The Transcendental Meditation Center in Bellevue has seen a 61 percent increase in enrollment in the past year as people seek to quiet their brains in a stressful time.

Theyre for my TM teacher, I told the clerk as I leaned over the Safeway floral counter, watching him trim the ends off a bouquet of alstroemerias.

He looked up at me and grimaced.

Were supposed to bring a bouquet of flowers, a white handkerchief and Oh! Two fruits!

I walked over to the produce department and picked a pear and a grapefruit, then back to the floral counter, where the clerk had tied up the flowers with a ribbon.

Good luck, he said.

I didnt need luck to do Transcendental Meditation (TM) as much as I needed to shake my skepticism and crack open my mind and my wallet.

It costs the average person almost $1,000 to learn TM, which involves setting aside 20 minutes, twice a day, to let your consciousness sink like an anchor and tap into what physician and author Norman E. Rosenthal calls the silent core of our own being.

But they are doing it, and in remarkable numbers: In the past year, enrollment at the Transcendental Meditation Center in Bellevue has gone up 61 percent.

Ive been teaching since 1971, TM instructor Annie Skipper told me during a recent visit, and Ive never seen the stress levels as high as they are now.

Indeed, all around, people are anxious and divided. Driving too fast and drinking too much. Overwhelmed by posts and links and breaking news, all the while juggling their family and financial lives.

TM promises to help people quiet their minds and, as a result, live better lives.

Skipper, 69, was one of the earliest TM teachers in the Pacific Northwest. The practice was brought to the United States by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who gained fame as the guru to The Beatles and The Beach Boys, among others.

Jerry Seinfeld practices TM. So does Ellen DeGeneres. A group of staffers from Buzzfeed signed up to meditate for two months, and shed their cynicism and anxiety (and phone addiction) and felt a new calm.

TM practice has also helped veterans suffering from PTSD, women who have experienced domestic violence and sexual assault, and children in low-income, urban schools.

In 1971, Skipper was living in a University District apartment with her sister, who had taken a six-month TM teacher-training class in California and came back changed.

I thought she was too enthusiastic about TM and that it couldnt be that good, Skipper recalled. But I saw what was happening in her life. How she was changing.

She had a steadiness. She wasnt thrown off by the things happening around us.

Skipper trained in Majorca, Spain, then returned to Seattle to become one of its first teachers, seeing people in Kirkland until moving to the Bellevue center three years ago.

Its located in the rear of a nondescript office park. There is light through the windows, trees all around and Skipper sitting in a chair, smiling like the Mona Lisa.

On my first day, Skipper collected my flowers, fruit and handkerchief while I removed my shoes, then led me into a smaller room where we stood before a table bearing a portrait of Guru Dev (Swm Brahmnanda Saraswat, the spiritual leader of Jyotirmath in the Indian Himalayas) while she performed a ceremony called a puja. She lit a candle while singing softly, and then turned to me and asked me to repeat a nonsensical prase three times. That would be my mantra.

The mantra is individualized for each student, who is required to keep it private to make sure they come from people qualified to teach, Skipper said.

You sit in a quiet, comfortable place, close your eyes and repeat the mantra in your head for 20 minutes, allowing thoughts to pass through, like birds across the sky, and fall into a deep state of rest.

Your mental activity, just like the ocean, has waves at the top, Skipper explained. As an ocean has silence at its depths, so does our mind. TM allows us to connect with that.

Your mind is alert, she said, but in a non-directed way. You have thoughts, but not at any level of meaning.

Any attempt to concentrate is counterproductive, Skipper said. Were nourishing the mind and body so we dont have so much struggle and strain in life.

In the course of four 90-minute lessons, I learned to not meditate after 7:30 p.m. because TM tends to energize you. I learned that you can find a quiet place anywhere even in an airport and to fight off distractions like calls, texts and emails, the incessant bings and beeps that demand immediate attention. If we let them.

In a week, my mind had more clarity. I slept well and deeply. I let other drivers cut in. I spoke less, and let some things go. (These are not small things.)

TM has been the subject of several studies that support its impact on blood pressure, heart health, stress and hypertension.

The most cited is a 1989 Stanford University study that found TM is twice as effective at reducing anxiety when compared with concentration, contemplation and other techniques like deep breathing.

Moreover, the American Medical Association released a study that shows TM reduces high blood pressure and mortality rates by almost 50 percent for those who have practiced for more than five years.

The cost of TM can be prohibitive. It costs almost $1,000, split into four monthly payments of $240. There are discounts for the second person of a couple and for full-time college and high-school students. Each TM center offers partial grants or partial scholarships for those facing financial hardship. There are retreats that cost more money, but once you pay for the initial teachings, youre in for life and can go back in to tune up your practice.

There are plenty of free meditation apps, but TM is one of the few that involves specific, one-on-one teaching.

Director David Lynch started a foundation that provides TM to at-risk youth, veterans, homeless people and Native Americans communities that have experienced trauma.

Some have suggested TM be added to the militarys basic training program because it improves resiliency. Skipper wishes more companies covered TM in their wellness programs, and provided meditation rooms.

We have an effect, not only on ourselves, but on our environment, she said. TM people can influence people around them. They tend to be that calm, go-to person in a crisis.

A more settled mind, she said, is a clear mind.

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What it's like to try Transcendental Meditation - The Seattle Times

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, police said today.

The victim was a student of class three of the school at Belpadar, run by Tribal and Rural Development department of the state.

The girl died under mysterious circumstances as she allegedly hanged herself by using a bedsheet, said Ganeswar Bharimala, the District Welfare Officer (DWO), Kandhamal.

The victim was identified as Tulasha Kanhar, a tribal girl, who had appeared for her drawing examination earlier in the morning.

The girl was taken to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) at Phulbani where doctors decalred her brought dead.

Sarojini Swain her class teacher said, "There was no apparent reason on her part to take such an extreme step. We are surprised."

The girl's father, this afternoon, lodged an FIR with the Phulbani Sadar police station alleging murder of his daughter and demanded an impartial investigation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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Tribal girl found dead in state-run primary Ashram school - Business Standard

40 minutes ago.

For many Indians even today, the Northeastern states of the country and its people are in the limelight most of the time for the wrong reasons. Be it news of violence, floods, insurgency and road blocks, the collective imagery of this part of our country in the national consciousness is still a region that is not just geographically remote but mentally alien.

The story of Natwarbhai Thakkar of Nagaland is refreshingly different. Thakkar came to Nagaland in 1955 to promote national and emotional integration through voluntary service on Gandhian principles and to conduct activities for all-round development of the people of Nagaland and Northeast India.

A Gujarati by birth, he chose to move from his hometown of Dahanu Road in Maharashtra in western India to Nagaland, inspired by the ideals of Mahatma Gandhis thoughts imbibed during the freedom movement and further mentored by late Kaka Kalelkar, freedom fighter and social reformer.

Since then, his efforts, along with those of his wife Lentina, an Ao Naga, and many volunteers and staff of Nagaland Gandhi Ashram are directed at peace-building efforts at the frontier in spite of all the odds.

When he arrived in 1955, the road from Amguri in Assam foothills into the mountains of Nagaland was just about 80 km but it too many hours to reach the Chuchuyimlang village due to the difficult terrain. Chuchuyimlang then had houses with thatched roofs. Over the years, these made way to houses with tinned sheets and later into concrete structures. Communication facilities were a distant dream as not even a post office existed then nor a telephone link with the outside world. Electricity was a luxury.

In his first week in the village, he saved a child who needed medical attention and care. Slowly and steadily, responding to the needs of the community, a number of development initiatives were pioneered by the Gandhi Ashram established by him. These included weaving, vocational education, primary education, a library, youth activities, livelihood training and so on. Some activities flourished while others did not. The government, taking a cue from the Ashram, started a number of initiatives serving the very purpose of pilot efforts undertaken by the Ashram.

However, the journey was treacherous and Natwarbhai faced many challenges. Those who did not believe in national integration did not see Ashram activities sympathetically. In early years of his coming to Nagaland, his house was attacked at night by forces hostile to his efforts in peace building. He and his family had a narrow escape. The government often found his work irksome as he took a principled stand against any injustice and unfair practices causing harm to the Naga community.

But Natwarbhai persisted and remained steadfast like a true karmayogi. As his work expanded and found acceptance amongst the community, Natwarbhai became a part of the local community. Visitors and dignitaries blessed his work and stood behind his efforts in solidarity. Awards, recognitions, and fame came his way, but it did not affect him personally. He remains to be the same humble person with a mischievous sparkle in his eyes.

After 1990, when the computer education movement began to roll out all over the country, not to be left behind, Nagaland Gandhi Ashram was the probably the first NGO to establish a center in Chuchuyimlang village with the help of Ministry of Communications of the Government of India.

The Ashram recently tied up with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences and is offering a postgraduate program in Human Development. The government has allocated land in the village and hopefully, a fully residential campus will come up in the coming years. As he says, That will be a farewell gift to me.

Natwarbhai is a living memoir and encyclopedia of the Northeast and especially Nagaland, the 16th state that was born in December 1963. I first met him in his Ashram in August 1987 when I was working as a volunteer with Jnana Prabodhini, a Pune-based NGO working in the field of education and national integration. I then lost contact with him and then got an opportunity to meet him almost after thirty years in November 2016.

When I had first met him, he had spoken of cultivating a sense of healthy curiosity. Those words stayed with me even now. Natwarbhai had continued on this journey of nurturing a healthy curiosity amidst changes that sometimes overpower the village life in remote regions. Natwarbhai at his young age of 85 is an active facebook user. Thanks to the facebook, I could reconnect with him.

During my visit, we talked about many things but I wanted to hear from him on what has changed and not changed in Nagaland in these 50 years. His observations are poignant.

At that time, there was not a single educated person in Chuchuyimlang village, he said. Now we can count a few IAS officers, teachers, government servants, and lawyers. There was neither a post office nor a telephone facility. Now the Nagaland Gandhi Ashram runs a computer center with over 60 computers offering several short and long duration courses for Naga youths.

Natwarbhai said he had observed several positive changes. We have now three local newspapers published from the state. There is a lot of debate on issues affecting the Naga society. I see a small beginning of the emergence of civil society. In our neighbourhood, someone recently started an orphanage. There is an active debate on issues impacting Naga society.

However, he is quick to point out that what is sorely missing is the moral foundation of the society. There has been a great erosion all around in our society. That to him is a worrisome trend.

On his long innings to build bridges between the Naga society and rest of the country, Natwarbhai is more circumspect in his reply. For me, it has been a long and sometimes tiring effort as also frustrating experience to build bridges among Nagas and citizens in other parts of the country, he said. I think that this connect is still very weak. It will take a long time to build strong linkages. But I am ever optimistic.

He added, There was an incident in the Raj Bhavan in Kohima where some miscreant removed the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. While this incident happened, around the same time, in my village Chuchuyimlang, the village council decided to felicitate me and honoured me with an award for lifetime achievement for community service. I am the only non-Naga to have received this honor.

What is that energy that continues to motivate him against all odds? He is modest in sharing, When I left for Nagaland, my mentor Kaka Kalelkar had advised me that you might believe or you may not believe. But try to continue to offer prayer at least every day as you get immersed in work. Thankfully, I have not missed my prayers all these years with only a few exceptions. The prayer is the Universal prayer that is sung in every Gandhi Ashram. OM tat sat sri narayan to purushottam guru tu.

As I returned to my workplace after a weeklong travel to the northeastern state, I continued to hum the universal prayer of peace that Natwarbhai and his fellow workers in the Ashram sang year after year, every single day, for spreading peace and promoting wellbeing, literally at the frontier. The Gandhi Ashram in Chuchuyimlang is the peace post at the frontier manned by a Gandhian volunteer almost single-handedly for the last 50 plus years.

Ajit Kanitkar is a Consultant for Tata Education and Development Trust and a Member of the research team at Centre for Development and Research in Pune. Prior to this, he was Programme Officer at Ford Foundation, India office, and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, both in New Delhi. He taught at Institute of Rural Management, Anand, during 1992-1995.

This article first appeared on Village Square.

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A Gujarati man has spend 50 years advocating peace and Gandhian principles in Nagaland - Scroll.in

From June 22nd 24th,Shadefestwillreturn for itsfor its third annual incarnationat River Springs Farmin Avenue, MD. The 2017 lineup features an eclectic mix of Shadefest Family vets and other successful touring acts likePeoples Blues of Richmond,Teddy Midnight,Kendall Street Company,Bencoolen,Surprise Attack,LITZ,Broccoli Samurai,Tropidelic,Formula 5,Of Tomorrow,Jouwala Collective,South Hill Banks, andBig Mama Shakes, as well as a special tribute toWeen byElectric Love Machine!

While the great music, camping and general good times abound at the homegrown festival, what sets the boutiqueevent apart is its beautifullocale, cast in the early summer sun along the banks of Southern Marylands Potomac River. With beautiful beaches for lounging in the sun andpicturesque riverside surroundings,Shadefest offers the perfect opportunity to relax and enjoy great music and positive vibes away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

In addition to the main stage, this years Shadefest will offer late-night bluegrasssets, daily extras for VIP ticketholders, a Zen Den to relax in during the day, an open jam tent, and much more. Every minute of the intimate three-day event promises to offer something exciting to do for any festival-goer, and at just $60 per three-day pass, Shadefest is a financial no-brainer for even the most cash-strapped fans. Whether getting down under the massive stage-side shade tents, bobbing along in an inner tube, or grooving to late-night jams, Shadefest offers a fun-filled weekend adventure for music lovers in Maryland and beyond.

For full lineup, ticketing, FAQs, and any other information you need to know about Shadefest, visit the events website.

[cover photo by Nicole Wade Photography]

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Shadefest Set To Bring Great Music And Relaxing Vibes Back To Riverside Maryland Locale - Live for Live Music

One of the orange cats let loose in a small room at the animal shelter had figured out there was catnip on some of the yoga mats the humans had laid out that morning.

While it hunted for a treat, about 20 yogis began stretching their arms out for a pose. A few hands caught the attention of the catnip-seeking cat as it roamed.

"When you reach your hands out there, maybe a cat will walk underneath," instructor Karen Bonds said.

Yoga and cats came together for the first time at the Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center in early March, an experiment the shelter plans to continue in the future in the hopes that kitties seeking new homes will meet their soon-to-be owners.

Yoga With Cats (and sometimes puppies) will take place on a monthly basis. Led by Karen Bonds of Longview Yoga Studio, the classes offer beginners' yoga to interested participants.

"The idea is that just basically it's a beginner yoga class, and the shelter cats are just interacting with people," shelter Volunteer Coordinator Jackie Reynolds said. "So it's a great way for them to be socialized, for them to be able to spend some time out of their kennels and interacting with people, which potentially gives them a great opportunity to get adopted."

Bonds first contacted the shelter with the idea, Reynolds said.

"This is something that's trending in a lot of major cities right now, integrating shelter animals with potential adopters," Reynolds said. "So she posed the idea to us. We have a great space; we thought let's try it and see how it goes."

The shelter has two more yoga with animal classes coming up. Cat-Urday Yoga will take place at 9:30 a.m. May 6, and Downward Dog Yoga will take place at 9:30 a.m. April 29. Those interested can register for each class at longviewyogastudio.com.

Other events at the shelter coming up include a Hogs & Dogs Poker Ride on March 25, in partnership with Roughneck Harley-Davidson, the Blessing of the Animals on April 21 and a Strut Your Mutt 1-mile wag walk on May 20.

The Poker Run, in addition to discounted adoption fees, will have prizes, music, free food and motorcycle rides from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the shelter.

Pastors from St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Alpine Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church will provide blessings to family pets to those interested at 4:30 p.m. April 21 at the shelter.

Early bird registration for the Strutt Your Mutt walk, which will raise funds for the animal shelter, is $25 through April 20.

Information on each event is available at longviewpaws.org.

The first round of cats selected for cat yoga were shy at first, huddling in one corner while Bonds led her class in some basic poses. They also were escape-minded, with Reynolds and other shelter staff having to guard the door as yoga participants came in and out of the room before the class got started.

"We're going to ask that you leave your shoes out here just to kind of divert some smells" from the cats, Reynolds told participants. "Come in and out slowly so we don't lose kitties along the way."

Bonds told participants that all of the cats in class that day had come from the same home. She jokingly dared students to tell her they weren't cat people.

"I assume you're here because you like cats and you want to promote this whole cat adoption thing," she said. "So the way this works, Yoga With Cats, is that we really want to while we're practicing, just let the cats be cats. As we begin to ignore them and go about our business of practicing yoga, then the cats will begin to warm up to us because we're going to be giving off this lovely cat vibe that says come around and walk around."

Bonds had shelter staff sprinkle catnip on the mats to help loosen up the cats. And while yoga poses wouldn't mean participants would be picking up and snuggling with cats, Bonds said students could pet or love on cats as they walked by.

"We're mutually going to feed off each other's energy," she said.

Before the class, Reynolds was unsure how the class would go, but she was also excited.

"I don't know," she said. "Karen's very experienced, so I think she can lead the charge and it won't be a problem."

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Relaxing with cats, yoga at the animal shelter - Longview News-Journal

Xbox One gamers were recently introduced to Altered Matter's upcoming exploration platformer at GDC 2017. Called Etherborn, the title delivers relaxing music and eye-catching visuals, which Altered Matter have shown off in their latest trailer. The game gives off the vibe of Thatgamecompany's PlayStation titles flOw, Flower and Journey. The story goes that "A voiceless being has just been born in a world where a bodiless voice awaits her arrival. Wandering through the trunks of the Tree of Life, she will have to understand the meaning of what she sees in order to grow and reach her voice."

The "voiceless being" experiences gravity completely different than we do on Earth. For her, gravity works perpendicular to the surface on which she's standing, "allowing endless exploration possibilities."

Players will progress through Etherborn with "a series of navigation-based puzzles; youll have to explore your surroundings in order to figure out each ones underlying logic, find the correct route to advance and unlock it."

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Exploration Platformer Etherborn's Latest Trailer Released - TrueAchievements

Sleep hygiene has been dubbed by Gwyneth Paltrow as the biggest health trend of 2017 and it really is the latest lifestyle movement on everyones lips but what actually is clean sleeping and how will it help us get a better nights kip? Silentnights sleep expert Dr Nerina Ramlakhan tells us.

With research led by Silentnight and The University of Leeds finding that 25% of Brits only sleep for five hours or less per night two hour less than the national recommended average its clear that many of us might benefit from cleaning up our act as everything we do during the day affects the cleanness and purity of our sleep.

According to Dr Nerina,its not the hours of shut eye we have that counts but the quality of our sleep that matters: The key issue is that the sleep is pure and hits those rejuvenating depths that enable complete restoration of the body and mind. After getting clean sleep for 7 -10 days you can expect to feel different your sleep will be deeper, you will feel more more energised and, importantly, happier and more positive when you wake in the morning.

When it comes to cleaning up your sleep act, Dr Nerina says you need to have somenon-negotiable factors that you must do every day to achieve clean sleep.

So many of us end up having a deskfast because its convenient and easy to grab something after weve got off the train or driven into work. However if you put your body through the stress of a commute on an empty stomach, you could seriously impact the sleep you have that night. This is because the body ends up running on adrenaline energy on your way to work which is one of the main factors causing shallow, muddy sleep. To achieve clean sleep, eat breakfast every day and within 30 minutes of rising.

If youre already drinking the recommended two litres of water a day and you want to take it to the next level, try adding a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of sea salt to alkalise the water. The body functions optimally at an alkaline PH of 7.35, so hydrating with alkaline water helps our body to work properly; transmitting messages and enabling our physiological processes including to get good restorative sleep.

We all know that cutting down on caffeine will help with sleep issues but very few of us think about the half life of the coffee or tea were drinking. The half life of caffeine is five hours which means if you have a drink at 5pm you will still have half that amount in your blood supply by 10pm. You probably wont feel energised by 10pm but the caffeine is still in your system and its enough to stop you getting deep, clean sleep.

When we get an alert on our phone the brain mentally responds, so even if the message is nothing significant we end up continuing to look at our phones, mindlessly following links on the internet and waking our brain up even more. It might be a tough habit to break but if youre serious about getting clean sleep you need to to stop looking at your phone an hour before you go to sleep. That may even mean banning your phone completely from the bedroom and investing in a good old fashioned alarm clock.

The hours before midnight are a really important part of clean sleeping; they are the hours that are deeply restorative, that heal the body and provide sought after anti-ageing benefits. Even if you get a good amount of sleep, going to bed late is likely to leave a large amount of your sleep being highly inefficient. Try to get to bed around 10.30pm four nights a week to allow your body to access that vital 90 minute phase of sleep before midnight.

Leading sleep expert, Dr Helen Nightingale tells us that we need to set up situations that increase the chances of having a better nights sleep. Her checklist?

Your bedroom should be dark and without noise and the temperature shouldnt be too warm or too cold.

Have a wind-down period between eating and watching TV. Allow yourself an hour before bedtime with no phone, no TV and no tablets.

Nuffield Healthrecommend this acrostic poem (of sort) to help you attain good sleep hygiene. It goes like this and yes, it spells out asleep.

A Alcohol and nicotine Both will interfere with sleep so limit these before bed.

S Sleep environment Make sure the bedroom is dark enough, comfy enough (pillows, mattress), quiet enough with good air quality and appropriate temperature for sleep.

L Leave it out Leave laptops, smart phones, TVs, paperwork out of the bedroom.

E Exercise regularly Around an hours exercise a day will help, but leave a buffer period of at least 2 hours before bed

E Eat a balanced diet Wakefulness can be caused by hunger, but going to bed too full canalsocause wakefulness. As such, make sure you consume a balanced diet throughout the day and aim to have a buffer period of at least 2 hours before going to bed after eating a large meal. If youre up late and havent eaten for four to five hours a small snack before bed might prevent wakefulness due to hunger.

P Plan for sleep Have a pre-bedtime wind down. Think of it as your very own bath, story, bed. Children sleep well when they have a specific routine associated with bed time and so do we. As such, try to develop a wind-down routine at least 60 minutes before you go to bed. This period should involve ceasing doing stimulating activities (e.g. paperwork) and instead engaging in more relaxing activities e.g. having a bath and listening to relaxing music etc.

Zzzz, heres to no more insomniaguys! And, if youmustcheck your phone at night, at least downloada sleep appto help you get yoursleep patternback in sync and avoid any nastysleep disorders.

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Sleep hygiene. What is it and how can we all achieve it? - Marie Claire.co.uk

More Meditation Classes Offered

Cant make it to Susi Walters meditation classes in Clinton Township? Similar sessions are set for 7 p.m. May 5, 10 and 17 at LAnse Creuse Middle School North. Call 586-783-6330 to register.

You also can meditate with Walter Saturday mornings at the Shelby Township Senior Center from 9 to 10 a.m. March 11, 18, and 25. She will offer a special workshop on forgiveness April 22 and 29 and May 6 and 13. Call 586-731-0300 to register.

Have you ever tried to meditate? Its no surprise meditation is good for you, and undoubtedly most people have tried to quiet their minds at least once. But to most untrained meditators, thinking about nothing usually leads to thoughts about everything: Am I doing this right? Is this a waste of time? What else could I be doing?

You can learn how to silent those pesky thoughts and how to properly meditate by attending Susi Walters Tuesday evening meditation sessions at the Clinton Township Senior Center. The classes are set from 7 to 8 p.m., with sessions taking place in March, April, May and June. They are open to the public, and all ages are welcome. The cost is $40 per session.

Anyone might consider attending who is interested in learning how to meditate, improving quality of life, and holding peace within, Walter said. Meditation may help in every aspect of life. It is possible to heal the body, mind and spirit through consistent practice.

Walter, who is certified in mindful meditation through the University of Holistic Theory, begins class by discussing meditation techniques. Shell play relaxing music in the background, and the lights are slightly dimmed. She guides the class by reading meditation scripts. She also explains some fundamentals, like chakras (an energy center in the body), and auras (an electromagnetic field that extends about four or five feet around the body).

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Typically, classes focus on relaxing the body, clearing the mind, releasing physical and emotional pain, and seeing and feeling auric energy. However, Walter does offer specialty sessions emphasizing forgiveness, releasing stress and anxiety, living with illness, grief, goal setting, breaking habits, sparking creativity and more. Shes open to suggestions from participants, she said.

Students have the option to sit or rest lying down on the floor with mats and pillows. Its important to be comfortable while meditating, so participants are welcome to sit in a cushioned chair if theyre uneasy about getting down on the floor.

Meditation is now being used in clinical interventions to help improve health and well-being. Higher levels of mindfulness is related to decreased stress, which leads to better health, and evidence suggests meditation can even improve cognitive abilities such as sustained attention and working memory.

I am thrilled that many scientific and modern medicinal groups have begun to validate meditation as a true healing modality. I have had people come to my classes as a last resort for help, said Walter, who has been teaching meditation for 10 years. It has aided so many of them who were in desperate need of healing. Many hospitals are implementing integrative medicine departments and prescribing holistic remedies, such as meditation and energy healing in order to complement contemporary medicine.

The Clinton Township Senior Center is located at 40730 Romeo Plank Road. To register for the meditation class, call 586-286-9333.

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Learn how to calm the mind, heal the body through meditation - The Oakland Press

Magnetic Magazine (blog)

Travel In Style With Moshi This Spring: Sleek Bags + Headphones, A Relaxing Playlist and Free Tickets To See Hernan ... Magnetic Magazine (blog) Spring is in the air and hopefully you will be too on your way to some exotic destination or even to Miami Music Week. Magnetic has teamed up with SF based Moshi (makers of fine bags, headphones and iPhone accessories) to give you this stellar mix of ...

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Travel In Style With Moshi This Spring: Sleek Bags + Headphones, A Relaxing Playlist and Free Tickets To See Hernan ... - Magnetic Magazine (blog)

Dive Brief:

Natural Grocers is not the first retailer to try and create a niche in the grocery space by selling only organic produce. This new campaign could help the retailer broaden its shopper base by giving consumers a visual representation of what they are paying for.

Consumer demand for organically produced goods is increasing consistently, with double-digit growth over the last year, according to the Organic Trade Association.

Numerous studies in recent years have shown an increase in consumer interestin both natural and organically produced food because of concerns regarding health, the environment and animal welfare.

Still, many consumers still have no idea what "organic" actually means, and believe that organic products are simply healthier for them than traditional options. By making the differences between organic and non-organic foods abundantly clear to their shoppers, Natural Grocers hopes to convert consumers who may be hesitant to shell out extra money for more premium offerings. This also bolsters the grocer's image in the process, and could encourage brand loyalty and drive more traffic to its stores. Additionally, it provides a public service by doing much-needed education.

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Natural Grocers rolls out new pro-organic campaign - Food Dive