Forbes

10-Minute Mindfulness Meditation To Reduce Stress Forbes It's easy to feel stressed. Demands on our time, a long to-do list and people asking for phone calls and meetings. There is a way out. If you meditate for even ten minutes, you'll feel better. That's because the body's stress response is prone to snap ...

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10-Minute Mindfulness Meditation To Reduce Stress - Forbes

(Photo: Jacob Lundy, WJON Intern)

ST. CLOUD Lack of sleep, endless hours of study, and plenty of pizza and pop barely get students through a stressful finals week.

As the term ends, students look for different ways to stay calm. Meditation gives students a way to heal the mind by finding inner focus and peace so they can finish the semester strong.

Coordinator of Heal the Mind and Succeed with Meditation program, Nalindrani Malimage says meditation gives students more focus and discipline.

Controlling ones thoughts is really vital for success in any field. So when it comes to studys students need to practice mindful meditation which gives them more discipline and focus, says Malimage.

Malimage believes in lending a hand to students so they can succeed in class.

I went to this one student who was in tears, held her hand and asked if she was alright. I told her about the meditation session and after the class she hugged me. So I really felt how much this can help people, says Malimage.

Meditation sessions are held monthly in Atwood Memorial Center at St. Cloud State University. The next session is Friday from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

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Students Learn to Relax Before Finals Week Through Meditation - WJON News

Despite our many blessings, were living in a tumultuous time. From political distress on Capitol Hill to the escalating opioid epidemic and arguments over health care, its easy to feel overwhelmed, even helpless. We cant necessarily put an end to all of the crazy, but we can begin by taking control of our mental and physical health. Cannabis legalization has helped to reignite that spark, inspiring us to take our well-being into our own hands with aid from the medicinal qualities of the plant. Two women on the forefront of this ideological revolution are Emma Chasen and Alyssa Wildrick of Prismatic Paradigm, an initiative that runs classes and workshops that pull from a variety of different healing modalities such as medicine making using local medicinal herbs, sound healing, community engagement, and guided meditation.

With a degree in Medicinal Plant Research, Emma Chasen quit the Brown University Oncology Research Group after her supervisor favored a pharmaceutical drug over cannabis in a clinical trial. She headed to Portland, Oregon, and began working with Farma, one of the top dispensaries in the world, where she trains staff on cannabis science and empathetic patient care. Prismatic Paradigm co-founder Alyssa Wildrick is a certified White Light Usui Reiki Master and Teacher, plus a studying Clinical Herbalist with a background in yoga, fitness education, and sports nutrition.

Together, Chasen and Wildrick are engaging their community in order to dismantle our capitalistic, patriarchal society through herbal education, empowerment, community and healing workshops. MERRY JANE caught up with Prismatic Paradigm to discuss how activating our spiritual and energetic selves by using cannabis and meditation can empower and enrich our lives.

MERRY JANE: Why do cannabis and meditation work so well together? Prismatic Paradigm: Cannabis is an incredibly grounding plant with the ability to elevate consciousness. The duality of total body relaxation plus mental elevation is a perfect combination for meditation. Most people struggle to quiet the mind and lift out of the body during meditation. The right cannabis cultivar, when dosed appropriately, allows people to slow down, quiet the racing mind, and calm the body. This is the most desirable state for a transformative, meditative experience.

How does adding cannabis enhance the meditative process? Cannabis can enhance the meditative process in many different ways due to its unique interactions with each persons endocannabinoid system. For some people, cannabis simply allows the muscles to relax and the body to melt into the floor. For others, cannabis completely quiets the busy mind. On other occasions, people have told us that cannabis enhances their ability to gain perspective on a situation and connect the dots in their life experiences. Cannabis can and does allow people to go deeper, to gain insight, to relax all powerful and desired outcomes in a meditative experience.

What method of consumption do you suggest when pairing cannabis with meditation? We suggest either vaping or smoking with herb blends. Usually, when people are called to meditate, they dont want to eat an edible and wait two hours for it to take effect. Vaping allows the cannabis novice to microdose and to more precisely find their desired state of consciousness. For the experienced user, smoking [flower] is ideal. Its the delivery method with the fastest onset and therefore allows one to get in the zone rather quickly. Combining cannabis with medicinal herbs helps to protect the lungs and balance the overall experience.

What types of herbs can you combine with cannabis to elevate your experience? There are many medicinal herbs that you can combine with cannabis to elevate your experience. If you like a richer smoke, mullein is a great full-bodied herb with the added benefit of being a lung protector. We strongly suggest experimenting with Passionflower as a smoking herb, which is known for its ability to quell symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, restlessness, headaches, muscle aches, and more. Peppermint is another great herb to combine with cannabis for its decongestant properties and fresh flavor. Prismatic Paradigm currently has two herbal smoking blends available an uplifting blend and a relaxing blend. A blend specifically designed to smoke with cannabis is in the works. Its so delicious, and we are really excited about it!

What are the benefits of guided meditation? We love guided meditation because it is so helpful in quieting the mind. In this day and age, we are so accustomed to constant stimulation from our surroundings, creating a somewhat shorter attention span than those of our ancestors. Giving someone a narrative to focus on usually allows them to achieve a more powerful meditative experience. When there is no narrative, a large portion of the meditation is usually spent trying to eliminate the brain chattering, which clouds what is supposed to be relaxing with a pervasive feeling of frustration. Guided meditation with plant energizes your mind, body, and soul.

Do you have any tips for how a novice like me can practice meditation at home? If you are like us and you prefer guided meditation, find a CD or recording online of a meditation that resonates with you. Prismatic Paradigm will soon have recordings of our guided meditations available, as well. Consume whatever cannabis and medicinal herbs youre feeling, get comfy, and start your recording. If you dont need a guided meditation, begin with your breath and deepen your practice with conscious breathing. We also find that binary sounds, Tuvan throat singing, instrumental music, and crystal bowl recordings help to keep the mind focused and relaxed during meditation.

How this will enrich your life and even help chill out the world's crazy collective vibe? The collective consciousness is freaking out right now, and rightfully so. The planet and its people are at the hands of a megalomaniac American ruler. There is so much information and misinformation out there that it is easy to feel unfocused and disempowered.

When is your next healing workshop? We are hosting many events this spring! Follow our Instagram and Facebook pages for information about upcoming workshops. Plant Spirit Medicine Guided Meditation with Sound Healing is an hour and a half guided meditation focused on a certain plant ally. Recently, we plugged into Rosemary and Kava. We interact with the dried plant material, drop a dose of tincture, and talk about its properties before we go into a guided meditation. We also play a crystal singing bowl during the meditation for the added benefit of vibrational sound healing. We hope to do these every other week with a different plant. In addition to our ongoing Plant Spirit Meditations, we have a Holistic Strategies for Combating Fear and Anxiety workshop on April 11 and a Beltane Workshop on April 30.

Visit Prismatic Paradigms website here for more about the organizations mindful offerings.

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Exploring the Synergy Between Cannabis and Meditation - MERRY JANE

Grange Hall in Northville is set to add another incarnation to the long list of lives it has led since it was built in 1831. The Long Island Buddhist Meditation Center is in contract to purchase the hall after searching for a new space to accommodate its growing membership.

The Buddhist meditation center, a nonprofit currently based in Port Jefferson, plans to use the second floor of the 186-year-old hall on Sound Avenue for meditation practices. The first floor will remain open to the community for different groups and activities, said Don Jayamaha of Mattituck, who donated the centers current space in 2008.

We want to keep it open for anybody to use it, Mr. Jayamaha said Monday, comparing it to how the Jamesport Meeting House is used.

In 2014, former pastor Dianne Rodriguez of First Parish Church, which owned the hall, said the church hoped a nonprofit that nurtured itself and its own passion, whatever that passion may be would fill the space.

Grange Hall was the original sanctuary for First Parish Church and became a school, the Northville Academy, in 1860, local historian Richard Wines told the News-Review in 2014. The space later became a community center for local farmers who belonged to the National Grange, a nonprofit that advocates for rural America and agriculture, he said.

Mr. Wines will advise the group, including Mr. Jayamaha and the centers resident monk, Bhante Nanda, as they look to restore the building and keep its history intact.

I want to make sure its preserved like it was back in 1831, Mr. Jayamaha said.

He mentioned that vision for the hall includes a white picket fence and American flag out front, as it was once captured in a photograph in its earlier days.

The group raised $53,000 in donations toward the purchase and will continue to raise funds to make improvements to the building, according to center. It has also created a GoFundMe page for the move.

The center is open to all and the meditation programs are free, though donations are encouraged, Mr. Jayamaha said.

We want it to be affordable to everybody thats the key, he said, adding that there are 25 to 30 people from around Long Island who frequent the center. Whats special about the center, he said, is that it not tied to a religion and people from different faiths participate in the mediation programs.

It is strictly meditation, he said.

Anthony Manetta of Ridge, who has been attending the meditation programs regularly for about a year, said more people might attend if theres more space, as its become difficult to get a seat at the Port Jefferson location, potentially turning people away.

I cant wait for it to happen, Mr. Manetta said, noting that the move will be a big undertaking.

The center will continue fundraising for building materials and hopes to get the surrounding community interested, he said.

Videos on the centers Facebook page give a glimpse into weekly chanting and evening meditation programs. In one, a chorus of chants is led by resident monk Bhante Nanda. He then guides a group through meditation, with thoughts to be mindful of: May I be well, happy and peaceful and May I be free from anger.

Breathe in, breathe out, he says in long phrases. Then, its quiet as the camera turns to face the centers Buddha and the group meditates.

Mr. Jayamaha said meditation helps him keep his mind strong like a mountain and calm like the bottom of the ocean in any given situation, something friends at his accounting job in Hauppauge often marvel at and jokingly ask if hes taking some sort of medication.

Its not medication, he tells them, Its meditation.

The goal is to have the meditation center begin using Grange Hall on June 1, Mr. Jayamaha said.

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Buddhist meditation center planned for Grange Hall in Northville ... - Riverhead News Review

After a long and varied history of uses, the historic Grange Hall on Sound Avenue in Northville is now slated to become a Buddhist meditation center and community hub. The 186-year-old Grange Hall is in contract to be sold to the Long Island Buddhist Meditation Center, presently located in Port Jefferson.

Were excited, Anthony Manetta, a member of the Long Island Buddhist Meditation Center said in a phone interview Monday. The second floor of the two-story building will be devoted to the practice of Buddhism and meditation; the first floor will be used to serve the community, hosting things like AA meetings, he said.

The meditation center expects to finalize the sale some time in late April and open on June 1, Long Island Buddhist Meditation Center member Don Jayamaha said.

Grange Hallwas originally located in Aquebogue and used as a Strict Congregationalist Meeting House. It was moved to its present location in 1834 and served as a church until 1860, when it was converted for use as a school by the Northville Academy, a private co-educational secondary school that enrolled more than 160 students.

Over the years Grange Hall has been used as a gathering place for local farmers, a center for dances and social gatherings and a homeless shelter. It is owned by the First Parish Church UCC, which also owns the church across Sound Avenue from Grange Hall.

Faced with a declining congregation and exigent financial circumstances, First Parish was in danger of closing its doors for good in 2013 and decided to rent the church building, located on the corner of Sound Avenue and Church Lane, to the Community Baptist Church and conduct its own worship services in Grange Hall instead, its pastor Dianne Rodriguez told RiverheadLOCAL at the time. But the church could not hang on, Rodriguez said in a Feb. 23 interview. Rodriguez relocated to the Portland, Oregon in March 2015, she said.

Up until 1972, the church was known as the Sound Avenue Congregational Church. At that time the Jamesport and Sound Avenue Congregational churches decided to merge and First Parish Church was born. Services were held in the Sound Avenue church and the Jamesport Congregational Church, on Main Road in Jamesport, was rented to House of Praise and then the North Fork Unitarian Universalist Church. In 2008, First Parish sold the Jamesport church, which dates back to 1731, to the Jamesport Meeting House Preservation Trust. The Community Baptist Church continues to rent the former First Parish church building.

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Buddhist meditation center in contract to purchase historic Grange Hall - RiverheadLOCAL

TEMPE, AZ - There is a new push to put a different kind of weapon at a Valley police department. But, this one is all about defending them, not from a criminal, but from the very stresses of the job itself.

That is why the Tempe Police Department is advocating for their officers to meditate. However, it is not as "hippy-dippy" as it may seem.

"There's this idea that Tempe police officers are sitting around in a circle on yoga mats...with incense and chimes," said Chief Sylvia Moir. "And that's not what we are experiencing at all."

Instead, the officers in the department get an app on their phone and training from a specialist on the basics. After that, it is up to the individual officer if and how they use it.

"Between calls for service, we're saying'reset,'" Chief Moir said. "And enter the new call with a new fresh perspective."

That way it is less likely for officers to be triggered or "take the bait," as Chief Moirdescribed it.

And at a time when tensions are high between police officers and their communities it is more of a conversation now.

"For decades, we've been incorporating breathing into training," Chief Moir explained. "We used to just call it combat breathing and it was during crisis events, so we are expanding it."

The plan is to introduce it more into the academy and the rest of the force; starting officers off early with the tools they need to stay calm.

But, above all, Chief Moir said they want their officers to be healthy people.

"So, when they arrive home, hey're the mom, they're the dad, they're the wife or husband or brother or sister," Chief Moir said. "They are the human that is a police officer."

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Tempe police chief says meditation should be used by officers to ... - ABC15 Arizona

SHAREPIN ITShare this on Email The songstress has revealed why fancy gym equipment isn't necessary to get in shape

Adele once famously said: I'm not going to lose weight because someone tells me to. I make music to be a musician, not to be on the cover of Playboy.

However, the Hello hitmaker has been sporting a considerably healthier look since she first hit the global music scene in 2008.

While its safe to assume the 15-time Grammy Award winner has naturally slimmed down from running around after her sweet four-year-old son Angelo, its the drastic lifestyle changes shes made over the years that have her glowing from the inside out.

In a candid interview with The Daily Mail, the 28-year-olds personal trainer, former triathlete Pete Geracimo, let slip the workout secrets that shaped the super-singer, and, fortunately for our bank accounts, expensive and fancy equipment is not required.

The most reliable type of exercise, for me, would be bodyweight training. You do not need to go to the gym to do it, no equipment required and your body weight provides more than enough resistance to get in a great workout. It leaves no room for any excuses not to train," he says.

A challenging circuit of body squats, lunges, push-ups, pull-ups, dips, chin-ups and plank work will stress every body part and give you a great overall workout.

Her killer mindset

It may sound easy enough, but even Adele is honest about her hatred of the gym.

I was trying to get some stamina, so I lost a bit of weight - not to be like a Size-0 or anything like that," she told Rolling Stone magazine.

I mainly moan. I'm not skipping to the f---ing gym. I don't enjoy it. I do like doing weights. I don't like looking in the mirror, she says.

Her diet

Under the guidance of her trainer, who has also sculpted the bodies of Kim Cattrall and David Hasselhoff, Adele has taken up the Stirtfood diet, which encourages a full body reprogram by the consumption of plant foods, like kale and buckwheat.

Known as sirtuin activators, these foods not only suppress appetite, but also activate the bodys "skinny gene" or "housekeeping genes" which help control the way the body handles and stores fats and sugars, whilst simultaneously regulating those pesky cravings.

The Sirtfood Diet is all about losing weight and feeling fantastic through eating great-tasting food. It's based on extensive research into the power of key plant foods, which when added to our diet turn on fat burning and improve wellbeing, a source close to Adele explained to Mail Online.

The meal plan allows Adele to munch away on a fairly regular diet (one that includes red wine and cheese) making sure to incorporate green tea, cocao powder and turmeric all of which are high in sirtuin activators.

Kicking her vices

While she has no regrets in giving up smoking, the beloved Brit has had to make one of the ultimate sacrifices on the pursuit to optimum health.

I used to drink 10 cups a day with two sugars in each so I was on 20 sugars a day, she once told The Sun before adding, Now I don't drink it and I have more energy than ever.

This story originally appeared on Women's Weekly

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Adele reveals her excercise regime - Woman's Day New Zealand

A FITNESS instructor with 19 years of experience has made the leap from aerobics to attire with a new store in Nailsworth.

Mum-of-two Sam Cairns, from Dursley, will shop-share with The Dressing Room to house her sports-wear and sports-bra company Bosom Buddies.

All of her products are British made, of the highest quality and durable even after many washes.

She said: I spotted the sports-wear at an aerobics convention a couple of years after leaving my sales admin job at Lister Petter in 1996 to become an aerobics instructor whilst pregnant with my daughter Meredith.

The quality of the items were far superior to the high street brands my friends and I were all wearing at that time.

As a mum with a part time job this worked for me, I got the best of both worlds. My class members and friends loved the kit and I gained a lot of repeat orders just on the quality alone.

I reached a point where my kids were more independent, I had a product that was good and had been tried and tested for many years by me and my class participants so then came the decision in 2015 to launch the clothing under my own brand and spend more time pushing it.

The main focus of the company is to have a product designed to take all the strains of frequent exercise combined with comfort, quality, style and value for money.

She has two children, Meredith, 20 and 16-year-old Theo.

All the stages involved with making a Bosom Buddies products from dying to manufacturing are completed in Britain and designed by Sam, something she is very proud of.

Sam said: A lot of the time in this industry it seems to be all about the name and appearance rather than the quality and capability of the clothing.

There is definitely a place for Bosom Buddies in and around Nailsworth.

There is little choice for womens sports and leisurewear without traveling further afield or buying online.

I love our product and at the moment I just want it to do well in our local area.

All of her products allow for people of all shapes and sizes which can be made to measure together with a choice of waistbands, leg lengths and colour combinations.

Her shop opens at 14 Millyard in George Street, Nailsworth this Saturday at 11am, all are invited to enjoy prosecco, nibbles, and browse the products.

For more information visit http://www.bosombuddiessportsbras.co.uk or http://www.facebook.com/bosombuddiessportsbras

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Fitness instructor leaps from aerobics to attire with new store in Nailsworth - Stroud News and Journal

Dr. Lyon has spent 31 years in public education, the last four at the helm of Frisco Independent School District, which saw unprecedented growth and achievement during that time. Beginning his career as a high school science teacher, Dr. Lyon carried his passion for health and wellness as he rose through the ranks as one of the nation's top administrators. "Education is a calling, and when you have the opportunity to join a storied organization whose mission allows you to continue to answer that call, it's one you just have to take," said Dr. Jeremy Lyon. "I look forward to this next chapter as the first president of Cooper Youth at The Cooper Institute, and advancing the vision of Dr. Kenneth Cooper, the "father of aerobics", by working to build a healthier, stronger generation in not only Texas, but across the United States."

Founded in 1970 as a non-profit research organization, one of The Institute's primary objectives was to focus on youth health and improving the effectiveness of physical education programs in schools. Today, The Institute's principal youth program, FitnessGram, is implemented in over 20,000 schools affecting 10 million students annually. In practice for 35 years, FitnessGram serves as a foundation for many interventional programs like the Healthy Zone School Recognition Program and the NFL Play 60 FitnessGram Project.

"The future is incredibly bright for The Cooper Institute and I could not be more pleased to welcome Dr. Jeremy Lyon, Troy Aikman, and my son, Dr. Tyler Cooper," said founder Dr. Kenneth Cooper. "Dr. Lyon brings an incredible depth of knowledge to advance our youth education initiatives to new heights. Having both Troy and Tyler join the Board of Trustees will continue to provide unparalleled leadership, guidance and support of The Institute's mission to promote lifelong health and wellness through research and education."

About The Cooper InstituteThe Cooper Institute (CI), established in 1970, is a 501.c.3. non-profit dedicated to promoting life-long health and wellness through research and education. Founded by Dr. Kenneth Cooper, The Institute translates the latest scientific findings into proactive solutions that improve population health. Key areas of focus are research, youth education, and advocacy. The Cooper Institute is home to the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study, the world's largest and longest running observational study on measured fitness, and FitnessGram, the most widely used youth physical fitness assessment, education and reporting tool in the world. For more information on The Cooper Institute, visit http://www.CooperInstitute.org.

Press Contact: Claire Kinzy 972.716.7002 (direct) or 214.907.0618 (cell) ckinzy@cooperinst.org

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dallas-cowboys-legend-troy-aikman-cooper-aerobics-president-and-ceo-dr-tyler-cooper-and-retiring-frisco-independent-school-district-superintendent-dr-jeremy-lyon-to-join-the-cooper-institute-300426946.html

SOURCE The Cooper Institute

http://www.cooperinstitute.org

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Dallas Cowboys Legend, Troy Aikman, Cooper Aerobics President ... - PR Newswire (press release)

Krystyna Serhijchuk, Columnist March 22, 2017 Filed under Columns, Opinions

Most students usually get ready to study with a stack of books and a laptop equipped with playlists curated by Spotify. Many of these are generic, comprised of classical music and somber acoustic songs. More often than not, these playlists lull me to sleep before they motivate me to study. One of Spotifys most popular study playlists actually features songs under the artist title Sleeping Music.

Studying while listening to music has health benefits. Relaxing music helps decrease anxiety and stress, improving your mood by motivating you to work. This improvement in mood has also been shown to improve memory, as a positive mood is linked to indirectly boosting memory formation.

This month, Ive been experimenting with music that wont make me crawl into bed, but instead keeps me focused and alert while remaining relaxed. Here are some of my favorite discoveries, in no particular order:

Dial M for Monkey & Animal Magic

Bonobo is a British producer and D.J. Both of these electronic albums are downtempo and chill, but succeed in remaining dynamic and interesting. This creates a perfect relaxing yet engaging sound that works well for a studious environment and state-of-mind. His song Flutter off Dial M for Monkey is one of my absolute favorite songs to study to.

Endroducing

I first came across this album due to a curiousness about the top U.S. albums that were released during my birth year. Turns out, Endroducing.. was ranked one of the best albums of 1996, and with good reason. This album is composed almost entirely of sampled content that DJ Shadow obtained from vinyl records during record shop visits, hence the record shop album cover. Pitchfork calls this album spiritual, and one that is equally enjoyed by turntable nerds, the trip-hoppers, the frat boys, the hippies or the ravers. In other words, this album will likely appeal to anyone. The ethereal instrumental hip-hop beats are great in terms of keeping yourself motivated and alert while studying.

Since I Left You

This album is also filled with tons of samples that are used uniquely, creating an album that sounds like nothing else. This electronic album includes vocal samples that have a sonic function, and will not likely distract you while studying. The structure of the songs feels mixed and chopped, while still creating a repetition in samples and vocals. I find this to be one of the most energizing and motivating albums to listen to while doing work or studying.

January Sun Kedr Livanskiy is a Russian singer and producer who initially interested me because of her Slavic origins. However, you dont need to understand Russian to enjoy her dreamy and synthy experimental house music. Not understanding the lyrics is a plus for studying. Listening to music with lyrics (that you understand) while reading or writing tends to distract you, making you less efficient in absorbing information. A great way to combat this is by listening to music in a language youre less or not at all familiar with. Ive found Kedrs music to be both calming and interesting due to its experimental nature, which is a great mix for studying.

Mystere & Psycho Tropical Berlin La Femme is a French psych-punk band with a hypnotic and synthetic sound. Like with Kedr Livanskiy, La Femmes French lyrics work well for studying if you have limited or no understanding of the language. The French lyrics have a great sound regardless of your understanding, and creates a calming effect. The tone of the songs varies from more uplifting and motivating to somber and calming. Theres great variety within these albums, allowing you to pick and choose which work best for you while studying.

Krystyna is a junior in English. [emailprotected]

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Study to music that isn't Mozart - Daily Illini