After the stresses of the pandemic and other challenges of 2020 taking a toll on the mental health of many, local yoga experts are offering tips on how to shake off all the 2020 baggage and enter 2021 with a better state of mind.

DULUTH, Minn. After the stresses of the pandemic and other challenges of 2020 taking a toll on the mental health of many, local yoga experts are offering tips on how to shake off all the 2020 baggage and enter 2021 with a better state of mind.

The co-owner of Yoga North in Duluth details some ways to turn inward and focus on making you feel more resilient.

She stresses practices like meditation and finding a sense of stillness and quiet to help combat mental health problems, just some of the many activities she says to help stabilize and calm your mind for the new year.

So practices that get you a little bit more embodied, whether it be a yoga practice or walking in nature or exercising or dancing or whatever it is that helps you be in your body, and then coupling that with practices that help you calm your breath and your mind can be a stabilizer for mental health, said Molly McManus, the co-owner of Yoga North.

Yoga North in Duluth offers virtual classes via Zoom for patrons to get involved. The first classes of 2021 start Monday.

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Yoga Instructor Gives Tips for a Healthy New Year - FOX 21 Online

Much like just about everything else this year, New Years Eve is going to look pretty different than it usually does as we all try to stay socially distanced at the pandemics peak. And even if you typically opt to quietly watch the ball drop from home on December 31, the feelingof the end of this year is likely to be distinct from that of any before it; its pretty safe to bet that most of us have a lot riding on the hope that 2021 is going to be much better than 2020 in every way possible.

As such, this New Years Eve is shaping up to be more introspective than usual, and many of us are planning to lean heavily into the restorative practices thatve seen us through the last nine months as the curtain closes on 2020 at long last. Mindfulness, quietude, and gentle movement will supplement or even supplant champagne as we all steel ourselves for whats left of COVID-19s challenges, while simultaneously allowing ourselves to envision a happier path ahead. If youre looking to partake in a yoga flow, meditation, or combination of the two thats specifically oriented towards letting go, looking forward, and setting positive intentions for the new year this December 31, there are a number to choose from.

1. Yoga for New Beginnings from Yoga with Adriene

YouTube yoga superstar Adriene Mishlerwhos been creating a ton of mental health-focused content this year, including the uber-popular Yoga for When You Feel Dead Inside flowwill be releasing an 18-minute practice on December 31 specifically geared towards turning the page on 2020. Its free.

2. 90-Minute Flow Into The New Year with Kathryn Budig on Glo

On the Glo fitness platform, popular yogi Kathryn Budig will be leading a level two 90-minute flow thatll set just the right tone for sloughing off the weight of 2020 and moving into the relative light of 2021. This flow requires a Glo membership, but free trials are available.

3. Releasing 2020 New Years Eve Event Restorative Yoga and Meditation with Nicole Havelka

Nicole Havelka is certified in many types of meditation and also specializes in restorative and trauma-sensitive yoga. This New Years Eve, shell be hosting a two-hour event from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST aimed at releasing 2020 and setting intentions for 2021. It will include both restorative yoga and meditation practices. Tickets are $20-$60.

4. New Beginnings Yoga at Strla Yoga

This locally-beloved New York City-based studio will be offering a new beginnings flow at 10 p.m. EST to stretch, strengthen, and inhale/exhale your way into 2021. Strla Yoga is membership-based, and is free for seven days and then $19.99 per month thereafter.

5. New Years Eve class with Donna Rubin at bod nyc

At 10 p.m. EST, bod nyc studio co-founder Donna Rubin will lead a 60-minute flow followed by a 15-minute yoga nidra meditation to seal off 2020 and welcome in the new year.

6. Savasana into the New Year with Kristin Bilella at mangOh Yoga

This event, which will stream from 8pm to 10 p.m. EST, will include a letting go ceremony and vinyasa flow followed by a deep Savasana to help ease both mind and body into the new year. Its led by yoga instructor Kristin Biellla and costs $25.

1. Resolve to Evolve from Yoga with Adriene

Mishler is also offering a 10-minute meditation on her YouTube channel this December 31, which will be geared toward the resolution behind most of our more specific yearly resolutions: self-evolution. (Maybe this year, we can resolve to evolve as a species, too?) Its free.

2. New Years Eve meditations with Kelsey Patel on PureJoy

LA-based Reiki master and wellness expert Kelsey Patel is launching her new app, PureJoy, on December 31. That day, shell offer two different events; the first is a clearing, healing, and grounding meditation and then second is focused around intention setting. The first week on PureJoy is free.

3. Charting Your Course for 2021 with Heather Hayward at Unplug Meditation

LA-based meditation studio Unplug Meditation is offering a New Years Eve event with life coach and meditation teacher Heather Hayward. It will stream from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. PST and include guided journaling, meditating, and intention-setting. Its $40.

4. Release 2020 and Embrace 2021Mind, Body, and Soul with Shayna Hiller at Unplug Meditation

The studio will also host an event from 10 p.m. to 11:55 p.m. PST that will focus on helping you zero in on the things you want to leave behind from 2020 and bring into your life in 2021. It will involve journaling, dynamic meditation with breath and movement, and a sound bath. Its $45.

5. Ready to Take On What Is To Come Meditation with Kadam Morten

The Kadampa Meditation Center in New York City will be live-streaming a 90-minute meditation held from 10:30 p.m. to midnight EST. Its to be hosted by meditation teacher Kadam Morten, who says the focus will be on letting go of any tension and unhappiness built up in 2020 in order to enter 2021 refreshed, fortified, and open to whats to come next. Its $20.

6. New Years Eve Meditation with Sahaja Yoga Meditation

Sahaja Yoga is a unique form of meditation that is well-suited to all levels, even beginners. Their New Years Eve practice will stream at 9:45 p.m. EST, with some virtual socializing scheduled for the end of the session. Its free.

7. Silence and Celebration: A New Years Eve Retreat and Party (Online) at Shambhala Los Angeles

If youre looking for an intensive meditation experience on December 31, this may be it. From 4 p.m. until 1 a.m. PST, LAs Shambhala meditation center will offer an online retreat consisting of two different Zoom rooms. One will be the Silence Room, where ongoing meditations will be held, and the other will be the Celebration Room, to be utilized for socializing with the community. All levels are welcome, and the price is $20.

8. New York Insights Annual New Years Eve Gathering and Celebration

Insights virtual New Years Eve event runs from 8:45 p.m. to 12:15 a.m. and will include meditations, chanting, intention-setting, socializing, and a surprise ending. Its $15-$35.

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14 New Years Eve Meditation and Yoga Classes You Can Stream Online - Well+Good

I created Afro Yoga Allies for non-Black people who genuinely care about achieving racial justice and equity, particularly in the wellness industry,

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (PRWEB) January 01, 2021

Afro Yoga, an emerging wellness and education nonprofit that provides yoga and wellness instruction for everyone by supporting equity, diversity, and inclusion in the wellness industry, announced the launch of Afro Yoga Allies. Afro Yoga Allies is a sister platform to Afro Yoga. Its objective is to link non-Black allies with BIPOC to glean anti-racism education and build racial equity in the wellness industry through direct investment in the wellness of BIPOC communities.

With today's announcement, Afro Yoga Allies is also announcing its first round of funding scheduled for January 15, where five aspiring teachers will receive scholarships to complete yoga and wellness courses and training. Both the member allies and the Afro Yoga leadership team will collaborate through a digital community where all content is led, reviewed, and approved by BIPOC. The portal is the source of all profits from the work of allies, directly investing to benefit yoga teachers applying for the Afro Yoga Community Fund. (501c3).

"I created Afro Yoga Allies for non-Black people who genuinely care about achieving racial justice and equality, particularly in the wellness industry, to work with us," said Angela Franklin, the founder and executive director of Afro Yoga and Afro Yoga Allies. "Our allies are real change agents; people who are committing to improving racial justice by making their businesses more inclusive and welcoming and helping build funds for students learning to become yoga teachers."

Since 2017, Ms. Franklin has sought to intersect where wellness and social justice meet by leading racial equity and community building training for companies and organizations including Lululemon, UC-Davis and many other universities, nonprofit organizations, and people to advance her work. For four years, Afro Yoga has become an innovative organization for others to learn Kemetic yoga whose origin lies in Ancient Egypt and become educated on racial and social justice, as well as to create safe places for BIPOC to practice yoga.

"It is past time for acknowledging the colonial behaviors embedded in our way of being and living and the impact this has on the yoga industry. Our Afro Yoga Allies program is an important way for the yoga industry, and health and wellness can address it," said Ms. Franklin.

About Afro Yoga: Afro Yoga, is a wellness movement comprised of Kemetic Yoga, racial justice education, community engagement and optimal health that is revolutionizing the wellness industry. To learn more visit https//:afroyoga.org/allies and follow on IG: @afroyogabyangie.

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Diabetes is a chronic condition that requires you to take extra care of yourself throughout the year. But there are certain months when your risk of succumbing to it becomes high and therefore you need to know the effective arsenals against diabetes. We all know that stress and inactivity are two main culprits behind the increase in blood sugar level. And, during winters, it becomes challenging for you not to put stress on your body and keep it moving. Thats when your body goes into fight-or-flight mode. This leads to the excessive release of adrenaline and cortisol hormones that are harmful to diabetics. Also, in a bid to gather energy for daily activities, your body starts releasing glucose and that increases your blood sugar level. Also Read - Diabetes Increases The Risk Of COVID-19: Here Are Steps To Protect Your Health

In 2016, an estimated 1.6 million deaths were directly caused by diabetes. Another 2.2 million deaths were attributable to high blood glucose in 2012, says the WHO. It also states that the number of people with diabetes rose from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014. This is only the result of the ineffective management of diabetes. Therefore, here we share 10 naturopathy and yoga tips that can help people with diabetes during the cold season. Also Read - People With Eye Disease, Diabetes At 5-Fold Risk of Severe COVID-19: Study

A well-balanced diet is crucial to keep diabetes in control no matter the season. It is recommended to include plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lentils, beans, and oatmeal. Sweets and fatty foods should be avoided. Also, diabetics should refrain from consuming dry fruits as the fructose in them may spike the sugar level. Also Read - Here's Why You Should Have Green Tea If You Have Type 2 Diabetes

It is essential to keep the body hydrated at all times to get rid of the excess glucose through urine. Water should be the primary beverage choice as other beverages are loaded with preservatives and sugar.

The ancient practice of yoga can work wonders on the body, helping people with diabetes to keep the disease under control and lead a normal, happy life. Science has shown that specific yoga poses that involve the twisting and stretching of the internal muscles and organs stimulate the pancreas and endocrine system. This facilitates insulin secretion, which keeps the blood glucose levels under check.

Alternative treatment methods like acupuncture, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, etc., can restore harmony to the body in several ways. Acupuncture, where thin needles inserted into specific points in the body, can help with weight loss, control blood sugar levels, and reduce insulin resistance. Physiotherapy and hydrotherapy promote neurological and musculoskeletal functions that aids in weight loss, reduces stress levels, and lowers blood pressure.

Sound sleep is vital as the body relies on it to repair itself from exposure to toxins, daily stressors, and much more. Diabetics should aim for at least 6-7 hours of continuous sleep daily to let the body recuperate from damages and boost the immune system.

Those affected with diabetes live with a lot of stress. It can cause spurts of anxiety, mood change, confusion, and depression. The American Diabetes Association says that Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) may occur during winters; however, it is treatable. Spending time with loved ones, indulging in hobbies, or getting professional help are some of the ways through which diabetics can find relief.

To maintain personal hygiene, people with diabetes should wash their hands frequently and thoroughly with a natural soap. Apart from that, saline rinses using a Neti pot should also be practiced as it keeps the respiratory passages clear.

Obesity can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 80-85 percent. For people with obesity, the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin to meet the bodys needs. Therefore, losing weight becomes the only option to stay healthy and fit. Regular exercise, brisk walks, etc., should be incorporated into daily life to get rid of excess weight.

Diabetics should stay away from high-fat food, alcohol, caffeine, and white sugar, suppressing the immune systems effects. Too much high-fat foods can block the lymphatic system, hindering the bodys ability to fight infections.

Spending time outdoors or in nature not only boosts mood but also increases Vitamin D levels in the body. Vitamin D is an essential component that enhances the bodys ability to recognise pathogens and come up with a response against them, especially influenza.

Diabetes care is complex and it goes well beyond glucose control. Physical activity, healthy eating, and maintain proper body weight are crucial factors in preventing, managing, and reversing diabetes. Naturopathy explores a wide range of factors to determine which ones should be prioritized and how they can be modified to aid diabetics to effectively manage their condition during the winter season.

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10 Useful Naturopathy And Yoga Tips For Diabetics in Winters - India.com

Brianna Childers |Topeka Capital-Journal

A new year is synonymous with new habits, goals and resolutions. As 2021 kicks off, some people may be searching for a way to connect with themselves and those around them.

Knowing that the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to linger for some time, local yoga instructor Kathy Damron wants to offercommunity members a way to focus and recenter themselves during a 21-day meditation program.

The Power of Connection series, which begins Monday, will include a three- to five-minute daily meditation and prompt. The program costs$30, and those interested maysign up by visiting kathydamronyoga.com.

The daily meditation practice will be delivered to participants via text message or email. Each day, the program will walk through a short meditation and some will be followed by a short prompt that invites people todive deeper into the topic discussed during the practice.

It is "all designed to help people gain perspective that while we are socially distancing, there are lots of ways that we can stay connected, even if it's just mentally," Damron said.

Damron said the 21-day program is also a good opportunity for people to decide whethermeditation is a practice they are interested in continuing long-term.

"I think it sounds really mystic to people and a little bit intimating sometimes, or at least it did to me, and it doesn't really have to be any of that," Damron said. "You don't have to have ritual or ceremony or even a special place where you meditate. You just have to find that space where you can be sort of still and quiet, three minutes, five minutes, 10 minutes whatever works best for you where you center yourself, let yourselfjust not really think about the past and future too much and allow yourself to be present."

Damron said research confirms that meditation reduces stress andallows your mind to develop the capacity to be less anxious.

Damron started meditating about 10 years ago to complement her yoga practice,she said.

"In a lot of yoga classes, there will be a very beginning section where you center yourself, you let your mind get a little stiller or calm and do some breathing exercises," Damron said. "I found it to be really very helpful."

During 2020, Damron said, meditation has given her perspective. Thinking back to the beginning of the year, there was a lot of uncertainty regarding how long the pandemic would last and how infectious the novel coronavirus would be.

"Having a meditation practice really helped me to stay focused on the present moment, what I was doing today, not really what was going to be happening down the road because we really didn't know what that meant," Damron said.

Damron said she hopes those who participate in the meditation practice develop a deeper sense of perspective and recognition that although people are socially isolated right now, they are connected to one another and the place where they live.

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If you keep up with Jessica Alba on social media, then you know that the Killers Anonymous star is basically the queen of TikTok. And while all that dancing is a great workout, youre probably wondering what else she does to stay so fit at 39.

Amid her busy lifestyle as an actress, entrepreneur, and mom of three, Alba prioritizes a consistent fitness routine and nutrient-packed diet to keep her energy going. Working out takes away that little edge so that I feel happier and more productive, and my brain can get kick-started, she once told Shape.

That said, her schedule has some wiggle room. As Ive gotten older and after I became a mom, it became more of a priority to be healthy for the right reasons, Alba told People. Its more important to have a balanced approach instead of trying to be perfect.

To stay healthy and strong, she swears by Pilates, HIIT workouts, plant-based meals, and some downtime. Heres everything Alba has shared about her active lifestyle.

Albas mentality around exercise has shifted over the years. I always thought, I need to sweat out my weight in water, I need to have muscle failure, I need to feel like I just ran a marathonthats how hard I needed to work out, she recently told Womens Health.

When the coronavirus pandemic resulted in the closure of gyms across the U.S., Alba realized she didnt have to go so hard. Ive learned to mix it up and not feel like a failure if Im not, you know, killing myself, she said, adding that sometimes a workout is just a walk while listening to a podcast. She also aims to sweat it out two to four times a week.

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Alba is a longtime fan of hot yoga, but recently gave Reformer Pilates a try, which she credits to sculpting her abs. I feel every muscle in my core, she told Womens Health. I never even knew I had those things.

Outside of a pandemic, Alba also loves going to spin classes for a dose of cardio. I prefer it mixed in with light weights, so like a sculpting hot yoga class, she told Byrdie. Ill always work out with a friend because its more fun.

Alba incorporates high-intensity interval training (HIIT) into her fitness routine, too. I like moving around a lot. I dont like a lot of repetition, she told Byrdie. Two exercises she doesnt enjoy? Squats and plyometrics (like jump training). It makes me feel nauseous, she admitted. As for running, I feel like I have to work myself up to itI have to train to get to a point where I can run, she said. I have to get fit enough to run!

But she pushes herself when she feels the motivation to. I love my shape because it does what I want it to. If I want to go on a hike or a bike ride or go for a swim, I know my body will do everything I tell it to, she told Shape. I also appreciate that I can push myself through when Im feeling tired. Theres always a little extra something to get me past the tired moments.

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Every week, Alba cuts down on animal products and booze. Four days a week, I try to eat plant-based, and I dont drink alcohol, the actress told Womens Health. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, all bets are off. That feels like moderation to me.

She also told Byrdie that her usual menu includes protein shakes with almond butter, banana, and coconut water. For breakfast, her go-to is avocado toast and poached eggs, and snacks always include fresh veggies and hummus or popcorn with Himalayan sea salt and coconut oil. I try to stick to a diet thats low in sugar and carbs and high in lean protein and vegetables, she told Shape.

For Alba, stocking her home with healthy foods is key to maintaining a balanced diet. Always try to have as many fresh and natural things in your diet as possible and the least amount of processed things and things that have unnatural sugars, she told Byrdie.

Along with not drinking alcohol, Alba stays hydrated with coconut water. I really love the health benefits that come with coconut water, she told Byrdie, as its a source of nutrients like magnesium, potassium, and calcium. I dont drink a ton of other types of drinks. I drink coffee, tea, and coconut waterthats it.

I think staying hydrated is really important, she added. Just making sure you do stay hydrated for glowing skin and high energy. Its important for overall health.

For Alba, meditation is key to coping with stress. When Im feeling anxious, I hold on to a crystal and do breathing exercises and try to focus on the energy of love, kindness, and calming, she told Womens Health, adding that this routine results in a healthy mind-body connection for her.

For Alba, its important to understand the full scope of what I need to be my best self for my kids, my friends, my family, my work, and most importantly, probably, for me, so I can feel moreI hate the word balanced, but maybemore connected, she said.

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Astro yoga is a combination of yoga and astrology that dates back thousands of years. Many yoga practices focus on balancing the bodys energy centers, which also have planetary, zodiac, and elemental (earth, fire, air, water, ether) associations.

Yoga offers the practices we need to access our deep sense of well-being, and astrology offers tools of how to navigate time and our life purpose, says Emily Ridout, a yoga and astrology teacher. Together, they form a powerful practice that can catapult you on the path to becoming a more potent version of yourself. Aligning your yoga practice with the timing of the cosmos and nature returns you to a more aligned, natural state.

Intrigued? Below, Ridout explains how astro yoga works, and how you can start practicing it ASAP.

The basic idea of astro yoga starts with each zodiac sign being associated with specific body parts. To harness and tap into the energy of a particular zodiac sign, you can practice yoga postures and flows that strengthen and energize the body part it rules. Heres a brief overview of what rules what:

Once you have a general understanding of which sign rules which body part(s), there are a few ways you can merge the two practices together.

One way to get started with astro yoga is by adjusting your yoga practice to correlate with astrological transits, which Ridout says can help you navigate the natural shifts of whats happening in real time in your life.

Start by figuring out where the sun is in the zodiac. For example, is it Pisces season, when the sun moves into the Pisces sign? Or Scorpio season, when the sun is entering Scorpio? (Each of these seasons lasts about a month, and a simple Google search will tell you what zodiac season were currently in.) Once you know, you can focus your yoga practice on postures and flows that energize and strengthen the body parts ruled by that sign.

During Sagittarius season, for example, youd do a lot of hip openers and thigh stretches. Leo season is great for heart-openers and backbends. And during Pisces season, youd benefit from grounding, feet-focused poses like the butterfly pose.

For a hip-opening yoga flow, watch the video below.

You can also work with the traditional seasons (spring, summer, fall, and winter). Each of these seasons rules certain body parts, so you can do postures and flows that align with the current season. For example, Ridout says big heart-openers are great during the summer because the season rules the area of the upper and middle back and chest.

Fall signs rule the low back, hips, and sexual organs, so balancing on the feet, which stabilizes the hips, low back, and pelvis are the key for this season, she adds. The winter months rule the low body, thighs, knees, and feet. Spring signs rule the head, neck, and arms, so arm balancing is a great choice in spring. And in the winter, forward folding and restorative postures are key.

Another way to incorporate astrology into your yoga practice is by developing a flow based on your personal birth chart. This may also include transits, but in this method, the practices are targeted to help the practitioner integrate specific areas of their chart and life to achieve a particular outcome, such as emotional resilience, increased joy, or personal growth in career, relationships, or other areas, Ridout says.

This strategy might require the help of a practitioner, as there are many layers and specific configurations to consider. But if you want to give it a go on your own, pull up your chart and look at which planets are in which houses in your chart. Each house rules a certain area of life. So, to energize any particular area, youd look to see what zodiac sign rules that house. For example, lets say youre feeling stuck around your relationships. In this case, youd look at seventh house, which explores how you pair up in partnerships and relationships, see what zodiac sign rules it, and then hold poses associated with that sign to awaken the energy in that part of your chart. You can pick areas of life youd like to see movement in and literally create that movement using your practice, Ridout says.

You can also just stick with your own zodiac sign to optimize your astro yoga practice with poses that awaken your sign and stimulate energy associated with its corresponding body part(s). For a few examples, Aries is associated with the head, so anyone who is an Aries may try headstands, which will help tap into their inner fire. Cancer is associated with the chest and stomach area, so cat-cows would be very soothing for that sign. Libra energy is all about balance; since the sign is associated with the lower back, a tree pose would help ground that energy. And Aquarius rules the ankles, so if thats your sign, do the eagle pose, which is great for stretching the ankles.

You might be surprised to find how well your bodyand maybe your life?responds to yoga once you align you practice with the stars.

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Oftentimes, the journey to our true calling is winding and unexpected. Take Lainey Morse, who went from office manager to creator of the viral trend, Goat Yoga, thanks to her natural affinity for goats and throwing parties.

Back in 2015, Lainey bought a farm in Oregon and got her first goats who she named Ansel and Adams. "Once I got them, I was obsessed," says Lainey. "It was hard to get me off the farm to go do anything else."

Right away, she noticed what a calming presence they had. "Even the way they chew their cud is relaxing to be around because it's very methodical," she says. Lainey was going through a divorce and dealing with a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis at the time, but even when things got particularly hard, the goats provided relief.

"I found it impossible to be stressed or depressed when I was with them."

She started inviting friends up to the farm for what she called "Goat Happy Hour." Soon, the word spread about Lainey's delightful, stress-relieving furry friends. At one point, she auctioned off a child's birthday party at her farm, and the mom asked if they could do yoga with the goats. And lo, the idea for goat yoga was born.

A baby goat on a yoga student. Photo courtesy of Lainey Morse

Goat yoga went viral so much so that by fall of 2016, Lainey was able to quit her office manager job at a remodeling company to manage her burgeoning goat yoga business full-time. Now she has 10 locations nationwide.

Lainey handles the backend management for all of her locations, and loves that side of the business too, even though it's less goat-related. "I still have my own personal Goat Happy Hour every single day so I still get to spend a lot of time with my goats," says Lainey. "I get the best of both worlds."

Lainey with her goat Fabio. Photo courtesy of Lainey Morse

Since COVID-19 hit, her locations have had to close temporarily. She hopes her yoga locations will be able to resume classes in the spring when the vaccine is more widely available. "I think people will need goat yoga more than ever before, because everyone has been through so much stress in 2020," says Lainey.

Major life changes like Lainey's can come around for any number of reasons. Even if they seem out of left field to some, it doesn't mean they're not the right moves for you. The new FOX series "Call Me Kat", which premieres Sunday, January 3rd after NFL and will continue on Thursday nights beginning January 7th, exemplifies that. The show is centered around Kat, a 39-year old single woman played by Mayim Bialik, who quit her math professor job and spent her life's savings to pursue her dreams to open a Cat Caf in Louisville, Kentucky.

Jeff Harry started making similar moves when he was just 10-years-old, and kept making them throughout his life. After seeing the movie "Big,"Jeff knew he wanted to play with toys for a living, so he started writing toy companies asking for next steps. He finally got a response when he was a sophomore in high school the company told him he needed to become a mechanical engineer first.

He did that, and eventually got a job with Toys R Us in the Labor Planning Department where he was almost immediately disillusioned. "There was no play, no fun, no high fives, and no kids," says Jeff.

Soon after, in late 2001, he decided to quit the business and move across the country to Oakland, California. While there, he found a job posting on Craigslist for a STEM education company called Play-Well, which uses LEGOs to teach kids about engineering. Even though they only had 7 employees and only paid $150 a week, he thought it sounded promising and applied.

Courtesy of Jeff Harry

Over the next 16 years, Jeff helped grow the company to over 400 employees. By "embracing a play-oriented mindset, we said yes to everything even if we didn't know if we would be able to figure it out," says Jeff. "We were constantly doing experiments, open to failure, not fixated on certain results." Through this method, they became the largest LEGO-inspired STEM organization in the United States.

Since they were teaching lots of kids whose parents worked in Silicon Valley, they were eventually asked to run team-building workshops with some of the top tech companies in the business. They did this for nine years and excelled at it, but eventually, Jeff began to feel like the importance of play was getting lost. In response, he created a consulting business called Rediscover Your Play, which uses positive psychology and play to help reinvigorate employees and help companies tackle workplaces challenges.

Now, he finally feels like he's found his purpose because he's living, and sharing, his passion for play every day.

Your life and career path don't have to look like anyone else's, in fact, it's usually better when they don't. If you follow your gut and buy some goats or apply to an unorthodox job posting on Craigslist, you might just open a door to one spectacular future.

So, this New Year...Quit your job. Open a cat cafe. Live your best life.

Call Me Kat premieres on FOX Sunday, January 3rd after NFL and continues on Thursdays beginning January 7th at 9/8c. Starring Mayim Bialik, the show is about a 39-year-old woman who quit her successful, yet unfulfilling, job to pursue her dreams to open a cat caf. Kat couldn't be any happier with her new life despite her mother pushing Kat to get married already!

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From goat yoga to professional play, these people took risks and found their purpose through passion - Upworthy

David Alan Watts, 40, from Ramsbury, appeared at Bristol Crown Court for sentencing.

He had previously stood trial and been found guilty of five offences, namely false imprisonment, three counts of raping a child under the age of 13 and sexual assault on a child under the age of 13.

Today he was jailed for 23 years, with five years extended licence.

Police were called to an address in Ramsbury in the early hours of 13 June by a young girl who said Watts, who was known to his victims, was armed with a knife and was behaving in an aggressive and threatening manner.

While she was speaking to a call handler, Watts, who had locked all the doors and the windows, snatched the phone away from her.

When officers arrived they found the girl standing in the window holding a handwritten note that said break in, he is trying to stab us.

They quickly gained entry and ran upstairs, forcing the door to one of the bedrooms and found three young girls sitting on a bed crying, while Watts was holding a knife to the throat of a woman who was holding a toddler.

PC Chris Miller discharged a Taser against Watts and then he, and assisting officers, physically restrained Watts, using a Pava spray to bring the situation under control.

During the incident, PC Miller suffered a broken bone in his hand and sustained knife wounds to his hand, while another officer was bitten.

During the trial the Judge commended PC Miller and Special Constable Dave Turner for their bravery during the response to this incident and said he would be recommending them for recognition.

At sentencing he commended everyone involved with the investigation for their hard work.

Detective Constable Leannda Benfield, from Wiltshire Polices Public Protection Department (PPD), said todays sentencing marked the end of a difficult six months for Watts victims.

She said: Firstly I want to pay tribute to the victims in this case who have been so brave in speaking to us about what happened to them so we were able to bring Watts to justice and see him put behind bars for a very long time.

Not only was the night itself an incredibly frightening and traumatic incident, but there had also been previous occasions of sexual abuse.

Throughout this process we have worked hard to provide all the necessary support to make sure their welfare has been our priority.

She added: We would always urge anyone who has been the victim of sexual abuse, no matter when the offences occurred, to come forward and speak to police. We have specially-trained teams to investigate these types of crimes and we will deal with your report sensitively.

Detective Superintendent Ben Mant, head of PPD, praised the teams who had worked on this investigation.

He said: This is an incident and investigation which has involved so many different police officers, police staff and volunteers.

On the night in question the responding officers, which included a Special Constable, had to deal with a volatile and violent man. They had no thought for their own safety when they entered that property and acted entirely in the interests of safeguarding Watts victims who were trapped inside.

They had just seconds to make decisions, including how to apprehend Watts when he was holding a knife to the throat of a woman carrying a small child.

Then, what followed was a detailed and sensitive investigation by specialist detectives, ensuring they had all the evidence needed to gain justice for the victims.

It is clear that Watts has no remorse for his actions, refusing to engage with the judicial process and forcing his victims to endure a trial. But I hope they will have some comfort in the fact that he will now be in jail for a long time.

If you have been a victim of sexual abuse, please speak to somebody. You can report it to the police by calling 101, or you can go to our website to find details of other agencies who can provide support. You can read more here.

You can also seek support and counselling from the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) based at the New Swindon Sanctuary they can be contacted on the 24-hour helpline 0808 168 0024.

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A man who held a family hostage at knifepoint during a terrifying incident earlier this year has been jailed for 23 years. - UK News in Pictures

Bill Meade performing in the he March 2020 performance of Roadside Theaters play The Future of Letcher County at the Arch Social Club in Baltimore.

Dudley Cocke and Ben Fink

In a Kentucky coalfield county that twice gave Trump 79% of its vote, volunteer fire chief Bill Meade is known as a particularly outspoken Trump supporter. When we invited him to meet with grassroots leaders at the oldest African American social organization in Baltimore, some people got nervous. But when Bill walked in the front door and saw the Narcan the same medicine he and his fellow firefighters use to treat opioid overdoses back home he knew he was on friendly ground. His hosts seemed to feel the same: after watching him perform in an original play about his neighbors struggle to survive the collapse of the coal industry, one of them commented: We didnt know white people had those problems, too.

As we enter a dangerous moment in our national life, where a new president will try to bring us back together even as many of our communities are falling apart, these are the kind of connections we need. Weve been part of making them happen on a small scale in communities across the country. With the right investment, they could be happening everywhere.

The key to our approach is recognizing that every community has its own centers of power, like Bills volunteer firehouse in East Kentucky and the Arch Social Club in West Baltimore. These are organizations of, by, and for their communities: the local businesses, cultural centers, churches, and other spots where neighbors gather to support the place they live and the people they love. We partner with these organizations and their grassroots leaders to create opportunities for their community to celebrate its inherent spiritual, intellectual, and emotional genius.

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Cocke and Fink: Community organizations work best - Roanoke Times