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."

See the original post:

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."

Read more from the original source:

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.

Read more from the original source:

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.

See more here:

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.

See the rest here:

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

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Ana Lopez and Joanna Davis practice their meditation techniques at Riverwalk Park.

Kylie Hendrickson

Kylie Hendrickson

Ana Lopez and Joanna Davis practice their meditation techniques at Riverwalk Park.

Kylie Hendrickson, Reporter March 16, 2017

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Throughout the past few years there has been a surge in selfdiscovery with people wanting to learn more about yoga, meditation, and the metaphysical. It has become easier and easier to find classes that cater to these demands in most cities.

Specifically, with meditation, there are various types of techniques that accommodate with what the person seeks or needs. Mindfulness meditation, guided visualization, transcendental meditation, heart rhythm meditation, kundalini, qi gong, and zazen are just to name a few techniques available to learn. Meditation has been around for many thousands of years, and there has been numerous studies stating its effectiveness with stress and mental health.

The simplest form is merely just sitting with eyes closed and focusing on breathing, while holding your breath for a few seconds and exhaling.

Crystal Gonzales, 30, from Bakersfield, is a freelance makeup artist and wardrobe stylist, and has been practicing meditation for four years.

I believe that meditation helps me focus on the direction of my life. I set my intentions while meditating, I focus my thoughts on positive outcomes, and I guide myself, she said.

Gonzales said she practices her meditation wherever she can. I practice meditation on my own in my car, in my room, or really anywhere I can focus my thoughts, she said. Rachel Winn, 28, from La Grande, Oregon, is a photographer who also specifically encompasses her three years of experience with meditation.

I started attending a Buddhist gathering on a monthly basis. I had a lot of anxiety as a college student, with a new relationship that included being a stepmom, and my Buddhist teachers recommended that I try meditating on a daily basis to start my day off positively, she said through social networking.

Winn proceeded to express her thoughts on how meditation has personally helped with her anxiety and stress.

Meditating helps me relieve anxiety and helps me feel grounded. It improves my mood instantly, which in turn makes me a better partner, mother, and business owner, she said. It helps me clear my mind of all the negative voices and focus on the positive and the silver linings of lifes roadblocks.

Whether people want to practice meditation on their own or in class, there are plenty of options. Enchanted Cottage is just one place in Bakersfield that holds classes monthly and offers different types of the aforementioned meditation techniques. Every Saturday morning from 10-11 a.m., and every Wednesday from 5:30-6:30 p.m. These classes are $5 each session and are held by two different instructors.

Marcia Cox instructs the Saturday morning classes, which are specialized in guided meditation, and Wednesday evening classes are held by Tracy MacLaren who teaches Zen mindfulness meditation. Mudras are also involved in some of these techniques, which is a certain way the hands and fingers are placed during meditating. Mudras are believed to affect the flow of energy in the body and unblock chakras.

Chakras are also a big presence within meditation and are used quite often. The seven chakras are believed to be the centers in our bodies in which energy flows through. During meditation, these chakras are visualized when practicing the breathing techniques to create a positive flow of energy within oneself. Enchanted Cottage can be found in Bakersfield at 30 H Street and can also be found on Facebook to view their monthly events and classes available.

The rest is here:

Enchanted meditation techniques - Renegade Rip

What better way to unwind than a mass meditation with over a thousand other peoplefrom across the country?

The Big Quiet, an organization that brings meditation to the masses, is hosting a mass meditation and sound experience event in New York City on March 19 that sounds as relaxing as it does awesome; but dont book your plane tickets just yet. While the real-life event takes place at the One World Observatory atop One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere the Historic Third Wards Kimpton Journeyman Hotel brings the event local on the hotels rooftop Sunday evening.

The meditation trend is no foreign concept inMilwaukee. Recently,West Milwaukee Intermediate School implemented Mindful Mondays and now frequently begins classeswith a mindful minute. At local non-profit Growing Minds, instructors guide their young students through sun salutations after they sing in unison about their chakras.More and more wellness studios are popping up around the city than ever before.

Milwaukee is one of seven North American locations to host The Big Quiet via livestream. The night begins with a community-led meditation followed by a live streaming of the NYC event around 9 p.m. Later in the evening, enjoy a reception featuring music by local string musicians and locally-made tea provided by Urbal Tea.

Third Ward athleisure boutique Kit and Ace (which also has NYC locations) is collaborating with The Big Quiet to make the event possible. The brand, an offshoot of Lululemon Athletica, is a natural fit for the mass-meditation event; their online magazine The Antefeatures stories such as How to Use Mindfulness to Break Your Bad Habits and How to Meditate Anywhere.

The group meditation at the Kimpton Journeyman Hotel is free and open to the public, but attendees must make reservations through Eventbrite.

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Excerpt from:

Feeling Antsy? You Can Meditate with a Thousand Other People This Sunday - Milwaukee Magazine

Linda Cohen, Special for The Republic | azcentral.com 11:35 a.m. MT March 15, 2017

A woman is in a sitting meditation on the grounds of the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) Retreat Center in Barre, Mass.(Photo: Insight Meditation Society/Associated Press)

Question:

I am very upset right now. I am 22 years old and doing well in my career. I'm a capable and intelligent woman, but I'm having a difficult time with my family.

We are a close extended family and get together often for family dinners.At one of these dinnersI told the family that I'm doing a lot of meditation with a group and love it.The family went ballistic when I said this and the reaction was over the top.They accused me of joining a cult and likened it to the Jones Massacre of many years back.It wasn't just a few in the familybut the entire group that jumped on it.

I told them I wasn't changing my religion (and the family isn't very religious), but that the benefit to me was feeling relaxed, grounded, more energetic, and increased decision-making skills.

This made no difference to my family.I get phone calls several times a week giving me lectures, and I've even declined dinner invitations because I feel bullied.I might mention that as a family we don't generally have this kind of behavior so it's of great concern to me.

MORE FROM LINDA:Is my son-in-law an alcoholic?|Boy is taking dad's breakup hard|Mom feels sacked at Super Bowl party

I am the baby in the family and don't know if that makes any difference, but I feel like lying about the whole thing and telling everyone that I've quit the group.

By the way, the people in the meditation group are all educated and successful people and do practice their born religions while embracing the practices of meditation.I don't know what to do but I feel a lot of condemnation from the people I love the most.

Meditation Madness

Dear Meditation Madness:I admit the family is behaving in an emotionally "over the top" manner and seems to be totally ignorant of the benefits of a meditative practice (I'm a practitioner myself).It's safe to say that billions of people globallypractice meditation, and in most of these countries there is a high "happiness quotient."This is the case in Bhutan, which is a country noted for its Gross National Happiness and where meditation is a way of life.

Have you asked the family why they are so against this practice? I can't imagine a response that would justify their extreme reaction.

You must feel so disappointed because you were trying to share something meaningful to you with people you care about.

Here's the kicker:You are an adultand don't need the approval of your family to follow what is important to you and your well-being.I suspect that your family's opinion has weighed heavily in other areas of your life. It's fine to listen to opinion, but in the end YOU have to make the decisions that benefit your life.

If the subject is raised at the next family gathering, just be assertive and let everyone know that you will follow your heart and that the subject is closed.

I might even suggest inviting them to a meditation session, or download some meditations from the Internet (there are many choices).If only one of your relatives follows suit and sees the benefit the rest might just let it lie. All you need is one ally and the whole situation will be history.

Remember, you are an adult and don't need approval from anyone but yourself.

Linda Cohen is a Scottsdale life coach and Arizona licensed professional therapist with a specialization in marriage andfamily therapy. Do you have a question about life challenges?Send it to "Ask Linda," c/o suzanne.lambert@arizonarepublic.com. Questions will be published anonymously.

Read or Share this story: http://azc.cc/2mK4egm

Originally posted here:

Family goes beserk over practice of meditation - AZCentral.com

JOHN BOYNTON

Last updated09:52, March 17 2017

John Boynton / Stuff.co.nz

Tess Moeke Maxwell has written a meditation book and launched an app inspired by her partner Nette Scurr's breast cancer journey.

NetteScurr was in search of peace.

After being diagnosed with grade three breast cancer in 2015, Scurr wantedclarity before she underwenther mastectomy surgery.

Scurr, who lives in Waiuku with her partner Tess Moeke Maxwell, is a nurse who hasbeen part ofbreast cancer research projects and has also worked in palliative care.

JOHN BOYNTON/FAIRFAX NZ

Tess Moeke Maxwell, left, and her partner Nette Scur. Their new resources mix New Zealand's natural landscape with meditation readings and Maori mythology.

Despite fearing she had breast cancer, Scurr waited a long time before going for a mammogram.

After shewas diagnosed, Scurr started to meditate withMoeke Maxwell to help ease her anxiety.

"She found her mind calmed down by doing the simple meditations and daily affirmations," Moeke Maxwell said.

On a sunny afternoon, while drinking coffee in a central Auckland cafe and reading their meditationbook, Scurr said something that struck Moeke Maxwell.

"I looked over at her and she saidTessI'm the happiest I've ever been."

Moeke Maxwell said Scurrwanted to shareher story about how meditation helped to calm her mind and the idea to write Stars of Aroha was born.

The book was released last year, and the full version of the app launched this month.

Every meditation in Stars of Arohaisbased aroundthe New Zealand environmentand includes Maori mythology stories, meditation readings and original music.

MoekeMaxwell has a background in psychology and womenand gender studies and said she was raised with a strong sense of spirituality.

"We were big believersin wairua and the continuation of life - for me that's just a natural part of who I am as a Maori woman."

Stars of Aroha,Moeke Maxwell saidcould help a range of people - from those suffering with illness,mental health issuesor people with anxiety.

"Ordinary people who are just struggling with the everyday challenges that lifebrings - problems with relationships, problems with kids, financial stresses, stress with jobs."

She turned to kaumatua for advice on the book and said shemixed her personalviews as a Maori womanwith acontemporary sense of spirituality andmeditation discourse.

"I felt it was a taonga and I needed to nurture it.

"I'm not a tohunga, I'm not a kaumatua or anything like that but I listen to my tupuna and they guide me."

In October last year, the couple's phone started to ring off the hook when Moana Te Oriwa Papa shared her story with The Listenerabout how the book had helped her cope with meta static breast cancer.

Te Oriwa Papa died last month, and the couple never got to meet her.

"We cried - I still cry," Maxwell Moeke said.

"To write a little book and to help a beautiful woman like that."

Moeke Maxwell said she hopedthe book couldhelp others along their journey.

"We're new at this so I think we're trying to present something in a very simple way.

"Trying to help people that are unfamiliar with trying to calm their mind."

-Stuff

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Waiuku couple launch meditation book and app in quest to help others find peace - Stuff.co.nz