Music to soothe the savage beast – Independent Online
Posted: April 11, 2017 at 12:45 pm
Taiwanese researchers found that when pregnant women listened to relaxing music for 30 minutes each day, their scores on standard measures of stress, anxiety and depression were reduced.
The findings suggest that music could offer a simple, do-it-yourself way to manage prenatal stress, the researchers report in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
"Pregnancy is a unique and stressful period for many expectant mothers and they suffer anxiety and depression because of the long time period involved," Dr. Chung-Hey Chen, study co-author, said in a statement.
"Any intervention that reduces these problems is to be welcomed," added Chen, who is now at the National Cheng Kung University in Tainan. The study took place at Kaohsiung Medical University.
Chen's team randomly assigned 236 pregnant women to either a music group or a group that stayed with standard prenatal care alone. Women in the music group were asked to listen to any of four CDs for 30 minutes per day over two weeks; the music included classical, lullabies, nature sounds and children's music.
At the beginning and end of the study, all women completed standard questionnaires on stress, anxiety and depression symptoms.
After two weeks, the researchers found that the women in the music group showed a general improvement on all three fronts, while stress, anxiety and depression scores remained virtually unchanged in the comparison group.
Music may provide "sensory input" that affects the nervous and hormonal systems, which in turn could calm the physiological response to daily stress, according to Chen's team.
Whatever the mechanisms at work, the researchers say, music may offer a simple, inexpensive way for women to deal with the stress of pregnancy.
"The value of music therapy is slowly being realised by nurses in a number of clinical settings," Chen said, "and we hope that our findings will encourage healthcare professionals to consider it when treating pregnant women."
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Chipotle turns to humor for ads – Nation’s Restaurant News
Posted: at 12:45 pm
Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. is turning to humor in its bid to win back customers lost over the past 18 months.
The Denver-based burrito chain on Monday revealed its first national television campaign in years, As Real As It Gets, with videos featuring comedians getting real in a lounge inside a giant burrito.
The ads feature Sam Richardson, Jillian Bell and John Mulaney sharing their fears, desires and secrets inside the burrito. The campaign, developed by Venables Bell & Partners, also features radio, outdoor, digital video and banners, along with social advertising.
In a world full of fakery and half-truths, its invigorating to hear a brand tell it like it is, Mark Crumpacker, chief marketing and development officer for Chipotle, said in a statement. The campaign challenges the conventions of fast food advertising by being completely real not only about our food, but about the world we live in and does so with an optimism and playful humor thats very much in line with our brand.
The national campaign is Chipotles first national television ad since it bought a two-minute spot during the Grammys in 2012 for its Back to the Start ad. Last year, the company tested television ads in some markets, but this represents a broader use of video, the company said.
Chipotles decision to go national with a television campaign follows a difficult 2016 for the chain. Same-store sales declined more than 20 percent, and revenues fell 13.3 percent, as Chipotle recovered slowly from the fallout of a series of foodborne illness outbreaks in 2015.
The company has focused on the quality of its ingredients as part of its comeback effort. Chipotle recently announced that it rolled out new tortillas used for burritos, tacos and chips that eliminated the use of preservatives. The company says it now uses only 51 real ingredients that are readily available at a farmers market or grocery store.
The lounge inside the Chipotle features a pianist playing relaxing music, along with a roaring fireplace and comfortable seating.
In one ad, actor Jeffrey Tambor, who is not seen, tells actress Jillian Bell that, Youre inside a Chipotle burrito, where everything is real. Bell responds by telling him about how she hates the ocean because sharks ate her entire family when she was a child, and the ocean keeps sharks alive.
In another, a nervous Sam Richardson tells Tambor that hes a terrible driver, an avid scrapbooker, doesnt trust the space program and that his socks get tight when hes nervous.
We set out to avoid all the conventions of fast food advertising, Will McGinness, partner and executive creative director at Venables Bell & Partners. Using humor and a commitment to telling it like it is, we cut through the clutter of confusing claims, limited time offers or farmers holding produce, and created a campaign that is very true to who they are.
Contact Jonathan Maze at [emailprotected]
Follow him on Twitter:@jonathanmaze
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A Relaxing Escape in the Florida Keys, Island Included – Mansion Global
Posted: at 12:45 pm
Location: Melody Key, FloridaPrice: $6.9 million
With pristine views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Florida Keys, this peaceful and relaxing home offers just what youd want in a magnificent, tranquil escape: Its perfectly located for everything from kayaking to paddle boarding to fishing, this luxury property sits on its own 5.24-acre private island.
Whats more, the home and islands energy needs are exclusively met by solar power, with a backup generator to boot. But just because its off the grid doesnt mean you have to make compromises. This system is sophisticated, said Bob Cardenas, of Engel & Vlkers Florida Keys. This retreat offers everything youd expect in a beautiful, high-end resort home.
The island is accessible by ferry, and with its own dock, boat lift, and space for parking, the property strikes a perfect balance between peaceful isolation and accessibility.
From the foyer on the ground level, an elevator serves this raised three-story house, leading to the bedrooms on the second floor and large open spaces for living and entertaining on the third. As stunning as the views are from the third floor and the houses many decks, a spiral staircase leads to an incomparable, 360-degree view of the island, the surrounding area, and the ocean from the observation deck above.
More:Buy Your Own Private Island in Vermont for the Price of a One Bedroom in NYC
The Stats
This 3,127-square-foot home, located on Melody Key, was completed in 1992 and has three bedrooms and three bathrooms, and one half-bath.
Design Pedigree
The property was originally built by Nick Hexum, of the band 311, as a getaway to write music, Mr. Cardenas said. The current owner has recently made many improvements. Extensively landscaped with lush vegetation and coconut trees, the home is very private, and was designed that way.
More:Click to Tour a Private Connecticut Island That Hosted Marilyn Monroe
Amenities
Exceptional outdoor spaces complete this off-the-grid getaway. An in-ground freshwater pool, hot tub, and outdoor kitchen and showerall run and maintained by solar powerlend themselves perfectly to getting away from it all and entertaining guests alike. Above, a storage area houses the sophisticated power system for the home, as well as another lounging area that also provides a space to sit back and take in the fantastic views.
Listing Agent: Bob Cardenas, Engel & Vlkers Florida Keys
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Papa John’s testing organic toppings in Lexington – The Courier-Journal
Posted: at 12:45 pm
Papa John's has launched an organic produce pilot program in Lexington.(Photo: Courtesy of Papa John's)
A bin of fresh, organic produce from Green BEAN Delivery.(Photo: Courtesy of Green BEAN Delivery)
A Green BEAN Delivery associate makes a delivery of fresh, organic produce.(Photo: Courtesy of Green BEAN Delivery)
Better ingredients means organic ingredients in a new test taking place at Papa John's shops in Lexington.
For the past month, the Louisville-based chain has offered organic vegetable toppings at about 35 locations in the nearby city as part of a pilot program that's eventually intended to be rolled out nationwide.
The company's customers have been increasingly eating organic products for some time, and an annual growth in organic produce production over the past two decades shows the taste for healthier options isn't going away, chief ingredient officer Sean Muldoon said.
So last year, during an annual strategic planning process, Muldoon's department decided to see how some customers would respond to getting organic ingredients atop their pizzas.
"With the rest of our better ingredients position, we wanted to be the first in the pizza industry looking at this," Muldoon said Tuesday. "It's more than a trend, it's something that will continue to grow. We wanted to put a foot in the water by testing in Lexington."
To launch the program, Papa John's has partnered with Green BEAN Delivery to source Roma tomatoes, green peppers, yellow onions and mushrooms from certified organic farms in seven states, including Kentucky and Indiana.
Green BEAN Delivery is a family owned company that operates organic farms in Indiana and Ohio and that offers home delivery of fresh, organic produce in cities around the Midwest, including Louisville and Lexington.
Muldoon said Green BEAN CEO Matt Ewer and other employees have been working with Papa John's to make connections with certified organic farmers and will continue to do so as the program expands.
"I've been impressed with Matt and his vision around certified organic produce and his network of farmers," Muldoon said. "This is a complicated and challenging thing. ... If you think about produce growing cycles, we needed a partner who knew farmers in places like California, Florida, Arizona and Washington. We needed someone who could help us manage that cycle throughout the year."
Ewer and Muldoon said about 13 percent of produce currently grown is certified as organic, meaning no unnatural pesticides, fertilizers or other items have touched it.
By 2020, that number is expected to reach 20 percent, they said, proving the demand for organic produce isn't a trend.
"As the industry's grown, it's exciting to see a company such as Papa John's getting involved with supporting organic food, especially organic produce," Ewer said, adding that the business can have a lasting effecton the industry's supply chain. "... Even when you're eating a convenient product like Papa John's, it's exciting to see positive things come out of that."
So far, Muldoon said customers in Lexington have responded well to the use of organic ingredients, which have not changed the overall flavor of their pizzas and have not added extra cost.
There's no doubt the organic items cost more than traditional produce, Muldoon said, but Papa John's has decided to absorb the cost as part of its mission to provide better ingredients at an affordable price.
The next step for the company now is to continue monitoring the feedback and to plan additional programs in other cities, possibly including Louisville, Muldoon said.
"This is a very long-term initiative for us," Muldoon said. "It is going to take some time to read the tests, get the consumer feedback and, on the supply chain, work with Green BEAN Delivery to work with farmers directly," to purchase enough produce needed to serve organic items through the year.
The company, of course, thinks the investment is worth it. But, "it's one of the more complicated solutions that I've had to deal with," Muldoon said.
Reach reporter Bailey Loosemore at 502-582-4646 or bloosemore@courier-journal.com.
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Papa John's testing organic toppings in Lexington - The Courier-Journal
One Final Push For Organic April 19th is Your Deadline to Act … – Huffington Post
Posted: at 12:44 pm
My humble beginnings in the organic industry began in 1976 in a small co-op in Iowa. The people were eclectic, and I was drawn to the culture as much as I was the idea of providing healthy organic foods to my community. We were a nascent movement, getting back to the land and nature. Growing, selling and eating organic foodswe were a palpable crusade of Birkenstock bedecked folks who wanted to leave the world a better place through food and agriculture.
I was involved in a bit of midwifery helping to birth the organic movement. Fast forward almost 40 years later, has the organic industry truly grown up?
The state of the organic adolescent
Every year the Organic Trade Association studies and surveys the Organic Industry. According to their latest, sales of organic food and non-food products in the United States broke another record in 2016, totaling a whopping $43.3 billion, up double digits from the previous year.
In 2016 the USDA announced a significant increase in the number of certified organic operations, continuing the trend of double-digit growth in the organic sector. According to new data, there are now 21,781 certified organic operations in the United States and 31,160 around the world.
Organic continues its growth spurts despite the struggles we have with tight supplies in some sectors.
We have a long way to grow to adulthood
Back in 1997 when I was just starting my own business, organic food sales were just $3.4 billion and under 1% of total food sales. The hard work paid off and now organic is at 5% of total food sales. Today as I sit at my desk and I cogitate on the possibilitiesI wonder if we have really gone beyond juvenile delinquency. Should we be satisfied to be just 5% of food?
The spawn is growing, but it still represents only 2% of total agriculture in the US. Has my lifes work been spent for 2% of the total body of agriculture? What kind of incubator is this?
Think about the potential organic agriculture has. Shouldnt we be striving for more than 2% in this world of ecological woes? An increase in organic acreage has the potential to build and preserve our topsoil, clean up our nitrogen and pesticide laden waters. Studies show organic agriculture sequesters carbon, protects wildlife and pollinators, and definitely reduces our exposure to toxic chemicals.
A final push for organic maturity
We clearly need to induce a final thrust to help bring the organic industry into adulthood. We need more organic farmers, plain and simple. We must recruit young people and train existing farmers with more technical assistance to help them transition land into organic.
Its critical that we have the funds for more science and research to help organic farmers produce more efficiently with higher yields. Organic seed breeding and research are essential to helping producers succeed in the midst of a changing climate.
This can all be accomplished and much more if the organic community pools their funds and approves the GRO Check-Off Program. If everyone pays a little, we can have enough funds to match USDA research dollars at land grant universities. Transitioning farmers will have the technical assistance and training to bring more acreage under organic production. The public can be educated on the true meaning of organic.
If you care about the future of organic the time to act is now; the USDA is waiting to hear from you. They published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on the GRO Organic CheckOff Program that could provide funds for a stronger more resilient organic industry. The USDA needs to hear from everyonefarmer, consumer, manufacturer, and handler, thats YOU before April 19th.
If you believe organic food and agriculture needs another push to gain adulthood, please weigh in today.
The future is ours to create.
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One Final Push For Organic April 19th is Your Deadline to Act ... - Huffington Post
Whole Foods Pressured by Activist Investor Jana Partners – New York Times
Posted: at 12:44 pm
New York Times | Whole Foods Pressured by Activist Investor Jana Partners New York Times Whole Foods, the purveyor of organic food products, once shook up the grocery store aisle. Now it is facing pressure for its own shake-up. Jana Partners, the activist hedge fund founded by Barry Rosenstein, disclosed Monday that it was the second ... Activist Investor May Pressure Whole Foods to Sell Itself New investor suggests board consider selling Whole Foods Whole Foods stock jumps after investor suggests sale |
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Whole Foods Pressured by Activist Investor Jana Partners - New York Times
Meditation Course Offered At IBUMC – Eagle & Times
Posted: at 12:43 pm
Explore meditation. Beginning on Thursday, March 30 at 7 p.m., Pastor John Griffin-Atil will offer a free weekly meditation course at the Imperial Beach United Methodist Church at 455 Palm Avenue. The course is open to everyone and will include reflection on Richard Rohrs book entitled The Naked Now: Seeing as the Mystics See and thirty minutes of silent contemplative prayer. Those participating are encouraged to purchase the book.
Meditation is a mindfulness practice that has been around for thousands of years. Forms of meditation exist in nearly every religious tradition, including Christianity. It is known by various names, such as prayer or contemplation. Meditation techniques are simple and can be learned in a few minutes or hours, but they take a lifetime of practice to master.
First and foremost, meditation is a practice of self-emptying. At its most basic, meditation is letting go - of our habitual thoughts, preferences, judgments, and feelings. It teaches one to live in an undefended way. Little by little one lets go of the need to prove one right or superior. It can be discovered that one is not so different from others. The individual taps into the immense, God-given source of compassion and kindness. Meditation retrains the mind and heart to know true humility and love.
This meditation experience is led by Griffin-Atil who is the pastor of the Imperial Beach United Methodist Church, an ordained clergy for 27 years who spent four years exploring the practices of Zen Buddhists and Quaker spiritualities of silence.
For more information, contact the church office at 619-424-5181 or ibumc@att.net. While reservations are not required, it would be helpful to notify the church that you plan to attend.
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5 best places to practise meditation in London – Evening Standard
Posted: at 12:43 pm
One in four people experiences mental health problems every year in the UK with depression and anxiety being the most common, according tomind.org.uk.
This year the World Health Organisation's global campaign in focused on tackling depression, encouraging people to talk about it and seek help.
As well as seeking medical help, there are some more holistic approaches you can take. Meditation and mindfulness arebelieved to relax and calm the brain and tackle the sources of stress and other sources of mental health problems.
According to mentalhealth.org.uk, those whove undertaken mindfulness have shown increased activity in the area of the brain associated with positive emotions.
Here are the best places in London where you can try to find your zen.
This is your 45-minute getaway from the buzz of the city. You'll leave this guided energy boosting meditation class feeling refreshed and brighter, ready to take on the afternoon back in the office.
Class:11, 17 The Mall, Ealing Broadway,W5 2PJ, tribecastudios.co.uk/studio
No need to worry if you have never done meditation before because this course will teach you the technique. Explore how to relax, practise positive thinking and find your inner peace. It will also guide you to harnessing your thoughts and emotions and recharging your energy tanks.
Class: free, Inner Space, 36 Shorts Gardens,WC2H 9AB, innerspace.org.uk
Through the two main practices at the centre, Mindfulness of Breathing and Metta Bhavana, a meditation to develop loving and kindness, youll learn to focus on developing calmness and positive emotion.Classes are held Monday through Wednesday and Saturday.
Classes: free, 51 Roman Road,E2 0HU,lbc.org.uk/events/meditation/meditation-classes
During this 30-minute meditation class youll learn how to be present in the moment and just to switch off for a small portion of your day. The instructor shows you breathing techniques, guiding you to connect body and mind in deep relaxation.
Membership: 140 per month, Hereford House, 64 North Row,W1K 7DA, virginactive.co.uk
Gong bath is an ancient sound-healing practice to ease your modern problems. The 90-minute workshop takes you through different meditating techniques first then once you lie down, the unique sounds of the musical instrument will do the rest. The tones of the gong can lead to altered state of consciousness and guide you into deep relaxation.
Class: 20, 14 Collent Street, The Basement, The Ceramic Works, London E9 6SG, therefinerye9.com
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5 best places to practise meditation in London - Evening Standard
Meditation Reduces Cortisol Blunting in Colorectal Cancer – Cancer … – Cancer Therapy Advisor
Posted: at 12:43 pm
Meditation Reduces Cortisol Blunting in Colorectal Cancer - Cancer ... Cancer Therapy Advisor Mindfulness meditation practice conducted by patients with CRC at the beginning of chemotherapy infusion decreased cortisol blunting. |
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Beginning Meditation Teacher Training begins mid June at Vail Vitality Center – Vail Daily News
Posted: at 12:43 pm
We find ourselves in a unique time in history, where time-saving technology is encroaching on our ability to relate to each other and ourselves. We spend more time engaging in stimulation and entertainment and less time integrating emotional experience.
The result?
Chronic, low-level stress and a nagging sense of disconnection.
Enter meditation.
Meditation is a tool for us to down-regulate our nervous systems. This, in turn, allows us to turn toward what we value. By engaging in meditation and sharing the practice with others, we have an opportunity to provide tools for health and happiness to a wide range of individuals, including ourselves.
Teacher training
Learn more about meditation and how to share this powerful tool with others at the upcoming Beginning Meditation Teacher Training, held at the Vail Vitality Center starting in June. The training, which is open to yoga teachers and meditation practitioners, will take place over the course of four weekends; it will be held one weekend a month, June through September.
This course will explain meditation along traditional lines, offering teachings that are accessible to all. By taking a close look at the various types of meditation, we will gain insight into the benefits of different techniques, and when they might be appropriate for an individual. Learn about common difficulties encountered during practice, as well as traditional methods to overcome these difficulties. With this knowledge, you will not only improve your own practice, but also learn how to guide others effectively.
The training is a great opportunity for yoga instructors who want to feel confident leading a meditation at the end of a yoga class, or for regular meditation practitioners to get a better understanding of their own practice and possibly begin to guide others.
We will explore mindfulness meditation and heart practices, and begin an inquiry into the practice of concentration and opening to insight. While the practices will be based on Buddhist meditation traditions primarily those of Theravadin Buddhism it will also include context for practices in other traditions. Rather than a religious-based training, the training will have a secular approach, for broad application in modern culture.
It is a common belief that meditation is simply forcing the mind to be quiet; with this attitude the practice appears difficult, and many people are afraid to begin, or quit after trying a couple of times. Learn how to overcome this resistance and employ a powerful tool that will reduce stress, increase self-awareness and happiness, and improve your emotional and physical health.
For more information, visit http://www.vailvitalitycenter.com.
Karen Anderson is the yoga director at the Vail Vitality Center. She has attended 10 month-long silent meditation retreats in Asia and the U.S. Her training in meditation is primarily in the Indo-Tibetan tradition. She is empowered and certified to teach meditation by Noah Levine in the lineage of Jack Kornfield and the Thai forest tradition.
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Beginning Meditation Teacher Training begins mid June at Vail Vitality Center - Vail Daily News