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Corpus Christi 12:06 a.m. CT Feb. 27, 2017

Del Mar College will offer free tax services from 2-6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays through Jan. 26-April 13 in Room 201 of the Venters Business Building, Del Mar College East, 101 Baldwin Blvd.(Photo: Creatas, Getty Images/Creatas RF)

TAXES:Del Mar College will offer free tax services from 2-6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays throughApril 13 in Room 201 of the Venters Business Building, Del Mar College East, 101 Baldwin Blvd. The services are for residents who make less than $50,000 per year. Cost: Free. Information: 361-698-1372.

WATER AEROBICS: The Corpus Christi Parks & Recreation Department hosts its year-round Water Aerobics Class from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays at the Corpus Christi Natatorium, 3202 Cabaniss Parkway. The class is for ages 14 and older. Cost: $4, drop-in; $24, punch card. Information: 361-826-1728, http://www.ccparkandrec.com.

CONCERT:Del Mar College faculty members Todd Ehle, violinist and professor of music; and Shao-Shan Chen, pianist and associate professor of music; will perform an evening recital at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28 atWolfe Recital Hall, Fine Arts Center Music Building, Del Mar College East. Cost: Free. Information: 361-698-1223.

PETS:People Assisting Animal Control will offer free spay and neuter surgeries for Labradors and Labrador mixes on Tuesday, Feb. 28, in honor of World Spay Day. Spots are limited; reservations are required. Cost: Free with proof of Corpus Christi residency. Information: 361-248-2009,ccpaac.org,facebook.com/CCPAAC.

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Taxas and aerobics top Monday's list of things to do - Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Written by PETA | February 25, 2017

We received word from Wolfgang Puck, the renowned chef behind the Oscars Governors Ball, that this years menu will include extraordinary mouthwatering plant-based dishes that are sure to delight vegan A-listers such as Casey Affleck and Natalie Portman.

The animal-free menu will feature a hearts of palm, watercress, and grapefruit salad with a jalapeo-lemon vinaigretteand thats just the tip of the iceberg! Pucks signature pizzas will include a vegan option, and guests will also be offered housemade gnocchetti with braised mushroom and cashew cream. Vegan desserts include chocolate chip cookie sandwiches, coconut cupcakes, and double chocolate cherry cookies.

PETA is blown away by Wolfgang Pucks Oscars menu of creative plant-based cuisine, says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. These delicious dishes will be a treat for all of Hollywoods A-listers, from the longtime vegans to those who simply want a bite to eat thats heart-healthy and animal-friendly.

The PETA motto reads, in part, that animals are not ours to eatnotes that every person who goes vegan spares more than 100 animals every year daily suffering and a terrifying death in todays industrialized meat, egg, and dairy industries. Vegans are also less prone to suffering from cancer, obesity, and diabetes than meat-eaters are and have a lower carbon footprint.

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Oscars Celebration Will Offer Delicious Vegan Menu - PETA (blog) (press release)

Handling stress is tough. With all the anxieties of modern life, we can turn to a number of different coping methods to deal with it, but here's one you might not have thought of: music.

Sound therapy is a form of holistic healing, and its popularity is rising, reports the New York Times. Music can benefit the well-being of our bodies and minds, helping the body heal from mental stress and even physical pain. Studies have revealed that the use of sound and music can be an effective tool for quieting the outside noise that impedes the mind's work.

Aside from its potency in the psychological sphere, sound therapy has been shown to have positive effects in the physiological domain as well. Various studies have shown that the use of low-frequency sounds can lessen the pain and anxiety associated with fibromyalgia, and the use of nature-based sounds can lessen the anxieties that arise when artery bypass graft patients are weaned off mechanical ventilation.

Music that creates an environment of deep calm and contemplation can help people study and work. (Photo: vectorfusionart/Shutterstock)

We asked noted psychologist David Lewis about the power of sound therapy, and he used a quote from English playwright William Congreve's "The Mourning Bride" to explain: "'Music,'" said William Congreve 'hath charms to soothe the savage breast,' and this is certainly true in a therapeutic environment where it can be powerful, in some cases essential, adjunct to whatever other type of therapy one is trying to perform."

At the British Academy of Sound Therapy, sound therapists use a variety of instruments to create states of relaxation, meditation and contemplation. These instruments, which are played live for the clients, include tonal ones like gongs, tuning forks and crystal singing bowls. Rhythmic instruments such as shakers, frame drums, rain sticks and chimes are also used. Even the human voice is added to the process. The vocals blend with the tonal instruments, creating tones similar to the ones produced by the instruments. These sounds create a space for reflective thought and relaxation.

A team of scientists, including Lewis and Lyz Cooper, founder of the British Academy of Sound Therapy, worked together to understand which songs worked best to generate relaxing effects, reports Inc. For one song, the researchers teamed up with Manchester band Marconi Union to compose the track "Weightless." Out of all the songs used in the study, "Weightless" imbued the highest level of relaxation in the subjects studied. Marconi Union used their talents to generate a world of soothing ambiance making use of warm electronically sampled nature sounds, guitar, and piano constructing an environment of deep calm and contemplation.

During the study, a group of 40 participants were asked to solve a number of puzzles in a timed setting. The puzzles, coupled with the time limitations, were designed to generate a certain amount of stress. The participants listened to various songs when attempting to solve the puzzles. They were connected to sensors that measured brain activity and physiological states. When listening to "Weightless," participants experienced a 65 percent reduction in anxiety, and a 35 percent reduction in typical physiological resting states such as heart rate, blood pressureand breathing rates.

Even though "Weightless" proved most effective in this particular study, its important to remember that "what relaxes one client may relax another hardly at all," Lewis told MNN. "I once treated a young man who was able to relax both mentally and physically into a very deep state whilst listening to heavy metal." It may seem like an odd choice as a means for relaxation, but according to Lewis, "one needs to match the music choice to the client's experiences and personality."

Sound therapy is fascinating. It has the "power to reach parts of the brain which words alone cannot reach," Lewis says. Everything from distorted and shredding guitars, to the deep drones of gongs can be used to induce meditative states. It reveals the universal appeal of music and its capacity to heal both mind and body.

There's no one genre of music or one song that is the be-all and end-all of sound therapy, but here's a list of the rest of the songs used in the study that proved most effective for relaxation:

1. "Electra" by Airstream

2. "Mellomaniac (Chill Out Mix)" by DJ Shah

3. "Watermark" by Enya

4. "Strawberry Swing" by Coldplay

5. "Please Don't Go" by Barcelona

6. "Pure Shores" by All Saints

7. "Someone Like You" by Adele

8. "Canzonetta Sull'aria" - Mozart

9. "We Can Fly (Caf Del Mar)" by Rue du Soleil

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What is sound therapy? - Mother Nature Network

DUBLIN, Feb 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Organic Food & Beverages Market Analysis & Trends - Industry Forecast to 2025" report to their offering.

Research and Markets Logo

The Global Organic Food & Beverages Market is poised to grow at a CAGR of around 16.6% over the next decade to reach approximately $456 billion by 2025.

This industry report analyzes the market estimates and forecasts for all the given segments on global as well as regional levels presented in the research scope. The study provides historical market data for 2013, 2014 revenue estimations are presented for 2015 and forecasts from 2016 till 2025. The study focuses on market trends, leading players, supply chain trends, technological innovations, key developments, and future strategies.

Some of the prominent trends that the market is witnessing include rising government support for organic agriculture, expansion of organic products beyond the natural channel, increasing connected shopper and proliferation of organic in food service.

Based on Product the market is categorized into food and beverages. Food segment is further sub- segmented into dairy products, baby food, meat, fish & poultry, fruits and vegetables, frozen & processed food, bakery products and others. Beverages are further sub -segmented beer & wine, coffee & tea, non-dairy beverages and others.

Depending on the Distribution channel the market is segmented by organic retailers, supermarkets and hypermarkets and online retailers.

Report Highlights:

- The report provides a detailed analysis on current and future market trends to identify the investment opportunities - Market forecasts till 2025, using estimated market values as the base numbers - Key market trends across the business segments, Regions and Countries - Key developments and strategies observed in the market - Market Dynamics such as Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities and other trends - In-depth company profiles of key players and upcoming prominent players - Growth prospects among the emerging nations through 2025 - Market opportunities and recommendations for new investments

Key Topics Covered:

1 Market Outline 1.1 Research Methodology 1.1.1 Research Approach & Sources 1.2 Market Trends 1.3 Regulatory Factors 1.4 Product Analysis 1.5 Strategic Benchmarking 1.6 Opportunity Analysis

2 Executive Summary

3 Market Overview 3.1 Current Trends 3.1.1 Rising Government support for organic agriculture 3.1.2 Expansion of organic products beyond the natural channel 3.1.3 Increasing connected shopper 3.1.4 Proliferation of organic in food service 3.2 Drivers 3.3 Constraints 3.4 Industry Attractiveness

4 Organic Food & Beverages Market, By Product 4.1 Food 4.1.1 Food Market Forecast to 2025 (US$ MN) 4.1.1.1 Dairy products 4.1.1.1.1 Dairy products Market Forecast to 2025 (US$ MN) 4.1.1.2 Baby food 4.1.1.2.1 Baby food Market Forecast to 2025 (US$ MN) 4.1.1.3 Meat, Fish & poultry 4.1.1.3.1 Meat, Fish & poultry Market Forecast to 2025 (US$ MN) 4.1.1.4 Fruits and vegetables 4.1.1.4.1 Fruits and vegetables Market Forecast to 2025 (US$ MN) 4.1.1.5 Frozen & Processed Food 4.1.1.5.1 Frozen & Processed Food Market Forecast to 2025 (US$ MN) 4.1.1.6 Bakery products 4.1.1.6.1 Bakery products Market Forecast to 2025 (US$ MN) 4.1.1.7 Others 4.1.1.7.1 Others Market Forecast to 2025 (US$ MN) 4.2 Beverages 4.2.1 Beverages Market Forecast to 2025 (US$ MN) 4.2.1.1 Beer & Wine 4.2.1.1.1 Beer & Wine Market Forecast to 2025 (US$ MN) 4.2.1.2 Coffee & Tea 4.2.1.2.1 Coffee & Tea Market Forecast to 2025 (US$ MN) 4.2.1.3 Non-Dairy Beverages 4.2.1.3.1 Non-Dairy Beverages Market Forecast to 2025 (US$ MN) 4.2.1.4 Others 4.2.1.4.1 Others

5 Organic Food & Beverages Market, By Distribution channel 5.1 Organic retailers 5.1.1 Organic retailers Market Forecast to 2025 (US$ MN) 5.2 Supermarkets and hypermarkets 5.2.1 Supermarkets and hypermarkets Market Forecast to 2025 (US$ MN) 5.3 Online retailers 5.3.1 Online retailers Market Forecast to 2025 (US$ MN)

6 Organic Food & Beverages Market, By Geography

7 Key Player Activities 7.1 Mergers & Acquisitions 7.2 Partnerships, Joint Venture's, Collaborations and Agreements 7.3 Product Launch & Expansions 7.4 Other Activities

8 Leading Companies

- Amy's Kitchen Inc. - Carrefour - Conagra Foods Inc. - Dakota Beef LLC - Dean Foods Co., - Koninklijke Ahold - Kraft Foods Group Inc. - Metro - Organic Valley - REWE - Tesco plc - Waitrose Ltd - Whole Foods Market Inc.

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/z9vcbw/global_organic

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Global Organic Food & Beverages Market Analysis & Trends 2013 ... - Yahoo Finance

An eight-week mindfulness-based meditation program led to improved quality of life and psychological well-being in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to new research.

In a randomized, open-label, and controlled clinical trial that included 100 patients, participants who underwent meditation training scored higher on a questionnaire specifically developed to assess quality of life in people with ALS, according to researchers.

They also reported lower levels of anxiety and depression, the study found.

These results remained stable, when not further improved, over a 12-month follow-up.

There has been very limited investigation on psychological interventions that can promote quality of life in people with ALS, said Dr. Francesco Pagnini, lead author of the study. I found that very strange, as we are not able to cure the disease, but we all agree that the promotion of quality of life is the current main goal in ALS cases.

This is the first controlled trial in this field, suggesting that a mindfulness-based intervention can be a very important tool to increase the well-being of people with ALS, he added.

The study was published in the European Journal of Neurology.

Source: Wiley

APA Reference Wood, J. (2017). Meditation Can Benefit ALS Patients. Psych Central. Retrieved on February 27, 2017, from https://psychcentral.com/news/2017/02/26/meditation-benefits-als-patients/116894.html

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Meditation Can Benefit ALS Patients - PsychCentral.com

Updated 13 hours ago

Drummer and recording artist Jim Donovan discovered yoga in the early 1990s when he was struggling to get the band Rusted Root off the ground.

Then 22, and working for his father's Bethel Park-based tree-trimming service, Donovan was searching for a way to manage the anxiety and negative self-talk that interfered with his sleep, his relationships and his music.

Rusted Root eventually would achieve fame with its platinum-selling album When I Woke, as Donovan continued on a personal path he would come to know as mindfulness, that for him encompasses yoga, meditation, focused breathing and drumming and chanting.

The basic idea behind mindfulness, says Donovan, now 48, and living in Greensburg, is letting yourself be fully present with whatever you are doing. If you're having a conversation with someone, really be in the moment with your listening. If you're taking a walk, rather than be on your phone or thinking about your to-do list, allow yourself to take in your environment ... what you see ... what you smell ... immerse yourself in that.

Donovan guides others in the practice of mindfulness with music and wellness workshops, including those offered through St. Francis College, where he chairs the department of fine arts. He is leading a drumming-and-chanting course on Mondays in February at Moonglow Yoga in Hempfield.

Drumming and chanting which some call the new yoga is popular because it lends itself to helping people let go of stress, says Donovan, who has developed a system that even non-musicians can master. Drumming has nothing to do with being super-fast or fancy. It's intense, but there's a specific rhythm and it's also improvisational.

Most of the people who come to his workshops are worried they aren't good enough, he says, but they keep coming back because I show them that they have what they need and can have a great time doing it.

Donovan asserts that drumming and other mindfulness techniques, especially meditation, can improve health, and scientific studies appear to back him up.

When we look at the physical effects of a meditation practice, research shows that it can help people reduce pain, says Dr. Natalia Morone, a University of Pittsburgh physician and author of a comprehensive clinical trial on the subject.

Morone studied 282 older adults with back pain by randomly putting half into a group that learned about exercise, immunizations and other keys to healthy aging, and the other half into a group that practiced mindfulness meditation.

Among meditators, 44 percent experienced a 30 percent reduction in pain, compared with 25 percent in the other group, even six months after the study, Morone says.

Some described how they could look at their pain from a new perspective how they were feeling more in control of their pain, which could be life-changing. It made the pain not quite as big as they thought.

Morone used the meditation model developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn, creator of the Stress Reduction Clinic and Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He is considered a pioneer in helping people cope with stress, anxiety and illness through mindfulness.

It is the same model UPMC psychologist Carol Greco uses in the meditation workshops she leads at UPMC's Center for Complementary Medicine. Greco met Kabat-Zinn and his colleague Dr. Herb Benson, founder of the Mind/Body Medical Institute at Massachusetts General, at a conference 20 years ago and says putting their teachings into practice transformed her life.

I'm still the same person with auto-pilot neuroses, but the difficulties don't grab me so much. I can step back from old habits, like thinking tomorrow will be awful, she says. Relationships are easier. I'm kinder to myself and others. I don't take myself so seriously most the time, anymore.

Research by David Creswell, an associate professor of psychology at Carnegie Mellon University, indicates that mindfulness meditation can reduce inflammation that has been linked to some cancers as well as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases.

His studies also indicate that mindfulness meditation can reduce loneliness in the elderly and alleviate psychological stress.

A study involving unemployed adults who practiced intensive meditation during a three-day retreat showed they continued to reap the benefits for two weeks after the experience, according to Emily Lindsay, a doctoral student who works with Cresswell. Brain scans taken before and after the retreat measured the effects of meditation.

By comparison, participants who were instead given relaxation training, such as stretching and walking exercises, didn't show any changes in brain function, she says, noting that both groups also were tested for inflammation four months after the retreat. The group that meditated showed a reduction in inflammation in the body. The relaxation training people didn't show any changes in brain function or inflammation.

As mindfulness meditation goes mainstream, folks eager to cultivate a practice will find classes and workshops at yoga studios and health clubs. You can even find guidance on YouTube, Lindsay says.

Red Brick Yoga in Unity has slated a mindfulness course for Sundays in March that will include meditation, breathing exercises and other techniques aimed at reducing stress and increasing joy, according to Red Brick owner Angela Merendino. She says yoga is a good foundation for cultivating the ability to be fully present.

Yoga postures make you stronger and more flexible ... but it's not just a physical practice. It's so much more. It connects movement and breath. It's a flow, she says. You learn to be in each moment and not be in your head.

Deborah Weisberg is a Tribune-Review contributing writer.

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Meditation techniques help people be in the moment - Tribune-Review

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