AARON POOLE / AMPAS

Sting plays the House of Blues March 8.

MUSIC

STING In November, the velvet-voiced troubadour-bassist released 57th and 9th, his first album of straight-ahead pop songs after a nearly 15-year detour into higher art forms Middle Age lute music, symphonic reworkings of Police tracks. In its best moments, 57th offers up faded-photograph memories of the wiry New Wave practiced by Stings former band. March 8, 7p.m. $105-$155. House of Blues. 888-693-BLUE, houseofblues.com

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RO JAMES Wielding a sinewy falsetto and a natural instinct for pacing his songs so that they reach a sublime boil, this up-and-coming R&B singer (and nephew of Prince foil Rosie Gaines) combines old-school soul ideals with Soundcloud-era explorations of groove. March 5, 7p.m. $20, $18 advance. Middle East Downstairs. 617-864-3278, www,ticketweb.com

THE BAND PERRY This country trio has always walked on the slightly darker side their stomping 2012 megahit Better Dig Two gives a pop-Nashville spin to the murder ballad while racking up awards and record sales. This intimate show will offer a glimpse of new material; one of those songs, Stay in the Dark, combines twang with the wordless whoops that have plagued the festival era. March 9, 9 p.m. $35. The Sinclair, Cambridge. 617-547-5200, http://www.sinclaircambridge.com

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The Globe's top picks for what to see and do each weekend, in Boston and beyond.

MAURA JOHNSTON

CALE TYSON Young Nashville country singer-songwriter Tyson has to date released two fine Hank Williams-channeling EPs but is changing things up by going country-soul on his first full-length, due in 2017. He was scheduled to make his area debut a little over a year ago and had to cancel, so heres hoping the second times the charm. March 5, 9:30 p.m. $8. Atwoods Tavern, Cambridge. 800-838-3006. http://www.brownpapertickets.com

GOLDFEATHER Taking its name from singer, violinist, and bandleader Sarah Goldfeather, this Brooklyn-based outfit describes itself as a folk music band meets contemporary classical ensemble, with a dash of cabaret for flavor, and judging from the bands recent debut release, Patchwork Quilt, the music lives up to that billing. March 6, 8 p.m. $10. Club Passim, Cambridge. 617-492-7679. http://www.passim.org

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OUTSIDE THE LINES BENEFIT Aswell evening of music put together for a worthy cause: This benefit for Outside the Lines Studio, a Medford arts-based alternative day program for individuals with developmental and physical disabilities, will feature Sister Kate Taylor and local luminaries Barrence Whitfield, Dennis Brennan, Danielle Miraglia, and Jesse Dee. March 9, 8 p.m. $15. Thunder Road, Somerville. 866-777-8932. http://www.ticketweb.com

STUART MUNRO

VIJAY IYER SEXTET The innovative and ambitious pianist and composer has been a MacArthur Fellow, DownBeat Magazine Artist of the Year, and is now a Harvard professor. His sextet adds horns saxophonists Steve Lehman and Mark Shim and cornet and flugelhorn player Graham Haynes to his trio with bassist Stephan Crump and drummer Marcus Gilmore. March 9, 8 p.m. $50-$60. Sanders Theatre, 45 Quincy St., Cambridge. 617-482-6661, http://www.celebrityseries.org

LADY RIZO The acclaimed cabaret artist is a glamorous and witty singer who has collaborated with a range of artists from Yo Yo Ma to Moby and can make the likes of The Pixies Where Is My Mind sound like a Broadway showstopper. March 9, 8 p.m. $25. Oberon, 2 Arrow St., Cambridge. 617-547-8300, http://www.americanrepertorytheater.org/oberon

THE MAKANDA PROJECT John Kordalewskis invaluable 11-piece ensemble of Bostons finest begins its year by bringing yet another rare visitor to town: the great tenor saxophonist and Boston native Ricky Ford, who early on made his name with Charles Mingus and Mercer Ellington. March 11, 7 p.m. Free. Dudley Library Auditorium, 65 Warren St., Boston. 617-442-6186.

KEVIN LOWENTHAL

BOSTON BAROQUE Christina Day Martinson, the orchestras immensely talented concertmaster, takes a solo turn in a specialty of hers: the complete cycle of Heinrich Bibers virtuosic Mystery Sonatas. March 10, 8 p.m., Jordan Hall. 617-987-8600, http://www.bostonbaroque.org

MUSICA SACRA The chorus performs Israel in Egypt, Handels biblical oratorio on the story of the Exodus. A portion of the ticket proceeds will be donated to the International Institute of New England, which provides aid to immigrants and refugees. March 11, 7 p.m., First Church in Cambridge, Congregational. 617-349-3400, http://www.musicasacra.org

LONGWOOD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA The orchestra, drawn from Bostons medical community, welcomes pianists Peter Serkin and Anna Polonsky for two of Bachs Concertos for two pianos and orchestra. The suite from Stravinskys Firebird is also on the program. March 11, 8 p.m., Jordan Hall. 617-987-0100, http://www.longwoodsymphony.org

David Weininger

ARTS

EDWARD II Sexuality collides with power politics in this brooding, sensual, and suspenseful production of Christopher Marlowes 16th-century drama, streamlined and contemporized by the ever-artful director David R. Gammons. Maurice Emmanuel Parent delivers a powerhouse performance as the monarch whose passion for his male lover sets in motion deadly machinations by a pair of noblemen. Through March 19. Actors Shakespeare Project at Charlestown Working Theater, Charlestown. http://www.actorsshakespeareproject.org, 866-811-4111.

BRECHT ON BRECHT A trenchant collage of excerpts from works by German playwright-poet Bertolt Brecht, tweaked by director Jim Petosa to give it an anti-Trump thrust. The versatile cast includes Christine Hamel, Carla Martinez, Jake Murphy, and Brad Daniel Peloquin, with piano accompaniment by musical director Matthew Stern. Through March 5. Copresented by New Repertory Theatre and the BostonCenter for American Performance. At Black Box Theater, Mosesian Center for the Arts, Watertown. 617-923-8487, http://www.newrep.org

THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME Amath-genius teenager sets out to solve the murder of a neighbors dog, only tobecome embroiled in the secrets and lies ofhis own family. Simon Stephenss Tony-winning stage adaptation of Mark Haddons best-selling novel is directed by Marianne Elliott. March 7-19. Production by National Theatre presented by Broadway in Boston. At Boston Opera House. 800-982-2787, http://www.broadwayinboston.com

DON AUCOIN

THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA Tennessee Williamss last critical success takes us to the Pacific coast of Mexico, where a former Episcopal minister, a newly widowed hotel owner, a 40ish Nantucket spinster, and her 97-year-old poet grandfather endure a dark night of the soul and try to escape their demons, even as the title lizard tries to escape the roasting pan. With a high-powered cast including Bill Heck as the minister, Dana Delany as the widow, Amanda Plummer as the spinster, and James Earl Jones as the poet, this Michael Wilson-directed production is well acted and easy to watch, though those who like their Tennessee Williams desperate and harrowing may find it a little too easy. Through March 18. American Repertory Theater at Loeb Drama Center, Cambridge. 617-547-8300, http://www.americanrepertorytheater.org JEFFREY GANTZ

BODYTRAFFIC One of the contemporary dance worlds most acclaimed repertory troupes returns to Boston with a program of four area premieres: excerpts from Richard Siegals jazz-fueled The New 45; Joshua L. Peughs playful A Trick of the Light; Once again, before you go, choreographed by RubberbanDance Group founder Victor Quijada; and Private Games: Chapter One by Anton Lachky. March 10-12, $36-$40. Institute of Contemporary Art. 617-876-4275, http://www.worldmusic.org

BOSTON YOUTH MOVES DANCE COMPANY The highly respected dance education program for teens showcases its most committed young dancers in a concert of jazz, tap, contemporary, and theater dance. The program includes works by artistic directors Jeannette Neill and James Viera, as well as original pieces by guest choreographers Andrew Winans and Laura Vinci de Vanegas. March 10-11, $20-$25. Boston University Dance Theater. 617-523-1355, http://www.bostonyouthmoves.org

FINDING HEAVEN UNDER OUR FEET: MAKING MODERN DANCE Chris Engless new documentary focuses on Weber Dance. The filmmaker traveled with the company for a residency in Alaska and followed the troupe during the creation and premiere of Of Looms and Lilies. The film ties those experiences into the roots of modern dance and the power of community cultural engagement. World premiere. March 9, $10. Somerville Theatre, Somerville. 617-625-5700, http://www.weberdance.com

KAREN CAMPBELL

EVELYN RYDZ: FLOATING ARTIFACTS Rydz photographs tiny bits she finds washed ashore, organic and plastic scraps carried by currents and refashioned by the ocean biosphere. She blows the images up, turning the wee debris totemic and starkly alluring. Through May 21. Tufts University Art Gallery, 40 Talbot Ave., Medford. 617-627-3518, artgallery.tufts.edu

CAMILLE UTTERBACK: ENTANGLED The digital artists interactive installation translates viewers movements into painterly projections on a large screen. It runs concurrently with Cybernetic Serendipity, which revisits the first digital art exhibition, staged in London in 1968. Through April 22. Emerson Urban Arts: Media Art Gallery, 25Avery St., 617-824-3895, http://www.emerson.edu/urban-arts/media-arts-gallery

PROTECTED TREES NEW WORK BY JOEL JANOWITZ Struck by the street-level byproducts of sewer work in his Cambridge neighborhood, Janowitz made paintings and prints documenting the strange juxtaposition of trees and the materials needed to safeguard them. Through April 7. Gallery 344, Cambridge Arts Council, 344 Broadway, City Hall Annex, Cambridge. 617-349-4380, http://www.cambridgema.gov/arts/publicart/gallery344

CATE McQUAID

AN INNER WORLD: SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY DUTCH GENRE PAINTING An intimate show of intimate scenes. The seven paintings on view highlight artistic innovation in the city of Leiden, led by Gerrit Dou. The delicately brushed works depict figures at quiet moments. Through Sept. 17. Clark Art Institute, 225 South St., Williamstown. 413-458-2303, http://www.clarkart.edu

A CURIOUS NATURE: PAINTINGS BY SHELLEY REED In her dramatic, fierce, and luxuriant black-and-white works, the painter recontextualizes details from 17th- and 18th-century Northern European art, addressing contemporary and timeless themes of humanitys connection to nature. Through June 4. Fitchburg Art Museum, 185 Elm St., Fitchburg. 978-345-4207, http://www.fitchburgartmuseum.org

MARK WETHLI/PIPER CUB Conceptual art, model, or fan-boy obsession? Wethli has re-created by hand the legendary small aircraft, built in the mid-20th century and flown during World War II, using pine, birch plywood, and recycled Piper Cub parts. Through May 14. Center for Maine Contemporary Art, 21Winter St., Rockland, Maine. 207-701-5005, http://www.cmcanow.org CATE McQUAID

EVENTS

SOMETHING BIG WITH JOHN CONROY Washington, D.C., native Conroy, who trades in both every-day-observational humor and more socially aware material, headlines this edition of the monthly showcase with Petey DeAbreu and Xamin Garza. March 9, 7 p.m. $13-$15. The Rockwell, 255 Elm St., Somerville. 617-684-5335, http://www.therockwell.org

BETHANY VAN DELFT Boston comedian/storyteller/model/mom Van Delft, who also hosts the Artisanal Comedy show at Dorchester Brewing Company the last Wednesday of each month, tops the bill on this showcase, with Maya Manion and others. March 11, 7:30 p.m. $20. Dick Dohertys Comedy Den, 184High St., Boston. 800-401-2221, http://www.dickdoherty.com

THE LAST LAUGH: LATE NIGHT COMEDY Each Saturday night, ImprovBoston hosts a late-night, off-color comedy show with a different theme, depending on the week. The second Saturday is Late Night Longform, featuring a naughtier-than-normal version of longform improv. March 11, 11:30 p.m. $10. ImprovBoston, 40 Prospect St., Cambridge. 617-576-1253, http://www.improvboston.com

NICK A. ZAINO III

CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION AT HARVARD SQUARE Ifyou missed out on all the Chinese New Year fun in late January, dont worry, there are still festivals to be had. Continue to celebrate the year of the rooster with parades, arts, crafts, and tons of delicious food. March 5, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Free. Hong Kong Harvard Square, 1238 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge. 617-864-5311. http://www.harvardsquare.com/celebrate-chinese-new-year-harvard-square

PAJAMA PARTY If your toddler cant seem to settle down on Friday night prior to bedtime, take him or her to the Childrens Museum of Easton pajamas and all for some music making and relaxing craft time. March 10, 5-7 p.m. Free with museum admission. Childrens Museum, 9 Sullivan Ave., North Easton. 508-230-3789. childrensmuseumineaston.org/pajama-party/

KERPLUNK! If you enjoyed (or still enjoy) Choose Your Own Adventure books from your own childhood, let your kids experience that same feeling of power when they decide what the characters on stage will do at Kerplunk! March 11, 11 a.m. $5-$10. The Rockwell, 255 Elm St., Somerville. 617-684-5335. http://www.catalystcomedy.com/kerplunk/ LEXI PEERY

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

March 22 Fishbone at The Sinclair axs.com

March 23 The Knocks at Royale axs.com

March 24 They at Middle East ticketweb.com

March 28 Vince Staples at Paradise Rock Club ticketmaster.com

March 30 Saba at Brighton Music Hall ticketmaster.com

April 2 Chris Brown and 50 Cent at TD Garden ticketmaster.com

April 5 Gucci Mane at House of Blues concerts.livenation.com

April 7 Lionel Richie and Mariah Carey at TD Garden ticketmaster.com

ALEX FRANDSEN

Read more:

The Ticket: Music, theater, dance, art, and more - The Boston Globe

The Sync Project

In September 2013, Marko Ahtisaari resigned from his position as the head of product design at Nokia. The Finnish company had just been acquired by Microsoft and Ahtisaari, the son of a former president of Finland, decided it was time to look for his next startup. He joined the MIT Media Lab shortly after, where he was introduced by Joi Ito, the Labs director, to Ketki Karanam, a biologist who was studying how music affects the brain. Ahtisaari was naturally interested: he grew up playing the violin and later studied music composition at Columbia University. I used to be part of the New York scene, Ahtisaari says. I left to do product design and to be an entrepreneur. For 15 years I didnt play much. I have friends who are now playing with Tom Yorke and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Karanam showed Ahtisaari that there was an increasing body of evidence based on imaging studies that showed what happens to the brain when exposed to music. It fires very broadly, Ahtisaari. Its not just the auditory cortex. What happens is essentially similar to when we take psycho-stimulants. In other words, when we take drugs.

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To Ahtisaari, this indicated that music could, at least in principle, complement or even replace the effects that pharmaceuticals had on our neurology. For instance, there were studies that showed that patients with Parkinsons disease improved their gait when listening to a song with the right beat pattern.

Another clinical study suggested music could be used for pain management for hernia patients after surgery (Nilsson, U., Unosson, M., & Rawal, N. 2005). A group of patients was exposed to one hour of music in addition to the standard post-surgery care, and allowed to self-administer morphine.

The music group used one-third of the amount of morphine in comparison to a control group who didnt listen to music, Ahtisaari says. Given the opioid epidemic that we have, and particularly how some of it starts after surgery, it seems to me that everyone should be listening to music after an operation.

To Ahtisaari, the idea that music could be used as medicine seemed like one to take seriously, and, in the summer of 2015, along with Karanam with Yadid Ayzenberg, a PhD student at the MIT Media Lab, he started the Sync Project to do just that.

One of the first things we did was to meet top scientists and musicians and ask them how we could take this idea forward, Ahtisaari remembers. They partnered with a diverse group that today forms their advisory board, from neuroscientist Adam Gazzaley to musicians Peter Gabriel and St. Vincent. The response was that we needed to study people when they are really listening to music, during their day-to-day, not in the lab.

The Sync Project is currently analysing more than 10 million playlists on Spotify tagged to a particular health-related word, like relaxation, to map the characteristics of the music tempo, beat salience, timbre that people are playing. They have also developed a Slack bot that every morning delivers a personalised playlist to more than 400 teams around the world. Its personalised to get you in the zone, Ahtisaari says. We get ratings and reactions from the users and that classification goes into the feedback loop. In some cases, Sync is also collecting biometric sensor data, like heart rate, from its users to understand how their physiology correlates to the music. Ultimately, we will be applying machine learning to curate personalised music therapeutic interventions for a particular health outcome, Ahtisaari says.

In twenty years time, we will consider it absurd and primitive that we did not use music and sound as an essential part of our health regime, both for everyday wellness but also to compliment pharmaceutical treatment.

The other type of music therapeutic that Ahtisaari envisions revolves around generative music. Today, March 1, the Sync Project is launching a collaboration with British electronic ambient music band Marconi Union, who in 2011 released the single Weightless, a viral success that became widely known as the most relaxing tune ever.

This new experience with Marconi Union is a new kind of music, Ahtisaari says. Basically, its an AI-generated music thats tuned to your heart rate. With that data as input, Unwind will then generate a personalised soundtrack to help you relax before sleep.

In the meantime, Marko Ahtisaari has returned to one of his favourite pastimes. I read so much of the evidence of the neurological effects of playing music that I said to myself: Man, I can't in good faith do this company unless I start playing again. His new band, formed in 2015, is called Construction. Their first album is out this summer.

Want to know more? In anticipation of this year's WIRED Health conference in London, the Sync Project is announcing an AI music experiment to improve sleep. Anyone interested in relaxation and better sleep with the help of music can participate for free using their smartphone at unwind.syncproject.co. Join hundreds of healthcare, pharmaceutical and technology influencers and leaders at the fourth annual event on March 9 at 30 Euston Square. Buy tickets and learn more here.

Read more:

Music as medicine: how songs could soon replace painkillers and help you sleep better - Wired.co.uk

Meditation band, Ahl-e Qulab performs their unique blend of relaxation music in the Grand Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Union. Ntchana Batoma, said meditative music is used as a way of being able to see the beauty and love in everything.

Victor Gomez

Victor Gomez

Meditation band, Ahl-e Qulab performs their unique blend of relaxation music in the Grand Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Union. Ntchana Batoma, said meditative music is used as a way of being able to see the beauty and love in everything.

Loren Dickson, Entertainment Reporter February 28, 2017 Filed under News, Showcase

In a calm and relaxing atmosphere, people gathered around Ahl-e Qulub, a Persian meditation music group, Tuesday night to listen, enjoy and self-meditate to the melodies ringing throughout the University Ballroom.

Ahl-e Qulub member and senior English major Alex Hill told the audience the purpose of the music is not to come to an epiphany, but simply to come away from the experience with a light heart.

The reason we use music is because, although you can practice meditation by itself, no matter where you go in the worldmusic is something that resonates with people, Hill said.

For a few minutes, or for longer, you are kind of taken away from all of the day-to-day things that distract you, stress you out and put a damper on your life, he said.

Meditation brings you to the present moment, he said. Generally when we listen to music though, the effect of the song doesnt always sit within us in a permanent way.

Hill said music helps brings you to this desired present moment and gives you a positive meditative experience.

Meditation has many benefits, Hill said, and can help with issues such as anxiety and depression. Meditation slowly helps you overcome those things and they will gradually fade away. You will wake with more of the positive qualities that we all have inside of ourselves, he said.

Ahl-e Qulub then led the audience into a five-minute, silent meditation.

Audience members were suggested to think of one thing that brings them peace and happiness, to focus on that while breathing in, holding the breath for 30 seconds, and then slowly releasing the breath.

Following the meditation, Ahl-e Qulub began their musical meditation performance.

Along with soft singing melodies, the group used percussion instruments, including congas, djembes and dafs, to enhance the meditation experience.

The group sang several songs, and audience members were encouraged to partake in silent, personal meditation practice while the group performed.

At the conclusion of the last song, Ahl-e Qulub brought the audience into another silent, five-minute meditation.

Eastern Meditation Club member and freshman Spanish education major Pamela Padilla said meditation has helped her let go of paradigms.

Ive let go of all of the things I thought the world had to be; Im now content and happy with things that I wasnt before, Padilla said.

She said meditation can be based around religion, but it doesnt have to be.

Meditation can be geared with or without religion, she said. Its a moment to relax and calm yourself so you can get back into the real world in a stress-free manner.

Sometimes when meditating, negative thoughts can still enter your mind, but Padilla said the key to overcoming these negative thoughts is to recognize the thought and then let it go.

Although Tuesdays meditation gathering was a group effort, she said there are great things about meditating individually as well.

Sometimes being in a group creates the energy you need, she said. But being alone allows you to be fulfilled as an individual, and you can meditate for as long as you want. Its all about what you need in that moment.

Ahl-e Qulub member and Eastern alumna Ntchana Batoma said things in her life have really slowed down, in a good way, since practicing meditation.

Im a lot more likely now to find beauty in the small things. Im more likely to see love where I didnt see it before, she said. I think when you start to meditate and cultivate the love within yourself, what really starts to happen is you see that love, light and beauty within other people too.

She said she vividly remembers a time when she found the beauty in something so simple.

I remember sitting and watching a dandelion just sway in the wind, and it was just one of the most beautiful things, she said. Before in my more fast-paced life, I wouldnt have stopped to notice that.

There are many forms of meditation techniques, but Batoma said it is suggested to stick to one form in order to build consistency and see results.

Alex Hill also reminded the audience that Easterns Meditation Club is always welcome to anyone interested in learning more about the practice of meditation.

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

Originally posted here:

Traditions influence meditative melodies - The Daily Eastern News

Miche Braden Brings Bessie Smith to Life in The Devils Music: The Life and Blues of BessieSmith

As great performers of the past go, Bessie Smith would have to be among the most challenging to recreate. Her immensely powerful voice remains one of the most memorable instruments in early jazz, comparable in impact to the sound of Louis Armstrongs trumpet. And her personality? Again, like Pops, Bessie projected so many things, such a kaleidoscope of attitudes and emotions, from stone-cold cynicism of the lewdest sort to intense, ecstatic vulnerability, that she would seem impossible to capture through a contemporary performance. Although it is a great challenge, having seen Miche Braden in The Devils Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith at the Rubicon on Saturday, February 25, I know it can be done and done well. Bessie Smith lives again in this performance, in all her ragged, tipsy glory, and Braden sings the music with a perfect balance between purity andgrit.

Accompanied (and then some) by a three-piece jazz combo, Braden portrays Smith relaxing in a buffet flat, which was a private apartment where food, liquor, and other things were available after hours. Over frequent swigs from her collection of silver flasks, Smith reminisces about the hardships of life on the road, the excitement of making it big, her struggles with men, and her affairs with women. In lesser hands, the narrative might have become either condescending or obscure, but playwright Angelo Parra and director Joe Brancato know what they are doing, and the result is a clear and compelling story rife with enough specific detail to satisfy the most knowledgeable of historians. With its bawdy jokes and innuendo-laden horseplay, The Devils Music might not be for everyone, but like its subject, the great Bessie Smith, for many it will be just the thing to chase your troublesaway.

At the Rubicon Theatre, Sat., Feb. 25. Shows through Mar.12.

Be succinct, constructive, and relevant to the story. Leaving a comment means you agree to our Discussion Guidelines. We like civilized discourse. We don't like spam, lying, profanity, harassment or personal attacks.

Continued here:

'The Devil's Music' Roars at Rubicon - Santa Barbara Independent

Eat better, drink less, exercise more, sleep enough: It's common advice for heart health - and it's frequently ignored. Just 3 percent of American adults meet the standards for healthy levels of physical activity, consumption of fruit and vegetables, body fat and smoking, according to recent study.

But a major lifestyle overhaul isn't the only way to help your heart, studies suggest. Even small changes can make substantial differences.

Eventually, little changes can add up, says David Goff, director of the cardiovascular sciences division at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in Bethesda.

"Any small change you make in a positive direction is good for you," he says. "It's not an all-or-nothing phenomenon."

Physical activity is a perfect example, Goff says. Official guidelines, which recommend 30 minutes of moderately intense activity on most days, are based partly on evidence of substantial health benefits from doing 150 to 300 minutes of exercise each week, according to a 2011 review study by researchers at the University of South Carolina at Columbia. Those benefits include reduced risks of coronary heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure.

But the guidelines also come out of an assessment of what is obtainable for most people, Goff adds. And while it would be ideal to get at least 150 minutes of exercise weekly, getting less than that also has benefits. When the researchers looked at deaths from all causes, they saw the sharpest drop in mortality when exercise jumped from half an hour to an hour and a half each week.

Just getting up for a minute or two to interrupt bouts of sitting may also improve health, the study noted. And moving for as little as eight minutes a few times a day provides the same cardiovascular benefits as 30 uninterrupted minutes.

"If you can't find 30 minutes a day, try to find five or 10 or 15," Goff says. "Anything is better than nothing."

The "some is better than none" philosophy applies to dietary improvements, too, Goff says. According to the National Institutes of Health, an ideal meal plan includes lots of fruit, vegetables and whole grains, with limited amounts of fatty meat and tropical oils.

But eating an imperfect diet with more of the good stuff is better than giving up entirely. That's a conclusion from a 2016 study that created food-quality scores from the self-reported diets of about 200,000 people. Over about 25 years, the study found, people whose diets scored lowest had a 13 percent higher risk of coronary artery disease than did people in the second-worst group.

Even just switching out soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages can help eliminate a couple hundred calories a day and control weight. That helps lower blood pressure, levels of harmful cholesterol and the potential for diabetes - all risk factors for heart disease, Goff says. Large long-term studies have shown that people who average one sugary drink a day have a 20 percent higher risk of heart attack than people who rarely drink any.

It's not just food and diet, adds Michael Miller, director of the Center for Preventive Cardiology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in and author of "Heal Your Heart: The Positive Emotions Prescription to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease." Heart strength can also come from battling stress by boosting emotional health in simple and unexpected ways, he says, such as enjoying a good laugh.

In a small 2005 study, Miller played movie clips for 20 people. When participants watched a scene that made them laugh, 19 of them experienced dilation of the blood vessels. In contrast, a stressful scene led to constriction in 14 of the 20 viewers. Since then, Miller says, other small studies have found similar results, including one showing that vessels stayed dilated for 24 hours. Dilation allows more blood to flow, decreasing blood pressure and heart rate.

"Cross-talk" between the brain and heart explains the potential long-term benefits of laughter, Miller says, particularly when laughter is intense enough to induce crying. Belly laughing releases endorphins, triggering receptors in blood vessels to produce nitric oxide, which in turn, dilates blood vessels, increases blood flow, reduces the risk of blood clots, and more.

People are far more likely to laugh when they're with friends, Miller adds, adding yet more evidence of the health benefits of being social.

Accumulating evidence suggests that another easy and enjoyable way to help your heart is to listen to music. During recovery from surgery, several studies have shown, listening to relaxing music leads to a reduction in anxiety and heart rate. And in a 2015 study, Greek researchers found reductions in how hard the hearts of 20 healthy young adults were working after 30 minutes of listening to rock or classical music.

"I tell my patients to dust off their old LPs now that LPs are coming back and listen to a piece of music they have not heard in a long time but in the past made them feel really good," Miller says.

Also on his list of recommendations: mindfulness meditation and hugging. Both, he says, look promising in studies of heart health and heart repair.

"Considering that stress probably accounts for a third of heart attacks," he says, "it can have a dramatic effect if you do all of these things in sync."

Small lifestyle change help at any age, suggests a 2014 study that started by assessing cardiovascular risks in more than 5,000 young adults in the mid-1980s. Twenty years later, people who had made even small but positive changes - such as losing a little weight, exercising a bit more or smoking a little less - showed less coronary artery calcification than people who didn't change or changed in a negative direction. Coronary artery calcification is a risk factor for heart disease.

For the best chance of success, Goff suggests taking on one little change at a time.

"The idea is to make a small change and then make another small change," he says. "It's about changing the way you live over years and years, not hours and days."

The rest is here:

To take care of your heart, even little changes can help - SCNow

YouTuber and musician Dodie Clark. (Rebecca Need-Menear, Wikimedia Commons)

Cute English accent. Adorable human being. Ukulele player. One year ago, I stumbled across Dodie Clark in my recommended YouTube feed most likely because her video featured a collaboration with Jon Cozart (widely known as Paint on YouTube), a favorite of mine. I clicked on my first Dodie video, An Awkward Duet, in which she sings a silly song with Jon, and together they fulfill the titles promise. Ive been hooked ever since.

Dodie has two channels, doddleoddle and doddlevloggle. Most of the videos on her first channel are covers and original songs while the videos on her second channel feature personal chats with her audience about her struggle with mental disorders, sexuality and her life. Dodie has an uncanny ability to connect with people, especially those with mental disorders. She seems genuine and vulnerable in most of her vlogs about mental health issues and about the YouTube community, which is probably why she has gained a huge following online.

Additionally, her songs have a simple but moving quality to them. Her lyrics prick you because of their ability to mix metaphors and descriptive words and to take a look into the human soul. The uncomplicated riff in Secret for the Mad and Human creates space in the song, which makes the listener listen more closely to the soft melodies and piercing lyrics. Her ukulele also makes it perfect to listen to on a relaxing day.

Like many other upcoming musicians on YouTube, late last year, Dodie released an EP called Intertwined. She includes six of her original songs that vary in length, style and theme. Every song seems like a little snippet into Dodies mind, including contradictions about what she wants in life. For example, theres a clear juxtaposition between When and Absolutely Smitten, where the former is a ballad about lying to yourself about finding love and enjoying dating, while the latter is a playful song about finding love in an instant and holding onto it. I think that speaks to the genius of Dodie. She is able to write from multiple lenses about complicated things, like love, to silly things, like not being able to see a dentist.

So how did Dodie become so successful? Aside from her talent, her success has comes from the loyalty of her fans. Because of Dodies honesty and vulnerability, she has gained a huge fanbase that supports her tours, EP and other social media outlets. She interacts with her fans as much as possible and makes videos about topics that concern her and her audience. She also often collaborates with other artists on YouTube, growing the audience she reaches. Through her music, she was able to gain a manager that helped organize her Intertwined EP and tour.

YouTubers often work with other YouTubers, who may be producers, directors or musicians, in order to learn the skills necessary to make high-qualityYouTube videos. YouTube is a great outlet for starting ones creative endeavors into the music and film industry. As Dodies career shows, it allows you to experiment and develop an audience all under your own control.

Contact Jourdann Fraser at jourdann at stanford.edu.

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Dodie Clark and the power of YouTube to launch music careers - The Stanford Daily

Eat better, drink less, exercise more and get enough sleep are common advice for heart health.

But studies suggest that a major lifestyle overhaul is not the only way to help your heart. Even small changes can make substantial differences.

Eventually, little changes can add up, said Dr David Goff, director of the cardiovascular sciences division at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, in the United States.

"Any small change you make in a positive direction is good for you," he says. "It's not an all-or-nothing phenomenon."

Physical activity is a perfect example, he said. Official guidelines recommend 30 minutes of moderately intense activity on most days.

It is ideal to get at least 150 minutes of exercise weekly but getting less than that has benefits too.

When the researchers looked at deaths from all causes, they saw the sharpest drop in mortality when exercise jumped from half an hour to 11/2 hours each week.

Just getting up for a minute or two to interrupt bouts of sitting may also improve health, the study added. And moving for as little as eight minutes a few times a day provides the same cardiovascular benefits as an uninterrupted 30 minutes.

Dr Goff said: "If you can't find 30 minutes a day, try to find five or 10 or 15. Anything is better than nothing." The philosophy applies to dietary improvements, too, he added.

According to the National Institutes of Health, an ideal meal plan includes lots of fruit, vegetables and whole grains, with limited amounts of fatty meat and oils.

But eating an imperfect diet with more of the good stuff is better than giving up entirely.

That is the conclusion from a 2016 study that created food- quality scores from the self- reported diets of about 200,000 people.

Over a course of about 25 years, the study found, people whose diets scored lowest had a 13 per cent higher risk of coronary artery disease than those in the second worst group.

Not taking soda and other sugar- sweetened beverages can also help eliminate a few hundred calories a day and help in weight control.

It helps to lower blood pressure, harmful cholesterol and the potential for diabetes - risk factors for heart disease, Dr Goff said.

Large long-term studies have shown that people who average one sugary drink a day have a 20 per cent higher risk of heart attack than those who rarely drink any.

It is not just food and diet, said Dr Michael Miller, director of the Centre for Preventive Cardiology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and author of Heal Your Heart: The Positive Emotions Prescription To Prevent And Reverse Heart Disease.

Heart strength can also come from battling stress by boosting emotional health in simple and unexpected ways, he said, such as enjoying a good laugh.

In a small 2005 study, Dr Miller played movie clips for 20 people. When they watched a scene that made them laugh, 19 of them experienced dilation of the blood vessels.

In contrast, a stressful scene led to constriction in 14 of the 20 viewers.

Since then, Dr Miller said, other small studies have found similar results, including one showing that vessels stay dilated for 24 hours.

Dilation also allows more blood to flow, lowering blood pressure as well as heart rate.

"Cross-talk" between the brain and heart explains the potential long-term benefits of laughter, Dr Miller said.

Belly-laughing releases endorphins, triggering receptors in blood vessels to produce nitric oxide, which, in turn, dilates blood vessels, increases blood flow and reduces the risk of blood clots.

People are far more likely to laugh when they are with friends, Dr Miller said, and this added yet more evidence of the health benefits of being social.

Accumulating evidence suggests that another easy way to help your heart is to listen to music.

Several studies have shown that, during recovery from surgery, listening to relaxing music leads to less anxiety and a lower heart rate.

Dr Miller said: "I tell patients to listen to music they have not heard in a long time but which, in the past, had made them feel really good."

He also recommended mindfulness meditation and hugging.

"Considering that stress probably accounts for a third of heart attacks, it can have a dramatic effect if you do all of these things in sync," he said.

THE WASHINGTON POST

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To take care of your heart, even little changes can help - The Straits Times

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

The rest is here:

What is sound therapy? - Mother Nature Network

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The rest is here:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Margot arrived first, followed by Devon ten minutes later.

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

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

There was no screaming.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See more here:

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