September has wreaked havoc on Devin Smeltzers routine. Hes still preparing as if hell pitch every fifth day, but much like every other Twins reliever who can provide length, that hasnt been the case.

Smeltzer has been on call for most of the month as the Twins figure out how to successfully cover each inning down the stretch. Hes pitched in relief once and started another game over the previous 19 days.

On Friday night, Smeltzer will likely follow starter Randy Dobnak for the Twins against the Kansas City Royals. How much ground Dobnak will cover is unknown. Smeltzer last pitched in Game 1 of Saturdays doubleheader in Cleveland and produced three scoreless innings.

The only aspects currently in Smeltzers control are his preparation and mindset when he takes the mound. While hes always handled the physical part of his routine well, this offseason Smeltzer discovered a better way to regulate his energy level via...

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'The best me': How meditation helps Devin Smeltzer lock in on the mound - The Athletic

I would inspire a massive global monthly meditation movement. Every sports stadium, temple, and all the major buildings around the globe would be filled with people meditating on peace, love, and unity. This would happen on one designated day each month, twelve times a year. Celebrities would be involved and promoting this movement and if people were unable to physically attend, they could meditate at their homes or wherever theyre at. It would be called the We are Peace Movement.

I had the pleasure to interview Kiyoshi. As a visionary inspirational vocalist, musician, and songwriter, Kiyoshi has a deep passion for empowering humanity. He is a purpose driven wordsman whose fusion of upbeat hip-hop and soulful sounds sends lightning bolts of conscious energy and thought into audiences around the globe. His rhythms and rhymes are rooted in social, spiritual, and political awareness to provoke the world to listen and feel what is true. Kiyoshi and his band engage audiences worldwide with a highly interactive and authentic stage performance, getting the crowd dancing and moving like no other. Born in Saginaw, Michigan, Kiyoshi received his first introduction to the world of harmony and sound-healing from his music teaching father. Blending styles from his Pacific Island and African American lineage, he built his reputation as one of Metro Detroits most creative and talented artists when he relocated to Ann Arbor. Talent shows, poetry slams, open mics, and the underground hiphop scenes in the Midwest nurtured his ability to command an audience on demand. Kiyoshi currently resides in Southern California, where he performs, rap coaches, curates events, and teaches yoga in his free time. Hes performed and collaborated with a plethora of talented musicians and producers including the Beats Antique Orchestra, The Polish Ambassador, Luminaries Crew, and many more. Kiyoshi has been featured on countless media outlets including Fox, MTV, VH1, NBC, URB, and opened up for notable acts such as Zap Mamma, Aloe Blacc, Xavier Rudd, Mayer Hawthorne, Everlast, and Slum Village. He was recently featured on the Ready to Live Health & Wellness mixtape executive produced by Stic of the legendary hiphop duo Dead Prez amongst other rap heavyweights including Nas, KRS-One, Busta Rhymes, Jadakiss, Styles P, and others repping a healthy lifestyle through hip hop culture. Today, with many years of creating rhythms and rhymes, he tours internationally to perform at socially conscious events, festivals, and venues, bringing soul and swagger to the masses.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?

Born in Saginaw, Michigan, I grew up in a very musical family. My father was teaching music to students before I was born. My father was a marching band director as well as a music teacher for the local schools. We had instruments in different rooms all throughout our home.

In the late 1980s-1990s, the high school jazz band my dad led, competed nationally for Jazz music. That made him a local hero in our town. During this time, we attended church every Sunday. This was where I performed in front a crowd of people for the first time. At the tender age of 5 years old, I sung Jesus Loves Me. I was nervous and scared but rose to the occasion and rocked it during our church holiday Christmas celebration in the late 80s.

When I was 8 years old, my first music lessons were playing acoustic guitar. As a kid, I would sing around the house. According to my parents, I displayed the earliest signs of rhythm and swagger out of my other siblings and even as a toddler.

Background on my name: My mother is Pacific Islander. She was born in the Marshall Islands. Her adopted mother was half Japanese. My mother met my father (a black man) at Defiance College in the early 1970s. My mom gave me and my siblings Japanese names in honor of her heritage and her Asian-influenced cultural upbringing.

As a young child, I grew up listening to classic Motown (we lived close enough to Detroit, Michigan), Christian/Gospel, R&B Soul, and some Country and Rock.

As a young kid, my teenage brother Akira (who later became my music producer) introduced me to rap music. Hed break dance around the house and compete with his friends at roller rinks and other nearby venues. He would also play cassette tapes with famous rappers like Run DMC, Beastie Boys, Sugar Hill Gang, Fat Boys etc. We also watched a lot of Yo MTV Raps around this time. During these years, my mother would play music from her Pacific Island home. The cultures use of vocal harmonies and guitar introduced me to harmony: melodies or vocal parts stacked on top of each other below or above each other simultaneously, creating a bigger, beautiful group sound.

When I was 7 and my oldest brother Akira was only 14, he became a professional jazz musician. He was performing everywhere. He later started making beats in his 20s (1990s) producing a bulk of my now released music.

As you can see, I was heavily influenced by my African American father, Pacific Island mother, church, brother Akira, and MTV/BET/TV/Radio.

Around the time I started writing poetry, raps, and songs at 14, my father wanted me to switch to bass guitar. He felt the way I played the acoustic was more like how a bass player plays a bass. I became pretty descent and played in my fathers steel drum band the following year (1997). We even traveled to Jamaica and performed there that year and again in 2000 right after I graduated high school.

My poetry writing began in English class. It progressed to writing raps which later led to me performing my own rap songs on stage at church.

I entered several poetry slams in high school, competing nationally my senior year. These opportunities allowed me to get more comfortable on stage. So in 2000, I made the 7-person Ann Arbor, Michigan team out of 70+ high schoolers that competed that year. This was the first time I traveled to California (San Francisco) and performed at the Brave New Voices National Youth Poetry Slam Invitationals. The following year, I joined the Ypsilanti Youth Poetry Slam team and competed nationally in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

I attended Eastern Michigan University in the fall of 2000, where I later joined the EMU Poetry Society. During college (20002005), I competed and won a lot of college talent shows and also joined a hip hop/funk band with my college buddies. We were called Open Mic Affiliates. I played bass and rapped in the group.

I took to rapping more seriously in the 2000s and released my first music album in 2004.

Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?

Ever since I was a child, I knew in my heart that I was destined for greatness. I knew I would be a music entertainer or musician of some kind. It became clear to me as a young teenager when I would watch poets perform their pieces on TV. Or when I would listen to pastors deliver their sermons on Sundays at church. Id get chills in my spine, knowing that I had the gift to do what they did and I had a deeper knowing that I had something to say to the peoplethat I had the gift of using my voice to inspire.

I remember performing my poem The Risen Son Cometh when I was 17 and received a standing ovation when I performed during a poetry slam in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The response and feedback afterwards confirmed what I felt, music and performing to inspire through my words and my music was my life purpose.

Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

One interesting story: Last year I met some fans of mine at Eve Encinitas, a local restaurant in North County San Diego. They asked me what my actual real name was and I told them that its Kiyoshi. They were surprised as they thought it was just my stage name and not my actual name. Around the same time, I met some other friends who know me in the local San Diego yoga scene, and they wanted to know my actual real name. I responded with Kiyoshi and they thought that was my just spiritual name and not my actual legal name. So during this year, people would think Kiyoshi was either my stage name or spiritual name. And Im always like Its all three: my birth name, spiritual name, and stage name lol.

The origin of my name is usually a cool icebreaker when I meet new people. Some people think: How in the world did this black guy get a Japanese name?

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

In college, when I was 21 or 22, I believe it was my last year at EMU. My bandmates and I attended a small poetry night at University of Michigan. It was a Valentines Day themed night so everyone was reciting love poems and things of that nature. An hour before we arrived, we smoked some really strong weed at my friends house. I got so high that I thought somehow my silly ass would recite a poem while in that state of mind.

I performed a sensual love piece called A Plunge into Passion and it was hands down, my worst performance ever. I didnt even have the poem memorized. I read it from paper (or at least tried to) and was still stuttering. After I would recite a couple lines, I would laugh. My friends were like Yosh, what was that!? That was the moment I knew that I would never smoke weed before a live performance. I have stuck with that decision to this day.

I take performing seriously and have to be in top shape with the right, high level mindstate to do what I do. I learned that I have to be on my A-game when it comes to performing live.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?

My most exciting project is my Rap Coaching Business. I teach and coach people how to activate their voices and soul gifts, using rap as a tool for personal development. They learn the basics of rap from learning how to count bars, to learning how to freestyle, write, perform, and find their voices. Its rapping they are learning, but its so much more than that. I assist others in overcoming fears, sparking creativity, learning to be more confident on stage, writing songs, becoming more of an overall embodied and expressed person.

I have a 5 step pillar process we go through during my rap coaching sessions and we usually work together on a multiple week program depending on my clients goals and what they are looking to accomplish whether its learning how to create a song, improve a song, or just get stage ready and feel more confident in front of others. Its a lot of fun.

Im excited about another big project were doing with my team Buddha Music Group on November 11, 2019. Were performing an amazing theatrical production at the World Beat Center alongside my musical comrade DTO.

Its a stage show, interweaving our music while telling the story of a war veteran who experiences a life crisis and his struggles during the military. He then finds love and yoga. Its awesome. Our motto is: Raising the vibrations of the planet through art and music. The audience will witness this during this highly anticipated show.

I am also working on a new music EP I plan to release sometime next year. Im really bringing it lyrically on this new project. I have one song called Zombies (its about the masses in our current society aimlessly walking around like mindless zombies glued to our cell phones/digital gadgets) Its a fun, funky song. I plan on going into the deeper parts of my soul and shadow-sides to expand on topics I havent dove into much like depression and thriving in a cluttered world. Its a work in progress but what I have so far is exciting.

This fall/winter, I plan to release a 4 song remix EP that will be targeted more for the yoga crowd. Soothing, euphoric soundscapes, healing the mind, body, and soul on deep levels with powerful affirmations and intricate rhyme patterning and instrumentation. Im collaborating with different musician friends such as Eric Open Optics Poline, Makhana, and Dru Hyphen Select Ruggeri.

We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think its important to have diversity represented in film and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?

As a mixed man of Black and Pacific Island ancestry in America, I feel this is super vital and necessary to have diversity represented in film and television.

Most of the superheroes in Hollywood and in the movies are white. Most of the people in the world, are not.

I grew up in a diverse setting, with friends of all races and backgrounds. Seeing whites portrayed over and over as positive heroes and blacks and latinos portrayed over and over as negative enemies/villains/criminals is very problematic. Its not reality and this causes the viewers to associate people of color in real life as the bad guy.

This all ties in to the 1940s landmark doll test where 510 year old children were sat in front of black and white dolls and asked who the good and bad dolls were, and the majority of them pointed to the black dolls as being bad and the white dolls as being good.

The historic negative portrayals of people of color in film and TV only reinforce this.

In 2016, Moana was released. That was the first time I remember Disney ever portraying and representing the Pacific Islands the way it was illustrated in the film. It was beautiful. It reminded me of the stories my mother would tell me as a kid. It feels good to see people in that animated film that look more like relatives from my mothers side. My little sister (who sings and dances) was getting a bunch of gigs during that time performing as Moana.

Just last year, Black Panther came out. It was my fathers (African American) side being represented and this time in a positive light. My friends and I were super hyped up. We were tired of seeing blacks portrayed as criminals, thieves, and robbers. All over the world, black people celebrated together. Finally, one half of my race is being shown respect in the cinema world. The opening weekend it came out, my friend and I dressed up in daishikis and African garb. Gary brought his djembe drum and we sang and danced our way to the movie theatre. People were taking pictures of us and with us. We were so happy to see our cultural pride. That was the first time we ever did that. African culture and color was truly being represented in a positive way, and I feel this was altering the perception of black people around the globe beautifully. This was a HUGE step.

So to answer your original question, 3 reasons why diversity represented in film and TV is important is:

1. It gives people more of an open mind. We can all learn about other races this way. This leads to less judgement, allowing viewers to see how we are truly all one.

2. It can make people feel more represented and bring a sense of pride to people of color. We all want to feel like we belong and seeing people that look like us in film and TV is a good thing.

3. Its relatable. Stories from a larger pool of people can be shown that wider audiences can relate to. This encourages creative story ideas to be introduced to the masses. Its a win-win.

All of this can only bring our culture more together and create more opportunities for more people in film and TV.

What are your 5 things I wish someone told me when I first started and why. Please share a story or example for each.

1. Spend more time on learning how to monetize your music.

I spent more time creating music and learning how to rap and perform and not enough time learning how to make money from this. I wish someone told me how challenging it would be to make a living and have sustainability. During my teens and early 20s, I thought I would be signed to a major label and get the big bucks. I had to take matters into my own hands and learn how to book and throw my own shows. I also had to learn how to sell and market CDs, network, etc. Its a whole other job learning the business side to music. I spent a lot of time barely making it, check by check and barely able to pay bills sometimes because I wasnt business and financially savvy. I would have invested in a financial advisor, attended finance seminars, and also started my YouTube channel during college when it first came out.

2. Spend less time chasing girls.

I spent a lot of money on alcohol, partying, and going to the club when that money could have been directed towards my music business. It was a lot of fun, although I learned later that its better to make smart investments in my future rather than temporary joy.

3. Learn a trade or skill, instead of earning a college degree.

Im very grateful for my college degree but if I could it over again, I would learn a specific trade or skill. I would have saved tons of money and I would have better paying jobs leading up to this point.

4. Dont get any student loans.

Im still paying student loans. I could have spent more years getting my degree, paying less overtime. I was a different person in college in a very different state of mind. I am very grateful for my degree, but I would have saved a lot of money and could have used it to put towards my music career.

5. Go to school for music production.

I would have learned how to produce my own music/beats today. I would have been ahead of the curve and not relying on others to produce music for me to rap and sing over. I dont regret it as I can always further my music production skills.

Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not burn out?

I would recommend finding time to meditate daily. Self care is huge on my list: balanced diet, 78 hours of sleep, finding time in nature, movement like dance or a walk in the park. Also, surround yourself with mentors and positive, supporting individuals who support your life goals/mission.

Id also recommend decluttering, meaning balancing life schedule obligations and prioritizing them. I highly recommend a social media fast. Im actually doing one right now. Its been amazing to take a step away from the digital world and regain more focus and clarity.

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.

I would inspire a massive global monthly meditation movement. Every sports stadium, temple, and all the major buildings around the globe would be filled with people meditating on peace, love, and unity. This would happen on one designated day each month, twelve times a year.

Celebrities would be involved and promoting this movement and if people were unable to physically attend, they could meditate at their homes or wherever theyre at. It would be called the We are Peace Movement.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

Yes, my music manager Marc Devoe has helped me tons! Since we met in 2013, hes been a huge supporter of my music and my vision. I met him through my singing and writing partner Krista Richards after one of our shows. Hes given me great advice and has been an amazing friend, mentor, and music manager. He has believed and invested in the power of my music and message more than almost anyone Ive ever known. I am truly grateful for him and our collective label which he founded, Buddha Music Group.

Can you please give us your favorite Life Lesson Quote? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

Live today as if it were your last.

In 2014, I experienced the most serious car accident and scariest event of my life. It was truly a moment of awakening for me. I was driving my friends van on the way to my music video shoot and the brakes went out. My friend was in the passenger seat. The van was totaled and ended up on its side. Luckily, we were injury free and blessed to survive. This gave me a deep sense of gratitude for life and was a clear example that the gift of life can easily be taken away from anyone of us at any moment. I use that experience as a reference point and reminder that I need to give it all in every moment in my life, no holding back, giving my all in everything I do 100%: my music, relationships, activities, peepseverything. It also reminded me to regularly tell those close to me how much I appreciate and love them.

So since then, this life lesson quote has been resonant in my life purpose.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them.

Yes, absolutely. Dwayne The Rock Johnson is super fun, charismatic, a mixed Pacific Islander and Black like myself, funny, and hes a badass in wrestling and film. Everything he makes is awesome. The Rock is a big inspiration for me and everything I see him do is highly entertaining. His consistency in delivering high quality material is mind-blowing. Id love to eat and chat it up with him. I already know wed be great buddies.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

Follow me on Instagram: @KiyoshiMusic

And visit my website at: http://www.kiyoshimusic.com

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Rising Music Star Kiyoshi: Why Id like to inspire a massive global monthly meditation movement - Thrive Global

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

When our 4-year-old son was diagnosed with leukemia, my wife and I dropped everything and took up residence for a week in our sons room at the local childrens hospital. We struggled to keep a brave outward appearance as we dealt with a barrage of tests and procedures and meetings with doctors, counselors, family, and chaplains. Inside, however, we were shell-shocked.

One night, I awoke to a palpable feeling of reassurance and warmth that filled our sons hospital room. In place of all my worry and fear lingered the most complete peace I have ever felt.

From that point on, every time we took our son to his monthly evaluation and chemo clinic, we read chapter four of Philippians. Admittedly, it was always a struggle not to worry, but still I felt Gods presence. Throughout our sons three-and-a-half-year chemotherapy regimen, we continually made known our requests to God.

Our son is now 13 years old, and he does most of the things a normal 13-year-old boy does. Just as we did that night in the hospital, we continue to experience Gods presence in every one of our annual survivor-clinic visits. God has been there for all of it offering us hope, loving kindness, and abundant peace.

PrayerCompassionate God, send peace to all those who worry over their health and the health of their loved ones. Fill us with peace that banishes our fears and anxieties. Amen.

Thought for the DayIn the midst of trouble, I am surrounded by Gods peace.

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Meditation | Home And Family - High Plains Journal

Meditation is often praised for its health benefits: It can help us deal with stress, reduce our inflammation, and maybe even live a little longer. But this week, the second annual Ekam World Peace Festival in India is exploring how the practice can transcend individual healing and promote a brighter future for the whole of humanity.

Spiritual leaders Preethajiand Krishnaji are hosting the festival from September 12 to September 22 in Andhra Pradesh, India. They expect that over 1 million people will join them, physically and virtually, in what is poised to become one of the biggest mass meditation events ever.

Each day of the festival, Preethajiand Krishnaji will host a 60-minute meditation focused on one of society's most pressing problems, such as violence against women, racial discrimination, and economic exploitation. While they don't expect to solve these issues overnight (or over the course of 10 nights), the hope is that the people tuning in will become "peace ambassadors" of sorts: They'll internalize the meditations' messages and leave feeling empowered to share them in their own communities.

This idea that our individual experiences can reverberate around the world is a very You. We. All. sentimentand it makes sense. When Preethaji was on the mindbodygreen podcast earlier this summer, she described why meditation can be so far-reaching in saying, "Just as much as we are focused on the external world, it is so very important that we bring attention to our consciousness because consciousness is the foundation on which the entire life is being built." She believes that peace travels linearly, and it can literally be passed down through generations. From this perspective, individual awakening can become a collective awakening over time.

By bringing so many people from around the world together (last year, 100 countries were represented), the festival also hopes to spark a sense of togetherness in an age that feels increasingly polarized and isolating.

"If you're seeing that more and more people do not know the purpose of their lives, that means more and more people are living in states of disconnection," Preethaji said on the podcast. "More and more people are living in states of disconnection because they are engrossed in loneliness, engrossed in anxiety, engrossed in hurt, engrossed in fear."

If you can't fly out to India to experience the festival in person, its meditations will be streamed online here. Peace, love, and mindfulness for all.

Read the rest here:

This Week, Over 1 Million People Are Meditating For World Peace - mindbodygreen.com

Academic research doesn't usually make its way into the public eye unless a news outlet can find a way to give it a clickbait headline.

But three professors at Trinity University have found a unique way to buck this trend instead of writing yet another academic article, they adapted their body of work into a play.

To Be Honest: Voices on Islam from an American Cityfirst premiered at Trinity's Attic Theatre in 2017. The play draws from 200 hours of interviewsconducted in the summer of 2016 by professors Sarah Beth Kaufman, Habiba Noor and William Christ with the aid of student researchersHanna Niner, Iris Baughman, Savannah Wagner and Matthew Long.

The group spoke with 172 San Antonians from diverse backgrounds about their perspectives on Islam and the vitriol about Islam and Muslims that arose during the 2016 Presidential election cycle.

As they compiled the interviews, Kaufman, Noor and Christ realized that the power of these collected words was something that they believed should be shared as widely as possible. They narrowed the wide swath of interviews into excerpts that they compiled into a script and gathered actors from the Trinity community and beyond to bring the work to the stage.

"The play reflects the variety of perceptions San Antonians hold about Islam," says Christ. "We invite people to experience the performance and learn about their fellow citizens."

After performances held at Trinity, the McNay Art Museum and the Carver Center, To Be Honesthas now moved to the Carlos Alvarez Studio Theater at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts.

"We wanted to reach out to interfaith groups. social justice groups, educators and people who care about where this country is going," Christ adds. "The Tobin's Carlo Alvarez Studio Theater is an excellent, intimate, safe space for talking about volatile issues."

Free, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, September 21 and 2 p.m. Sunday, September 22, Carlos Alvarez Studio Theater, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle, (210) 223-8624, tobincenter.org

Get our top picks for the best events in San Antonio every Thursday morning. Sign up for our Events Newsletter.

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Trinity University Academics Bring Theatrical Meditation on Islam and American Politics to the Tobin Center - San Antonio Current

The study published in the International Journal of Recent Scientific Research has confirmed that Heartfulness meditation, the popular meditation practice around the world, helped to create a sense of gratitude among its practitioners.

The awareness of the benefits of gratitude on the general well being of a person is increasingly becoming apparent and numerous studies have supported the same, Heartfulness Institute said.

Authored by Raja Amarnath G., Prabhakar Akurathi, Chitra Rajan, Aiswarya Ravichandran, Ravindra Deshpande, Varalakshmi A., Ved Prakash Vyas and Rani Vijayan, the study compared the gratitude levels of Heartfulness meditators with non-meditators following a comprehensive survey.

READ | 5 amazing benefits of Yoga in school

The researchers were from Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital and Apollo Hospital, Chennai; NRI Medical College, Chinakakani, Andhra Pradesh; CIPACA Institute of Research, Chennai; Wake Forest School of Medicine, North Carolina, US; and Government Dhanwantri Ayurvedic Medical College, Ujjain.

The study involved a cross-sectional survey conducted online in November 2018. Participants consisted of 1,746 Heartfulness meditators and 1,159 non-meditators, who responded to a questionnaire using a 7-point Likert scale rated from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree).

The data were grouped according to the demographic, social and health information reported, such as gender, age, marital status, occupation, nature of work, health, place of residence and family system.

READ | International Yoga Day 2017: How yoga in school can help students

ALSO READ| Yoga is the key to score high in CBSE boards: Take a deep breath and follow these simple steps

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World Gratitude Day 2019: Heartfulness meditation cultivates gratitude - India Today

Your fear voice often sounds like mental chatter; it's not associated with strategic thinking or common sense. It plays self-doubt, past difficulties, inner criticism, and worst-case scenarios on repeat. Think of it like an annoying gremlin who whispers rubbish to you to steer you off course from your inner knowing.

Your fear voice can also come out to play if you are psychologically replaying a pattern. In that case, your fear voice is "acting on behalf" of your unconscious (or subconscious) mind in an attempt to keep you safe from a perceived emotional or psychological threat. Did you pick up that I said perceived threat and not real threat?

Your fear voice is closely linked to the realm of self-sabotage. It steers you into the same type of situation time and time again even if you are really wanting and trying to experience something new. For example, let's say you always end up with partners who treat you poorly and don't value you as they should. This is self-sabotage at play, and it's fueled by unconscious patterns and steered by your fear voice.

Your intuitive voice, on the other hand, arises from a place of serenity and deep inner knowing.Your intuitive voice is a form of wisdom that goes beyond logic. It's a visceral knowing that something is either a hell yes or a hell no. You can cultivate your intuitive voice with the following practice (listen to a digital version here).

Continued here:

A Meditation To Squash Fear & Tap Into Your Intuition (It's In There Somewhere!) - mindbodygreen.com

Margaret Qualley may have landed in Pete Davidsons life because shes beautiful and smart. But, sources told A.J. Benzas Fame column that the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood star will probably stick around for awhile because shes been able to help the comic with his well-publicized bouts of depression. Qualley, 24, is a big believer in meditation, which was handed down to her by her mother, Andie McDowell, who practices it to battle stress and anxiety. Qualley recently convinced Davidson to give it a try, and word is, he liked it. Petes really happy with how down-to-earth and centered she is, the source said. He really likes how much she wants to help and how much she cares about him.

Justin Bieber To Buy A Hot Car For Wife Hailey?

Sometime before Justin Bieber bared his soul on Instagram, posting about the perils of fame and how its taken him years to bounce back from making terrible decisions, he was thinking of plunking down $200,000 on a car. A source told Fame they heard the I Dont Care singer chatting up a friend about how a shiny, new Aston Martin might make the perfect one-year anniversary gift for his wife Hailey Baldwin. No word yet on if the sale went through.

Jerry OConnells Talk Show In Jeopardy

Fox executives dont seem too keen on standing by Jerry OConnell, as the future of his entertainment talk and comedy series looks to be in jeopardy. OConnell got the blessings of executive producer Wendy Williams, when he began taping the show, Jerry O, on Aug. 12, for a three-week preview on Fox Television Stations. But despite Williams appearing for an interview, the show didnt hit the numbers network executives had hoped. And all things are pointing to the shows host. Jerry is a likable guy, no question about it, a source told Fame. But viewers arent taking to him as quickly as theyd hoped. One of the notes he got was not to look like hes trying so hard. Executives initially felt OConnell would be an easy fit to fill in for Williams while her show was on hiatus, since he has experience as a guest host and has kept the seat warm for hosts on The View, The Talk and Watch What Happens Live. But now theyre not sure of the shows future.

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Margaret Qualley Teaches Boyfriend Pete Davidson To Meditate - Radar Online

A couple of times a week, I find myself in the early morning hours alone on a quiet bluff over the Pacific Ocean at the Korean Friendship Bell not far from my home in San Pedro. I love these stolen moments of quiet, but it never occurred to me that my brain did too.

The human brain needs to rest; it needs to not have constant stimulus, says Diana Winston, director of mindfulness education at UCLA Semel Institutes Mindful Awareness Research Center.

Indeed, silence may do more for the brain than most people realize. Medical studies show that it can recharge our mental batteries by relieving stress and reboot decision-making and cognitive skills. And quiet allows for some processing time too.

When you are not distracted by noise or goal-orientated tasks, there appears to be a quiet time that allows your conscious work space to process things, Rebecca Beris writes in a story for LifeHack. During these periods of silence, your brain has the freedom it needs to discover its place in your internal and external world.

Even as little as five minutes of quiet can be restorative, but where can you be alone amid the roughly 25 million people in Southern California?

Beaches and mountains are obvious choices, but both can be far to go (and a tough freeway drive) for just a quick break. These places closer to the city allow you to reflect, meditate or just be still. Theres no guarantee theyll be noise-free or people-free, but plan an early morning or late afternoon visit and you may find just what you and your brain crave.

Sung-Eun Lee in the meditation area of the Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens, West Adams

The meditation garden and stone-carved labyrinth copied from one inside Chartres Cathedral in France at the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness center in West Adams were created as a quiet place to connect with yourself. Why not give in?

Stairs to the garden descend to gently terraced paths lined with bamboo, lush ferns and low-lying shrubs. Water rushes from fountains at every turn; benches and chairs in discreet areas welcome you to sit and be still. A little seep of city noise can be heard, but the sound of falling water silences everything. The labyrinth too is a study in peace; no talking as slow and deliberate steps are taken on the path.

The gardens are behind an Italian Renaissance/Beaux Arts house built in the early 20th century by onetime wine magnate Secondo Guasti and which later became home to Hollywood film choreographer Busby Berkeley. Its free to visit (donations accepted), but you must register in advance online.

Info: 3500 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles; peacelabyrinth.org

Just beyond Wattles Mansion is a little-trafficked canyon that has funky works of art strewn among the trail, including a wooden figure with marble eyes and a plaque with a smiling Buddha.

(Mary Forgione / Los Angeles Times)

Wattles Mansion and Park, Hollywood

The long, sloping lawn in front of the two-story Mediterranean and Mission Revival home provides a hushed respite with views that look down on Hollywood and beyond. You can linger in the large arches on the porch of the estate, which is open only for private events. It was built in 1907 by Nebraska banker Gurdon Wattles as a winter home, a throwback to pre-film-era Hollywood, when you could live grandly with ease.

To enter the nearby Wattles Park, take a path uphill on the side of the house to built-in stone benches surrounded by shrubs, another place to sit and reflect. Continue up the stone stairs and youll find a dusty dirt trail where random objects maybe folk art? are strewn about: a wooden figure with marble eyes, a plaque with a smiling Buddha, a red Japanese torii gate. Funky, yes, but solitary too.

Info: 1824 N. Curson Ave., Los Angeles;laparks.org/park/wattles-gardens

Peter Shire's large and whimsical art installation at Angels Point is a popular tourist attraction. But nearby, benches offer one of the best views of downtown L.A.'s skyline.

(Ricardo DeAratanha/Los Angeles Times)

Angels Point, Elysian Park

In one of L.A.'s oldest parks, this spot has not exactly gone unnoticed, judging by the graffiti that covers much of artist Peter Shires large and whimsical art installation at the site. But the benches, also covered in paint, face one of the best views of downtown L.A.'s skyline, with Dodger Stadium off to the left and bits of wild Chavez Ravine in the foreground.

The artwork propped up by cement columns and a lone palm tree may be a deconstructed reflection of the downtown buildings in the distance. Too soon, you hear vehicles pulling over and car doors slamming. Consider yourself lucky to have found even five minutes of peace in the heart of the city.

Info: Starting at Stadium Way, take Angels Point Road and keep driving until you see the points sign. Park along the road and follow the short dirt path downhill.

A shaded, quiet spot in the Grace V. Kallam Perennial Garden at the Los Angeles County Arboretum in Arcadia.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, Arcadia

For a bit of scenic serenity, dodge the roving peacocks near the entrance and head straight to the lily ponds, formally known as the Aquatic Gardens, on Tallac Knoll. Its a high point in the 127-acre park at the top of steep stone steps along a cooling waterfall. Up here, you feel above it all. There are little ponds fringed with grasses, floating water lilies and benches beneath tree canopies that provide cool cover. Look north for a good view of the San Gabriel Mountains.

The arboretum once belonged to Elias Jackson Lucky Baldwin, one of Southern Californias wealthiest landowners in the late 19th century who called the former rancho home. The waterfall and lily ponds werent there then, but they recall the quiet beauty of the sites early days. Admission is $9 for adults, $4 for children 5 to 12.

Info: 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia; arboretum.org

Silence-seekers who come to Lacy Park should head for the rose garden on the parks west side.

(Mary Forgione / Los Angeles Times)

Lacy Park, San Marino

Searching for a secret garden? Lacy Park, set on 30 acres in a residential neighborhood, fits the bill. Silence-seekers should head for the rose garden on the parks west side, near St. Albans Road. Its narrow and long, with cypress trees lining one side and a rectangle of well-manicured grass surrounding the bushes.

Two benches at the entrance to the garden are partly shaded by trees, perfect spots to sit quietly and maybe even, yes, smell the roses (some were blooming when I visited on a scorching summer afternoon).

The wooden rose arbor thats been a fixture for six decades was absent on a recent visit; its in the process of being replaced. But that doesnt take away from the peaceful brilliance of this spot. Though the park is free to enter on weekdays, anyone who isnt a resident of San Marino has to pay $5 on weekends (a fee L.A. Times columnist Steve Lopez took the city to task for more than a decade ago).

Info: 1485 Virginia Road, San Marino; bit.ly/lacypark

At the Cathedral of Our Lady of Los Angeles, a glass wall etched with angels floating above the freeway reduces the traffic below to white noise.

(Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles

Churches are supposed to be quiet, but L.A.'s premier Catholic cathedral doubles as a tourist stop. At the right time late afternoon on a midweek day you can find fewer crowds and some soothing spots to escape the clatter of downtown.

Inside the cathedrals courtyard, past a large fountain, is a small meditation garden with a little circular pool, a place to reflect and shut out the downtown din. At the far side of the courtyard, the glass wall decorated with etched angels floating above the freeway seems almost soundproof, reducing the traffic below to white noise. Architect Jos Rafael Moneo integrated the roadway into his design, considering the Hollywood Freeway as Los Angeles river of transportation, the connection of people to each other, according to the cathedrals website.

Take time to go inside the impressive cathedral, built to hold 3,000 people. At those quiet times of the day, you may have it all to yourself. Admission is free; donations accepted.

Info: 555 W. Temple St., L.A.; olacathedral.org

The Seifu-an, which means the Arbor of Pure Breeze, was originally built in Kyoto, Japan and is the centerpiece of the classic garden fringed with Japanese maples, black pines, azaleas and a brook that runs down the hill.

(The Huntington Library)

The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, San Marino

The century-old Huntington seems far from quiet: About 750,000 visitors come each year and sometimes it feels like theyre all there on the same day. To escape the crowds, zip past the Chinese Gardens sculpted stone bridges and climb to the hilltop ceremonial Japanese tea garden called Seifu-an, or arbor of pure breeze.

Even if people are wandering through, theres a spiritual peace and quiet, spokeswoman Lisa Blackburn says. Its all about the slow, quiet and deliberate enjoyment of nature.

The 9-by-9-foot building, originally built in Kyoto, Japan, and occasionally open for tea demonstrations, is the centerpiece of the classic garden fringed with Japanese maples, black pines, azaleas and a brook that runs down the hill. From here, you can look down on the more expansive Japanese Garden, where gingko trees flame with gold in late November. Admission costs $25 midweek, $29 on weekends; free the first Thursday of the month (provided you reserve in advance).

Info: 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino; huntington.org

Hilltop benches and a spin through the ancient forest at Descanso Gardens is a good bet for a bit of silence, even on a crowded day.

(Mary Forgione / Los Angeles Times)

Descanso Gardens, La Caada Flintridge

Its not hard to find a hidden corner in the 150 acres known for glorious camellia bushes and native woodlands, as long as you steer clear of the popular (and noisier) mini-railroad.

Start in the ancient forest (which despite its name, debuted in 2015) where a carpet-quiet path winds past cycads, some of the oldest plants on the planet, and redwood trees. On a hill above, benches overlook a grove of native oak trees not far from the house of former owner and newspaper publisher E. Manchester Boddy. With the birdsong and filtered light, its a great spot to hit your personal reset button.

Admission is $9 for adults, $4 for children 5 to 12.

Info: 1418 Descanso Drive, La Caada Flintridge; descansogardens.org

On one side of the Japanese Garden is a pond with lotus and water lilies. In the center, a floating bridge, where double-crested cormorants and egrets gather as fat koi swim below.

(Mary Forgione / Los Angeles Times)

The Japanese Garden, Van Nuys

The Japanese Garden, a.k.a., Suiho-en, garden of water and fragrance, is an immaculate, low-profile six 6 acres of greenery thats easy to explore on foot. On one side is a pond with lotus and water lilies; in the center, a floating bridge where double-crested cormorants and egrets gather as fat koi swim below. Theres even a dry (stone) Zen meditation garden in which to sit and ponder.

For the most part its quiet here, except for an occasional plane. Every once in a while, you get a whiff of the sites true purpose: recycling millions of gallons of L.A.'s daily wastewater into usable water. The garden was created at the site of the Tillman Water Reclamation Plant (whose main building Star Trek fans may recognize as the t Starfleet Academy) to showcase the benefits of its waterworks. It costs $5 to enter.

Info: 6100 Woodley Ave., Van Nuys; thejapanesegarden.com

UCLAs Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden is just a quick detour off the 405.

(Reed Hutchinson / UCLA)

Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden at UCLA, Westwood

Should you ever need to jump off the 405 Freeway for a little quiet time, this garden is an easy exit away. Its on a hillside behind the health sciences complex with gates open at posted hours. Inside, youre mentally miles away from the hopping campus and Westwood.

There are a bunch of little gardens in this terraced hill with a stream: an ancient forest, desert plants, a stand of palms and showy plants native to Hawaii. Its intended to be educational, of course, but it also seeks to create a tranquil environment with the urban surroundings, its mission statement says.

A good place to sit (when there arent groups around) is the Nest, a stone amphitheater underneath a gingko tree. From there, wander the little paths and enjoy the quiet. Its free to enter.

Info: 707 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles; botgard.ucla.edu

Ilona Houhanissyan, an employee at Just Float in Pasadena, floats in epsom salt, mixed in 11 inches of water, at a temperature of 94.5 degrees.

(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Just Float, Pasadena

When all else fails, go to a sure-fire silent spa. At Just Float, one of several floating spas in Southern California, you are led to your own personal float compartment, where a sign outside says Quiet please, healing in process.

For an hour, you are immersed in the super-salty water that keeps you buoyant in complete darkness (I asked for a few lights to stay on). Your mind empties as you swirl and listen to your heartbeat or your breathing. Only when my cellphone went off (Id forgotten to silence it) did the world come rushing back. Otherwise, it was pure relaxation. Afterward, you can stay and sip herbal teas and keep the calm vibe going. $59 for a first visit.

Info: 76 N. Hudson Ave. Suite 120, Pasadena; justfloat.com

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Serenity, now: Where to find a quiet spot amid the bustle of L.A. - Los Angeles Times

Image for representational purpose only

Treading themeditative path really does put you in touch with your higher self, your inner guide, and could bring positive results in patients with memory complaints, so believe the doctors of Department of Psychiatry at the Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram.Even as a section of doctors raise questions on the authenticity of using mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) for cancer care, the age-old technique will soon be used as a therapy for reducing anxiety and depression, and thereby the incidence of dementia. The psychosomatic clinic of the Department of Psychiatry of the Medical College will take the lead in chalking out a programme for using MBI for dementia.

However, theAlzheimer's & Related Disorders Society of India differs in this. "There is no scientific backing to this argument," says its chairperson Mera Pattabiraman. "However, there is a probability that it can help dementia patients.

They are awaiting the study conducted by Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) to get a scientific backing for the initiative. We are in the process of chalking out a programme for using MBI for dementia at the Medical College, said Dr S Krishnan of the Department of Psychiatry, the programme coordinator.

According to him, the doubts regarding the authenticity could be cleared once the Department of Neurology of SCTIMST released the findings of its study titled The effect of yoga and meditation on neuropsychological functions and brain connectivity networks in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and cognitively normal subjects.

The findings might clear the air. The feedback so far has been positive, Krishnan said.In 2015-2016 the Department of Science and Technology under its Science and Technology of Yoga and Meditation (SATYAM) programme sanctioned the study proposed by Dr Ramshekhar N Menon of SCTIMST.

In the study, we focus on elderly people who have memory complaints and analyse whether we could improve their quality of life with the help of mindfulness.According to him, more comprehensive analysis is needed to evaluate its effectiveness. The results of the study could be released by early next year.The clinic had earlier joined hands with the Radio Therapy Department in providing training to professionals in cancer care, oncology PG students, nurses and psychologist for stress reduction and pain management among cancer patients in the state.

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Can meditation and yoga be used to treat dementia? This Kerala medical college thinks so - EdexLive