Local yoga instructors believe meditation and yoga may help resolve the wave of anxiety, depression and fear plaguing people as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an outbreak like COVID often contributes to an increase in fear and grief, causing isolation, higher unemployment rates, and an increased risk for mental health problems.

Murielle Corwin and Mae Corwin, mother-daughter co-owners of Sundara Yoga in Brunswick, said they saw an uptick in yogi patrons over the summer as vaccinations were made available and the virus became less of a threat.

As the pandemic has gone on, we are starting to see people weighing the health risk of being isolated and not moving, versus contracting COVID, said Mae Corwin.

Originating in ancient India, yoga has been practiced for thousands of years using physical postures, breathing techniques and meditation to better connect to the mind and body.

In addition to teaching yoga, Murielle Corwin is a registered nurse who worked in the ICU during the height of the pandemic.

She said medical research has shown yoga to be very effective in alleviating depression and anxiety when combined with other mental health services like talk therapy.

A recent study performed at Brown University reported that 32.8% of adults in the U.S. experienced elevated depression symptoms in 2021, compared to 27.8% in 2020 and 8.5% before the pandemic in 2020.

The Mindfulness Center at Brown University, School of Public Health launched a strategic plan in 2019 to Advance Well-Being for All.

The programs offered include movement, meditation and silent retreats as part of its curriculum, which is dedicated to stress reduction and mindfulness regarding anxiety and depression.

Bath yoga instructor Maya Rook said yoga has the ability to recognize and relate to anxiety.

It can bring things to the surface that we werent expecting to see. That is why its important to have an experienced teacher, a good community and a counselor to help process anything that does come up, said Rook.

Teaching since 2019 and meditating since age 10, Rook said she recognizes that yoga may not be the cure-all for those struggling with mental health but says it can give you the chance to feel more grounded by finding that mind-body connection.

Meditation helps us to remain present, even within times of turmoil and confusion. Rather than turning away from those things, it helps us relate directly to difficult situations and people in our lives, she said.

Echoing Rook, Mae Corwin said people need to practice yoga now more than ever.

I think that we are living in an individualist society and people are feeling the effects emotionally and physically from a time when we were socially distancing from our loved ones, said Mae Corwin. Any practice that helps us build empathy and more awareness to pause before really reacting, I think is going to positively impact our own life as well as ripple out into the world, she added.

For information about local yoga, visit illusorytime.com or sundarayogame.com/.

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Under stress of pandemic, yoga and meditation emerge as tools to combat anxiety, stress - Press Herald

The past week left me feeling overwhelmed. I just survived my first week of graduate school while managing my business and a seemingly endless to-do list at work.

Before attempting to write this piece, I made a quick trip to the convenience store and grabbed a medium-sized bag of milk chocolate candy. I had a plan in mind.

Twelve years ago, around the same time I discovered the art of mindfulness, I also learned the perfect excuse to consume sweets chocolate meditation.

Chocolate meditation is a form of mindfulness activity that uses the treat as its main subject. Chocolate and its different parts that appeal to the senses become the focal point of the mindfulness act.

In case you missed it, mindfulness means getting into a state of complete focus and awareness of ones present moment. It also means welcoming the different sensations, thoughts, and sounds as they occur, allowing free flow and releasing any judgment.

While there are many ways of performing meditation, this indulgent kind is like hitting two birds with one stone. One can claim the health benefits of chocolate (depending on the type you will get!) and meditation simultaneously. Here are the steps I developed through years of merging different ones taught by an acquaintance and online tutorials. I made up this guide using the acronym CHOCO.

C omfort. Find a comfortable spot like a chair or a mat. Situate yourself in a place of relaxation, away from all possible distractions. You may close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and consciously relax and release all tension from your head to your toes.

H old. Take a piece of your preferred chocolate (a tiny one like a piece of the classic Pinoy peanut milk chocolate will do!) and place it on your hand. Take a moment to feel its weight, inspect the packaging, read the label, and appreciate the design.

O pen. With much care and attention, unwrap the chocolate. Pay attention to the crinkling sounds, aroma, and the little treats appearance. Take note of its color and fully engage your senses of sight, smell, and sound.

C elebrate. Create a party inside your mouth by tasting the chocolate. Feel a piece of the sweet treat by taking a bite. Be mindful of how it touches your tongue and introduces different flavors. Indulge. Savor the taste and let the melted piece travel down your throat.

O bserve. Using the piece of chocolate as the point of concentration, allow thoughts and memories to come and go. If theres a sudden influx of thoughts in your head, try to get a grip and mentally organize them by redirecting every thought to the piece of chocolate. Be in the moment.

I repeat the steps as needed to enjoy the calming benefits of the activity. An essential part of the challenge is also being mindful of the amount of chocolate you will consume. Wink, wink.

Note: This meditation is best matched with journaling or doing a brain dump on paper to detoxify yourself of overwhelming thoughts or concerns. In case of health problems, using the meditation process using sugar-free or savory food items also works wonders.

Please let the author know if the meditation also works for you. Please share your thoughts by dropping her a note at randomrepublika@gmail.com.

See the rest here:

Learning the art of chocolate meditation - manilastandard.net

Kamlesh Patel, lovingly known as Daaji, is the fourth global teacher of 'Heartfulness', a simple set of heart-focused meditation practices to suit today's busy lifestyle. Born in Gujarat, India, Kamlesh D Patel showed an early interest in meditation and spiritual growth. He spoke about why meditation is necessary for everyone leading a stressful life today and how to do it.

Excerpts from the interview:

What is Heartfulness Meditation, and how did it originate? Is it affiliated with any religion or spiritual practice?

When we tune into our feelings and capture the inspirations that come from our hearts, making them the guiding source of our decisions, it is called listening to the heart's voice. This kind of shifting from analytical thinking to deeper levels of feeling, intuition, and consciousness is possible through meditation on nature, known as Heartfulness Meditation.

How do you start Heartfulness Meditation?

You may start meditation with a Heartfulness trainer on a one-on-one basis: https://heartfulness.org/en/connect-with-us/.

With a basket of wellness programs already available, why should one choose Heartfulness Meditation?

The process of Heartfulness Meditation has its foundation in the heart, where feelings and emotions reside. The unique aspect of Heartfulness is to meditate with the aid of yogic Transmission, or Pranahuti, and the Heartfulness Guide or trainers impart such training. Meditating on the heart improves emotional intelligence, sensitivity, and intuition.

Another distinguishing aspect of Heartfulness is the rejuvenation technique called cleaning, which removes the emotional baggage of the past. Heartfulness Cleaning addresses emotions such as discontentment, restlessness, anxiety, anger, fear, confusion, and negativity, helping you feel light and rejuvenated.

How long does one need to practice Heartfulness Meditation to feel the effect/judge the efficacy?

For some people, the first meditation session is a game changer; they feel the effect and can tell the difference immediately. But, of course, like any other practice, one has to try it regularly and sincerely for 6 to 12 weeks to observe specific visible changes in their inner and outer environment. For example, only when you work out regularly for a couple of months in the gym can you see changes in your body. A mind or heart gym is no different.

In today's hectic lifestyle, how can we find the time to meditate?

Especially when we think we do not have time to meditate is the time when we need to contemplate more and more. Can you see the logic in that?

Meditation is the most important and relevant time-management tool in our life. It helps us regulate our emotions. After all, what is time management, if not emotional management? We need physical energy to do things, but, more importantly, we need mental and emotional resilience to manage multiple things in life. Meditating for an hour every morning helps us stay focused, align our priorities, and become emotionally resilient. That is the secret to time management. So, 'hectic' does not exist in our lifestyle; meditation does.

Is any fee or donation required to learn or practice Heartfulness?

All good things are available bountifully in nature and free of cost. Do we pay for clean air, water, and love? Meditation is one of the noblest ways to create peace. It is free of cost a tradition that Heartfulness will always continue. Today Heartfulness has spread to 160 countries.

Is it recognised by the government or any international bodies?

In the most recent news, Heartfulness collaborated with UNESCO-MGIEP and AICTE to bring together 15000 youth to the at the headquarters in Kanha Shanti Vanam for a unique, conference, 'Rising with Kindness', to commemorate the International Day of Youth, and celebrated 75 glorious years of Indian independence (Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav). Heartfulness has partnered with AICTE in other ways, too, to equip students with meditation practice. Many state governments and ministries across India have signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the Heartfulness Institute. All Heartfulness Yoga programs are certified by the Ministry of Ayush of Govt of India.

Does practising Heartfulness require us to change our lifestyle? Is it compatible with average family and work life?

Heartfulness strengthens our life for the better. We do not have to change anything. It helps us mould our lives to become the best version of ourselves that we can be. It helps us balance and regulate our lifestyle.

Does Heartfulness work on medical ailments? If yes, which ones?

If you have any medical ailments, please visit a trained medical expert or a doctor. Recent research and work done by the Heartfulness Institute have proven that Heartfulness Meditation alleviates burnout and is highly effective in increasing productivity, emotional wellness, and even telomere length, as published in a recent study.

Who and why should one visit Kanha Shanti Vanam?

This is something you will answer for yourself when you visit Kanha Shanti Vanam! But to help you make the trip, let me give you a few tips:

Do you want to meditate in the world's largest meditation centre?

Would you like to visit a green haven, home to the 'Green Kanha' and 'Forests by Heartfulness' initiatives?

How about an experience of rainforests in the middle of a bustling city like Hyderabad?

If you said yes to any questions, pack your bags now!

Kanha Shanti Vanam is home to many fast-disappearing indigenous and endangered species of plants. We adopt the latest technologies with scientific planning to create an ex-situ conservation centre, replete with glorious green spaces.

I do not want to give away too many things, but I would like you to have first-hand experience. So you are welcome to Kanha, explore it for yourself, meditate here, and share your observations and experiences.

See the article here:

Exploring 'Heartfulness' meditation - The Hans India

The Unwind is Yahoo Lifes well-being series in which experts, influencers and celebrities share their approaches to wellness and mental health, from self-care rituals to setting healthy boundaries to the mantras that keep them afloat.

Joe Jonas has grown up in the public eye after making his big break as the lead singer of the band the Jonas Brothers in his teens. Nearly two decades into his career, the 33-year-old is recognizing that he can no longer put his health second to his career. Instead, the two go hand-in-hand.

"I think when you get a little older, your body catches up with you to the point where you realize, oh, you cant do this as much as you used to," he tells Yahoo Life. "You cant sing 10 shows in a week, party and not eat the right things and not get enough sleep and think you can just keep it up."

Joe Jonas talks about the importance of prioritizing physical and mental wellbeing. (Photo: Getty Images; designed by Quinn Lemmers)

While Joe gained fame alongside stars like Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez in the heyday of the Disney Channel, he explains that it was his working relationship with his brothers Kevin and Nick Jonas that kept him grounded. Even still, the trio had to face the difficult decision to take a hiatus as a band in October 2013.

"Obviously, a lot of young people in the entertainment industry, how they struggle with mental health, everyones on their own journey. And for myself, Im lucky enough to do this with my family. We were able to be honest with each other and check in and realize we have to take this time to take time off and really check out and look after yourself," he says of the break. "We pushed ourselves so far without taking those mental health breaks, without taking even those physical breaks and breaks from each other. And I think that was essential for us to be able to take a step back and go, 'Ok, whats important to us? We are a band, were also a family. Those two things can be separated, so lets make sure we find the division and thatll make us stronger.'"

The brothers embarked upon individual careers and began to build families of their own during their time apart. After announcing their return as the Jonas Brothers in 2019, they released a documentary, titled Chasing Happiness, showing how they worked to repair their relationships as brothers and artists. Now Joe recognizes his personal wellbeing as a vital part of existing as a group.

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"I find that the beginning of my day is the most essential to get my day going. If I dont have that me time Im not going to be as great of a friend or brother in the performance elements that I need to be," he explains. "The first thing I do is meditate immediately, app-based, so its 'Headspace' for me. Then I try to write a gratitude list. Writing music is a safe space for me and playing onstage is a safe space for me where I can share my most vulnerable moments of my life to the world in a fun little puzzle piecing way."

Before expressing those sides of himself onstage for either the Jonas Brothers or his other band DNCE, Joe requests a slap in the face as a part of his pre-show ritual.

"The slap in the face wakes me up, gets me amped. Theres also the safer, healthier sides like some tea for my throat and honey and some meditation, then plenty of tequila," he says. "Its a balance."

However, indulging in more meaningful self-care on the road can be difficult.

"When Im home Im getting up pretty early, but on the road, the hours are strange," he says. "Im going onstage at 9 and then getting offstage and then youre wide awake for two, three hours because you just performed and your energys going. There are tight quarters and tight spaces."

With limited downtime, it's also important for Joe to take care of his physical health in the most efficient way possible. He recently got an EVO ICL lens procedure done to fix his eyesight without a more invasive surgery.

"It was 24 hours that I was walking around New York seeing things clearer than Ive ever seen them and then, on top of that, the recovery process was really simple and now I can see better than ever," he says.

Medical doctors aren't the only professionals he relies on to keep him going, especially after the "stressful, scary times" following the coronavirus pandemic. "Therapy is great," he says. "Talking to my therapist and being able to open up, so Im not just going to my partner, my brothers or friends that probably dont need to hear this. Its nice to talk to somebody, a professional."

Although it's taken time for the singer and actor to nail down a routine that works for him, it's most important at this time in his life to be able to maintain success in his career while also showing up as a husband to his wife actress Sophie Turner and their two children.

"Im just so grateful I still get to do what I love for a living after all these years," he says, noting the difficult balance he's learned to strike. "I pinch myself every day."

Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Life's newsletter. Sign up here.

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Joe Jonas says he relies on therapy, meditation and tequila to maintain his mental health: 'Its a balance' - Yahoo Life

In 2017, Manjeet had a hectic life as the founder of an edtech startup when he was diagnosed with Lumbar Spondylosis - a form of chronic pain that affects the lumbar region of the spine.

At one point, he found himself exhausting all treatment options - physiotherapy, chiropractic, and sports therapy. When surgery seemed like the only solution, he decided to try one last alternative treatment at the behest of a friend: yoga.

Within two months, Manjeet recalls that his condition had improved and life became much better. It was during the pandemic that he took this suggestion of yoga to a friend, Amit Bhayani, a fitness enthusiast who used a gym on a daily basis and would later be his co-founder.

When Covid-19 hit and everything started to shut down, I started to think about ways to remain fit. This is when Manjeet introduced me to Yoga and I was amazed at the positive results it brought to my life - physically, mentally, and spiritually. This is when we thought of building a wellness platform focusing on traditional health practices, he says.

Together, Amit and Manjeet, set up FlexifyMe in Pune last October.

It is a website-based health and wellness platform that helps people achieve peak physical and mental wellness. FlexifyMes looking to change the way chronic illnesses are managed with a special focus on correction of lifestyles. Primarily, it looks to reverse these illnesses without the intervention of surgery or medicines.

FlexifyMe competes with the likes of HealthifyMe, Cult.fit, and Mindhouse. Amit says that many of these apps prioritise mostly either the physical or the nutritional aspect of health with very minimal regard to mental health.

FlexifyMe focuses on instructor-led live, interactive yoga, meditation and nutrition sessions. Clients can choose between one-to-one sessions or group sessions that are priced between Rs 500 to Rs 13,500 depending on the number of sessions or the kind of subscription they want - quarterly, half-yearly, or annual.

Once they have selected a plan, users can access the standardised, artificial intelligence (AI) programmes on the website. As the user performs a particular move or asana in front of their laptop or phone camera, the AI will make accurate predictions about the person's flexibility, strength, susceptibility to chronic illnesses like spondylosis and other parameters in real-time. In order for more specialised training, the user will also need to add key pieces of information like their height, food habits and sleeping patterns.

The clients typically are working professionals aged 30 and above. They generally are seeking natural solutions to lifestyle issues such as stress management, weight loss, and chronic illness. At present, there are 900 paid subscribers on the platform.

FlexifyMe isn't the first stint forManjeet and Amit. Amit, who graduated with BE in Mechanical Engineering from Mumbai University, co-founded Telestax which was bought by Mavenir in October 2021. He was also in the core team that developed the application server JBoss which RedHat acquired in 2006. As for Manjeet, he had previously co-founded companies like Buddy4Study, Pinig Tech, and others.

Being from entrepreneurial backgrounds, we had good connections in the industry, I got a few technical guys, Manjeet got some sales guys and this is how we built our core team, adds Amit.

FlexifyMe is yet to make a filing with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. However, the team mentions that it usually makes a monthly revenue of $50,000.

While the ideas are in place, building a company like FlexifyMe is not without its challenges. For Amit and Manjeet, building the right team is one of them. As a result, they are constantly on the lookout for fresh hires.Based on the data collected, the team prescribes fitness and nutrition recommendations to the user.

For now, it has 55 members, with around 40 Yoga, meditation and nutrition coaches.

Despite the challenges, the co-founders persisted. In May 2022, FlexifyMe raised $300,000 in a seed round from investors such as Ravi Bhushan, founder of BrightChamps; Amit Ratanpal, founder of Blinc Management; Sachin Anand, Sales Director APJ, Intel; and Dipen Shah, Managing Director at VAG-group.

Commenting on the investment made, Amit Ratanpal, co-founder and CEO of Blinc Management says, Considering that chronic pain/disease is a $110 billion market size and there is no one who is focusing on holistic Health, FlexifyMe has huge potential to grow.

The global health tech market was valued at $250 million and projects a growth of $880 million by 2030 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.3 percent from 2021 to 2030, as per the reports of Allied Market Research. FlexifyMe will soon look at expanding into other geographies, the first being United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Singapore.

Before expanding into international markets, we looked for the countries where the ratio of chronic illnesses was higher and natural therapies were accepted as a potential cure, along with the peoples awareness and inclination towards yoga. Hence, Dubai emerged as one of the growing markets for us, Amit says.

FlexifyMe is focusing on incurring a $100 Million Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) in the next three years with about 1 lakh paid customers.

See original here:

FlexifyMe takes the traditional route to treat chronic diseases - YourStory

The Ministry of Culture organised a mediation and self-realisation programme recently in 75 chosen prisons of the country. While the initiative is laudable, it is livelihood and economic rehabilitation of inmates that should become the main focus of prison reforms. This will not just ensure a better future for the young inmates but also contribute to the overall welfare of society.

Most states do not have well-calibrated, organised and fully state-funded skill development and livelihood programmes in its prisons. But most of these programmes are carried out by a well-meaning and motivated prison leadership with the help of civil society and minuscule funding from the state. The redeeming feature, however, is that many states have notified that all government departments will purchase certain products from the jails only.

An initiative that the Union home ministry can stitch in partnership with the Ministry of Textiles is to create a handloom cluster in one of the prisons in every state. Weaving is part of the trades practised in most state prisons. Some private social groups are promoting handlooms in prisons. Handloom weaving, otherwise, is a dying art replaced by power looms. There is a need for the revival of this craft and the ministry of textiles can embrace prisons to achieve that goal.

There is great demand for quality handloom products. This writer upgraded the handloom workshops in prisons of Himachal Pradesh under Har Haath ko Kaam project in 2017. More handlooms were either purchased or fabricated in the prison carpentry workshops. Better training, designs, raw material, and post-processing were ensured to produce premium handloom products such as shawls, stoles, tweeds, blankets, etc. Textile Ministry was also approached to authorise the handloom products made in Himachal prisons to carry the handloom logo.

As per the NCRB report, a total of 39,313 prisoners were provided with various vocational training during the year 2021 which is not even ten per cent of the prison population. The bulk of the training was in handlooms and weaving, carpentry and agriculture. The trades associated with the digital economy continue to be a far cry for the inmates.

Also read: In the process of evolving How a Madras HC judge is making Tamil Nadu LGBTQIA+ friendly

Union Home Minister Amit Shah made a profound statement while inaugurating the sports meet for prison officials in Kankaria, Ahmedabad, The jail administration cannot be ignored and we need to change the approach the prisons are seen in this society. All the convicts serving jail terms are not born criminals but circumstances force them to get involved in criminal activitiesIt is the responsibility of the jail administration for the re-induction of those who are not natural, born, habitual criminals into society.

He laid emphasis on providing libraries for prisoners, rehabilitating them by providing training and education, and establishing good hospitals and mental development activities.

Prisons do not have adequate skilled trainers and educators. The Ministry of Skill Development and Enterprise needs to step in to create prisons and prisoners-specific programmes which will equip even illiterate inmates in fending for themselves when released from jail. The ministry is believed to have developed over five thousand skill programmes for a vast clientele. Including prisons in their ambit will be a game changer for the inmates.

It is hoped after the union home ministers statement, his ministry will assume a greater role in coordinating with other ministries for developing programmes for skilling the prisoners. Most such programmes in closed environments like prisons suffer from a top-down approach resulting in partial success and satisfaction. A participatory approach alive to inclination of trainees, skill requirement of industry and trade, available infrastructure and qualified trainers can deliver winsome formula in this space.

Also read: Heard of famine wages? How British rulers thrift policies shaped Indian capitalism

Wages paid to the prisoners vary from state to state. The average per diem wage for a skilled worker is Rs111, Rs 95 for semi-skilled and Rs 88 for an unskilled worker in the prisons as per the latest 2021 report of NCRB. The minimum wage for unskilled work paid by Himachal Pradesh is Rs 300. There is definitely scope for upward revision of wages for variously skilled inmates.

Mere training and manufacturing will not help. The products made in prisons are generally in great demand. The NCRB data pegs the value of prison products at Rs 238 crore in the calendar year 2021. Wider market access will have to be provided at the central and state levels for people to sample and buy jail products. Iconic places like Dilli Haat must provide representation to prison products from states by rotation.

National Informatics Centre (NIC) can build a portal and a mobile app for sale of jail products from all the states so that they reach a large population of the country. Private retailers have no interest in promoting prison products on their platforms due to less margin offered by the prisons.

Also read: Prisoners are twice as likely to die by suicide. Existing laws do little to help them

According to a study conducted in prisons, 46 per cent of inmates are the sole breadwinners for their families. The message from these inmates, who show signs of frustration, anxiety, helplessness, depression and anger at not being able to support their families, is loud and clear. It is Bhooke bhajan na hoye Gopala! Only meditation and chanting bhajans will not satiate the hunger of their nears and dears.

Let us look at the prison demographics for 2021, released recently by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Eighty-seven per cent of all prisoners are in the productive age group of 18-50 years. This is the age when their families need them the most. Imprisonment makes their families secondary victims of crime suffering social stigma, abuse, ostracisation, financial hardship and above all depriving them of the presence and support of the head of the family.

The other data suggests that literacy and crime also bear a direct link. Twenty-five per cent of prisoners are illiterate, while another 40 per cent are below matriculation. Add to this another 24 per cent that is below graduation. A whopping eighty-nine per cent of inmates have below graduation educational qualifications.

Prisons are often blamed for being seminaries of crime. The above demographics should suggest that thousands of youths are readily available for recruitment in crime syndicates, drug and liquor cartels, mercenary gangs and other anti-social and anti-national groups if not weaned away from the life of crime by skilling them appropriately to lead an honourable life in society.

Nelson Mandela famously said, It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones.

The focus of policymakers should be on those 46 per cent of inmates whose families eat only when they earn.

Somesh Goyal is a former Director General of Police, Himachal Pradesh. He is an alumnus of National Defence College. He is knownfor his project Har Haath Ko Kaam which aims at providing livelihood opportunities to inmates inside and outside the prisons for their better integration with society. Somesh Goyal writes frequently on prison, police, and internalsecurity issues.

(Edited by Ratan Priya)

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Prison reforms need to go beyond music and meditation. Try handloom - ThePrint

Petchabun, Thailand

EKAR architects and landscape architects Groundsplay team up to create Walk / House, taking cues from nature to transform physical space into a boundless mediation on mental and physical states of being.

Surrounded by trees and mountains Walk/House is located in a tranquil part of a temple in Petchabun, Thailand.

The project is conceived as a walking meditation, not only a place for an abbot to live but also to maintain his daily ritual practice together with other monks.

For its inspired twist on the traditional home, Walk / House has recently been awarded a 2022 International Architecture Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

Instead of designing a traditional house, the key concept of walking meditationwhich is a concentration on the present dimensions of earth and sky to enhance awareness of mental and physical stateswas reinterpreted in the architectural context.

The configuration of the house is wide and long, facing the east to receive gentle morning light, with respect to the vast landscape of this faraway temple.

The continuous 59-meter long roof covers the whole space, with a slope that follows the mountains contour.

The space below and above the roof is designed to accommodate and support daily practices, including walking.

Some parts of the roof are indented, allowing trees to grow and sunlight and rain to pass through.

Meanwhile, the form of the long, curved roof helps divert rainwater flow to the middle line and to fall on the ground at the very endimitating a natural water flow on the mountain.

Under the bent roof, the lowest ceiling space, there are different functional areas for the abbot, including a sleeping area, working area, and praying area.

The interior space is compact, which is an attempt to comprise the nature of Buddhismhumbleness, in the place.

The long continuous path that also follows the natural contours makes a gentle slope for a comfortable walk.

Step, flat, and curve are the elements featured in the path, together with different simple materials, such as paving blocks, mosaic tiles, earth, and grass, allowing monks to walk barefoot and feel different textures.

The objective of the Walk / House is to offer no boundary for monks to meditate by walking, with the hope to enhance their ritual practice anywhere.

Project: Walk/HouseArchitects: EKAR ArchitectsLead Architect: Ekaphap DuangkaewDesign Team: Thaywin Wannabamroong and Saranyu KamphukaewLandscape Architects: Groundsplay (Athipat Ae-uam, Pacharee Sophonphaisit)Contractor: V-SathapatProject Management: Thaywin WannabamroongTechnician Assistant: Saranyu KamphukaewStructural Engineer: Pimol NontaleeClient: Dhammayan TemplePhotos Courtesy of Ekaphap Duangkaew

The rest is here:

Based on three path elementsstep, flat, and curveWalk / House enhances the walking meditations and daily rituals of monks - Global Design News

Many people feel the stress of the work season becoming more intense in September. Incorporating mindfulness and meditation into your workday can help you be more productive, manage stress, and keep your cool when the tasks pile up.

Spiritual practices are one of the best ways to recharge your batteries. Instead of checking your phone or hitting the candy machine, make time for a few breaks in your day to stretch or take deep breaths. Even on busy days, you can sneak in eight minutes of mindfulness. When you find yourself sitting at your desk for hours on end, stand up or walk around. This will help with circulation, which allows you to feel alert and take care of your mental health.

Meditation is a great way to incorporate mindfulness into your day-to-day life, with many types that suit your needs and lifestyle. You might be wondering how you can fit it in when you're already busy with your work and home life. But a daily practice of just 20 minutes a day can lower your levels of anxiety and depression, and even improve your quality of sleep. During your lunch hour, you can watch a guided meditation video on YouTube and tap into your zen. Itll give you extra energy and peace as you head into the second part of your day.

As you practice mindfulness over time, you can learn to regulate your emotions and thoughts by accepting them as they are without judgment or criticism. This will lead to an increase in productivity because it will allow you to focus on the task at hand without getting distracted by negative thoughts or feelings.

Do you manage an office or team? Incorporating mindfulness and meditation into the workplace will improve the overall well-being of your employees. If you are looking to start an ongoing wellness program or have a mindfulness event, schedule a free discovery call.

Many people feel the stress of the work season becoming more intense in September. Incorporating mindfulness and meditation into your workday can help you be more productive, manage stress, and keep your cool when the tasks pile up.

Spiritual practices are one of the best ways to recharge your batteries. Instead of checking your phone or hitting the candy machine, make time for a few breaks in your day to stretch or take deep breaths. Even on busy days, you can sneak in eight minutes of mindfulness. When you find yourself sitting at your desk for hours on end, stand up or walk around. This will help with circulation, which allows you to feel alert and take care of your mental health.

Meditation is a great way to incorporate mindfulness into your day-to-day life, with many types that suit your needs and lifestyle. You might be wondering how you can fit it in when you're already busy with your work and home life. But a daily practice of just 20 minutes a day can lower your levels of anxiety and depression, and even improve your quality of sleep. During your lunch hour, you can watch a guided meditation video on YouTube and tap into your zen. Itll give you extra energy and peace as you head into the second part of your day.

As you practice mindfulness over time, you can learn to regulate your emotions and thoughts by accepting them as they are without judgment or criticism. This will lead to an increase in productivity because it will allow you to focus on the task at hand without getting distracted by negative thoughts or feelings.

Do you manage an office or team? Incorporating mindfulness and meditation into the workplace will improve the overall well-being of your employees. If you are looking to start an ongoing wellness program or have a mindfulness event, schedule a free discovery call.

This press release was produced by North Essex Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed here are the authors own.

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The tragic departure of a beloved one, whether it be a husband, a son, a mother, or a friend, leaves a heartache, a dark void of emptiness caused by grief and bereavement. It can push those who are experiencing the loss to go on deep journeys of self-discovery. French writer/director Christophe Honores family tragedyWinter Boy, originally titledLe Lycen, follows the 17-year-old protagonist through all the stages of grieving. When the father dies in a sudden accident, stripping the family of its happiness and stability, the teenage son reacts with instinctive denial, followed by anger, rage, and overwhelming sadness, the disintegration of his own life, the picking up of the pieces and finally a form of acceptance, coming to terms with the finality of the loss.

Acclaimed auteur Christophe Honore, the heir to the Nouvelle Vague film movement, known for his filmsLove Songs,Sorry Angel, andInside Paris, is renowned for his complex narrative techniques, intricate psychological examination, and influential filmmaking. Honores 14th feature filmWinter Boy, dedicated to his father, is a self-reflexive enunciation of his own life as a queer teenager whose world turns upside down when an unexpected loss disrupts his anchored life. The film, which tackles the heaviest of themes, affects the anatomy of grief and documents the process of adapting to the losses in our lives.@TIFF 2022

Lucas (Paul Kircher) is the autobiographical hero of this coming-of-age drama who is trying to figure out his own life and identity. When the film commences, Lucas tells his own story as it unfolds, trying to make sense of what happened in his life. Interspersed with Lucas thinking out aloud, telling his internal thoughts, and showing how the events transpired, it provides a fragmented yet delicate and touching account of an unbearable personal tragedy.

Set in the depths of Winter, an alluring Lucas is traipsing through his last year of boarding school, gleefully passing the time with his boyfriend Oscar (Adrien Casse), looking forward to following his older brother Quentin (Vincent Lacoste), an emerging artist, to Paris. However, the startling passing of his father (played by Honore), a Vallee Village prosthodontist, shattered his taken-for-granted life journey and made him view his life as a wild animal in need of taming.

The film probes Lucass struggle with the anguish, sadness, and torment that descends over him like fog after his fathers demise. He is struggling in double measure as he had a forewarning that something devastating would happen. While taking Lucas to school that morning, his father unwittingly admits that he regretted his life choices and yearned to live his life differently. Minutes later, when they narrowly survived a near-death experience, Lucas realized it was an omen for the future in shambles. And when he is informed of his fathers accident, he is dubious and uncertain whether it was an accidental death or a suicide due to his disappointment with his life.

The film examines how a shocking life-changing event affects Lucas in detail with tenderness and sympathy. All the five stages of grief are reflected clearly in the details of Lucass everyday life. Initially, when Lucas is informed of his fathers passing, he refuses to react, feeling numb and sort of anesthetized. His calm composure shows signs of denial, a defense mechanism to cope with the loss. But, out of nowhere, he explodes at the confines of his room and feels everything shattering within him, his lungs burning up and finding it difficult to breathe. He is filled with anger and despair that his teenage self cant begin to articulate. His mother, Isabelle (Juliette Binoche), reeling in the pain of bereavement, finds herself helpless in the efforts to console him. He expresses his rage by lashing out at his brother, but later, he pulls himself together.

To recuperate from the new challenges posed by death and to get grips with his life, Lucas heads to the city to spend a week with Quentin and his flatmate Lilio (Erwan Kepoa Fale). There, he embarks on an exploration of his sexuality, hooking up with strangers, and goes almost to the extent of prostituting himself to an older man. When Quentin intervenes and sends him back home, he feels bottomless sadness. The incomprehensibility of his fathers death makes him renounce his life and engage in self-destructive behavior. Finally, with the help of his mother and those who care for him, he comes to terms with the inevitability of death and comes to a place of acceptance.

One of Honores finest films, Winter Boy returns to exploring his favorite themes of family, mortality, sexuality, and resurrection. The film is a dark portrait of an individual in mourning who is fumbling through the conflicting emotions and thoughts following the death of someone important. He looks for consolation and reassurance in all the wrong places, misguided by his confusing assumptions and regrets. This poignant experience leads to the maturation of Lucas as he reaches the cusp of adulthood, fighting to rediscover hope and love.

The subject of Le Lyceenis a thoroughly traversed thematic with significant precedents like Nanni MorettisThe Sons Room(2001), Hirokazu KoreedasMaborosi(1995), and Kenneth LonergansManchester by the Sea(2016). But what makesWinter Boyunique and distinctive is the narrative strategy employed by Honore to relay Lucass experience and his identity as a queer teenager encountering loss. As Honore confronts his own history through this character-driven narrative, it is observed with empathy, care, and affection. We witness a scintillating honesty and warmth that drives every scene as he reimagines himself as Lucas.

Paul Kircher offers a brilliant performance by giving life to Lucas, an attractive and delicate youth who finds it difficult to express his pain, let alone release it. He puts on a facade not to let others see his vulnerable and defenseless self but collapses when he is overburdened with loneliness and depression. We cheer for him to find his way back to himself when we get a glimpse at the scared kid hiding beneath his adult body. Juliette Binoche is equally outstanding as Isabella as she adds a human touch and depth to the film by reflecting the emotions of a caring mother.

Winter Boyis a deeply personal film for Honore as it has the unmistakable stamp of the directors life as he played the part of his fathers ghost. With sublime performances and dynamic filmmaking, Honore reaches out and touches us with his moving meditation on grief. This psychologically and sensitively mature film is made with scrupulous sincerity and frankness. It points out the need to overcome difficult and tough-to-handle situations and recognize death as the ultimate truth in life.

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Winter Boy [2022] TIFF Review: An Affecting And Personal Meditation On Loss & Grief - High on Films

U.S. workers are more afraid of running out of money in retirement and more intimidated by financial matters, such as long-term financial planning, than workers in Europe areyet Americans rate their financial well-being higher than do their counterparts across the pond, according to Alight research.

The 2022 Alight International Workforce and Wellbeing Mindset report found that 53% of U.S. workers rate their financial well-being highly, compared with 46% in the Netherlands, 44% in Germany, 40% in the U.K. and 35% in France. Overall, 44% of respondents rate their well-being as high.

The findings are from a series of research reports by Alight and Business Group on Health, according to a press release.

Workers worldwide found that COVID-19 intensified challenges to wellbeing, Alight CEO Stephan Scholl said in the release. As a result, they sometimes face difficulties in showing up to work as their best selves, which ultimately affects companies bottom line. At the same time, caring about employee wellbeing is critical to recruiting and retaining talent.

Among American workers, 43% said they experienced the most stress about long-term financial planning, though financial priorities differed for workers in other countries. Still, fully 47% of U.S. employees said they felt in control of their financial future, compared with 35% among their European counterparts.

The research shows that overall, 24% of respondents said they are intimidated by financial matters and 38% are afraid of running out of money in retirement. For U.S workers, 36% said they are intimidated by financial matters and 47% fear running out of money in retirement.

And yet, 47% of U.S. workers said they felt in control of their financial future, compared with 35% of their European counterparts, the report shows.

Among U.K. workers, 25% are intimidated by financial matters and 39% fear running out of money in retirement, whereas 16% of French workers said they are intimidated by financial matters and 42% fear running out of money in retirement. In Germany, the figures were 20% and 41%, respectively, and in the Netherlands, they were 24% for each.

Among all workers, 73% reported high or moderate levels of stress and 34% reported suffering symptoms of burnout, yet 34% of respondents feel their employer cares about their well-being, the research found.

For workers in the U.S. and the U.K., 15% of employees reported being aware of employer-sponsored stress management programs. Of those aware of the benefit, 23% have used it, although 32% wanted their employer to provide more mental health resources.

These sentiments demonstrate a disconnect in employees views of their workplace wellbeing benefits, as large employers have continued to make significant investments in workforce wellbeing benefits and programs, Ellen Kelsay, president and CEO of Business Group on Health, said in a statement.

The survey also identified areas where employers can better prioritize the well-being of their workforce and increase employee awareness and use of available well-being programs.

Employers can use this valuable survey data to refine how employees learn about and experience wellbeing initiatives, as well as how to better meet the specific needs of employees, said Kelsay. Many employers have invested considerably in wellbeing resources in recent years, and a key takeaway from these findings is that there is more they can do to ensure employees are aware of and utilizing those offerings.

The report recommends considering raising awareness of available mental health programs by creating engaging and personalized programs through a combination of technology and communication. It also recommends supporting employees long-term financial goals and understanding their short-term demands, as many employees need assistance with reducing debt levels, sticking to a budget, saving for more immediate financial needs and having longer-term savings goals. According to the report, balanced financial well-being programs that provide concrete steps for employees to take can help boost overall financial well-being and reduce related stress.

In addition, the report emphasizes the importance of providing balance and flexibility, asthe pandemic has demonstrated that workers value flexibility and being able to work remotely at least some of the time. More than half of employees (54%) said a flexible work environment differentiated one employer from another, and 59% said being able to work remotely had a positive effect on theirwell-being.

Kantar conducted the research, surveying more than 10,000 employees from February to March in the U.S. (2,000), U.K. (2,002), Germany (2,001), France (2,000) and the Netherlands (2,001). This marked the first time the study included countries outside the U.S.

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