ahmedabad, Feb 26 For the first time in over 61 years of its existence, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) will hold a monthly meeting at the historic Sabarmati Ashram here tomorrow.

During its 642nd meeting at the Ashram tomorrow, KVIC management is expected take some important decisions pertaining to welfare of millions of artisans, including increase in their wages, said KVIC Chairman V K saxena.

"Though KVIC was formed over 61 years back, we never held a single meeting at Sabarmati Ashram, which is considered as the progenitor of Khadi. This is for the first time when KVIC will hold such a meeting at the Ashram," said Saxena.

"In this 642nd meet, to be held tomorrow, we will take several key decisions related to the welfare of artisans," he added.

The Sabarmati Ashram, also known as Gandhi Ashram, was home to Mahatma Gandhi from 1917 until 1930.

"Sabarmati Ashram was the epicentre of Khadi movement in India. This meeting is a way of expressing our gratitude to Bapu's devotion to the development of Khadi," added Saxena.

ahmedabad, Feb 26 For the first time in over 61 years of its existence, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) will hold a monthly meeting at the historic Sabarmati Ashram here tomorrow.

During its 642nd meeting at the Ashram tomorrow, KVIC management is expected take some important decisions pertaining to welfare of millions of artisans, including increase in their wages, said KVIC Chairman V K saxena.

"Though KVIC was formed over 61 years back, we never held a single meeting at Sabarmati Ashram, which is considered as the progenitor of Khadi. This is for the first time when KVIC will hold such a meeting at the Ashram," said Saxena.

"In this 642nd meet, to be held tomorrow, we will take several key decisions related to the welfare of artisans," he added.

The Sabarmati Ashram, also known as Gandhi Ashram, was home to Mahatma Gandhi from 1917 until 1930.

"Sabarmati Ashram was the epicentre of Khadi movement in India. This meeting is a way of expressing our gratitude to Bapu's devotion to the development of Khadi," added Saxena.

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In a first, KVIC to hold meeting at Sabarmati Ashram - Outlook India

CM lays foundations for Chakulia Urban Water Project and Navjeevan Kushtha Ashram Jamshedpur February 26, 2017 , by Desk 12

Jamshedpur, Feb 26: Chief Minister Raghubar Das today laid the foundation stone of the Chakulia Urban Water Supply Project online at Bagunhatu Football Ground, Birsanagar. He also laid the foundation stone of Navjeevan Kushtha Ashram, a lepers colony, at Devnagar in Baradwari.

A MoU worth over Rs 21.73 crore was also signed on the occasion by the state government with Jamshedpur Utility Services Company (JUSCO), a 100 per cent subsidiary of Tata Steel, for the speedy implementation of the two projects and for renovation and maintenance of Birsanagar Bagunhatu Water Project under the CMs Jamshedpur East Assembly constituency.

Addressing the inaugural function, the CM said the Chakulia Urban Water Supply Project would be implemented on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis at a total estimated cost of Rs 16.52 crore. At Devnagar, a total of 400 housing units will be constructed for leprosy patients at an expense of Rs 25 crore, he said, adding further, The MoU with JUSCO will be implemented within two years.

A total of 17,000 families will be benefited from the project. At present, only 6000 families have authorized connection. The project would provide clean drinking water to the residents of both company as well as non-company areas.

The CM further said that the state Cabinet was soon going to completely ban plastic in Jharkhand. Rules regarding plastic ban will be formulated and approved in the next Cabinet meeting. Those found violating the norms will be strictly prosecuted, he said.

Das said the government wanted Jamshedpur and Ranchi to be counted among the top 10 cities of the country in the coming days. Appealing to people to maintain cleanliness, he said those not having toilets should get registered and avail the government assistance to make the Swachh Bharat campaign of PM Narendra Modi a grand success.

The CM said the MoUs signed during the Momentum Jharkhand summit would create a sea of opportunities for the youths of the state. He said the government also wanted to provide houses to the poor people. The government is going to build 40,000 houses for the poor in the next couple of months.

Our PM has a dream that no poor remains homeless by the year 2019. We are going to make this dream come true very soon. We will also provide houses to widows who do not have their own homes under the Ambedkar Awas Yojana, he said.

Also present on the occasion was the State Urban Development Minister CP Singh, MP of Jamshedpur Vidyut Varan Mahato, MLA of Baharagora Kunal Sarangi, Principal Secretary of Drinking Water and Sanitation Department Arun Kumar Singh, deputy commissioner of East Singhbhum Amit Kumar, Sunil Bhaskaran, vice president (Corporate Services), Tata Steel, JUSCO MD Ashish Mathur and ADC Sunil Kumar. The dignitaries expressed hope that the twin projects would help serve the people of Jamshedpur in a big way.

Last updated:Sunday, February 26, 2017

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CM lays foundations for Chakulia Urban Water Project and Navjeevan Kushtha Ashram - Avenue Mail

Despite the sweat and fatigue, buoyant and joyous energy floods the spin class room as Madonna and Dexys Midnight Runners blares in the background. Down the hall, clad in neon tank tops and pink head and wristbands, Total Body Conditioning Steppers bop to the beat of the 80s as they do their cardio moves. No, this is not a scene from Footloose, but Boston Colleges own BC Rec celebrating National Recreation Day.

Commemorating the National Intramural Recreation Sports Associations inception on Feb. 22, every year BC puts on an event to bring awareness to its anniversary. Although most members were born before the era, the Student Staff Advisory Board, which meets monthly to plan improvements for the Flynn Recreation Complex, chose the 80s as this years theme for the event. According to Taylor Palumbo, a member of the board and pool office manager, the theme bridges a gap so that students can understand the era, and employees who lived through it can rock along with the songs.

Someone threw out the ideas for 90s, but if this is working out, what decade is most iconic for working out? Palumbo said. The 80s.

Palumbo spoke about the dedication and effort that went into planning the day as well as what his own experience has been like working at the Plex. Last year, the board decided on a neon theme for the day, but this year, it worked to make the theme more specific and engaging. In addition, after three years on the board, Palumbo believes that it has done a better job of promoting the event this year.

The day consisted of six 80s-themed spin, x-fit, and zumba classes complete with high-intensity music from 7:15 a.m. to 7:45 p.m., as well as additional strength competitions from 3 to 6 p.m. consisting of push-up, pull-up, and benching contests. At the classes, participants were given a plethora of free neon tank tops, wristbands, and headbands.

Participants could also send in their best 80s costume photos in hopes of winning assorted prizes. Burns Library also supported National Recreation Day by posting photos up on its walls of BC students working out back in the 80s.

I think the community appreciates what we do, but we really just wanted to take a day to celebrate and bring awareness to it, Palumbo said.

The BC Rec staff consists of over 400 student staff members who are either at the Plex or Conte Forum daily from 6 a.m. to as late as 1 a.m. While other operations may stop or alter their schedules on a snow day, the Plex was still open on Feb. 9, allowing motivated students to trudge through the snow and toward their fitness goals, despite the bitterly cold conditions outside.

At BC maybe more than a lot of other schools, campus recreation is so integral to student life, whether thats club sports, intramurals, or just working out individually, Palumbo said. As a way to give back to student employees, the students that use the Plex and everyone else going forward, were hopeful that this day can only keep getting bigger.

Bigger than 80s hair, per se. While National Recreation Day was a one-day-only event, the committed and avid staff at the Plex make every day look like a great day to break a sweat.

Featured Image Courtesy of Boston College Recreation

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Neon, Aerobics, and Leg Warmers Mark Plex's '80s Day - The Heights

Eve Schott of Salisbury is channeling her love for music and dance into her studio, Eve Schott Aerobics and Zumba.

Ive always loved dance, she said. I like Zumba because of the challenge and the dance aspect. I love the music.

Zumba is an aerobic fitness program based on various styles of Latin American dance. Schott holds Zumba and step aerobics classes at her studio at 127 School St. in Boynton. Zumba is held at 6:30 p.m. Monday and step aerobics is 6:30 p.m. Thursday. She also teaches step aerobics at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Frostburg State University Activities for Life held within the Cordts Physical Education Center, 101 Midlothian Road, Frostburg, Maryland. All classes are open to the public. She became certified as a step aerobics and group fitness teacher in the late 1980s and was certified as a Zumba instructor in 2010.

I started aerobics in Fort Lauderdale in the 1980s, the 55-year-old Schott said. I took theater and dance in college and I always enjoyed it. Step is easier for me because its more straightforward. With Zumba, I challenge myself to memorize things. Id like to get certified in Zumba Step, which is a combination of both.

Tammie Grove of Meyersdale has been taking Zumba and step aerobics classes in Boynton and Frostburg for four years.

I love her classes, she said. Its great. We have a good time and you dont know youre working out. Its lots of fun and Eve cares about us. When were hurting, she wants to know whats wrong and how she can help. Come and try any of her classes.

Schott said that the importance of exercise is undisputed. It improves peoples bodies and minds.

In a small community like ours, group fitness is important in so many ways, she said. One of the most important being the benefit of social interaction. Social interaction where you actually show up, not social media keeps us connected, stimulating the brain and improving mental clarity. Key factors in warding off depression and possibly even dementia and the onset of Alzheimers disease.

Gentle, low impact exercises such as walking and stretching, when done on a regular basis, can improve memory, balance, muscle tone, flexibility and heart health by increasing blood flow to the brain and throughout the body, she said. The bottom line is exercise makes you feel better.

Schott is originally from Woodbine, Maryland. She attended Glenelg High School, Catonsville Community College, Catholic University of America and Towson State University. Her degree is in mass communications, public relations and marketing. She and her husband, Chris, own C&S Pyramid Builders Inc., a commercial concrete and masonry business. She is vice president and general manager. They are the parents of Hannah, of Denver, Colorado; Haley, of Pasadena, California; and Mason, at home, who is a junior at Meyersdale Area High School.

Her parents, John and Anne Cole, live in Keyser, West Virginia. He hunted in Garrett County, Maryland. He liked the area so much that he bought a 100-acre farm near Salisbury. At the time, the Schotts were living in Florida.

He asked us to come and take care of the farm, and we moved here in May of 1991, she said. My parents later moved to West Virginia. My father is constantly looking at new houses. They decided it would be warmer in West Virginia.

She did some video production work in Florida, but knew coming to the rural area she couldnt get a job in that field within commuting range.

It made more sense to be self-employed and Chris has real talent in construction, she said. So we started our own businesses.

The C&S Pyramid Builders Inc. machinery and materials were being stored at the farm and the Schotts decided that they needed a building to house the business. The building on School Street was for sale. It was originally a school, then a church. They bought the building in 1998. C&S Pyramid Builders Inc. and Eve Schott Aerobics and Zumba are in the same building, with classes held in the former gym. Chris is a karate master and teacher. He isnt currently teaching, but plans to restart karate classes later this year.

Because of Chris ability to remodel houses, the Schotts like to rescue and remodel buildings. They currently own five buildings, including the farm and their business. One house is the Hocking House in Frostburg, Maryland. It was built in 1844 and is on the National Historic Register. Another house in North Carolina that they own is listed as a historic preservation building, but is not on the national register.

Eve has always enjoyed being in theater productions. In 2014, she had a major role in the Cumberland Theatres production of Neil Simons Plaza Suite.

It was a challenge to remember because it was a huge role, she said. I hadnt done theater since 2008. I didnt know what I was getting into, with the costume changes and doing my own hair and makeup. But I really enjoyed it.

When she was in a college theatre company, she traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland, where the company performed MacBeth in the Edinburgh Theatre Festival.

During my month stay, I visited London, the Isle of Skye and took a long train to Wales, where I hiked, camped and had my first Guiness stout at a local pub, she said. What a great experience.

Her other hobbies are snowboarding, gardening, drawing, painting and collecting art and antiques.

The best thing about living here is the sheer beauty and peacefulness of the landscape and the quaint towns, Scott said. I love the countryside. I rode horses as a kid and always loved the outdoors. We have good neighbors (Paul and Barbara Wright). I love the mountains, hills and old growth forests and the change of seasons. I love the Springs Folk Festival, the Springs Farmers Market and Amish roadside stands. I love going to auctions and there is less competition for businesses here and a lower cost of living than urban areas. The downside is we are a little bit removed from the city. Id like to be closer to restaurants, shops, theater and the arts.

She doesnt like winter weather, which poses a challenge for the business. When a contract calls for concrete and masonry work to be done in the winter, it has to be done.

Her goal is to have more growth in her fitness classes. She said that diversity among the participants is another great benefit of group fitness. Beginners and those more advanced, women and men, young and old, can benefit from taking the same class because each individual is encouraged to exercise at his own pace or fitness level. Motivation and confidence also increases when exercising regularly with others who share the same or similar health and fitness goals a lot like being part of a team plus it is more fun.

Id also like to start group trail walks, Schott said. I had one at my house about a year ago. We are close to state parks in Pennsylvania and in Maryland and a lot of people would love those. There is so much opportunity in this area. People who live here are tougher than city folk, but people become reclusive in small towns. We can go out to nature areas, which is not much different than walking out our front doors.

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Eve Schott shares her love of dance with her classes - Daily American Online

What's a bagel without cream cheese?

TV's Lisa Edelstein who gained fame for her role in "House" and currently stars in "The Girlfriend's Guide to Divorce," would say a bagel without cream cheese is unenjoyable but, she'd like her cream cheese to be vegan, please.

Edelstein, who once posed nude for PETA on a bed of greens to encourage people to eat a vegetarian diet, is working with the animal rights organization again. This time, she's encouraging Einstein Bros. Bagels "to consider adding vegan cream cheese options to your menus so that people who cant or wont consume dairy foods might still be able to enjoy a good bagel with shmear at your many establishments.

Those are the words she wrote to Einstein CEO and President Mike Tattersfield, according to The Know.

Einstein doesn't have to invent the plant-based schmear (which can also be spelled shmear, for anyone wondering). In Edelstein's letter, she pointed to several grocery store brands .

Whether it's called schmear, spread or cream cheese, everyone should have a vegan option. (Photo: Moving Moment/Shutterstock)

When thinking about Edelstein's request, I also thought about the dairy-free, vegan Ben & Jerry's desserts I tried a few days ago. Some of them were so delicious, I'd happily choose them over milk-based ice cream, knowing that plant-based foods are better for the planet. Is there a vegan cream cheese that's as flavorful, creamy and delicious as milk-based cream cheese? I don't know, but if there is and Einstein or some other place sold it, I would opt for it. If taste and quality are the same, plant-based is the smarter choice.

So someone get Edelstein some vegan schmear. And make it really, really good vegan schmear to entice people like me who are embracing vegan foods, one plant-based product at a time.

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Get this lady some vegan schmear, stat! - Mother Nature Network (blog)

PORTLAND, Ore.

After moving from New York City to Portland in the early 2000s, Emiko Badillo and her husband Chad Miller found that they had to schlep to a bunch of different stores to satisfy their vegan diet.

We couldn't get all the things we wanted in one store when we were grocery shopping so we just decided to go for it and open our own -- and get super into credit card debt, Miller said from behind the counter of the couples second all-vegan store, Food Fight!

The couples first store opened at 21st and Southeast Division Street in 2003, and then moved to Southeast 12 and Stark Street. They share a building with like-minded vegan business owners Herbivore Clothing, Scapegoat Tattoo and Sweetpea Baking Company.

Miller said the building came to be known as the vegan mini-mall, a name customers adopted and later out-of-town visitors discovered as a tourist stop, a particularly Portland, niche attraction.

From the beginning they tried to stock their shelves with more than old hippie, granola-heavy products. That includes coconut bacon and even vegan haggis and caviar to go along with meatless jerky and dozens of other non-dairy, non-meat products.

We try to make it seem like less like self-flagellation, self-sacrifice and make it a bunch of fun food, Miller said. You don't have to give up corn dogs"

The couples second Food Fight! opened two weeks ago at 11155 NE Halsey Street, in the changing and up-and-coming Gateway neighborhood.

The area is attracting new small business owners, including a new coffee shop called Jet Black, one of the first independent coffee shops in the neighborhood that shares the building with Food Fight! The coffee shop is looking at an early March opening.

For Rosalind and Clayton McCallard, Food Fight is one of dozens of locations the husband/wife team sell their vegan sandwiches under the own brand, Snackrilege Foods.

Snackrilege really provides a niche in terms of providing healthy, delicious vegan grab-and-go food when you dont want to stop and cook and you dont want lentils, Rosalind McCallard said. Good, hearty sandwiches without the meat or dairy.

Clayton McCallard helps design and name the sandwiches, which sport such names as Lord of the Wings, he BBQ Bunslawter, Steak Bite Love and the Notorious B.L.T.

The McCallards made their first ever delivery of their sandwiches to Food Fight! three years ago this month, but you can find the sandwiches at 35 locations in Oregon, Washington and Idaho.

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Vegan convenience store Food Fight! expands to second location in Gateway district - KATU

From ReneePress atPlant Based on a Budget

Today I share with you one of my all time favorite Indian dishes, Malai Kofta. Traditionally, this dish is a rich combination of fried potato, veggie and cheese meatball/dumplings floating in a creamy spiced tomato sauce. Served with rice or flat bread, it really is a treat. Of course, we modified this recipe and made it both vegan and gluten-free, but kept all of the tastiness and fragrant flavors.

It does take a bit of prep work, so save it for a weekend or a day when you have a bit of extra time. If you want to make ahead, you can preparethe sauce inadvanceit actually tastes better when made a day aheadand simply reheat and drop in the freshly made dumplings. These crispypotato delights can be baked as I show you here, or fried until golden brown on all sides. This was probably the dish that got me hooked on Indian cuisine back in the day, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Vegan Malai Kofta (Potato Dumplings in Spiced Tomato Sauce)

30 minPrep Time

30 minCook Time

1 hrTotal Time

Ingredients

Instructions

6.6.15

For more recipes follow Plant Based on a Budget onFacebookandTwitter.

Photo Credit: Plant Based on a Budget

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

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Vegan Malai Kofta (Potato Dumplings in Spiced Tomato Sauce) - Care2.com

If you're looking for a song to help you fall asleep at night, a new study claims that there is one track that might do the job better than any other.

A study of 40 women found that the song Weightless by the band Marconi Union reduced anxiety by 65 percent. It also claims listeners' heart rates and blood pressure fell significantly. Part of the reason that the song, which was created with help from the British Academy of Sound Therapy in 2011, and the study claims is relaxing, the study claims, is its lack of a repeating melody and how slowly it goes along.

"Neurons in the brain entrain, that is they fire in synchrony to the tempo of music," Dr. Daniel J. Levitin, a professor of psychology and music at McGill University and author of the new book Weaponized Lies, told ATTN:. "Some people find that relaxing. If you're listening to slow music and your brain activity slows down a bit, that can cause you to feel relaxed."

Bill Thompson, a professor of psychology at Macquarie University in Australia, told ATTN: that certain chemicals also get involved.

"Music has a number of 'design features' that interact with mood and arousal systems in the brain, these systems involve the release of neurochemicals such as dopamine and adrenaline, and activation of various areas of the brain," Thompson said. Dopamine is thought of as the happiness chemical, while adrenaline is an energizing chemical that can stress you out.

Different rhythms that your body and brain synchronize with will typically create different reactions. "In matching our bodily rhythm with the music we experience the mood and energy associated with that pace, a slow pace is associated with slower, calmer emotions (reduced anxiety); a fast pace is associated with higher energy," Thompson said.

Thompson claims through human evolution, the brain learned to respond to some sounds or rhythms as threatening and other as representing calm, which can impact how people interpret music. "Slow rhythms and smooth harmonies will be perceived as calm; rapid tempos and dissonance will be perceived as tense," Thompson said.

Another reason we find some music calming, he claims, is we often have emotional memories attached to certain songs.

Levitin did have one problem with a study claiming a certain song will be relaxing to you, which is that he said music taste is so subjective that a song that might be relaxing for many will not be relaxing for some.

"I did a study once where we asked tens of thousands of people what music they listen to [in order] to relax and what music they listen to to pump themselves up, and one song showed up in both columns," Levitin said. "It was AC/DC's 'Back in Black.' It turned out that the person who used it to relax was spending his days listening to Swedish speed metal, so it was relaxing by contrast. It's quite individualistic."

Thompson agreed, saying that while some people might find something like death metal aggravating, others will find it empowering or energizing.

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How Could One Song Help You Fall Asleep? - ATTN

Picture yourself lying on a beach and sipping out of a coconut while listening to todays top hits. Thats pretty much the relaxed feel you get from the 2017 album Mr. Optimist Blues by Jonathan Roy.

I dont usually enjoy reggae music, but Mr. Optimist Blues perfectly mixes an island-like sound with pop to ease listeners such as myself into the genre.

Freeze Time is one of the quicker tunes on the album, and has a definite pop feel. This song is the perfect start for newbies to Roys music. Itll attract new listeners with its strong beat and catchy vocals. The feel of this tune is similar to Scottish producer Calvin Harris recent popular hits, including My Way and Summer.

If the song Good Things (track four on the album) were categorized like a high school senior superlative, it would receive Most Likely to Make Me Bawl My Eyes Out. The whole song is about how the hardest part of a breakup is no longer having someone special in your life with whom to share the good moments. The slow, drawn out notes in this song are reminiscent of a cry of pain, while still being musical.

The song isnt so slow that you get upset by the lyrics; it has a great beat that keeps the song grooving while still letting the power of Roys voice take over the song.

The title track on the album, Mr. Optimist Blues, mixes a tropical island-like, reggae sound with a bouncy pop beat, making it an easier listen for people who prefer pop over reggae. The energetic, percussive beat keeps things danceable and fun. Early on, the paradoxical title of this song (and album) is what drew me to listen closely to it.

There are few songs in this world that are purely happy songs, containing no sadness, love or other complex human emotions. Rare is the song that plainly and cheerfully says: I have a great life, and there are pretty birds flying all around. And yet, Beautiful Day, the seventh track on the album, is purely a happy song. It uses an islandly beat to relax the listener into feeling like they want to dance. The lyrics are repetitive and simple enough to be catchy, but still unique enough to keep it interesting.

While Roy sings, I aint givin up, no way, the listener can truly feel optimistic about the day ahead.

The last song on the album, Daniella Denmark (Dream), is the song that perplexes me most. As a self-proclaimed hater of sequels and remixes, I shouldnt like this alternate version of the first song on the album. But Roy does what possibly no other artist has been effectively able to do: he mixes the song into a less poppy sound while avoiding the mistake of making the song too slow or boring.

This version takes Daniella Denmark at a slower tempo, with more of a piano base, allowing listeners to focus more on Roys strong vocals that can easily draw them into the dreamlike feel of the song (thus the name).

The most impressive part of this album is how powerful Roys vocals are. Auto-tune can make most artists sound decent, but Roy has true, raw talent. His mixing of untraditional beats, reggae feel and pop music create a fresh new style of music that is easy to listen to, while still being intriguing and a pleasant surprise to the ear.

New albums can get old quickly, but Mr. Optimist Blues can play on repeat for hours without getting annoying. Even the most pessimistic person wouldnt be able to get the blues while listening to this uplifting and relaxing album.

McKenzie Jamieson is a junior at West Valley High School and is a member of the Yakima Herald-Republics Unleashed program for teen journalists.

McKenzie Jamieson is a junior at West Valley High School and is a member of the Yakima Herald-Republics Unleashed program for teen journalists.

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Music Review: Roy makes it easy to get into the reggae groove - Yakima Herald-Republic

A first-time mum has told how she ditched pain relief to give birth to twins naturally using hypnobirthing techniques.

Proud Josie Penn was so chilled-out at points during her 14 hour labour she almost fell asleep in the hospital birthing pool.

She also claims the final hour of her delivery was merely uncomfortable, as opposed to outright painful.

And now the 31-year-old has urged other mothers to follow in her footsteps, saying birthing twins doesnt have to be traumatic.

Nutritional therapist Josie, who welcomed gorgeous, non-identical girls Margot and Devon into the world on January 27 this year, said: Would I recommend hypnobirthing to other mums and dads? Definitely. Absolutely.

Having twins through hypnobirth, totally naturally and without any pain relief, certainly seems to be fairly unusual. The midwives definitely appeared fairly surprised!

And whether youre planning a home birth or youre having a C-section, I definitely think that it gives you so much confidence going into the labour.

It enables you look ahead to childbirth with real positivity, rather than feeling like its something scary, looming on the horizon.

Discomfort is unavoidable when youre giving birth, but it doesnt have to be excruciatingly painful.

Hypnotherapy for childbirth - first discussed by scientists in the 1940s but which has only recently gained real weight - is the art of allowing yourself to sink into a deep state of relaxation whilst in labour so that your body does everything it needs to do quickly, easily, comfortably and sometimes even painlessly.

Josies husband, advertising director Thomas, 31, explains: When we went for our three month scan, the sonographer said, Im glad that youre both sitting down because I have some news - youre having twins.

Initially I had a real sense of fear and found myself thinking How on earth are we going to manage? Everything is double, everything is twice as expensive, are we ever going to sleep?

We went through a month or two of real anxiety. Josie was getting worried about the birth itself, and I was just blown sideways.

And thats when we started thinking about hypnobirthing more and more.

Luckily for Josie and Thomas, Josies sister is Emily Street, one of the UKs leading hypnobirth practitioners and acclaimed midwife with Cheshires Reproductive Health Group.

Emily explained the benefits to Josie and Thomas who then undertook an evening class with London based HypnoBirthing Practitioner Michelle Pearson.

Michelle taught them how to utilise relaxing music, light touch massage and calming visualisation techniques.

She also shared positive affirmations and scripts that Josie used leading up to the birth such as, My babys in the safest position possible and, I was made to do this. My body is designed to do this. Theres nothing to fear.

Thomas - like many others in the UK - admits that he held scepticism about the controversial technique considered by some to be New Age.

He admits: If Im being honest, initially I was quite sceptical about hypnobirthing. When we first started learning it, I thought, Hmmm, Is this a bit of a nonsense..?

But Josie and I had already found that it was often best not to talk about our birth with anyone else. Because when you tell people that youre expecting twins, everyone says, Oh, you poor things. How are you going to cope?

All that negative energy builds up a sense of real anxiety, and we were desperate to get rid of it.

As a result I was willing to try anything to help Josie feel more confident and empowered about our situation.

That, however, was at odds with NHS specialists advising them.

Due to the increased risk of complications with twins, Josie, from Hackney, east London, was told that the home birth that she'd hoped for was out of the question whilst the idea of a birthing pool for twins was frowned upon.

Josies doctors also continued to raise the spectre of an emergency Caesarian section and of the potential need to have an episiotomy - a surgical cut in the area between the vagina and the anus to help the babys delivery.

Josie says: We were getting more and more nervous. It felt like we were losing control of our own birth scenario.

And what hypnobirthing did was give us a way of learning how to keep relaxed despite the stress that was building up around us. It empowered us.

Determined to maximise her relaxation levels, Josie also took part in a pregnancy yoga class and standard antenatal classes.

And on January 26, at around 11pm, Josies contractions began as she cuddled hubby Thomas in bed.

Bizarrely, Josie felt a sense of bliss rather than blind panic

She reveals: Its funny, it felt like the most blissful moment, heavenly even.

Its so strange. The contractions were quite intense and close together, but all I could think was, We can do this! Its only two babies, for Gods sake. Lets stay at home, run a nice warm bath and forget about all the doctors!

There wasnt a moment where I thought, Oh crap, what happens now? I wasnt scared of what was coming. I definitely attribute that to hypnobirthing.

Thomas eventually took Josie to Homerton University Hospital at around 2am and by 7.30am she was in a birthing pool.

But Thomas laughs: Josie was so relaxed, she started nodding off and her contractions stopped!

They eventually exited the pool in a bid to get the contractions started again and by mid afternoon Josies labour was in full swing - and she was still desperate not to have any pain relief.

In the hours previously shed had a few gulps of gas and air, but in the final few hours she went without it entirely.

Josie, originally from Hale, Cheshire, said: We were never going to put either myself or my babies at risk. We just wanted a chance to prove that hypnobirthing could work without drugs or intervention.

There were points early on where I was in pain. A handful of the contractions were horrible.

But I honestly didnt have that feeling when I was pushing during labour.

The feeling was more discomfort, and confusion about what my body was doing, rather than extreme pain and being stretched.

And whats really important is that I didnt feel scared. I was just completely focused. I was calm. At no point did I think my body couldnt do what it was trying to do.

And that was a powerful thing, something that really surprised me.

Margot arrived first, followed by Devon ten minutes later.

Josie beams: I just couldnt believe it. I was stunned, and beyond happy to have done it without an episiotomy or a C-section, which I thought wed been destined for.

Meanwhile Thomas adds: Because of the hypnobirthing techniques, Josie had gone somewhere deep inside herself. Shed shut off her fear reflex, and was just allowing her body to progress with the birth naturally.

There was no screaming.

Despite the fact that she was exhausted, it was as if something primal had taken over and was delivering our babies for us.

And Ill never, until the day I die, forget the look on Josies face after Margot was born.

It was like she was on a beach somewhere, with the biggest smile Id ever seen in the world.

Reproductive Health Group Hypnobirth expert Emily says Josie can be proud of her amazing achievements.

She adds: Any pregnancy involving twins is higher risk than with one baby.

And with added complications comes added stress. Thats not good for mum or the babies.

We are also conditioned to believe that labour is going to be hell. The worst pain you have ever imagined, times ten.

Because of this, mums-to-be have a huge amount of fear about giving birth. So when we feel that first twinge of labour, our body tenses and our muscles tighten.

Imagine the bottom of your uterus as a clench fist - its gonna hurt to get a baby through that!

Hypnobirth teaches you skills so that instead your muscles relax, soften, open and babies are born easily and euphorically.

And its not just about the days leading up to giving birth, its about your entire pregnancy and beyond.

Giving birth to twins means you might have a lot more scans that normal. And while those scans can offer reassurance, they can also be stressful as you ride on a rollercoaster of emotions.

The last thing you want is for twin babies to be swimming in their mothers adrenaline.

And hypnobirthing techniques can help mum to stay calm and collected throughout the process.

Its about making people feel safe and with the fundamental belief that birth is normal and our bodies work.

See more here:

'Hypnobirthing' mum who shunned pain relief so 'chilled out' delivering twins she almost fell ASLEEP in birthing pool - Mirror.co.uk