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Free Guided Meditation Thursday Night at Woodbridge Library Patch.com WOODBRIDGE, NJ - Longtime meditator Jim Rose returns to the Woodbridge Main Library this Thursday, March 23 for "Meditation: Improving our Practice, Experiencing the Love Within." It starts at 7:00 p.m. and the program is free and all are invited to ...

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Free Guided Meditation Thursday Night at Woodbridge Library - Patch.com

March is National Nutrition Month, which provides a great chance to get back on track and kick those bad eating habits.

Make small changes because unless youre a superhero, you cant make a complete life change overnight, says Heather Hausman, a personal trainer and instructor with H2 fitness.

She says taking a little step, like switching out a soda for a healthier beverage, is a great place to start.

Kombucha is a great drink, Hausman says. Its a fermented tea so it has probiotics in it. It helps with digestion and gives you energy.

Prepping your meals not only saves you time but is a simple way to keep you on track.

Make sure that you have a plan, Hausman says. If you dont have a plan, its very easy to pick up a candy bar or a bag of chips. But if you have something fixed and ready to go, its so easy to stay on track.

She says just making sure you have a healthy snack with you helps. Keep things easy by grabbing a sandwich bag of cut-up fruits or veggies. Another option is a bag of mixed nuts.

You are what you eat, Hausman says. If you throw a bag of chips in your bag, youre going to feel crummy later. But if you eat a banana and some cashews, you going to have energy and feel good.

Yogurt is another great thing to have on hand.

All yogurts have probiotics, but you want to look for one that has low sugar, Hausman says. If you look at the ones with fruit on the bottom, those are loaded with sugar.

She says if you look at the ingredients on the label, the first three ingredients are very telling of whats in that product whether it be yogurt or anything else. If one of the first three ingredients is sugar, its not a great choice. Things like honey or maple syrup for flavor and a little sugar are OK, just be mindful of how much youre eating.

Its important to be mindful of everything that youre putting in your body. Try eating as close to the ground as possible as you can. Sticking with fruits and veggies is the best way to go.

The longer you go without it, the easier it is to say no, Hausman says. If you can hang on for two weeks cutting sugar out of your diet or at least cutting it down over time, you will be able to do without it.

Buy the produce thats already cut up. While it may cost a little more, youre not going to end up throwing it away. Youll actually eat it.

And dont forget about exercise. Take the stairs whenever possible. Anytime you can get your heart rate up a little bit, thats an extra bonus. Park as far away as you can while youre out. Every step counts.

Consider partnering with someone to get things on track.

You want to find someone to help you be accountable, a friend or a personal trainer, Hausman says. Keep a food and or an exercise diary. Whenever you write it down, I ate three peanut butter cups, youre going to second-think before eating like that again.

For those days you cant meet up with friends, send what you did workout wise to them. That way youre helping each other stay motivated.

National Nutrition Month is about eating right and exercise, its about the whole health spectrum, Hausman says.

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It's about balancing eating right with excercise | Life | newspressnow ... - News-Press Now

TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY JEAN LIOU Tubi Moloi (R) sellls organic vegetables at the Arts on Main Market on January 25, 2015 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Arts on Main goods market is part of a new trend focusing on urban rejuvination in inner-city Johannesburg, South Africa. AFP PHOTO/STEFAN HEUNIS (Photo credit should read STEFAN HEUNIS/AFP/Getty Images)STEFAN HEUNIS AFP/Getty Images

The organic industry has an army of powerful, diverse microphones. Food blogs , celebrities, and nutritionists all routinely extol the benefits of eating organic fruits and vegetables.

But a new study published in Science Advances paints a more complicated picture. While organic produce is likely marginally healthier to eat and, in some ways, more sustainable to grow, there are also downsides.

For starters, organic fruits and vegetables typically cost more than their conventional equivalents. To be certified as organic, a distinction set by the United States Department of Agriculture, farmers must meet specific criteria, including growing produce without the use of genetic engineering and chemical inputs. Without these methods, the growing process typically requires more manual labor, time, and money, a cost that is passed down to consumers.

And while its true that in many ways, organic is more sustainable than conventional farmingstudies have shown organic farms support more biodiversity and, because they dont use pesticides, are safer places to work for farm handswhen it comes to environmental concerns such as greenhouse gas emissions and water nitrogen loss, the comparison gets murkier. Organic farms produce less emissions per acreage. However, because they are barred from using genetic engineering, pesticides, and other methods that increase efficiency, organic farms also produce an estimated 19% to 25% less yield than conventional farms. While there isnt a whole lot research on the topic, the few studies that do exist suggest green gas emissions and water loss might actually be higher on organic farms, on a per unit basis, says study author Verena Seurfert. If we examine conventional and organic farms and compare them in terms of units of food produced, than organic doesnt fare so well.

In addition, while organic produce is likely more nutritious than conventional fruit and vegetables, theres not a lot of evidence to support the claim that these often marginal discrepancies impact consumer health, Seurfert says. The same is true for pesticide residue: in developed countries, where pesticide use is tightly regulated, theres no scientific consensus on how these often marginal difference impact human health.

Still, Seurfert stresses that if you can afford to eat organic, you should do so. Organic farms provide safer work environments for workers, plus they support great biodiversity. The real takeaway from her study is not that organic is bad but that the practice needs more study to in order to increase yield without lowering sustainability.

But if you cant afford to buy organic produce, dont stress too much. Particularly from a nutritional perspective, the most important factor is that youre eating enough fruits and vegetablesorganic or not.

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Organic Farms Might Be Slightly Worse for Climate Change - Fortune

Tribal girl found dead in State-run Ashram school The Hindu The body of a nine-year-old tribal girl, a student of a State-run primary Ashram school in Odisha's Kandhamal district, was found hanging in a hostel room, the police said on Friday. The victim was a student of Class III of the school at Belpadar, run ...

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Tribal girl found dead in State-run Ashram school - The Hindu

Is Organic Food Really Better?

A new report published in the journal Science Advances suggests that, while there certainly are some benefits to choosing organic foods, there are also some drawbacks.

Researchers evaluated existing information about organic farming for criteria such as crop yield, impact on climate change, farmer livelihood, and consumer health. They found that the environmental benefits of organic farming are offset by lower crop yields, which are typically 19 to 25 percent lower than those produced through conventional farming methods.

Organic foods are grown without pesticidesand thats a good thingbut organic farms use more landand thats harmful to the planet overall. According to researchers, land conversion for agriculture leads to habitat loss and contributes to climate change.

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Sourced from: FOX News

A new arthritis treatmentsynthetic cartilage implantscould be life-changing for the growing number of people who suffer from joint pain and limited mobility. The implants, which are made from the same material as contact lenses, are already being used in some patients in Europe and the U.S.

Arthritis affects more than 54 million people in the United Statesmostly womenand synthetic cartilage could one day be a permanent solution, reducing the need for pain medication and other therapies that are ineffective for many patients.

So far, the implants have been used in knee and thumb joints in Europe, and big toe joints in the U.S. According to researchers, synthetic cartilage has been shown to reduce pain in 91 percent of patients and significantly improve mobility.

Image Credit: Thinkstock

Sourced from: NBC News

Beneficial bacteria may help reverse a cycle of inflammation found in certain inflammatory bowel diseases, researchers recently reported in the journal Nature Immunology. The most common types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are Crohns and ulcerative colitis.

According to researchers, inflammation in the GI tract develops when an inhibitor called NLRP12 is not present. This inflammation then upsets the balance of bacteria in the digestive system further, leading to an abundance of harmful bacteria and lower levels of beneficial bacteria and creating even more inflammation. Adding beneficial bacteria back to the digestive tract can help end this cycleperhaps leading to a new treatment for IBD.

Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis often have a negative impact on quality of life and can increase colorectal cancer risk. Symptoms include diarrhea, fatigue, and abdominal cramping. Inflammatory bowel diseases are caused by an abnormal immune system reaction to food, bacteria, and other substances found in the intestines.

Image Credit: Thinkstock

Sourced from: ScienceDaily

Daily Dose Index

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Is Organic Food Really Better? - HealthCentral.com

EWG Report: How Congress Can Help Farmers Meet Soaring ... Environmental Working Group Despite the rapid growth of the organic food industry, U.S. production lags significantly behind consumer demand. A new report from EWG shows that with ... and more »

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EWG Report: How Congress Can Help Farmers Meet Soaring ... - Environmental Working Group

Philip Chard, Special to the Journal Sentinel 12:04 p.m. CT March 17, 2017

Philip Chard(Photo: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

So, people are encouraging you to meditate.

After all, the science is clear.Meditators concentrate better, experience enhanced well-being, avoid hurry sickness and emotional hijacking, suffer less anxiety, sleep well and are often physically healthier.

But, what if you just cant do it?In listening to folks describe why theyve given up trying to meditate, I hear similar complaints.

Before I offer you an alternative to meditating altogether, lets examine the impediments that make it challenging.Most involve misunderstandings.

I cant stop thinking, many would-be meditators lament.

However, meditation is not about stopping thought.Its about positively altering your emotional relationship with your thoughts.You become the master of your thinking, not the other way around.Many of us allow our negative thoughts to dictate how we feel and behave, leaving us at the mercy of irrational forces in our psyches.

My mind wanders, is another common complaint.

In fact, after meditating effectively for a few minutes, the mind often enters a dreamlike, intuitive state of consciousness where imagination, insights, dreamlike images and mind wandering may emerge.Many meditators shift back and forth between a more focused state (concentrating on the breath, for example) and a more diffuse one.

Focusing on my breathing doesnt work, is another grouse.

You dont have to.Some meditators keep their eyes open and gaze at a candle, flower, painting or scene in nature.Others concentrate on an entrancing sound, like a brook, wind in the treetops, crickets, white noise, etc.And there are moving meditations, such as yoga, tai chi and just plain walking (if done in a mindful, non-distracted manner).

So, if one of these impediments applies to you, consider giving meditation another go.But if you just cant make it happen, there is an alternate path.

There is evidence that being mindful at intervals throughout your day will yield similar benefits to a daily meditation practice of 15 minutes or more.So, what exactly does it mean to be mindful?

When in this state of consciousness, we fully engage with the present moment in an accepting and non-judgmental way (think flow), awakening the dispassionate observer inside ourselves.Weve all had spontaneous interludes of mindfulness, usually when deeply absorbed in some pursuit.Mental chatter fades, time slows and concentration intensifies.

So, you need not add a new behavior, like meditating.You can simply conduct your daily habits in a mindful fashion.

Start with activities you now do mindlessly, like eating, bathing, brushing your teeth, making the bed, driving, etc.Using your senses, fully immerse yourself in whatever you are doing in the here-and-now so it envelopes your entire awareness.

Once you imbue your daily habits with mindfulness, this state of consciousness will ripple out into other spheres of your world.

Living in the present resolves many issues.

Meditate . . . practice mindfulness . . . either one will get you there.

Philip Chard is a psychotherapist, author and trainer. Email Chard at outofmymind@philipchard.com orvisitphilipchard.com.

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Mindfulness, meditation both improve quality of life - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Women's Health

'I Tried Meditating Every Day for a MonthHere's What Happened' Women's Health I'd periodically considered trying meditationI was aware of its allurebut I wasn't sure how to go about it. The guidance I needed materialized recently in the form of a website by New York's MNDFL meditation studio that features videos of ...

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'I Tried Meditating Every Day for a MonthHere's What Happened' - Women's Health

Although the practice of meditation dates to ancient times, sleek, boutique for-profit mindfulness centers outfitted with Instagram-worthy interiors, complimentary tea stations and soothing Spotify playlists have spread like Starbucks in Los Angeles and New York.

So, when three new meditation centers popped up in Washington, D.C., in a four-month span, I became intrigued: Is the District the next hub of enlightenment?

In a city flush with SoulCycle evangelists, Solidcore soldiers and CrossFit converts, fitness-minded Washingtonians are apparently now turning inward and flexing not just their muscles but their minds.

Its not surprising that the District, filled as it is with overworked, sleep-deprived, stressed-out Type A personalities, is seeking out meditation as a form of self-care.

Researchers have found that mindfulness-based programming not only helps individuals manage stress, depression and anxiety but also enhances productivity, creativity and concentration. Meditation-related physical benefits include lowered blood pressure, improved sleep and chronic pain management.

Last year alone, meditation-related businesses in the United States generated $984million in revenue, according to the research company IBISWorld. Mindfulness apps and websites, such as Headspace, a guided meditation app that has been downloaded more than 13million times, have also seen a boom in recent years. Fortune 500 companies, elementary schools and sports teams are also following the trend, offering free guided sessions in an effort to boost efficiency and quality of output; basketball star Kobe Bryant, hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons and Oprah Winfrey are outspoken practitioners.

Mindfulness has become not only mainstream but trendy. Former Vogue and Glamour editor Suze Yalof Schwartz opened Unplug Meditation in April 2014, hoping it would catch on as the Drybar of meditation. Thousands of people now flock to the centers $20 sessions, and there are sometimes waitlists for evening sessions.

The meditation buzz in Washington began with Just Meditate in Bethesda, which opened in November, and in December was quickly followed by recharj, a meditation and power-nap center within a block of the White House.

[Would you pay for a 20-minute nap? This studio is charging $15 for one.]

Take Five, which opened its doors in Dupont Circle on Feb. 24, prides itself on being the citys first meditation-only studio and offers 30- to 45-minute guided sessions weekdays between 7: 30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m., with some afternoon weekend hours.

I recently took in a 12:30 p.m. $10 introductory meditation class at Take Five (the cost is typically $20 for a 30-minute class and $30 for a 45-minute class). Afternoon contemplation and decompression is atypical of my daily grind, as Im usually tethered to my computer or email at lunch. Needing some midday mindfulness, I was able to pay and reserve my spot or, rather, my bright-blue beanbag cushion in advance and find a class that worked best with my routine.

Twenty-four hours later, I arrived at Recess for Your Mind, a 30-minute guided class designed by instructor Jen Young for busy professionals to catch their breath, replenish their energy and reset their focus.

A first-time meditator, I brought a change of clothes, a water bottle and a hair tie. This, I quickly learned, was overkill, as most of my fellow enlightenment seekers were just fine with work pants, T-shirts and dress shoes. Kicking off my sneakers, I realized I had put far too much energy into locating matching socks and coordinated athleisure wear (whoops).

Sitting parallel to the bright, floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking the bustling Dupont streets, I plopped down on my cushion and set my personal intention.

I fidgeted for a minute before settling on a comfy, cross-legged position. Then, I raced to calm my, well, racing mind.

For the first few minutes, this proved not only daunting, but impossible.

Bogged down by looming deadlines, I felt my forehead start to wrinkle as I attempted to wrangle my thoughts from wandering elsewhere. The clock was ticking and, at about 30 cents a minute, time was literally money. I had only a precious half-hour to unplug and unwind, and I wanted to make the most of it.

Luckily, with the help of Jens soothing voice and the blissful escape from technology, I was eventually able to tune out the noise, unclutter my thoughts and focus on and connect with my mind and body.

When the class was over, I felt like I had received a deep-tissue massage. Built-up toxins and stress had been kneaded out, and I left feeling lighter. After a few sips of complimentary tea (Take Fives custom Teaism blend) in the studios comfy lounge area, I was ready to return to work refreshed, relaxed and re-energized.

Exiting the studio, I glanced down at my smartphone: three missed texts and five unread emails. Before I allowed the stress to return, I glanced back at the studios large windows, remembered Jens advice and closed my eyes.

Taking a deep breath, I tucked my iPhone in my purse, hailed a cab and prepared to tackle the rest of the day.

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Is lunchtime meditation the latest wellness craze? - Washington Post

In the Srimad Bhagavatham, there is a very beautiful verse of instruction for meditation. Yena Kena Prakarena Manah Krishne Niveshayeth|| By whatever means you may adopt, bring the mind to Krishnameaning the centre of your beingconsciousness. You may substitute Krishna in that verse with any other name of the God you like or words like truth, self, reality, centre, universe, nature, force, Tao, Zen, Yoga etc. The important thing is to bring the mind to a state of meditation by whatever means you know.

In these columns, we will be seeing the many different means by which we can meditate. Take a walk into the forest. This is the means we will explore now. With a mind that is always used to so many channels, static and semantic noise all aroundyou would be doing yourself a great favour if you just stepped out one quiet afternoon and took a stroll through the woods in your neighbourhood. Yes! The woods are very much still out there. Bharat is still blessed with its forest cover. You might have to take that extra step of driving to your nearest forest cover or it can be a two-day adventure trip with a drive up the mountain too.

You may also have to take permission from the local Forest Department to walk through certain stretches. Yet it is worth the trouble and the quiet time with nature is a way to go deep into your own self. It is like a visit to your favourite temple. It soothes, relaxes, rejuvenates, refreshes, makes you charged to face life. Most of all it makes you feel so healthy and blessed.

Simply walk. There is no agenda. There is no desire to accomplish. Breathe deeply as you walk. Inhale the freshness of nature. Inhale the warmth of the soil. Take in the sounds of the birds and insects. See the streaming rays of sunlight through the green canopy. Hear the crunch of dried leaves crushing beneath your feet as you keep your footfalls with gentle respect to the silence of the forest. May be taste an edible fruit and feel the smell of the flowers. Experience the cool forest air through the pores of your skin. As you tire yourself with the walk, you may find a quiet stream or spring with clear water and a rock to sit by. Sit with eyes closed. Meditate. You have nothing to do, nowhere to go, but just be. The inspiration may bring a poem out of you. Jot them down in your notebook and keep going on.

Brahmacharini Sharanya Chaitanya (www.sharanyachaitanya.blogspot.in)

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Bring the mind to a state of meditation - The New Indian Express