Executives from Wegmans, Costco and Sprouts will participate in the retail roundtable presentation at the Organic Produce Summit in July.

Organic Produce Network co-founder Tonya Antle will moderate the panel, which will include Dave Corsi, vice president of produce and floral for Wegmans Food Markets, Rochester, N.Y.; Heather Shavey, assistant vice president of global produce for Issaquah, Wash.-based Costco Wholesale Corp.; and Chad Miller, vice president for produce procurement at Sprouts Farmers Market, Phoenix.

The roundtable presentation will focus on how those retailers approach organic fresh produce and what challenges and opportunities exist in marketing those products, according to a news release.

We are thrilled to have three of the most influential, prominent and progressive retail leaders in the sales of organics as part of our program, Susan Canales, director of operations for the Organic Produce Summit, said in the release. With three different formats covering three geographical spheres, our attendees will gain insightful and useful information on how leading retailers are marketing organic fresh produce to consumers and the opportunities to drive sales into the future.

Organic fresh produce sales data from Nielsen and novel fast-food restaurant chain The Organic Coup will be the topics of other presentations at the summit.

The event is set for July 12-13 in Monterey, Calif.

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Whole Foods may win the prize for the most recognizable retailer when it comes to organic food, butthe top honor when it comes to market shareactually goes toCostco.

Yup,the chain best known for itsbulk stock and low prices reported $4 billion in organic food saleslast yearthats billion with a B. Whole Foods, by comparison,racked up about $3.6 billion in certified organic sales.

The chain best known for itsbulk stock and low pricessold $4 billionworth of certified organic food last yearthats billion with a B.

And this shiftcould have a major impact on you (and your healthy habits), even if youre not a card-carrying member. For one thing, its proof thatfood shoppers across the board are prioritizing organics. And in other exciting news, it shows that its possible to sell certified organic produce (COP) at a competitive pricecrucial for closing the healthy food gap.

But perhaps most importantly, the mega-retaileris literally redefining the organics landscapethere are now Costco-owned organic farms to help the company keep up with demand. Plus, the brand islending money to farmers to expand their output.

Does this mean that a Costco membership is about to be as covetedas an American Express black card?

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Lets face it, dollars area powerful motivator. When brands and retailers noticewhere people are allocatingtheir cash, theyll make it a priorityand organics are definitely having a moment.

HeatherShavey, assistant vice president and general merchandise manager at Costco, says the retailer started zeroing in on organics five years ago because customers demanded it. The spark in the shift was continuing and sustaining consumer demand for organics, shesays. Many [other retailers] thought it was a fad that would pass.

Organic quinoa at Whole Foods retails for $5.99. At Costco, its $2.87. In other words, the savings are real.

Carlotta Mast, the head of content and insights for New Hope Network (the gatekeepers to the massively influential wellness trade shows Expo East and Expo West), has seen the explosion of organic sales firsthand. Consumers are what ultimately is driving the demand, especially in certain food categories like dairy, she says. In other words: Its definitely not a passing food trend.

And Mast, who looks at the industry from all sides, says Costco has been a key player in raising the stakes across the board by making organics cheaper and therefore available for more peopleits starting to no longer be seen as a luxury. They have really demonstrated a commitment to carrying certified organic productsandbecause they offer them at a competitive price and are able to meet consumer demand, it puts pressure on some of the other retailers, she says. (Your move, Trader Joes.)

When youcompare prices, organic quinoa at Whole Foods retails for $5.99. At Costco, its $2.87. Organic chicken breasts area dollar cheaper at the discount brand, and aloaf of organic whole wheat bread is about $1.50less expensive. In other words, the savings are real.

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Costco has been so successful in moving COPs off itsshelves that itssuppliers cant grow the food fast enough. The companyssolve? Buy plots of land and convert them into organic farms. (After all, less than 1percent of farmland in the US is organicwhich simply isnt enough to keep up with demand.) The mega-retailers alsobuying apoultry farm in Nebraska, set to open in 2019.When its up and running, its expected to supplyone-third of the chicken sold in stores.

And that still isnt quite enough to hit its salesgoals, soCostcos also supporting independent farms transitioning to organic by frontingsome of the farms and handlers expenses to make them USDA-approved.

Costco has been so successful in moving COPs off itsshelves that itssuppliers cant grow the food fast enough. The companyssolve? Buy plots of land and convert them into organic farms.

According toSam Jones-Ellard, a public affairs specialist for the USDA, its a complicated, 36-monthprocess. First a farm or handler must reach out to one of our accredited certifying agents and come up with an organics plan, which basically covers everything about the operation, he says. Once thats approved, the next step is an on-site inspection. If given the thumbs up, only thenis the seal awardedbut surprise inspections arent out of the ordinary, and the certification only lasts a year.

Its hardly a selfless missiondont forget that ultimately, Costco will profit off of these investmentsbut what it does mean is that farmers get abig boost and a broader range of consumers will be able to access organic produce.

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Costcos rise in the organics game hasnt been a godsend for every brand, thoughsmaller companies can get lost in the big-box shuffle, since the retailers strategy is to keep prices competitive by moving a lot of product.

Smari Asmundsson, founder of organic Icelandic yogurt lineSmari,says its hard for smaller companies to meet the discount storesdemand. We were in 16 Costco stores for about a year, but then there was a vanilla shortage so we had to raise our prices, he says. Smarisnew price point$2.50 a popwas too high for Costco, so the yogurt is no longer on its shelves. Instead, Asmundsson says hes focused on all-natural retailers, likeyou guessed itWhole Foods.

The prices [for organics] are usually a little bit more expensive, but thats just because of the cost of making a natural product, Asmundsson says. Our margins are not as high as more established companieswe couldnt make [selling at such a massive scale] work financially. Its a hard lesson for many brands: Unless youre ready to scale up your production, selling at Costco might not be in your best interest. (It also brings up the bigger question of whether this race to lower prices ultimately hurts start-ups that simply cant competeif you expect your organic yogurt to cost less than $1.50, would you ever consider spending more for someone doing it on a small scale?)

Smaller companies can get lost in the big-box shuffle, since the retailers strategy is to keep prices competitive by moving a lot of product.

The mega-storedoes support growing companiesin other ways, though. For one, itpromotesbrandsthatarent ready to meet itsdemand (yet!) but are still doing very cool things when it comes to farming and sustainability by featuring them in the Costco magazine, which goes out to members. One example: home-growing kit company Back to the Roots, which was recently featuredon the coverdespite the fact that itsproducts arenot in a single Costco store.

Back to the Roots co-CEO Alex Alejandro says his companyis in talks with the retailer, making slow, cautious steps toward being stocked on itsshelves. The hope is that with more brand awareness, Back to the Roots will be ready for Costco soon. The retailer sees the magazine feature as a way to invest early in fledgling brands, for a long-term payoff.

Soit sounds like the retailer has learned a thing or twofrom running its own farms(plant a seed, wait for it to grow), which is creating more shopping options for health-minded shoppersof all budgets.

If you still cant quit your Whole Foods habit, heres what you can expect to see on their shelves in 2017. And have you heard about the potentially inflammatory ingredient that just got banned from organic food?

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Watch out, Whole Foods: How Costco became the most important player in the organic produce game - Well+Good

If youre harried and distracted, meditation can help calm your mind and body.

But thats the rub. Some say theyre so harried and distracted that they cant possibly meditate to quiet the mind, regain focus and ease anxiety. Within moments, theyre ruminating on the noise of extraneous thoughts or uncompleted daily to-do lists.

Too many people have tried meditation and have given up. Theyve concluded, Im just not that kind of person, says Belisa Vranich, a clinical psychologist in New York City and author of the new book Breathe. But they dont have to be thinking about Gandhi or world peace or absolutely nothing to reach a meditative state. Its not that complicated. In fact, its bizarrely simple.

All you need do is breathe.

In her book, Vranich recommends a type of controlled breathing she calls Recovery Breath. The two-part breathing exercise, she says, is a form of active meditation that can reset the body after a stressful day at work, a disagreement with your spouse or partner, a test or a competition any demanding situation. It can be done for as little as five minutes in a day.

The good news for people over 50 whove been frustrated in their attempts to meditate is that it gets easier with age.

Belisa Vranich, author of 'Breathe'

The subtitle of her chapter on Recovery Breath is Meditation for People Who Cant Meditate. Controlled breathing or breathwork is among a variety of practices to achieve a meditative state of mindfulness focusing your awareness on the present moment, free of the distraction of the past and what might lie ahead.

Other popular meditation practices include guided meditation either in-person or digital versions yoga, stretching, visualization, chanting and walking meditation.

The good news for people over 50 whove been frustrated in their attempts to meditate is that it gets easier with age, Vranich contends. In your 50s and beyond, you understand the importance of being able to quiet your mind. Thats not a priority when youre in your teens. Our values change with age, she notes.

Breathing the right way becomes more important with age, says Vranich, who advocates breathing from the belly rather than taking short, quick breaths from the chest. She says belly or horizontal breathing maximizes oxygen intake and slows the heart rate, helping reduce stress. Horizontal breathing also helps maintain the muscles in a persons pelvic region, which are important for maintaining balance as people age.

While some say theyre often too agitated to meditate, others say their attempts to tame their stress put them to sleep. One solution is to keep moving while meditating through walking meditation, says Gil Fronsdal, a Buddhist teacher, scholar and guiding teacher at the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, Calif.

Some people say they would like to meditate, but theyre too tired, Fronsdal says. Walking meditation keeps them alert enough so that they can meditate. The kinesthetic movement from point A to point B engages their body and their mind.

Walking meditation can take many forms and a variety of paces. When he was studying Buddhism in Burma in the 1980s, Fronsdal says one of the monks power-walked his way through his paces. But most meditative walking has a slower, more deliberate pace.

To settle into the moment, most people find its best to walk slowly back and forth on a straight line thats about 20 to 30 paces long. Soon, you know the route and your mind is not thinking about where to walk and what to avoid along the way. You can be fully there in the experience of walking, says Fronsdal.

Walkers should focus on saying a single word like stepping each time they plant their foot on the ground. That gives the mind something to do because an idle mind will wander off, Fronsdal says.

The setting can be indoors or outdoors and pastoral or urban. Although he doesnt recommend walking meditation in a busy city for beginners, Fronsdal enjoys doing it occasionally in downtown San Francisco. Its good to learn how to incorporate walking meditation into your daily life. I recognize that I am better off walking in a mindful, meditative way. It makes the whole experience so much nicer, he says.

For some, a yoga class is the first time they unwittingly slip into a meditative state. A class typically ends with students assuming a corpse-like pose (lying flat on their back) on the floor called savasana. A students mind, body and breath come to a deep state of relaxation after the exertion of a series of physical poses known as asana.

Yoga asana practice combined with pranayama (yogic breathing) prepares the body for the state of meditation the purpose of yoga. For many, practicing yoga helps them to progress toward meditation when they may initially think, Im too busy to meditate. My mind is active all the time, or I cant just sit here and think about nothing, says Caroline Ramsay, a registered yoga teacher and certified yoga therapist in New Buffalo, Mich. Its an amazing feeling when students find themselves in a subconscious state, she says.

Breathwork can also help lead to a meditative state because it triggers a response in the parasympathetic nervous system, which can slow the heart and create a sense of stillness, Ramsay says. But yoga, thanks to its physical element, deepens the sense of relaxation for both body and mind.

Ramsay took up yoga to help undo the physical damage caused by the stress of 25 years in a managerial role for a multinational corporation. Discovering that yoga helped calm her mind was an unexpected fringe benefit. You certainly dont have to practice yoga to meditate, but it certainly helps many to reach that state, she adds.

Twin Cities Public Television - 2017. All rights reserved.

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Meditation for People Who Think They Can't Meditate - Next Avenue - Next Avenue

Take Five Meditation in Dupont Circle is the latest meditation studio to open in the D.C. area. (Courtesy Take Five Meditation)

WASHINGTON Stress is on the rise in the U.S., up 6.25 percent from August 2016 to January 2017, according to a report from the American Psychological Association and stress levels in the nations capital are in linewith the national average.

Washingtonians are doers, and they do a lot, said Eldad Moraru, the co-founder and chief contentment officer at D.C.s Take Five Meditation.

[Theyre] a breed that seem to have every minute of the day accounted for, with very little free time to just relax. So yeah, I would say this is a pretty stressed-out city.

But Moraru and his business partner, Tara Huber, are hoping to change that, one breath at a time.

Their Dupont Circle studio is the latest in a recent wave of meditation centers to hit the D.C. area. Just Meditate opened its doors in Bethesda, Maryland, in November, followed by the downtown-based Recharj in December.

Moraru, who has lived in D.C. for more than 25 years, says the tranquil trend has been a long time coming. He compares meditations new moment in the mainstream to yogas first taste of fame.

Both are practices that have been around forever but have not been mainstream. Eighteen years ago, if you wanted to try yoga, you had very limited options, Moraru said.

Now, more than 37 million people practice yoga in the U.S., according to a 2016 study conducted by Yoga Journal and Yoga Alliance.

Probably in the next five to 10 years, youll see meditation studios everywhere just like you see yoga studios now.

There are a number of reasons why more people are dipping their toes into meditations waters. The practice has been endorsed by celebrities, adopted by schools and made more accessible by apps, such as Headspace, which has more than 5 million downloads.

But I think more importantly, a lot of scientists have done studies over the last few years that have proven scientifically the benefits of meditation, and I think thats helped bring this to the conscience of the general public, Moraru added.

A team of Harvard-affiliated researchers found that eight weeks of mindfulness meditation produced physiological changes in the brains gray matter and made measurable changes in the regions associated with memory, sense of self, empathy and stress.

The mention of meditation often comes with an onslaught of stereotypes, including chanting monks and cross-legged hippies, but Huber said thats not at all what it entails. Simply put, its the ability to sit with yourself and get to understand your mind, she said.

Similar to yoga, meditation focuses on the breath. It teaches one how to be present in the moment a skill that sounds more simple than it is.

Most people tend to have an overactive mind, Moraru said. Usually were either stressing about the future the to-do list, the unanswered emails, etc. or reliving past experiences and replaying things in our mind. What it usually means is were not in the present moment.

Through guided commands, movement and even music or scent, meditation instructors help students drown out the noise of the daily grind and be present if only for a few minutes.

I think were on a lot, and I think were losing the skill, were losing the ability to know our mind and know who we are. And [meditation] gives you command over your mind, Huber said.

The cost of meditation is comparable to yoga. Classes in the D.C. area range between $15 and $25 each, and class times range from 30 to 75 minutes. But Moraru said even five minutes of meditation can make a difference and the good news is, you dont have to wait for results.

The benefits actually come very quickly. If you start meditating daily, within two weeks you will see a noticeable difference. This is not like hitting the gym you will feel the effects pretty quickly, he said.

Take Five Meditation is located at 1803 Connecticut Ave. NW on the second floor. Classes run between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

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The next yoga? Meditation studios multiply in DC area | WTOP - WTOP

You've no doubt heard about all the benefits of meditation, and how mindfulness can improveyour sex life, eating habits, andworkoutsbut meditation isn't one-size-fits-all.

If other types of meditation aren't clicking for you, japa meditationa meditation that uses mantras and mala beadscould be the key to really tuning into your practice. Mantras (which you might be familiar with as a sort of inspirational call to action) are a word or phrase you say either internally or out loud during your meditation practice, and malas (those gorgeous strings of beads you might see on your fave yogi or meditation Instagram accounts) are actually a way to count those mantras. Traditionally, they have 108 beads plus one guru bead (the one that dangles off the end of the necklace), says Ashley Wray, cofounder of Mala Collective, a company that sells sustainable, fair trade malas handmade in Bali.

"Not only are mala beads beautiful, but they're a great way to focus your attention while you're sitting in meditation," says Wray. "Repeating your mantra on each bead is a very meditative process, as the repetition becomes very melodic."

If you normally have trouble reining in a wandering mind during meditation, a mantra and malas provide both a mental and physical way to stay grounded in the moment. Not to mention, picking a mantra that's particularly relevant can help take your practice to the next level.

"Because affirmations are positive statements, they specifically help to interrupt the negative thought patterns we have and change them into positive beliefs," says Wray. "By simply repeating to ourselves, 'I am grounded, I am love, I am supported,' we start to take on those beliefs, and embrace them as truth."

1. Get comfortable. Find a place (on a cushion, chair, or the floor) where you can sit tall and comfortably. Hold the mala draped between your middle and index fingers on the right hand (above). Hold the mala between your middle finger and thumb.

2. Select your mantra. Choosing a mantra might seem the most important decision in the world, but don't over-think it: sit down to meditate, and let it come to you. "I let my mind wander and ask myself, 'what do I need right now, what am I feeling?'" says Wray. "It's a really simple and beautiful question to spark some self-reflection, and often a word, quality, or feeling will pop up."

An easy way to start is with an affirmation-based mantra: "I am _____." Choose a third word (love, strong, supported, etc.) for whatever you need at that moment. (Or try these mantras straight from mindfulness experts.)

3. Get rolling. To use the mala, you turn each bead in between your middle finger and thumb and repeat your mantra (either out loud or in your head) once on each bead. When you reach the guru bead, pause, and take that as an opportunity to honor your guru or yourself for taking the time to meditate, says Wray. If you wish to keep meditating, reverse the direction on your mala, doing another 108 repetitions in the other direction until you reach the guru bead once again.

Don't worry if your mind wanders; when you catch yourself straying, simply bring your focus back to your mantra and mala. "But make sure not to judge yourself in the process," says Wray. "Bringing yourself back to your focal point with kindness and grace is important."

4. Take your meditation to-go. Having a mala with you can turn any period of downtime into the perfect moment for meditation: "For a public practice, I recommend contemplating a quality you feel is particularly significant or important to you right now and, while you're waiting for a meeting or during a commute, slowly reciting that word or phrase," says Lodro Rinzler, cofounder of MNDFL, a meditation studio in New York City. And let's be honest, the beads probably lookgreat with your outfit.

Head to Mala Collective for a free audio series onhow to meditate and watch the how-to video below for more tips.

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How to Meditate with Mala Beads for a More Mindful Practice - Shape Magazine

Loren Dickson, Entertainment Reporter February 27, 2017 Filed under News, Online

Dating back thousands of years, meditation is one of the most common forms of relaxation.

To inspire students to try it out for themselves, Easterns own Meditation Club will be hosting a concert on campus featuring Ahl-e Qulub, a musical Persian group.

Several members of the Meditation Club are a part of the group, which has been around for about a year.

Ahl-e Qulub, which means people of the heart, will be performing 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the University Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

The concert was moved from its original location in the 7th Street Underground.

This will be Ahl-e Qulubs first time performing on Easterns campus.

Ahl-e Qulub member Alex Hill said the group only uses percussion and vocals during its performance.

We dont use other instruments because the focus is more on the audience to make it an internal listening experience, Hill said.

The percussion instruments that will be played are congas, djembes and dafs.

A conga is a tall, narrow, single-headed drum that has origins from Africa and Cuba. A djembe is a rope-tuned, skin-covered drum that is played with bare hands, originally from Africa, and a daf is a large Persian frame drum that is usually made of hardwood with metal rings attached.

Hill said for some who are not familiar with meditation, the music can help enrich the experience and get them in the right mindset.

Ahl-e Qulub member Ali Fisher said although there are many different forms of meditation, the group never deviates from the form they use.

This particular meditation method we use has been around for about 1,400 years, and we teach it the same way every time, she said. We encourage, if you do want to try meditating, just try to choose one method and go deeper in that. Cultivate that one meditation method.

Meditation is really simple, Hill said.

There are a few preliminary steps to get you in the right mindset, he said. Like most meditations that you will find, you focus on your breathing and your words. Sometimes its known as positive affirmation.

Hill said the words people choose to focus on are completely applicable to anyone and anyone can use meditation to better themselves and find what is purposeful in their life.

Its really interesting because we are telling everyone in the audience to say the same thing, truth you are, but for each individual person that can mean something totally different, Fisher said. Its universal.

Fisher said the goal of the Meditation Club is to give students a tool to help themselves and enrich their lives.

When you close your eyes, you are imagining something that brings peace to your heart, Hill said.

The concert is free and open to the public.

Loren Dickson can be reached at 581-2812 or ladickson@eiu.edu.

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Persian meditation music group, to perform - The Daily Eastern News

Monday, Feb. 27, 2017 | 2 a.m.

The practice of meditation dates back thousands of years and can be traced through different societies across the globe.

While the benefits of meditation have long been revered in Eastern civilizations, Western medicine has begun to recognize its impact as well, with many research studies reporting both psychological and physiological effects. We dont know exactly why meditation works for so many different conditions, but we know that it does, said Jacob Manjooran, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist at Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center.

When it comes to managing anxiety, depression, high blood pressure and other conditions, incorporating meditation into your life may be a component to overall health and happiness.

Health benefits of meditation

For a long time, meditation was considered a spiritual or religious practice, but weve found it extends far beyond that. It can elicit a physiological response in people who meditate regularly, Manjooran said.

The Frontiers in Human Neuroscience journal has published studies reporting that meditation can cause significant neurological changes in the brain that indicate an increased level of introspection, awareness, response control and compassion. In short, long-term meditation can actually change your brain structure and the way you think.

The benefits of meditation are far reaching, and the research is ongoing, but here are some notable ways meditation can improve your health:

Anxiety and depression: Meditation can decrease anxiety, stress and depression while increasing emotional regulation, awareness, self-control, happiness and social connections.

Its the best relaxation technique that can be learned and mastered. For people dealing with anxiety and depression, meditation can be so beneficial that it feels like a spiritual experience, Manjooran said.

Memory, cognition and attention: A 2011 study published in Psychiatry Research journal found that meditation can increase the density of gray matter in areas of the brain that govern learning, memory and perspective taking.

Pain management and cancer treatment: The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, a branch of the National Institutes of Health, found that meditation can help control pain without using the brains naturally occurring opiates to do so.

The Society for Integrative Oncology also recommends meditation in part of a multidisciplinary approach for cancer patients to help reduce their symptoms, including pain, anxiety, depression and insomnia.

High blood pressure and heart health: Meditation is proven to help lower blood pressure for patients with high blood pressure and people who have an increased risk of developing high blood pressure, especially teens.

Its also suggested to help lower resting heart rate, reduce the thickening of coronary arteries in hypertensive adults and even reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)and ulcerative colitis: Some studies have suggested that meditation can reduce the severity of symptoms for IBS and ulcerative colitis patients.

Immune system: Meditation can help strengthen and regulate the immune system by reducing the chemical identifiers of inflammation. It can also reduce stress-induced inflammation and other types of chronic inflammation that contribute to disease.

How to start meditating

There is a multitude of meditation methods, but many clinical research studies have focused on the Transcendental Meditation technique.

I recommend Transcendental Meditation to my patients because its a simple technique that yields great results. Other meditation techniques ask you to imagine a relaxing image or a series of mantras, but Transcendental Meditation asks you to clear your mind completely and focus only on the moment, Manjooran said.

To practice Transcendental Meditation:

1. Sit in a comfortable position with your eyes closed, in a quiet room free of distractions.

2. Relax your muscles one by one, a technique called progressive muscle relaxation.

3. Steady your breathing. Manjooran noted that abdominal breathing is important because it relaxes your diaphragm, so be sure your belly, not your chest, inflates when you inhale.

4. Clear your mind and focus either solely on your breath, or repeating a single word with each exhale. When thoughts come into your head, simply acknowledge them and let them pass.

Do this every day for 15 to 20 minutes. If youre having trouble at first, dont panic.

Starting a meditation practice is a lot like starting a new exercise regimen. It can be difficult at first our minds are not trained to relax and be silent but make it part of your daily routine and keep practicing until it gets easier. After four or five times, youll start to see a difference, Manjooran said.

Who should meditate?

Nearly any healthy person can adopt a meditation routine. Meditation is not recommended for patients with schizophrenia or some types of psychosis, though, because it can exacerbate symptoms.

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Research proves meditation is good for your health - Las Vegas Sun

Khadi and Village Industries Commission will take important decisions in its 642nd meet here 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 in the city on Monday.

During its 642nd meeting at the Ashram, the KVIC management is expected to 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 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 (Monday), 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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KVIC to hold meet at Sabarmati Ashram for the first time in 61 years - Ahmedabad Mirror

Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCwire) - Commerce Resources Corp. (TSXv: CCE, FSE: D7H) (the Company or Commerce) is pleased to announce that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (the MOU) with TUGLIQ Energy Co. (TUGLIQ) to complete a definitive assessment on the use of wind energy to satisfy part of the Ashram Rare Earth Projects energy requirements at the mine-site1 (the Wind Energy Project).

A preliminary evaluation of local and regional wind data to the west of Lac Le Moyne was completed by TUGLIQ in 2016, indicating favourable wind speeds for renewable power development as part of the Ashram Projects energy mix at the mine-site1 (see news release dated April 21, 2016). These encouraging results have now led to the signing of an MOU between the two companies in order to carry-out a more definitive assessment.

The Wind Energy Project will be comprised of three main components; Wind Resource Assessment, Electrical System Engineering, and an Integration Study including assessment of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions. The ultimate objective of the project will be to determine if the incorporation of wind power into the baseload diesel power supply at the mine-site1 is cost-effective. The project will be partially funded through the support of the coPerformance grant provided by the Ministre de lnergie et des Ressources naturelles du Qubec.

Company President Chris Grove states, We are excited to be collaborating with TUGLIQ, and to have the support of the Quebec Government on this renewable resource project. We look forward to evaluating this potential in much further detail. The potential to incorporate cost-effective renewable energy into the Ashram Project only makes it that much more attractive for development.

The results of the programs described in this news release are anticipated to be incorporated, along with other necessary technical data including geological and engineering studies, into the ongoing Pre-feasibility Study, with costs and potential benefits to be described in more detail therein.

1. Refers to the Ashram Deposit area, including the proposed mine-site infrastructure that would be required in the event of a mining operation.

Commerce Resources Corp. would also like to announce that Sven Olsson has resigned from the Board of Directors of the Company. The Company would like to thank Mr. Olsson for his service and dedication to the Company and its shareholders.

NI 43-101 Disclosure

Darren L. Smith, M.Sc., P.Geol., Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd., a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release.

About Wind Energy at Mine-sites in Canada

Benefits of wind power generation for mining projects include reducing the projects overall carbon footprint through a reduction in fossil fuel use and related transportation costs. In addition, the advancement of wind turbine technology in recent years has made the method more cost competitive and applicable to remote environments where a connection to the regional power grid is not practical.

Wind power generation for northern mining projects is currently operating successfully at two Canadian mine sites; the Diavik Mine, NWT, with a four turbine wind farm (9.2 MW generating capacity) operating since 2012, and most recently at the Raglan Mine, Nunavik, QC, with a single 3 MW turbine with energy storage commissioned in 2014.

About TUGLIQ Energy Corp.

TUGLIQ is a specialist Independent Power Producer (IPP) focused on remote and hybrid energy diversification for off-grid solutions tailored to the mining industry or islanded grids. TUGLIQ offers flexible structures and agreements ensuring CAPEX conservation for mining clients, and immediate savings over current diesel power generation costs, adapting to low prices in commodities and fossil fuels.

TUGLIQ takes responsibility on a turnkey basis of the financing, technology assessment, ownership, development, construction, execution and commissioning, operation and maintenance, in the end offering mining customers an advantageous all-inclusive price of energy on a $/kWh or $/GJ basis.

About Commerce Resources Corp.

Commerce Resources Corp. is an exploration and development company with a particular focus on deposits of rare metals and rare earth elements. The Company is focused on the development of its Ashram Rare Earth Element Deposit in Quebec and the Upper Fir Tantalum and Niobium Deposit in British Columbia.

For more information please visit the corporate website at http://www.commerceresources.com, or contact Investor Relations at 604.484.2700 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Commerce Resources Corp. and TUGLIQ Energy Co. Sign MOU for the Definitive Assessment of Wind Power Potential ... - Junior Mining Network

If you want to work up a sweat while singing along to 1980s pop tunes, this old-school aerobics class is perfect for you.

I CANT GET You Got it (The Right Stuff) by New Kids on the Block out of my head.

All that I needed was yoooou. Oh girl, youre so right

Rather than analyze what that says about me and my 1980s-era childhood, lets say 80s aerobics did its job, especially when it comes to music.

I spotted the old-school aerobics class when I was at The Studio in Issaquah for tap, and I couldnt resist returning for an 80s-themed class.

Teacher and studio owner Steven Oelrich encourages students to dress up. I wanted to go full-on Olivia Newton-John but, to my dismay, I do not own a shiny leotard, sweatbands to tame appropriately teased-out big hair, nor proper neon legwarmers. I threw on bright pink leggings and an off-the-shoulder top and called it good.

Oelrich wore legwarmers and a neon green T-shirt, though the rest of the class wore relatively tame outfits. I was happy to see one T-shirt homage to George Michael.

Oelrich started us off with a warm-up to Madonnas Like a Prayer. I had trouble doing the warm-ups and not whipping my head dramatically side-to-side. I wished I had put my hair in a side ponytail.

The music and moves kept improving. Oelrichs dance background comes out in the class, with different sequences, many of which felt like 80s dance routines. We did plenty of marching in place, high knees and big arms, and added in side-to-side shuffles and jazz squares. I dont remember what aerobics classes were like in the 80s, but swishy side-to-side hips sure felt like an 80s thing. Also, I know aerobics back then looked slightly frenzied, with arms thrown side-to-side, and we had that down pat.

We marched forward and back to Kim Wildes version of You Keep Me Hangin On. We jumped around to What a Feeling by Irena Cara. During Holding Out for a Hero by Bonnie Tyler, things got really frantic, and we jammed Footloose-style.

We went to the floor for core work to Survivors Eye of the Tiger, but this was the 80s, so we did bicycles on our backs; there wasnt a plank in sight.

And, of course, we used light hand weights to strength-train. We did biceps curls, reached our arms up overhead and lunged side-to-side while adding triceps curls.

Some of the faster-paced songs got my heart rate up, but overall the pace was moderate. Maybe I have taken too many high-intensity interval classes, but aerobics felt more focused on fun and moving your body than whipping you into shape. It still required plenty of energy, so perhaps we should give the 80s credit for being on to something.

I was tired by the end, and happy to cool down to George Michaels Careless Whisper.

If you like 80s music but not 80s style, you can skip the dress-up element of the class. But the tongue-in-cheek homage to an era that holds a fond place in my heart made the class stand out, and dressing up, even modestly, made it more fun for me. We moved our bodies, we sweated, we sang along to awesome tunes. And its a great way to dial in your best 80s dance moves, to boot.

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Find those legwarmers, tease out that big hair and give '80s aerobics a try - The Seattle Times