We all experience anxiety differently, but the feeling can be crippling for anyone. Whether youre overwhelmed by work duties, a challenging relationship, financial struggles, or something else entirely, stress can come with some serious health consequences, from increased inflammation in the body, which has been linked to common diseases like depression and cancer, to digestive problems.

The main issue with stress is that most of us dont have the time to adequately address its source. So it piles up. And then we feel more stressed. Cue the vicious cycle. To rectify this, we wanted to find a way to beat stress fast. Thats why we asked Yoga Medicine founder Tiffany Cruikshank to lead us in a quickie meditation session that calms the mind without seriously impeding our day.

RELATED: The Best and Worst Ways to Cope With Stress

It all starts with your breath. Focusing on deep breathing can help you connect with the natural ebb and flow of your body patterns. Because youre probably not in tune with your inhalations and exhalations while you buckle down at your desk every day

As you settle into your breath, youll also feel your mind and body quiet. No micro-managing. No to-do lists. Just yourelaxedfor five minutes.

Ready to get rid of all that mental clutter? Us too. In this video, Tiffany will teach you how to get centered with a guided meditation that only takes five minutes to complete. Simply clear a space in a quiet place and start to inhale and exhale your way to a more mindful, less anxious you. And if you just cant get enough of Tiffany, visit YogaGlo for more of her classes.

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A 5-Minute Meditation to Help You Find Your Calm Now - Health.com

LETTER: 'Meditation Began My Life' Patch.com Letter submitted by Easton resident Casey DeLorenzo. To submit a letter to the editor of the Weston-Redding-Easton Patch, email joe.lipovich@patch.com. Allow me to preface this article by stating that I have no intentions of this article being an ...

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LETTER: 'Meditation Began My Life' - Patch.com

Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation was established in 1977, in memory of Jamnalal Bajaj, a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. The Foundation aims to serve the ideals to which he had dedicated his life and promotes Gandhian constructive activities in which he was deeply involved during his lifetime.

Very few people are able to embodycore Gandhian principles throughout their lives. However, Jaywant Mathkarhas gone a step further beyond just embodying Gandhian valueshe has used them to set up organisations and initiatives that have improved the lives of hundreds across rural India.

Born on November 6, 1940, dedicated and selfless visionary are synonyms to Jaywant Mathkar. Since his teenage years, Mathkar got associated with and followed the well-known Konkan Gandhian Appasaheb Patwardhan. For more than six decades since then, Mathkar has been involved in Sarvoday movements. He brought development in his native Sindhudurg as well as in Maharashtra through many Gandhian organisations. At the all-India level, Mathkar helps in policy designing and bridging various social barriers.

Through the efforts of Mathkar and his associates, migration of peasants and landless people to cities outside Sindhudurg has stopped. As the Vice President of Gopuri Ashram, Mathkar strives to bring about overall development of the village community. Under his leadership, the organisation invented and installed smokeless chulhas in 2010 in 274 homes, conducted cleanliness drives in villages, and installed biogas plants in homes. It supports several Gram Panchayats that have won State and Central Governments Model Village awards.

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Gopuri Ashram has worked on sanitation initiatives since Patwardhans time. Mathkar has contributed significantly, with constant efforts to further strengthen the initiative. He has also helped set up several womens self-help groups. In 2010-11, Mathkar promoted 35 SHGs involving 350 women who have been empowered.

He addressed the issue of lack of livelihoods by creating food processing opportunities in Sindhudurg. In the 90s, he encouraged farmers to plant more of the traditionally grown cashew trees. The Ashram developed various 100 % natural cashew products, including the traditional barfi, modak, sharbat, etc. To set up these processing units, the Ashram provided loans to the farmers.

Employing 70-75 women in these units, these processors, through a cooperative, provided cashew trees to womens self-help groups. For that they have donated land too. The established farmers and the Ashrams team travel around the country to train farmers on cashew processing.

In addition, the activities of Gopuri Ashram include farming, banana/cashew plantation, nursery and natural medicine production, and sales of festive food items and Goseva. Gopuri Ashram has played a vital role in the areas of cleanliness, energy, water conservation, agricultural industry, education, and textile industry. The organization plays a very important role at the outset, giving a good start, soon after which the same work becomes the peoples work. As a result, people, on their own, encourage others for the fulfillment of objectives of the organization, and thus help it grow with their mind, soul, and resources.

Mathkar strongly believes in providing education to girls, which led to setting up a primary and secondary school for school dropout girls in 1979 in Kudal village of Sindhudurg. It is worth noting that the building was made utilizing donations received from the community and teachers. It now has 250 children of landless labourers, workers, etc. Many of these children receive scholarships that are raised by donations by teachers and the community. Emphasis is also laid on non-formal education.

Mathkar believes in peoples participation. This is conspicuous when you see involvement of each person at all levels associated with a particular activity. The team members and the beneficiaries are well-versed with the basic principles, values, and ethics of the Organization, i.e. Sarvoday.

The indefatigable Mathkar spends long hours traveling in public transport to reach and monitor several other Gandhian institutions and initiatives. Among the most successful of these is his khadi unit in Solapur. He set it up to make and sell khadi without the support and involvement of the government. It is among the few such large units today. From spinning, weaving, and dyeing to selling khadi, each activity is conducted independently, and several lakhs worth of khadi is sold every year.

An ardent Sarvodaya worker, Mathkar, in 1962, trained himself in Gramdan, Gram Swarajya, and Shanti Sena. Subsequently he joined Bhudan Gramdan movement with Vinoba Bhave. Mathkar vigorously worked in this movement, getting several thousand acres of land donation, and distributed it to the landless through Gramdan Nav Nirman Samitee. In the process, he registered about 20 villages for Gramdan, the most well-known of which is Vinobas birth place Gagode in Raigad.

Mathkar also worked hard for the Bhangi Mukti campaign under the leadership and guidance of Appasaheb Patwardhan.

Between 1982 to 1989, Mathkar served as the President of the Maharashtra Pradesh Sarvodaya Mandal. He is the Joint Secretary and Trustee of Shantivan Ashram near Mumbai, running an old-age home and serving the disabled and Leprosy patients.

At the all-India level, the Sarvodaya fraternity knows Mathkar well.He works as an organiser of the Khadi Samitee of Sarva Sewa Sangh. Here, he organised Charkha Yagya, inviting 55 spinners from all the states of India to raise their voice and advocate for their genuine demands. Mathkar also successfully organized the Kargha Yagya (Weavers Congress), which addressed and tabled the concerns and difficulties of weavers on the floor of the Government.

With a khadi bag slung over his shoulder, Mathkar keeps going, ever ready to serve the needy. Bubbling with new ideas, he defies age in every way. Mathkar acts locally and thinks globally.

After receiving the Jamnalal Bajaj Award, Mathkar accepted chairmanship of the Sewagram Ashram Pratishthan, a trust founded by Mahatma Gandhi. Jamnalal Bajaj, whom Gandhi called his fifth son, was instrumental in establishing this Ashram.

Every year, approximately 10 to 12 lakh people from around the world (from about 150 countries) visit the Ashram to get inspiration from Gandhian thoughts. The Ashram has 122 acres of agricultural land, which is only partially under cultivation. But over the last three years, it has brought almost all the land under cultivation through natural farming. The Ashram produces all the types of vegetables it requiresin the farm. The Ashram makes tooth powder, jams, squashes, turmeric powder (haldi), and other naturally processed products from agricultural produce. The Ashram has a cowshed (gaushala) with 34 cows of one of the best local breeds.

Recently, Mathkar created a centre for demonstrating the complete process of converting cotton to cloth in the Ashram. This prototype produces the cloth and demonstrates the process to visitors, and enlightens them about the potential of employment it generates, inspiring them to use hand-spun hand-woven cloth i.e. khadi. All these activities demonstrate to visitors some of the economic foundations of gram swaraj.

To explain the historical role of the Sewagram Ashram, and to demonstrate all the activities of Ashram, it has four female guides who inspire the visitors while taking them through this place.

The Ashram runs one khadi shop and a book stall to spread Gandhian thoughts. Combined sale of both these outlets is approx. 30 lakh annually.

Dr. Ram Jadhav, the secretary of the Ashram, is very dynamic. He takes care of all the activities of the Ashram round the clock. The Ashram has a team of 40 inmates working dedicatedly in different areas and functions.

Radha Bhatt andex-acting Chief Justice of Bombay High Court Chandrashekhar Dharmadhakari are the guides and philosophers for all the activities of the Ashram.

The Ashram does not take aid or grant from Indian or foreign governments, or any of their agencies. The Ashram generates its funds from donations from visitors and general people, in addition to various agricultural and dairy produce.

For more information about other past winners, visit the Jamnalal Bajaj Awards website.

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Appasaheb PatwardhanGandhianGopuri AshramJaywant MathkarMaharashtramahatma gandhirural indiaSarvodaya

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TBI Blogs: How a Gandhian's Ashram in Maharashtra Has Helped Local Farmers Earn Record Turnovers - The Better India (blog)

The Hindu

A climb wrapped in silence The Hindu Two essential volumes by Arthur Osborne combined to give me a wealth of honestly rendered perspective: Ramana Maharshi and the Path of Self-Knowledge and My Life and Quest (the autobiography of the founding editor of the ashram's journal Mountain ...

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A climb wrapped in silence - The Hindu

We start this week's look back in time with some high energy routines.

The Reformer reported that there was an aerobics craze sweeping Burnhill in April 1993.

The sports centre hosted many youngsters who were eager to try step aerobics, and the event proved so popular that the classes were set to be held on a regular basis.

The day featured youngsters trying out pom-pom classes as well, aided by a techno music soundtrack.

Music of a different sort had featured at Stonelaw High 10 years previously.

A group of pupils there had been hitting the right notes in April 1983.

For three senior girls, Jane Brotherston (17), Wilma Henderson (16) and Helen Stewart (17) all from fifth year, sang Mozarts aria Say Ye Who Borrow, and attained extremely high marks at the Cambuslang Music Festival.

Wilma was first, Helen second and Jane third.

Second year Gillian Henry was first in the junior section of the singing contest.

Pictured are (from left) Wilma, Helen, Gillian and Jane

Lastly, we stay with 1983, where a group of local women had been in top flight.

The Bower Bar in Rutherglen had held a darts competition over the Christmas period.

Coming out on top was Kate Monahan (right), who won a trophy for her efforts.

Runner-up was Martha Friars (left), while pictured in the centre is Nan Brannigan, the manageress of the Bower bar.

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Rutherglen's Throwback Thursday: Aerobics in Burnhill, music prizes at Stonelaw and a night at the darts... - Scottish Daily Record

Florida Times-Union

Vegan cinnamon roll bakery plans to open three locations in ... Florida Times-Union Cinnaholic could be serving up its vegan cinnamon rolls in Jacksonville as early as this summer. (Courtesy Cinnaholic). Jacksonville, we're getting not one, but ... and more »

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Vegan cinnamon roll bakery plans to open three locations in ... - Florida Times-Union

When The Tasty opened in May 2016, the South Philly diner specializing in vegan food cheeredPhilly vegans, but many were disappointed that it was not despite some nomenclature indicating otherwise a vegan restaurant.

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All of The Tasty's menu items were indeed vegan, but cow's milk was offered for coffees.

On Monday, the diner's Facebook page announced that the dairy option has now been eliminated, all the coffee milks are vegan and, boom, Philly has another vegan restaurant!

Yes, it might seem like a tiny, hairpsplitting detail to have one non-vegan item in a vegetarian venue, but for vegans it can be a quantum difference: A space that's "vegan," in terms of its offerings, is kind of a peaceful island within a noisily, violently nonvegan consumer culture. Sure, we enjoy going to regular places and trying/supporting their new vegan items, but we're in a different kind of space andthere's always some residual wariness we can't enjoy 100%. Now, at The Tasty, we can.

In a quick phone chat, Ben Pierce, a co-owner with Sofia Baltopoulos and Kate Hiltz, said the low-key removal had been effected over the course of the past couple weeks, as they had hit critical mass of "regulars" who had been attached to dairy in their coffee who had now tried, and come to enjoy, alternates such as oat milk. (In addition to oat, The Tasty offers soy, almond, coconut, and macadamia milks.) "Yeah, they all pretty much converted after a while," he mused.

This was part of the "baby steps" strategy on which The Tasty embarked when it re-opened the 1401 S. 12th Street space within a community of old-school mainstream coffee-drinkers: Get them in the door, excite, educate, and change gradually.

I was among the skeptical hearing about this in early 2016, and I still don't endorse the serving of cow's milk (more properly calves' milk, of course), but The Tasty is kind of like a new vegan: Whatever got them to this point, this is where they are now. All of us not born vegan have done nonvegan things the point is what we're doing now and what we're going to do.

So as of this week I'd like to welcome The Tasty to Philly's legendary lineup of all-vegan eateries by my count we now have 22 within city limits and to encourage all the vegans who said, "I won't set foot in there as long as they're serving dairy" to go ahead and set your feet in there, bring your mouth along and treat it to something Tasty!

What's up in Philadelphia's food world? We have you covered in our new food newsletter, launching soon. We'll answer your burning (and simmering) questions: Where should I eat? Where are the new restaurants? Where should I drink? Where are the best values? SIGN UP NOW to reserve your seat at the table.

Blackbird Pizzeria, the vegan landmark, opening a location in Northern Liberties Mar 24 - 2:50 PM

Free cheesesteaks! It's National Cheesesteak Day Mar 24 - 2:28 PM

Published: April 19, 2017 5:00 AM EDT | Updated: April 19, 2017 1:45 PM EDT

We recently asked you to support our journalism. The response, in a word, is heartening. You have encouraged us in our mission to provide quality news and watchdog journalism. Some of you have even followed through with subscriptions, which is especially gratifying. Our role as an independent, fact-based news organization has never been clearer. And our promise to you is that we will always strive to provide indispensable journalism to our community. Subscriptions are available for home delivery of the print edition and for a digital replica viewable on your mobile device or computer. Subscriptions start as low as 25 per day. We're thankful for your support in every way.

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Philly adds another vegan restaurant to its tally - Philly.com (blog)

Source: Avery Yale Kamila

Avery Yale Kamila is a freelance food writer. Her son just turned 4. Hes eaten a plant-based diet since birth and continues to be taller than average for his age. Avery was kind enough to answer some questions about being vegan from Catching Health Associate Editor Jen Boggs.

Americans whether we eat meat or eat vegan tend to get more protein than we need. Vegetarians and vegans are no exception. Protein exists in all foods, with plant-based foods such as beans, grains, nuts and seeds being particularly high in protein. Plant-based meats, milks and cheeses tend to be high in protein just like their animal-based counterparts. The key to eating a balanced plant-based diet is to center meals on beans and grains instead of chicken or beef.

Plant-based eating means eating mostly plants. What this means in practical terms varies from person to person. To some, this means a strict vegan style of eating without any animal-based foods, while at the other end of the plant-based spectrum people include very small portions of meat, cheese, milk or eggs in their meals. In either case, plant-based eating focuses on eating whole plant foods with minimal amounts of added sugar and fat.

Over the years, Ive interviewed dozens and dozens of vegetarians and vegans. One of the reasons people decide to eat this way is because of health. There is a considerable body of medical research linking plant-based diets to disease reversal and prevention. The benefits of plant-based eating can be seen with lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, obesity, heart attacks, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, strokes, and many types of cancer. Ive talked to many people whose health was transformed by centering their diet around plants.

Ive even interviewed two women who say theyve controlled and reversed their multiple sclerosis through a plant-based diet. The mainstream medical community considers MS an incurable, degenerative disease and the science on a connection between eating plant-based and controlling MS is lacking, but one of the people Ive interviewed is a physician. So it will be interesting to see how the science around MS develops in coming years.

A growing number of people are actively reducing their meat consumption and tilting toward a plant-based style of eating because plant-based eating treads much more lightly on the planet. Animal agriculture is well known as one of the leading sources of climate-altering emissions (even more so than the transportation sector). It is also resource intensive you can feed more people with the grain fed to cattle than you can feed from the bodies of the cattle and heavily polluting of air and water.

Also, with the rise of social media, many more people have seen video footage from factory farms and slaughterhouses. For instance, lately, weve seen a wave of videos shared online showing the reality of dairy farming, where newborn calves are taken from their mothers and devices farmers call rape racks are used to keep the cows constantly pregnant or lactating. For some, eating a plant-based diet is a choice to align their food with their ethics.

As with any kind of meal, a lot depends on the child. Some children will willingly gobble up any green vegetable put in front of them. Others have strong likes and dislikes. Some shy away from certain textures or dont like their food to touch other food. For so-called picky kids, pureeing vegetables and finely dicing leafy greens is a big help. Whatever the case, it is possible for children to thrive on a plant-based diet.

The foundation of plant-based eating is beans and grains. For kids, this can be as simple as a bowl of oatmeal with soymilk or a plate of hummus with whole grain bread. Add fruit or vegetables and you have a complete meal.

Smoothies make excellent kid food, and theyre a great way to get extra fruits and even leafy greens into kids diets. My sons favorite snacks are dried fruit, particularly dates. We often make our own snack bars by mixing dates and cashews (and sometimes other dried fruits and seasonings) in a food processor and then shaping them into bars.

Pick one simple recipe say a stir fry or a veggie chili and make it one night this week instead of an animal-based meal. Then, in a week or so, try another plant-based recipe.

The sophistication of plant-based foods available in grocery stores and restaurants has jumped dramatically in the past few years. As one example, cultured nut-based cheeses have transformed the vegan cheese aisle. These are robust, fermented cheeses equal to dairy-based versions.

Many of the new plant-based products on the market are driven by a massive influx of investment capital into the plant-based food sector. Why the investment boom? Food marketers and trend forecasters are all saying that the food market is being radically transformed by the preferences of the Millennial generation. These younger people, much more so than older generations, gravitate toward healthful and sustainable choices such as whole grains, vegetables, and plant-based dishes. The result is that its never been easier or more delicious to eat a plant-based diet.

Tomorrow on the Catching Health blog, well share a recipe from Avery for Build-Your-Own Stir Fry Bowls.

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How will I get enough protein and other questions about going vegan - Bangor Daily News

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The Milwaukee Public Market, 400 N. Water St., is getting a vegan/vegetarian restaurant called On the Bus, which will use a 1971 Volkswagen bus as its counter.(Photo: Mike De Sisti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

On the Bus, a restaurant serving vegetarian, vegan and super-food menu items, could open in the Milwaukee Public Market as soon as early June, operating from a counter crafted from a 1971 Volkswagen bus.

Owner Emily Ware, a partner in The Green Kitchen at the market, will open On the Bus, the market announced Tuesday. (The Green Kitchen sells salads, sandwiches and juices.)

On the Bus' menuwill include breakfast dishes. It's expected to make its own veggie burgers, vegan ice cream, almond milk and kale chips. Items such as sandwiches, acai bowls and smoothies will be made to order.

Smoothies and date shakes ($6 to $8) could include combinations such as spinach, mint, cocoa, banana, dates and almond milk; coconut smoothies ($8 to $10) would be served in a just-cracked coconut. Acai and smoothie bowls ($8 to $10) will be topped with fruit, granola and nuts.

Sandwiches ($6 to $8) are to run the gamut from melts (including roasted red pepper and pesto panino with vegan cheese), plant-based deli sandwiches (such as eggless salad, made with tofu) and hot sandwiches (barbecue portobello is one example).

Breakfast items ($4 to $8) is to include granola and fresh almond milk and avocado toast.

On the Bus will replace Form Fine Goods & Floral, which opened at the market in March 2015; the shop's last day at the market is April 23. Form's owner, Beth Miller, said the shop is moving to a larger space in Walker's Point, at 700 S. 5th St. Miller projected the shop would open in early June.

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Vegan restaurant On the Bus to join Milwaukee Public Market - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (blog)

New York Times

Vegan Meringues Made From Aquafaba New York Times The chef Diane Forley spent months perfecting meringues made from aquafaba, the liquid left from cooking chickpeas that is a vegan egg-white substitute. It's been a challenge, getting the proportions and the right kind of sugar to work, said Ms ...

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Vegan Meringues Made From Aquafaba - New York Times