building an organic and locally sourced food market in north Aurora, across from the Stanley Marketplace.

This is a consumer-owned grocery store. We would purchase our food from local growers and source as much of our food locally as possible, said Stapleton resident and chair of Nourish Community Markets board of directors, Thomas Spahr. Our concept came from a group of neighbors in Stapleton who got together in 2009 and wanted an alternative to King Soopers.

But Stapleton alone doesnt havea big enough community to viably serve an independent, full-service grocery store.

We talked to Natural Grocers, Whole Foods and Sprouts about trying to come out to Stapleton, and none of them were interested, Spahr said. So, we decided to build it ourselves and make it something a little bit more inclusive of different neighborhoods like Park Hill, Northwest Aurora, Hoffman Heights and East Colfax.

So residents formed The Northeast Community Co-op Market, which incorporated as a Colorado cooperative in July 2014. In 2016, members rebranded the entire co-op organization as Nourish Community Market.

Since then, the primary goal of the group has been to gather enough members and enough money to feasibly build a marketplace at 2352 Dallas St. The store would go on the ground level of The Heights at Westerly Creek Village, a planned mixed-use condo development. Today, that land is an auto lot that is owned by one of the co-op members.

Were a ways out from breaking ground yet, Spahr said. Right now, the co-op has an agreement for that space that is contingent upon us getting our financing in order. We still have time to get there, but were exploring what its actually going to take to raise enough money to build in this location.

Right now, the co-op has about 802 members. Each members initial buy-in is $200. That money will go toward building about40 percent equity on the overall $4 million development cost of building a 10,000-square-foot grocery store from the ground up.

The co-op aims to have about 1,500 member-owners by July 1 in order to spread the financial risk among a larger pool of investors.

I was in Idaho before we moved to Aurora two years ago, and I grew up with a co-op just a couple blocks down the street the Boise Co-op, said Carolyn Pace, Nourish Community Market member who lives near the proposed market site in northeast Aurora. I always thought that every community had these, so it was interesting to move to such a big city and find out that theres no co-op here.

Organizers for Nourish Community Market are targeting Stapleton and northwest Aurora as their service zone because the communities are what members call food deserts; places devoid of fresh fruit, vegetables and other healthy whole foods.

I think of the area more as a food swamp than a food desert, Pace said. There are a lot of options, but its kind of a glut of unhealthy choices. It can be challenging to find a nutritious, affordable meal on East Colfax. I think providing access to those kinds of foods is a needed thing in this area.

In 2016, the co-op launched the Nourish Fresh Food Program, a food-box program delivering pesticide-free food farm Colorado Farms to the heart of Stapleton each week.

Ultimately, what were trying to do is develop a model that works, Spahr said. The grocery business is a difficult market to succeed in for startups, especially produce, but weve contracted with consultants who have done this many times over throughout the nation. Its financially challenging, but it isnt anything that any small business hasnt overcome. And this is something that the community really needs.

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Major grocery chains said no. So hundreds in north Aurora are making an organic food co-op. - The Denver Post

April 24, 2017

David McInerney, co-founder of Fresh Direct, a leading online fresh food grocer delivering directly to the doors of consumers in greater New York, New Jersey and Connecticut metro areas, has been announced as the fourth keynote presenter for the Organic Produce Summit 2017 in Monterey, CA.

Fresh Direct is recognized as one of the pioneers in e-commerce/direct-to-consumer delivery, starting in 2002 by offering fresh food and comparatively lower prices directly to consumers in high-density metro areas in the Northeast. McInerney and his team spend more than half the year travelling around the globe to learn, investigate, explore and taste fresh food.David McInerney

Understanding what were eating and whos growing it are the most important yet often forgotten details when it comes to what we put in our bodies, McInerney said in a press release. To meet and talk with those individuals and companies growing organic fresh produce and marketing it to consumers across the globe is truly an honor.

Fresh Directs McInerney rounds out an engaging series of four keynote presentations at OPS 2017. In addition to McInerney, attendees will hear from noted dietician and author Ashley Koff; Dennis Hoover and Erica Helton, the co-founders of The Organic Coup, Americas first USDA-approved organic fast food; and a Retail Roundtable presentation exploring the insights, opportunities and challenges facing retailers in the multi-billion dollar organic fresh produce industry. The three Retail Roundtable panelists are Dave Corsi, vice president of produce and floral for Wegmans, Heather Shavey, assistant vice president of global produce for Costco, and Chad Miller, vice president of produce procurement for Sprouts.

In addition to an informative series of educational sessions, we are thrilled with our line-up of keynote presentations. Our attendees will have an opportunity to learn from influential thought-leaders in three major areas of organic produce sales- retail, the up-and-coming foodservice sector, and the dynamic direct-to-consumer model changing the way all shopping is done," Susan Canales, director of operations for OPS, said in the press release. Our attendees will gain insightful and useful information on how leading companies are marketing organic fresh produce to consumers and the opportunities to drive sales into the future."

Canales also said only a very limited number of general registrations to OPS 2017 remain, with the event expected to sell out by the end of the month. The overall response and enthusiasm for OPS is unbelievable. We wish we had greater capacity to handle a larger audience, but we are confident the intimacy and energy of OPS 2017 will be unlike any other industry trade event," she said.

Further information about Organic Produce Summit 2017 is available at http://www.organicproducesummit.com.

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Organic Produce Summit names Fresh Direct co-founder as keynote presenter - The Produce News

Wearing a luminous robe, the Venerable Andrew Tikkhaviro led students and faculty in a state of meditation.

With 14 years of experience and with a master in computer engineering, Venerable Andrew has led meditation sessions around the world.

I have to traveled to many places to teach; I have gone to Cuba, Malaysia and India where hundreds of people attended in one session, said Tikkhaviro. I hope to reach more people and more places.

Tikkhaviro is now at Cal Poly Pomona every Tuesday during U-Hour to lead a weekly meditation group in building 41, room 11.

According to the National Center for Complementary Health and Integrative Health, meditation can help improve psychological distress, anxiety, depression and increase relaxation and overall health.

Meditations are held in an intimate room where participants can practice in a judgment-free space in the hopes to improve in meditation and be able to practice on their own, as well as live a heather lifestyle.

This has been the result as students and faculty participating meet, take their places on the floor or chairs in a circle and close their eyes as Tikkhaviro guides them.

Within the two months of the group running, students have been able to see the changes in their own personal meditation practice.

I am better able to focus when I meditate at home, said Carlo Brito, a fourth-year biotechnology student. Meditating in a group setting with an experienced teacher really does make a difference, and the positive effects carry over.

Brito has only been attending the meditation group for three sessions and is happy there is space available for students to take time off from school life and take a moment to focus on themselves.

The meditation group is free to all students and faculty members and is being offered through the Department of Kinesiologys Health Promotion in the Mind and Heart Research Lab.

At the Mind and Heart Research Lab, students can use other resources such as emWave Pro, a training system to monitor heart rhythms, AA meetings and if students or faculty are not able to make it on Tuesdays, the lab has 15-minute meditation sessions with guided audio recordings.

According to the Mind and Heart Lab website, they aspire to educate people about stress, how to train in relaxation and control of thoughts to gain control of their emotional and physical wellbeing.

This echoes the purpose of the meditation group as well.

There is no experience needed to participate in Meditation Group; Tikkhaviro will guide participants in meditation as he instructs the steps, so any student with any level of experience is welcomed.

Dont think you need to be good at meditation or anything in particular to do this class, and please dont feel intimidated by a monk dressed in Buddhist robes, said Neal Golub, a professor in the department of mathematics and statistics.

The meditation group will also be held during finals week.

For more information, contact Alane Daugherty or Kristine Fish.

Students can also set an appointment for any of the Heart and Mind Lab services through the website: http://www.mindandheartlab.com.

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Meditation group aims to improve health - The Poly Post

Teaching users to live a more conscious and mindful life, Zenify Premium App offers a variety of mindfulness meditation exercises delivered to a smartphone. These assignments help users experience a heightened state of awareness in the present moment.

Throughout the day, users can choose chosen intervals for the Zenify app to chime with assignments to teach mindfulness meditation techniques. It allows one to take breaks throughout the day to return to the present moment and strengthen the neuronal connections between the part of your brain responsible for consciousness and awareness (prefrontal cortex), according to the app developers.

Suggested exercises take five minutes or less, and are relatively easy to complete. The app is available for iTunes and in the Google Play store for Android for $1.99.

Correspondent for ABC News and the co-anchor for the weekend edition of Good Morning America, Dan Harris book 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works, chronicles his quest to make changes in his life after having a panic attack on the air. His route to stress relief was meditation.

In August, he launched a new app called 10% Happier: Meditation for Skeptics, which offers a 2-week course teaching users how to meditate with Dan Haris and his meditation teacher Joseph Goldstein. It includes daily video lessons that teach meditation and mindfulness essentials, without any woo-woo, and guided audio meditations to walk listeners through the practice, and an actual coach from Change Collective.

Its free to download in the Apple iTunes store, and after three days, users can purchase the course for $19.99. For those who dont have an iPhone, the program is also available online here.

Each day there is a short video, a guided meditation, and people can exchange texts with their one-on-one coach from Change Collective, Harris explained on air during a GMA segment .

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Oprah Winfrey and Deepak Chopra are launching their eighth Oprah & Deepak 21-Day Meditation Experience titled Manifesting Grace through Gratitude, starting July 13.

Register for FREE here: Oprah.com/meditation.

This all-new, free 21-day meditation experience will help participants stop chasing the things they think they need to be happy and start finding true joy in each present moment. Simultaneously, it aims to help alleviate stress and revitalize mind, body and spirit.

Originally launched in 2013, the Oprah & Deepak 21-Day Meditation Experience now features a catalogue of eight different programs with over 4.1 million participants from hundreds of countries around the globe.

This meditation experience will be a heartfelt journey of discovering the grace already present in our lives through the eyes of gratitude, said Deepak Chopra.

Manifesting Grace through Gratitude, led by Oprah Winfrey and Deepak Chopra, will offer a 20-minute audio meditation each day anda series of thought-provoking reflection questions designed to anchor the teachings with a centering thought and mantra. Througha private, interactive journal feature, meditators are able to record and view their progress, giving them an invaluable picture of their personal growth and development.The meditations areeasily accessible from a tablet, computer, or the mobile companion app available in iTunes or Google Play.

Below is an overview of what participants can expect throughout this experience:

Week One: How Gratitude Changes Our LifeWeek one will focus on transformation. Meditations feature learning about the power of positive emotions, being grateful for your life, finding and connecting with the source of your gratitude and bringing it alive in the present.

Week Two: Beyond Emotion to Higher GratitudeWeek two delves deeper into the nature and meaning of gratitude, highlighting the importance of the mind-body connection. These lessons will focus on changing your personal reality and tapping into the power of gratefulness in all aspects of your life.

Week Three: Complete Life in GratitudeThe third week focuses on transforming your life into a state of grace an effortless, more enjoyable and more vibrant way of life. This final week of mediations will teach participants to open their hearts and minds and start on a path to accepting and embracing not only the good that life has to offer, but recognizing the resources and support that are there when we are met with challenges.

Register for FREE here: Oprah.com/meditation.

Seven spiritual teachers and authors share their morning routines to start the day in peace instead of chaos.

For many people, the morning equates to rushing, chaos and building the days to-do list in their mind from the moment they open their eyes. Rather than connecting to our higher self, welcoming the voice of our intuition, and beginning the day from a point of power, we are setting ourselves up for disaster when we begin our day in a stressful way.

Not only does this routine usher in stress and anxiety, but it also activates the bodys fight or flight response, doing damage to both the brain and body over time. The good news is we have the power to change the way we start our day, and it doesnt have to be as difficult or time-consuming as one might think. Plus, the rewards far outweigh the effort

In the Chinese book, the I-Ching, there is a saying, The way it begins is the way it ends. So if you begin in your left brain, and your fight or flight, ego and fear, that is the tone you will set for the day, bestselling author Sonia Choquette tells Elevated Existence. But if you set it connecting to a nurturing prayer or receiving, then that sets the tone that you are listening, available and open.

In his book, The End of Stress: Four Steps to Rewire Your Brain, author Don Joseph Goewey recommends starting the day in quiet by waking up 15 minutes ahead of the rush, connecting with the heart, feeling appreciation for another day with people we love, and setting the intention to have a productive and rewarding day, committed to remain calm and peaceful within no matter what occurs outside of us.

Morning routines are important because they set the tone for you taking charge and responsibility for your day, and not giving away your power to outside influences, says Doreen Virtue, bestselling author of Healing with the Angels. Practicing a set morning routine makes it more likely we will stick with other healthful processes, she notes.

Just like eating a healthful breakfast gives you more energy during the day, so does taking excellent care of yourself in the morning set the tone for your day. Its all about keeping your promises to yourself, and being your own best friend, she tells Elevated Existence.

The goal is to start the day in a peaceful way, and carry this energy into our daily life, and there are a variety of ways we can choose to do this. Elevated Existence spoke with some top authors and experts to see what their morning routine and spiritual practices consist of to help our readers create a morning spiritual practice that works for them.

SONIA CHOQUETTEAuthor of Trust Your Vibes: Secret Tools for Six-Sensory Living and Walking Home

I have a very committed spiritual morning practice. The very first thing I do when I open my eyes is to say the Our Father, which I learned is a prayer to align the chakras. Then I say the prayer, Use me this day for the highest good that I can possibly live out today. I am available. My second prayer is Move me. Move me toward my highest good. Move me out of my own way. Move me toward where I can be of greatest service and live my most authentic self.

Then I do the breath of life for three minutes. It gets my breath cleared, and I do it to music and dancing. Next, I do what is called sourcing. I sit and hold my hands up like Im receiving, and for 10 minutes to some very beautiful music, I just receive blessings, nurturing, connection to my higher self, and love from my ancestors and guides. Its like my energetic feed, and I ask to nurture the seeds of my own potential, my authentic self. I really am big on receiving and opening up yourself to something bigger than your personal willpower to nurture and support you.

I end with a few yoga stretches, which is very important to me to be flexible because I sit a lot all day. Then I pick a song and I sing it. It takes about 15 minutes total. I call it the breakfast of champions, and I do it every day. I get my breath going. I say my prayers, and then I sing my song. Its a happy morning experience.

ARIELLE FORD Author of The Soulmate Secret and Wabi Sabi Love

A long time ago, I used to do mantra-based meditation every morning. But I discovered that it stressed me out. I would sit, repeat my mantra, and then my mind would start feeding me thoughts about all the things I needed to accomplish during the day, and I would feel like I needed to write it all down so I wouldnt forget. I eventually gave it up and started exercising in the morning (usually a walk or time on my elliptical machine) followed by a long, relaxing bath.

While in the tub, I still get lots of thoughts, but they dont stress me out, they inspire me! Also, I take a little time each afternoon to do Heart Lock-Ins. This is a technique from the Institute of HeartMath where you focus on the feelings of love, appreciation and gratitude while your attention is on your heart. They even have great technology to use so that you know you are doing it correctly and getting into Heart Coherence. Its called the EmWave, and I just love using it! You can learn more at http://www.heartmath.org.

SUNNY DAWN JOHNSTON Psychic Medium & Author of Invoking the Archangels and The Love Never Ends: Messages From the Other Side

I have four steps to my morning spiritual practice that I find absolutely necessary for my physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. First, I meditate. I meditate for the amount of time I feel guided to on any given day. My meditation consists of taking the time each day to connect with Spirit. For me, it isnt a time I intend to receive guidance or direction. Instead, it is a time that I honor and appreciate the connection to Spirit that I have, and is my morning thank you to the Divine.

Second, I pray. I do a short invocation of the Angels, specifically calling in Archangel Michael to help me to hold my own energy and vibration as I have a tendency to be empathic and take on the weight of the world. Third, I open my arms to the Universe, and I set an intention for my day by saying an affirmation. I use a variety of different ones, but the message is always something similar to: I am open and receptive to all the Universe has to offer. Finally, as I get out of bed, I ask Spirit: How may I serve?

MASTIN KIPPAuthor & Founder of The Daily Love

First of all, I get really good sleep because that is so important to me. I think getting good sleep is probably one of the best spiritual practices we could do. The way that I do that is I black out the room, and keep the temperature between 60 and 68 degrees. I have earplugs in and a facemask on, and I use a supplement called Tryptophan, which deepens my sleep.

Also, I like to write in the morning. That is when I write The Daily Love and that is my spiritual practice its my meditation. I feel of if I dont do it. Recently, Ive been doing about a half hour of Hemi-Sync meditation, which is really powerful, and I get very relaxed. Its nice to enter the day in a state of relaxation.

I also have a really quality breakfast. I have a shake from a company called FYCNYC, which stands for Find your Center. Its an alkalizing shake and is easy on your digestive system. The morning is also when I exercise. I do all those things, and it starts my day off right.

SARAH MCLEANAuthor of Soul-Centered: Transform Your Life in 8 Weeks With Meditation and Founder of The McLean Meditation Institute

Its usually twilight when I wake up. I stretch and slowly arise. When I do, I go to my open window and gaze toward the horizon, or if Im really inspired, Ill go outside in my pajamas and look at the sky. I sometimes say Thank You, or simply listen to the silence. I feel a deep interconnectedness with the natural world.

I head to the bathroom and my dogs follow me in and sit with me. Its a love fest with them. They are so happy, and I am so happy. I splash my face, and go into the living room. There, I sit on the sofa, my dogs at my feet, and enjoy the breaking dawn. I light a candle and enjoy the stillness. I am lucky to live in Sedona, Ariz. The views of the majestic red rocks are spectacular, and as I sit, I often read a passage from an inspiring book. I am reading one by Alan Watts now. Then I set my meditation timer and sit in meditation for 20 minutes.

Usually its a simple mantra practice or breath awareness meditation. My husband sometimes sits with me, but hes already been up for a while, so he might be off doing something else. We meet in the kitchen for coffee or tea. Then after breakfast, we head out with the dogs into the backyard, which is adjacent to the wilderness.

GARY RENARDAuthor of The Disappearance of the Universe and Love Has Forgotten No One

Shortly after awakening, I make it a point to put the Holy Spirit in charge of my day. I want to be connected to that higher, all-knowing place that understands and sees everything. I become still and meditate with the purpose of joining my mind with the beautiful white light of Spirit. Then I will be silent for five minutes and literally become one with the light, which is not a partial attribute, but joined with all creation. Ive stuck to this for most of the last 22 years, ever since I started doing A Course in Miracles, and it has served me very well.

When you are under the guidance of Spirit, you can be led to what is best for everyone. Thats where the word inspired comes from. It comes from the words in spirit. When you are not guided by Spirit, you are disconnected, and in disaster. The word disaster comes fromaster, which means astral. Dis-aster means you are not connected to the astral or higher, all-knowing place. If you run the show on your own, it will usually lead to unhappy things, but Spirit will lead you to what is best for everyone, including you.

DOREEN VIRTUE Author of Healing With the Angels and Assertiveness for Earth Angels

My morning routine consists of, first, meditating and listening for divine guidance that came during the night during my dream time, and making it a conscious awareness. We receive so many messages while we are sleeping, and listening to them is essential. I do this by lying in bed for about 45 minutes before I get up.

Secondly, I engage in stretching in the morning. Four days a week, I do a yoga class at 8 a.m. before I have a chance to get busy with everything else. On the other mornings, I do Pilates. Ive also found going outdoors in the morning and connecting with nature is very energizing.

For breakfast every morning, I have an extremely green smoothie made with organic apple juice, organic kale, spirulina and carob powder.

These morning routines have allowed me to be completely caffeine free since 1996 by getting natural energy from the divine, mother nature, meditation and yoga. I have been embracing this morning routine for many years. When I am traveling, I still take charge of my mornings and always keep them sacred.

There is a new way to meditate by logging online!

MultiMeditation.com offers a range of meditation videos, including those designed to cater to specific needs such as depression, stress and anxiety relief and users can try one of the channels for free!

MulitMeditation is a technique combining traditional and modern meditation techniques and therapies, including knowledge of the Mandala a spiritual symbol representing the Universe that is used in both Hinduism and Buddhism; contemplation meditation, concentration meditation, chromotherapy, sound therapy and fractology (the science of healing through energy).

We use color, music, nature sounds, videos, the Mandala, and fractal art to create a technique that produces the desired effect on several levels of perception through sight, hearing, and vibrations, the website states. MultiMeditation combines all of these various methods to provide a synergistic effect. Using a combination of meditation techniques works faster and more effectively compared with using each technique separately, enabling participants to achieve their desired changes more rapidly.

Sign up to try the main channel for free, and view the various subscription options here.

Meditation is key to any spiritual practice, whether looking to connect with ones higher self or the divine, sharpen intuition, alleviate stress or slow down the mind. Below are Elevated Existences latest picks for new meditation resources, including books and new CD.

Holy Shift: 365 Daily Meditations from A Course in Miracles, by Robert HoldenAfter studying A Course in Miracles for more than 20 years, Robert Holden chose 365 of his favorite passages to serve as daily, reflective meditations in this new book.

Yoga Meditation: The Supreme Guide to Self-Realization, by Stephen SturgessThe author demonstrates how to use a variety of yoga meditation practices to connect one to a higher consciousness, including meditation postures, had positions or mudras and more.

Angel Prayer Meditations: Harnessing the Help of Heaven to Create Miracles, by Kyle GrayAngel communicator and medium Kyle Gray guides the listener through meditations to connect to their guardian angels and the Archangel realm to get messages, invoke the presence of angels to start the day, find restful sleep at night, and clear the mind of unwanted thoughts and challenges.

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Guided Meditation | Elevated Existence