News By Ashley Gibbard | April 18, 2017

Information provided by Allison Abrams

Information provided by Allison Abrams

When thinking of meditation people usually imagine sitting with their legs crossed, eyes closed and humming. Depending on the type of meditation, that may still ring true, but meditation has come a long way and is now being used as a natural treatment for ailments.

Psychotherapist Allison Abrams said there are more and more people out there turning to meditation instead of medication.

Numerous studies over the years have shown the positive effects of meditation on pain and anxiety among other ailments, Abrams said. There are no side effects, it is usually more cost effective and it doesnt lose its effects over time like medication can.

A study conducted by National Institute of Health in 2016, reported that individuals suffering from chronic pain who practiced meditation reported 50 percent fewer symptoms than those who did not.

Meditation is about focusing on your breath and not being overwhelmed by the thoughts in your head. A person can direct their own meditation, follow a guided meditation or take a class if they have a specific need they are focusing on.

Susan Fraser deals with chronic back painand recently completed an eight-week meditation course to see if it would help.

I was tired of the side effects from my medications and having to keep changing them, Fraser said. I wanted to try meditation to see if I could get some relief without causing other problems.

Information provided by Allison Abrams

Abrams said that ultimately meditation cannot be a substitute when medical treatment is necessary, but it does help you become more aware of the present situation and what you are feeling.

Despite its many positive effects, meditation is not a cure-all and should not be used as a replacement for professional medical care when needed, Abrams said.Meditation does help in moments of high stress or anxiety. What it does is shift your focus to the present moment, as most forms of mental suffering, such as anxiety and depression, are brought on by our thoughts- thoughts of the past or worries about the future.

After her class, Fraser intends to keep going with it.

Im looking forward to sticking with the program they taught me, it did actually help, Fraser said. It has helped me to focus on what is in front of me and not dwell on my pain.

We may be Americans, Michiganders and Spartans but what does that really mean? The Spartan Newsroom special projects team takes a look at some of the characteristics that shape our community and make us who we are.

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Meditation is growing in popularity as a pain killer - Spartan Newsroom

Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at 7 a.m.

Adam Tendler lives in New York City and serves on the faculty of Third Street Music School Settlement, the countrys first community music school.

Photo by Ben Tran

Pianist Adam Tendler doesn't just play the instrument he manipulates it. True to form, Thursday's upcoming performance at the Rothko Chapel won't be a run-of-the-mill concert. Instead, the musical mastermind's selections will require active listening, audience participation and maybe even some meditation.

For this show, Tendler plans to manipulate the very conventional piano to produce music and sounds in a nonconventional way.

"One of the pieces that starts the show requires a manipulation of the keys...Its all about fingertips tapping the keyboard. In terms of sound, its almost microscopic," says Tendler. "Another piece of the program requires the piano lid to be closed, and it has music boxes tapping on the piano."

Other twists come throughout the show. One piece will featurepre-recorded elements on tape, while another will feature the piano as a soloist against the sound of drones.The audience participation comes during an Earle Brown composition via cell phones.

Regarding the Brown piece, Tendler says, "There are four parts, and Ill be playing one of them. Im going to make it so people in the audience can trigger the other piano parts. They can choose which part they want to play using their phones. Well have several sounds floating around the room depending on where you sit."

Tendler has worked with the Rothko Chapel for nearly two years to plan this event, and the music selected was chosen to reflect the space in which it will be performed.

"The space totally formed the program...It fits emotionally and acoustically," he says. "I wanted to create [a] program that was rather still, almost like a prayer program. Something very meditative that would not be super-extroverted."

The full program includesBrown's"Forgotten Piece" (1954) and "Home Burial" (1949),Nico Muhly's"Drones & Piano" (2010),Marina Poleukhina's "for thing" (2013),Morton Feldman's "Palais De Mari" (1981) andPhilip Glass' "Two Pages" (1968).Though the event starts at 7 p.m., Tendler recommends people arrive early for the pre-show performance of Charlie Sdraulig's "collector" (2014-15).

Tendler describes the music as a mix of experiences. He says it will be subdued yet intense. The quietness of the music coupled with the required attention to the smallest of details will make each individual's experience as different as the black and white keys he'll be playing.

"It requires your attention at all time, but not in a bombastic way. Its a lot like a meditation. One piece is 30 minutes long, and its quiet and slow," said Tendler. "Its like having someone give a powerful speech in their quietest voice. It can be kind of overwhelming."

Previous recordings provide a glimpse into the abstract, artful type of music of which Tendler has come to associate himself. The handsome maestro, wearing a sleeveless shirt that highlights his nicely toned arms and shoulders, shows us his emotional as well as analyticside while also fully committing to the music and the journey it explores. At times the music is nuanced and incongruent; at others it shows beautiful combinations of chords and musical phrases.

Tendler is no stranger to the Rothko Chapel. He played a sold-out show there five years ago, and his connection with Houston goes back even further. While on a 50-state tour, he played at MECA (Multicultural Education and Counseling Through the Arts), where his presence made an impact. Listeners in the audience fromHoustons Foundation for Modern Musicwere so impressed they gave him a position asartistic director.

He also spent almost two years working as an announcer at KUHF now part of Houston Public Media and his taste in music was sometimes a hit, other times a miss.

"It was definitely a cool experience," Tendler says. "I would tend to get complaints from listeners because some of the music I was playing, they would think something was broken."

Although playing in Houston is not a first for him, this will be Tendler's first time to perform a selection of contemporary pieces meant to be a trippy and meditative experience on 4/20.

Is the date a coincidence? It seems the answer falls somewhere between a "yes" and a "no."

"We were looking at April dates, and because of scheduling, 4/20 looked like the one," he says. "We immediately started making jokes about it, but really, its kind of perfect. [The show] is about surrendering and leaving expectations at the door...Its ironic, but it actually kind of works."

And there you have it, pot smokers, music lovers and meditation enthusiasts. Here's your chance to unite during your favorite hobby - whichever it may be - while also supporting the arts.

"If [people] come totally high, theyll have the best time. This program, in a funny way, really fits that situation," he said.

Adam Tendler plays the Rothko Chapel (3900 Yupon)at 7 p.m. with a pre-show performance beforehand. Tickets are a suggested $10 donation and can be purchased at rothkochapel.org.

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Pianist Adam Tendler Mixes Music And Meditation In Rothko Performance - Houston Press

When she was in college, Kristen Radtkes uncle died suddenly, from what she describes as an inscrutable heart defect that threaded though [her] family.

Her relatives moved on, reminiscing about her Uncle Dan at holidays. But Radtke found herself fixating on her own health, on the particularities of the gene mutation that ran in her family, on the heart palpitations she sometimes got, and on death more generally the way its acknowledged, celebrated or ignored in different societies.

The resulting story part travelogue, part memoir is told in Radtkes book Imagine Wanting Only This, out this month. In turns personal and expansive, its a visual and written exploration of loss, and how it resonates through our public and private lives.

The first pieces ofImagine Wanting Only Thisbegan as a handful of disparate prose essays, Radtke told The Huffington Post. It took me a long time to realize that they were a part of the same project, and longer still to realize that the project would be graphic.

But shes long been a fan of the medium; she says her book wouldnt have been written if it werent for Alison Bechdels Fun Homeand cites a slew of other recent favorites in the genre, including Tom Harts Rosalie Lightning, Amy Kurzweils Flying Couch, Ellen Forneys Marbles, and Mira Jacobs forthcomingGood Talk: Conversations Im Still Confused About.

The author also loves superhero comics, which introduced her to certain graphic storytelling conventions.

There is a different set of rules for a graphic memoir or literary graphic novel, Radtke said. Visual literature offers an immediate grounding that can be helpful for a narrative that may jump around in time and space. We can convey certain things to the reader very quickly the age of a character, the way she may change through time, the particular and specific elements of place.

Plotting and structure is the hardest part of any project for me, she continued. In the end it all feels like magic that it comes together at all.

Magic or not, Radtkes book is enchanting. Read a chapter-long excerpt below:

You can buy the book on Amazon or at your local indie bookstore.

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This New Graphic Novel Is A Stunning, Honest Meditation On Loss - Huffington Post

Maribel Trujillo Diaz, the Butler County mother of four who'd been battling an imminent deportation order, has been sent back to her native Mexico.

Attorney Emily Brown with Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (ABLE) says Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials notified her about the move late Wednesday morning.

ICE, in a statement to WVXU, confirms the deportation was carried out.

"We had filed one last request for prosecutorial discretion from ICE," says Brown. "Many community members, faith leaders, (and) elected officials had also contacted ICE asking for them to exercise discretion in this case. And, unfortunately, ICE decided not to do so."

Brown says she and ABLE are outraged by ICE's actions. "If they are willing to separate a mother with no criminal record from her four American-born children, then it appears that ICE will just target anyone and everyone that they can."

ICE spokesman Khaalid Walls says the agency did excercise discretion by allowing Trujillo Diaz "to remain free from custody with periodic reporting, while her immigration case was pending."

He adds that her "immigration case underwent review at multiple levels of our nations legal system and the courts uniformly held that she had no legal basis to remain in the United States. In 2014, the Board of Immigration Appeals dismissed her legal appeals and she became subject to a final order of deportation."

Trujillo Diaz still has a pending asylum request and Brown says she and others will continue working on that motion before the Board of Immigration Appeals.

"We will continue to litigate that motion, and depending on the result, possibly appeal that as well. If she does succeed in getting her case reopened then we would be strongly urging ICE to allow her to come back to the United States at that point. Although, there is no guarantee that they would have to do that."

Brown says it could be up to several months before the board makes a decision.

Through their attorneys, the Trujillo Diaz family is thanking those who have advocated on their behalf. "Maribel and her family and all of us have been incredibly heartened by the outpouring of support by the community, from faith leaders, from people in Southwest Ohio but also around the country who have really stood up and said that this case is an example of the misguided and cruel nature of Trump's immigration policies."

Maribel Trujillo Diaz came to the U.S. without documents in 2002. She'd been meeting regularly with ICE officials since being caught up in a raid on a food plant where she worked. A final deportation order was issued in 2014, but under the previous presidential administration, officials had not moved forward.

Her case garnered widespread attention after she was picked up by ICE officials unexpectedly two weeks ago and scheduled to be deported. Last week, a three-judge panel of the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled her emergency appeal for a stay of deportation was moot, effectively clearing the way for the deportation to move ahead.

While awaiting a decision from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, Trujillo Diaz was moved from Butler County to Morrow County in central Ohio; and then to a federal detention center in Louisiana. She was in Louisiana when sent back to Mexico.

As for her four children, ICE previously told WVXU:

For parents who are ordered removed, it is their decision whether or not to relocate their children with them. If parents choose to have their U.S. citizen child(ren) accompany them, ICE accommodates, to the extent practicable, the parents efforts to make provisions for their child(ren). As practicable, ICE will coordinate to afford detained parents or legal guardians access to counsel, consulates and consular officials, courts, and/or family members in the weeks preceding removal in order to execute documents (e.g., powers of attorney, passport applications), purchase airline tickets, and make other necessary arrangements prior to travel.

Both of Ohio's senators advocated on Trujillo Diaz' behalf.

Following her deportation, Sen. Rob Portman says in a statement, "We explored every avenue and worked to find a solution, including getting the facts fromher attorneys and presenting relevant information toImmigrationand Customs Enforcement and the Bureau of Immigration Appeals. I'm disappointed that the case could not have been resolved in a manner that keeps this family together."

Sen. Sherrod Brown told WVXU last week he personally called ICE asking the agency to reconsider her case. On Wednesday, he decried the situation again saying, "Leaving four innocent children without their mother is not the way to fix our broken immigration system."

See more here:

Maribel Trujillo Diaz Deported - WVXU

MUMBAI: The Aam Aadmi Party has demanded that the Maharashtra government immediately releases funds for the ashram shalas meant for the Scheduled Caste community in Mumbai. An AAP press release said there are 322 such ashramshalas in Mumbai with a staff of around 4,000 and 50,000 students. These are currently being run with aid from local non-governmental organisations. "Till date, they have been subjected to numerous inspections but have not been allotted the funds which they were promised. It is shocking how governments after governments launch schemes to supposedly uplift the poor but after the launch these schemes are abandoned," said the AAP press release. In 2003 Ashramshalas were started across Maharashtra for children belonging to scheduled castes. These were to be funded by the Central Government. In 2010 it was decided that these will be funded by the state government. However, it has been 14 years but these ashramshalas have not received any funds - and the BJP government that is building statues, sanctioning funds for large scale infrastructure projects, building smart cities claims it has no money to support these ashramshalas. "Around 300 members of the 'Kendriya Anusuchit Jaati Nivaasi Ashramshala Shikshak v Shikshakitar Karamchari Sangh' are protesting in Azad Maidan since April 14. The government has turned a deaf ear to their demands. Also three persons are on a fast unto death but they have received no attention or assurance from the anti-Dalit BJP government," said an AAP press release. A delegation on Wednesday met minister for social justice Rajkumar Badole. Though it is well within his purview, Badole has claimed helplessness, added the press release.

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AAP demands immediate release of funds for SC Ashram Shalas in ... - Times of India

Our love for cheese has been a lifelong affair. We dont think were wrong when we say that for many of us, Kraft Macaroni and Cheese was one of our staple foods. We reveled in mac and cheese dinners and in college, a carton of Kraft Easy Mac was stashed under our dorm room bed or at least, we might have known someone like that.When youre cutting back on dairy, the iconic

When youre cutting back on dairy, the iconiccblue box of noodles and powdered neon orange cheese sauce may be out of the picture, but it certainly doesnt mean that mac and cheese is off the table. Companies like Annies, Daiya, and others make the same kind of product, only without the dairy. If youre interested in homemade recipes, there are over one hundred different ways to make a plant-based mac and cheesefrom classic roux-based sauces, sauces made from nuts, or cheese sauces made just from vegetables. But in the busy day-to-day of life, sometimes we just dont have the energy to whip up abatch ofdairy-freehomemade cheesy sauce or even a box of vegan mac and cheese. Thankfully, Uptons Naturals and Field Roast Grain Meat Co. just released ready-made dairy-free mac and cheese!

Hungry? So are we. Keep an eye out for Field Roasts Mac nChao in the frozen aisle of your local grocery store and look for Uptons rendition of the cheesy classic in the same aisle as boxed mac and cheese if you find it, please mail it to us. Its amazing that were living at a time where four new vegan macaroni and cheese products are hitting the market at the same time. With more people than ever cutting back on dairy, its just further proof that the future of food is here and its plant-based.

And if you love mac and cheese or just food in general, check out theFood Monster App(available for bothiPhone and Android). The Food Monster App featuresover 8,000 vegan recipes vegan mac and cheese included and over 10 recipes are added daily! The days of but what about cheese?! are over. Go ahead indulge!

Lead image source: Field Roast

Original post:

4 New Vegan Ready-Made Mac and Cheeses Just Hit the Market! - One Green Planet

The light board has been affixed to the facade of 162 East Broadway for months. Now, its lit up with the greeting, Hola Chinatown! We see you. This is how the plant-based newcomerJaJaJa is announcing itself to the Chinatown neighborhood it invaded.

It opens to the public on Friday.

JaJaJa (Plantas Mexicana) is a vegan Mexican restaurant helmed by Gelso & Grand proprietor Nima Garos and partner Koorosh Bakhtiar. The concept has been in the works for more than a year, and evolved along the way. For one, the establishment previously went by Gracias Mama, and also, the menu wasnt always strictly vegan. Now theyre trying capitalize onthe Dimes and Dirty Candy vibe/crowd.

The new cantina describes itself as a hybrid venture that caters to the unique way New Yorkers eat, meet, and share. Heres more babble fromthe Facebook page.

[JaJaJa] will feature an extensive Tequila and Mezcal program, traditional Mexican beers on tap, Mexican-style lagers and pilsners from local microbreweries, fresh pressed juices, and plant based Mexican fare with options for both comfort and health.

Bakhtiar and Garos caused quite a stir from the outset (when it was still Gracias Mama) having dispensed with two long-running Chinese businesses in its commercial space (newsstand and bakery). Their departure from 162 East Broadway came shortly after Garospartner in Gelso & Grand Hassan Gholizadeh purchased the buildingfor $6.6 million(December 2015).

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Vegan Mexican Joint 'JaJaJa' Opens Friday on East Broadway ... - Bowery Boogie

18 April 2017 17:00 (UTC+04:00)

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By Laman Ismayilova

YARAT Freestyle invites everyone to enjoy the wonderful night of spiritual music on April 28.

The program of the evening is prepared by Mr Hppy.

Mr. Happyhas graduated from violin class at the Baku Music Academy. He composes and performs his own songs. During the concert you will enjoy both violin and vocal performance by Mr. Happy. Not to forget that,

He also practices anti stress and yoga activities, so come along and let your soul enjoy a peaceful and relaxing music!

The event starts at 19:00. Admission is free.

YARAT is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to nurturing an understanding of contemporary art inAzerbaijan and to creating a platform for Azerbaijani art, both nationally and internationally. Based in Baku,YARAT (meaning CREATE in Azerbaijani) was founded by Aida Mahmudova in 2011.

YARAT realizes its missionthrough an on-going program of exhibitions, education events and festivals.YARAT facilitates exchange between local and international artistic networks including foundations, galleriesand museums.

---

Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter:@Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter@AzerNewsAz

Excerpt from:

Enjoy wonderful night of spiritual music! - AzerNews

From left to right, James madison collegefreshmen Allie Pail, Dana McDorman-Kolata, Claudia Allou and Georgia Artzberger study outside on Feb.19, 2017 at Case Hall. They had gone to get gelato together prior to their study session.

The weather is finally warming up in East Lansing, and it'stime to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. The warmer weather opens the door for a slew of activities for students and residents to partake in. Here is a list of 10 fun things to do in East Lansing now that the harsh Michigan winter seems to be over.

Make a trip to an ice cream shop

There is nothing better than icecream after class on a nice day. With locations inAnthony Hall and the Union, theMSU Dairy Store sells icecream, icecream floats, icecream sandwiches and more. There is also Cold Stone Creamery on M.A.C. Avenue andTasty Twist on Grand River Avenue.Students can grab a frozen treat to make theirstroll across campus enjoyable.

"I like to go to the Tasty Twist to get ice cream," media and informationjunior Aarmond Cook said. "Normally, I'll getthe ice cream inside and then go outside and eat that, you know it's the perfect weather for it."

Grab dinner at a local restaurant with outdoor patio seating

The weather is perfect to enjoy food out in the sun. Restaurants like El Azteco and The Peanut Barrel offer open patio seating during the warmer weather, which makes for a fun meal with friends.

Take a walk or abike ride along Red Cedar

TheRed Cedar River is a landmark at MSU, so take a bike ride or just a nice walk and enjoy the sights and sounds of the river. The changing weather also calls for fashion changes, so walks or bike rides arelight andeasy.

"It's getting nicer out, it's nice to switch up the shoes and not wear heavy boots and I can wear sneakers," creative advertising sophomore Nicole Kay said.

Have a picnic with your friends

Grab some blankets, a speaker with music and some friends for a nice, relaxing picnic in the sun. Dorms usually have large lawn areas behind the buildings for students to play sports and relax. Use a little bit of that space to spread out some blankets and enjoy a meal.

Feed the ducks

The Red Cedar River attracts a lot of ducks when the weather is warm. The ducks like to gather near Wells Hall. In moderation, feed the ducks on the grass with friends. The interaction is sure to cause some laughs.

Drink iced coffee outside of Espresso Royale

Its finally that time of year to make the switch from hot coffee to iced coffee. Espresso Royale offers a number of cold beverages and outdoor seating to get people through those warm spring afternoons.

Participate in a 5k

Get in shape for the new season and raise money and awareness for a good cause by participating in a 5k. MSU clubs and organizations hold numerous5k runs throughout the year. The warmer weather should be extra motivation to participate. Grab a friend and challenge yourself with a fun run.

Visit the W.J. Beal Botanical Garden

The W.J. Beal Botanical Garden is a natural getaway right on campus.The nature of the garden offers a spectacular, colorful view. Its the perfect place to relax with benches available for everyone. The fresh spring air is sure to clear anyone's head.

Grill

Make use of the warm air to take the chance to cook outside. If your apartment complex or rental home comes with a grill, fire it up and make dinner for you and your friends.

Lay outside and get a tan

Catch some Vitamin D by laying outside. Take a break from homework, play some music and relax on your lawn.

Read the original:

10 things to do in East Lansing now that warmer weather has arrived - The State News

NSF International

Kashis certified transitional Dark Cocoa Karma Shredded Wheat Biscuits.

You may have started noticing a new certification mark on some of the foods you buy. The certified transitional designation essentially means that the product is on its way to becoming organic. For example, boxes of Kashis Dark Cocoa Karma Shredded Wheat Biscuits bear a green seal with a small t and the words transitional, certified by QAI. Quality Assurance International is one of a group of national certifiers of organic, and now transitional, products.

Think of certified transitional as the on-ramp to organic, says Nate Lewis, farm policy director of the Organic Trade Association. The organization developed the standards for the National Certified Transitional Program, which was approved by the USDA this year. The goal of the designation is to increase certified organic farm acreage in the US, which stands at a meager 1 percent of all farmland. Domestic supply is not keeping up with organic demand, says Lewis.

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The transitional designation tackles one of the primary obstacles growers face when converting their land (or considering conversion) from conventional to organic: cost. It takes three years of rigorous organic farming and compliance for a farm to become eligible for organic certification, during which time it cant charge more for its crops or livestock. This lengthy period of increased operating costs and lower yields (without the use of conventional fertilizers or weed- and pest-control chemicals) is particularly prohibitive for small farms.

What the NCTP program and certified transitional mark do is allow farms in transition and food manufacturers using those crops to realize premium pricing not as much as organic foods would command, but higher than conventional during the second and third years of transition. (Transitional certification can be achieved after one full year of not using prohibited substances.)

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The Globe's top picks for what to see and do each weekend, in Boston and beyond.

Lewis says not to expect a USDA transitional label. Each certifier will have its own seal; QAIs was one of the first to hit packaging on store shelves. The USDA oversees the national program by overseeing the certifiers, explains Lewis.

For a company like Kashi, which is working with two farms transitioning to organic wheat production, increasing its sources of organics is critical. We need organic ingredients to grow the supply chain for our own company, says Nicole Nestojko, senior director of supply chain and sustainability. It will extend to other brands, she says. We see this as a way to support the growth of organic agriculture.

And organic (food and other) products grown without pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics, growth hormones, GMOs, and with minimal impact on the environment are clearly in demand. In 2015, the OTA recorded organic product sales of $43.3 billion, an 11 percent increase over the prior year.

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Its a win-win for all: Growers are encouraged to transition to organic farming because theyll receive some premium pricing during the transition period; food manufacturers can support farms prior to their becoming full-fledged organic; and consumers have greater choice when it comes to produce, meat, and packaged foods made with organic ingredients.

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What does 'certified transitional' mean? - The Boston Globe