Did you know that there are great musicians from Wales? outraged Tom Jones, obviously. Alongside the interpreter of “Sex Bomb”, there is Catfish and the Bottlemen, Neck Deep, Marina and the Diamonds, Bullet For My Valentine, Stereophonics and Manger. They don’t call it Song Country for nothing!

Speaking of great music, with such stunning scenery including castles, beaches, ruins and vast green fields, Wales is a fantastic place for a music festival. Even when the party is over, you can have fun. You can take in the scenic landscapes of Anglesey, surf, kayak or hike Mount Snowdon and fill your lungs with fresh air as you take in the unreal views all around you.

Sounds good, doesn’t it? Just thinking about it makes you excited. So we’re going to go straight into this one. Check out these brilliant music festivals in Wales.

green man festival

When: Thursday 18 – Sunday 21 August

Where: Brecon Beacons, Wales

Programming: Kraftwerk, Michael Kiwanuka, Beach House, Metronomy, Bicep

This family festival takes place during the summer holidays and offers much more than music to discover. green man has several tents with different themes, entertaining attendees throughout. For example, Einstein’s Garden tent is themed around math and science, while Nature Nurture offers yoga, restorative massages, meditation, wellness workshops, and more.

While green man is family friendly, that doesn’t mean adults can’t attend and unlock their inner child, connect with themselves, and most importantly, listen to fantastic live music. Kraftwork, Biceps, and Metronomy? Don’t mind if we do!

Find tickets for the Green Man Festival 2022 – here

–

---

SwnFestival

When: To be determined

Where: Multiple locations on and around Womanby Street, Cardiff

Programming: to be determined

If listening to new music and supporting smaller bands is what you need, SwnFestival could be the perfect choice. This festival does not focus on a particular genre. The team behind only deliver artists they are passionate about, focusing on emerging artists, local artists and new music.

Perfect for discovering your new favorite artists, the festival hosted Nurseries, Vaccines, Marina and Diamonds, Clean Cut Kid, The Amazons, Peace and many others to its past editions. Taking place on several sites, sn is also the perfect excuse to discover your new favorite place to listen to live music.

---

Upside Down Festival

When: Public holiday Sunday May 1

Where: Bute Park, Cardiff

Programming: Kurupt FM, Idris Elba, Tion Wayne, Andy C

Upside down is a dance music festival that features drum and bass, hip hop, grime, garage, house and more. Bute Park. What a way to spend a holiday Sunday! Even better, Upside down has rides for thrill seekers and an ever-go-go crazy crowd.

The full lineup has been revealed with a few crack artists including Andy C, Tion Wayne and more. Tickets for the third release are available now for as little as £40. A monthly payment plan is also available to keep your bank account happy.

Find tickets for Inside Out Festival 2022 – here

–

---

Westival

When: Thursday 21 – Monday 25 July

Where: Shipping Hill Farm, Pembrokeshire

Programming: Eris Drew, Dan Shake, Shanti Celeste and many more

1,500 people gather every year in Pembrokeshire for Westival, an independent underground music and arts festival. The genres you will discover on Westival are varied with heavier acts, electronic, funk, hip hop, house, dance and much more.

With such limited capacity, Westival maintains an intimate vibe that simply cannot be replicated at major festivals, allowing for a deeper connection with the music and a chance to connect with the artists on stage. Try something different this year. Check out a smaller festival to see what all the hype is about!

---

gottwood party

When: Thursday 9 – Sunday 12 June

Where: Carreglwyd, Anglesey

Programming: to be determined

Described as “one of the most important boutique festivals the UK has to offer” by The Independent, gottwood party has a stellar reputation as an intimate underground electronic music festival. Located deep in the forest, Gottwood has a free-spirited vibe that offers attendees a place to escape life and connect with their favorite music.

The festival saw performances from some pretty big names, including Mr. Scruff, Hunee, Ben UFO, Daniel Avery, Maribou State, and more. Who knows what fantastic artists they will have this year?

Find tickets for Gottwood Festival 2022 – here

–

---

FOCUS Wales

When: Thursday 5 – Saturday 7 May

Where: Multiple locations, Wrexham

Lineup: Echo & The Bunnymen, Gwenno, Self Esteem, Public Service Broadcasting, Goat Girl

Having won Best Festival for Emerging Talent at the UK Festival Awards in 2019, we couldn’t leave FOCUS out of this list. FOCUS brings together 250 artists, local and international, with music that spans just about every genre you can think of, including punk, hip hop, reggae, folk, indie, pop, metal, prog, RnB, soul and more.

As well as a wide range of new live artists, there are film screenings, workshops and a new music conference to check out. With approximately 15,000 participants spread over 20 sites, FOCUS maintains that intimate feeling without it feeling empty.

---

Steelhouse

When: Friday July 29 to Sunday July 31

Where: Hafod Y Dafal Farm, Ebbw Vale

Composition: Ace Frehley, Orange Goblin, Diamond Head

Steelhouse is Wales’ biggest classic rock festival taking place in a breathtaking mountaintop location. Aiming to be the top rock festival in the UK, it’s no wonder the festival has gained such a loyal following over the years.

Previous editions have seen classic rock heroes such as Darkness, Thin Lizzy, Myles Kennedy and much more. Among those confirmed for this year includes Ace Frehley, Heat, Inglorious, and green lung. And the good times don’t stop there. After the artists have finished their performances, the beer tent will remain open for pints and rock DJ sets. Sounds like a top weekend away!

---

Escape Party

(This embedded post has since been removed)

When: Saturday August 20

Where: Singleton Park, Swansea

Range: Sub Focus, Bru-C, Dimension

Escape Party will land in Swansea Singleton Park with programming to get you jumping, skanking and raving all over the place. Raced by the team behind Upside Down Festival and Clash of colors, Live Highlight is Wales’ largest festival company. It’s safe to say that these guys know what they’re doing.

The lineup is already looking killer with Harriet Jaxxon, Audiofreq, Eksman and more. And with a huge lineup of homes to come, it’s only going to get better. Expect drum and bass, house, trance, bass music and more at this crazy summer festival.

Find tickets for Escape Festival 2022 – here

–

---

Wales is full of great music festivals. Whether you’re looking for your next favorite act, whether you want to party in a forest or reconnect using yoga, creativity and learning, there’s something in Wales that will float your boat. . And with such charming and friendly locals, there’s nothing stopping us from checking it out this festival season. We will meet you there!

---

---

Discover our Events Guide for even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head over to our Things to do or get inspired by the event selections on our inspire me page.

]]> https://adroberts.net/pupils-at-pantysgallog-primary-school-go-digital-with-an-app/ Sun, 30 Jan 2022 18:49:05 +0000 https://adroberts.net/pupils-at-pantysgallog-primary-school-go-digital-with-an-app/

Pupils at Pantysgallog Primary have been busy designing a new app called ‘MIHealth’ which aims to promote wellness and health in their daily lives.

The wellness app includes tips, challenges, and tools to improve wellness. The students designed the app to provide a wide range of activities specifically for students by students. There are mindfulness activities for calm and relaxation, but the app also includes awesome technology like augmented reality to bring fitness routines and artwork to students in their classroom and at home.

The initial vision for the app came from students discussing how being a Silver Rights Respecting School identifies the importance of investing in their overall well-being. They then worked with Value Added Education and developed an app that was suitable not only for students at the school but also for the community.

Principal Darren Thomas said, “We are extremely proud of the work done by the students of Pantysgallog, working with value-added education experts, to design their very own health and wellness app, MiHealth. Over the past two years, we have taken a strategic approach to becoming a school where health and well-being are at the heart of everything we do, supporting our students and staff. The work of our students, involved in this project, gives us the ability to support the well-being of individuals, who have access to the devices, around the world. The project educated our students on how they can take care of their own well-being, while improving their digital proficiency levels. It was a great success.”

The school held a virtual event yesterday to showcase its new app and counselors were invited to attend. Chief of Council and Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Lisa Mytton, was present alongside Deputy Chief, Cllr Geraint Thomas and Dowlais and Pant Ward Cllr Julian Amos.

Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Lisa Mytton, said: “I have been so impressed with the students and staff at Pantysgallog for creating the MIHealth app. The app is perfectly designed for students, parents and residents to use, with content that improves their well-being and health in an engaging and accessible way. As a cabinet member for education, I would love to see more of this in our schools in the future. The pandemic has been an incredibly difficult time for many students and content like this is just one way to support them and others both at school and at home.

The vision of MTCBC’s RARS Education Strategy is to ensure mental and physical health support is available to every child and youth in the borough. This app is an example of enabling students to benefit from wellness and health through the use of engaging and informative digital content while developing digital skills at the same time.

Deputy Chief, Cllr Geraint Thomas said, “Seeing the incredible creative effort and intelligence that has gone into this app has really impressed me. Innovative ideas like this are what we need to move forward in supporting the county borough’s children, families and school staff. This app is an important step in helping students with health and wellness, which I believe is so important as we emerge from the pandemic which has been a difficult time for all of us.”

]]> https://adroberts.net/japanese-mental-health-care-app-awarefy-helps-you-adopt-mindfulness-and-self-care-techniques/ Fri, 28 Jan 2022 18:37:27 +0000 https://adroberts.net/japanese-mental-health-care-app-awarefy-helps-you-adopt-mindfulness-and-self-care-techniques/

Working on your mental well-being a little each day could help improve the way you feel, think, and deal with your emotions. Realize, a Japanese mental health care app, is a user-friendly self-help tool designed to help you adopt self-care and mindfulness techniques to improve your daily life. After all, your mental health is as essential as your physical health.

Self-care has never been more crucial. As lockdown restrictions continue to apply, it’s important that you take time out of your days to show yourself a little kindness, take care of your mental health and make sure you get back into things too quickly.

The term self-care has become a buzzword when it comes to wellness, so it’s essential that you don’t lose sight of what the term actually means. These days, people can combine self-care with experimental relaxation techniques and luxurious face masks. However, self-care also refers to the activities you engage in to take care of your physical, emotional, and mental health, including those mentioned above.

With that in mind, a mindfulness app is a great way to make self-care a regular habit. Whether they help you do a breathing exercise or just remind you to take care of yourself, a mindfulness app like Realize helps make the whole process a little easier by giving you personal care at your fingertips.

What is Awarefy?

Realize is a mental health care app designed through joint research with Waseda University based on the theoretical concept of ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). It is commonly known as the third generation of cognitive behavioral therapy.

The self-care and mindfulness app provides features that allow you to “note”, allowing you to visualize and organize your daily emotions and conditions. It also has voice guides that help you practice mindfulness and meditation and a recording feature for stress management. Realize presents an easy and convenient way to take care of your mental health from your smartphone.

Since its launch in May 2020, Realize served its Japanese users and surpassed 100,000 downloads by December 2021.

Recently, Tokyo-based Japanese startup Hakali Inc released an English version of the mental and emotional self-care app, allowing it to be used by a much wider audience. This is the company’s first step towards global expansion. Hakali is also dedicated to releasing the app in other languages ​​to establish a framework and make the app available to everyone around the world as Japan’s mental health care app.

Introducing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is a unique therapy that helps patients come to terms with their negative feelings and thoughts instead of avoiding or eliminating them. Trained therapists use this method to treat a wide range of conditions, and it has proven effective for many people.

ACT also encourages patients to accept things beyond their control and to engage in other actions and thoughts aimed at enriching their lives. Instead of feeling guilty for having negative feelings, patients learn that negative emotions are natural. The goal of this therapy is to stimulate psychological flexibility.

The basis of ACT – which is the basis of Awarefy’s development – ​​emphasizes mindfulness as one of the vital elements. The root of mindfulness is shown to be in Buddhist Zen. Designed in Japan, where Zen culture fills daily life, the application of self-care and mindfulness reflects the Zen concept of ‘reassess yourself to become aware and find your true self.’

Based on this principle, Realize will offer emotional and mental self-care that improves the regular awareness of people in Japan and around the world.

Realize is now available for download on Apple Store and Google Play. The app also offers premium plans to support more comprehensive self-care.

]]> https://adroberts.net/how-to-match-strains-and-styles-of-meditation/ Wed, 26 Jan 2022 22:07:00 +0000 https://adroberts.net/how-to-match-strains-and-styles-of-meditation/

If you’re a stoner or part-time lover, chances are you’ve been meditating with weed without even realizing it. Maybe you got too high, so you spent 10 minutes focusing on your breathing and telling yourself, “I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine,” until you actually are. . Or, while you were stoned to the bone and lost in a book, a particular phrase may have echoed in your mind until it cradled all your chakras, which then rocked you from a literary trance. stoned feeling light as air.

Cannabis and meditation go together like sugar and salt – each effective on their own, but under the right circumstances both absolutely bring out the best in each other. When the chemistry is perfect, you can consciously blend the two and end up with the salted caramel of short-term metaphysical journeys.

The practice of stoned meditation can be ceremonial — think lit candles, sage, moon phase — or super informal. It all comes down to honoring yourself where you are.

So whether you’re lounging hard in your underpants or in the lotus position on your bedroom floor, these stoned meditation tips could help you stay centered, faded or otherwise.

To start

For those unfamiliar with the practice, meditation is the act of focusing your mind on one particular thing – the breath, for example – to achieve a clear, calm, and present emotional and mental state. Simple enough, right? Really, there’s not much to practice; the only thing that stands between you and higher consciousness is, well, your own mind. This is precisely why cannabis can be so helpful.

There is evidence that cannabis and meditation can, separately, be potential treatments for pain, stress, anxiety and depression – common issues that many of us live with. Finding both a strain that helps soothe these issues and a style of meditation that puts you back in alignment is more than a way to relax, it’s a quiet shortcut to Nirvana.

If you’ve never meditated before, consider downloading a number of meditation apps, like HeadSpace, Calm, or Insight Timer, to help you get started.

Best Weed Strains For Meditation (Our Picks)

Contemporary cannabis cultivars are bred for a surprisingly wide range of therapeutic and recreational applications. If you’ve already found one that feels particularly comfortable in cashmere, take the time to dial in your perfect dose before building your meditation momentum.

Here are a few relatively ubiquitous strains that we’ve found particularly relaxing:

For consumers with low tolerance: Harle-Tsu

This hybrid features a particularly high CBD concentration and offers a relatively low stakes high that generally leans towards the therapeutic. For users new to both meditation and cannabis, this could be a gentle and appropriate introduction.

Finding Harle-Tsu Stumps

For a proven attitude fit: Blue Dream

Blue Dream’s particular genetics produce effects that are consistently reported to be effective in treating stress, anxiety, and depression. It is often found with milder cannabinoid profiles, so you can turn off any anxiety without having to deal with an astronomical high as well. But be warned, for some this cultivar produces an energetic high, so start slow and explore the effects.

Finding Blue Dream Strains

For overworked thinkers: 9lb hammer

Those who find relaxation elusive might meet their match with a 9lb Bowl Hammer, a heady indica hybrid with a myrcene-heavy terpene profile. This cultivar is typically high with higher THC percentages (>25%), so it should be consumed with a healthy dose of caution, depending on your tolerance.

The effects of 9lb Hammer would apparently distinguish between relief and rest, and personally we have found it to be an effective muffler against end-of-day stress spirals.

Find 9lb hammer stumps

Find the style of meditation that’s right for you

Neither cannabis nor meditation is suitable for everyone. In fact, there are several styles of meditation to explore on your journey to inner peace. Three of the most common styles of meditation are mindfulness meditation, transcendental meditation, and guided meditation. These are all super accessible forms of meditation that you can do from your bedroom floor, your favorite chair, your mobility device, and in some cases, while you’re running errands or sitting in traffic.

mindfulness

Mindfulness meditation requires a person to be present to their thoughts without being reactionary. It can be done anywhere and as such is arguably the most accessible style of meditation. To practice mindful meditation, observe your thoughts and emotions as they arise, then let them evaporate, focusing on your breath as they pass.

Start your mindfulness meditation routine with box breathing: inhale for four seconds, hold for four seconds, exhale for four seconds, hold for four seconds, then repeat.

When your mind begins to wander, redirect your attention to the rhythm of the breath. Beginners can start with 5-10 minute sessions and build their practice from there.

Best Variety Match: 24k Gold – a cross of Tangie and Kush genetics produces a high that would be crystal clear in the head and uplifting in the body. A great combo for someone who is focused on relaxation.

Transcendental

Transcendental meditation might be what the uninitiated are most likely to associate with the practice. Transcendental meditation describes meditation that relies on the repetition of a specific mantra or other sound to help clear the mind and achieve a specific state of rest and relaxation with minimal effort.

While mindfulness can be practiced anywhere, anytime, transcendental sessions technically require at least 20 minutes of chanting comfortably seated/reclined with eyes closed, so plan accordingly.

Best Variety Match: GG4 (aka Gorilla Glue or Original Glue) – most commonly reported as a powerful physical relaxant that can help you maintain a comfortable posture during your Transcendental Meditation.

Guided

Guided meditation occurs when an external entity, usually a guide or teacher, guides their subject through a series of visualizations, placing the student in imaginary situations that they find most genuinely relaxing. If mindfulness seems daunting and transcendence seems superfluous, guided meditation might be right for you.

The key to guided meditation is finding the guide that best suits your personal needs, whether emotional, physical, mental, or otherwise. Consider what your meditation goals are and explore mentors accordingly.

Best Variety Match: LA Confidential — a potent indica that provides a buzzing head high as well as a soothing body high, which can help you engage with your guide while staying connected to your body.

At the end of the line

With or without cannabis, meditation has its place in everyone’s life. Self-reflection, reconnection, and introspection are all important aspects of self-care, and if plant medicine helps you better access the state of calm achieved through meditation, then by all means smoke.

]]> https://adroberts.net/6-free-online-exercise-classes-to-do-with-the-whole-family/ Wed, 26 Jan 2022 15:15:00 +0000 https://adroberts.net/6-free-online-exercise-classes-to-do-with-the-whole-family/

Many of us have spent a lot of time standing still in recent years, including children. Some studies indicate that sitting for an extended period of time may pose health risks. So just getting a small amount of daily exercise can make a huge difference to you and your family.

Here’s a list of YouTube channels and playlists that feature the best online exercise classes the whole family can take together. They’re fun and free, so get your kids moving and trying them out!

The Body Coach TV is one of the most popular fitness channels on YouTube, run by Joe Wicks. Joe’s channel is popular because of the wide range of workout series it offers, from yoga for beginners and home fat burners to dumbbell workouts and workout challenges for seniors.

However, the highlight of his channel is the endless amount of family-friendly exercises available. The kid-friendly workouts on Joe’s channel are part of a series called PE with Joe. These free online fitness programs are fun for the whole family, as they last just 30 minutes and are packed with pretty basic exercises.

Joe recently added a workout series for young kids called The Workout Badges with Hey Duggee & Joe Wicks. These exercises are great for encouraging kids to practice, as they will earn a badge if they complete the exercise movement.

Whether you’re 5 or 50, grab your sneakers and get the whole family moving.

USE VIDEO OF THE DAY

If it’s hard to get your kids moving without the promise of total fun, then Cosmic Kids Yoga is for you! The advantage of these online yoga classes is the number of videos available, all of which differ in length and target different age groups.

Choose from a range of fun lessons based on different movies, TV shows, holidays and more. If you’re looking for a fun yoga class for toddlers, try the quick 10-minute Pirate Adventure class. And if you have older kids, the Sonic The Hedgehog or Frozen class would suit them best.

Jaime, the energetic presenter, is fantastic at keeping kids of all ages engaged, and she does a great job of clearly explaining all the yoga poses.

Related: The best yoga poses when working from home (and where to find them)

Lay out your yoga mat and join an enchanting and soothing yoga class with the whole family today.

Move your body as well as your brain with the GoNoodle YouTube channel. Kids will love these classes filled with energetic moves and crazy dances. Plus, they’ll learn something along the way. There are countless playlists available filled with interactive, guided videos the whole family can make at home, all of which include tunes you can sing along to and bright backgrounds.

With a wide range of videos for all kids who want to have fun, the GoNoodle channel is energetic enough to get anyone moving and grooving. The channel not only offers dance videos but also fitness classes with intense and engaging workouts.

Some of GoNoodle’s popular videos include learning to dab with Blazer Fresh and a more calming guided meditation video to help kids learn to control their stressful energy.

Make GoNoodle part of your family’s fitness routine, and everyone’s heart will beat faster!

Although the CBeebies YouTube channel isn’t all about exercise, Andy’s Wild Workouts is a fantastic playlist filled with entertaining videos for the whole family. Hosted by Andy, each video is short enough to fascinate young children and fun enough to keep everyone moving.

The best thing about these workouts is Andy himself, as his crazy goofy energy is perfect for kids. Besides the host, the videos are full of natural backgrounds, making the exercises a learning experience.

If you like to travel with the little ones and learn a few moves, you will certainly not be disappointed. You’ll cruise through delicious locations including the African savannah, arctic, rainforest, beach, mountains, and even under the sea. You’ll be happy to know that each video includes a bit of a warm-up and cool-down as well.

Start your adventure around the world with Andy and entertain your whole family with these workouts.

Surprisingly, PE Bowman’s YouTube channel doesn’t get much attention, but it should because its videos are entertaining and full of unique energy exercises.

The PE Bowman channel was started by a physical education teacher whose goal was to create interactive workout videos for the whole family. These online exercise classes are simple enough to do from the comfort of your own home, and they’re engaging enough for the whole family to enjoy.

With such a range of videos featuring captivating animations, it’s hard to keep up; fortunately, the children are there to get you moving! PE Bowman has lots of entertaining content for all ages, from a mosquito slay, dino dash and space adventure workout to a hula hoop hop and even an activity where you pretend the ground is lava.

Start every new day with a fun workout at home with the Bowman family.

Having trouble getting your kids involved and moving? They’ll be inspired when they see these awesome Disney family workout videos! These videos make exercise fun for the whole family with the Disney movies they’re inspired by. Not only that, but they are quite easy and simple for young children to follow.

Related: The best apps every Disney fan needs

Some Disney favorites that appear in these videos include The Lion King, The Incredibles, Moana, The Jungle Book, Mulan, and Peter Pan. Each Disney-inspired video is approximately 10 minutes long, ensuring little ones won’t be distracted. They even include famous parts from each movie, like when Rafiki holds Simba and when Mulan climbs the wooden pole to retrieve the arrow.

Start moving with the Disney family; kids will love these easy and fun exercises, and so will you.

Get your whole family moving with these workouts

Keeping you and your kids active can be tough, and it’s also a lot of work to find online classes and workout videos that are free, fun, and age-appropriate for your child. It doesn’t have to be a challenge anymore with these six free online courses and workout videos the whole family will love.

The pros and cons of working online

Online exercise continues to grow in popularity, saving you time and money from having to go to the gym. Let’s explore if this is right for you.

Read more

About the Author

Christine Romans
(15 articles published)

Christine is a content creator with over five years of experience writing about technology as well as a ridiculously wide range of other topics. She is a proud home cook, plant mother and self-proclaimed wine taster.

More from Christine Romans

Subscribe to our newsletter

Join our newsletter for tech tips, reviews, free ebooks and exclusive offers!

Click here to subscribe

]]> https://adroberts.net/sirius-xm-how-to-use-siriusxms-soothing-music-channels-to-relieve-stress-and-sleep-better/ Fri, 21 Jan 2022 16:03:24 +0000 https://adroberts.net/sirius-xm-how-to-use-siriusxms-soothing-music-channels-to-relieve-stress-and-sleep-better/

During stressful times (looking at you, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the 24-hour news cycle), soothing music can help ease your minds. Relax-worthy music channels on SiriusXM, featuring ambient music, slow-tempo instrumentals, and meditative melodies, can promote feelings of relaxation and tranquility. Instead of pulling your hair out, pull out your streaming device and listen to the Relax collection on the SXM app now. This exclusive collection – which includes popular app-only channels Calm, instrumental spa and Yoga – provides a serene musical backdrop to your everyday life.

Scroll down to learn more about the best ways to listen to all the music channels listed below, and start your relaxing sound journey by clicking here:

Related: Beat the Heat with 6 Relaxing Music Channels Featuring Soft Rock, Acoustic Pop and More

Reduce stress

Stress creates cortisol, a hormone that tells your body when you’re in danger or need to be on high alert. But being under constant stress and therefore creating consistently high cortisol levels can lead to health issues like increased anxiety and depression. A 2021 study published in brain science showed that adults who listened to music at home and in the lab had reduced cortisol levels. Similarly, music has been shown to reduce chronic pain, possibly through “distraction, relaxation, [and] positive emotion”, according to Scientific reports. Consider incorporating soothing music during these times of your day to encourage similar feelings.

Have a good night

After a stressful or trying day, it can be difficult to relax enough to fall asleep at night. But researchers at Stanford University confirm that music with slow rhythms or nature soundscapes “encourages the slow brain waves associated with hypnotic or meditative states,” which can help you get that nap you need. much needed. Try to stay away from television, computer and phone screens and instead listen to soothing music before bed to promote rest.

Decompress by cooking and eating

The fulfillment that food gives us is not so different from the fulfillment that music gives us. A study in Natural neuroscienceshowed an increase in dopamine in the brain in music listeners similar to what we feel after satisfying a food craving. It makes sense to listen to relaxing music while cooking and eating, relieving stress and doubling that feeling of satisfaction.

Related: Stay in the zone with these wellness channels perfect for working remotely

Finding zen at work

If you can listen to music throughout your workday, ambient tones and meditative melodies can help ward off work-related stress. But even catching a few minutes of soothing music might provide some relief. A study published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing examined how frontline nurses relax during breaks. They found that “compared to chair rest, participants had higher perceived stress levels, cortisol, heart rate, mean blood pressure, and finger temperature when listening to music.”

De-stress on your journey

Before you even head to work, set the tone for the day with your choice of music. You can make those minutes spent in traffic or on the train really count by playing soothing music and distracting yourself from your stressors. Then, at the end of the day, a choice of soothing music will help you get away from the noise of public transport and relax after the day’s work so that you can return home and make the most of your free time.

Chains from the Relax collection

Distract your mind with the beats of instrumental and relaxing indie, hip-hop and R&B songs.

Find your chill of the 90s and 2000s.

Discover ambient, binaural beats and electronic sounds.

Transport yourself to the serene atmosphere of your favorite spa.

Enjoy music specially designed for meditation.

Imagine relaxing by the pool in a chic hotel with downtempo beats and melodic deep house beats from artists like Kygo, Moby, Robin Schulz, Chris Malinchak and Disclosure.

Let the ivories tickle you with instrumental music only for piano.

Step out into a vibe with smooth, melodic hip-hop instrumentals and lo-fi beats.

Selected by Krishna Das, named “Chant Master of American Yoga” by the New York Times, this music transports listeners to a deeper place where they can still the mind and open the heart. Features music from Eastern and Western spiritual traditions and a wide range of legendary and current artists.

Relax with instrumental, soft and contemporary jazz.

For more information on SiriusXM channels, click here.

]]> https://adroberts.net/new-hallow-espanol-app-offers-catholic-prayers-and-meditations-in-spanish/ Fri, 21 Jan 2022 15:38:31 +0000 https://adroberts.net/new-hallow-espanol-app-offers-catholic-prayers-and-meditations-in-spanish/

CHICAGO (CNS) – Hallow, the world’s #1 Catholic prayer and meditation app, has launched a Spanish version of its app, Hallow Español, with a wide range of content exclusively for Hispanic Catholics.

The app, available in all Spanish-speaking countries and the United States, “aims to help Hispanic Catholics deepen their faith,” a press release said.

“As the percentage of all American Catholics who are Hispanic increases, with one-third – 33% – of all American Catholic adults identifying as Hispanic, the Catholic Church has become more focused on providing resources and programs that appeal to his Spanish-speaking parishioners,” it said.

“Technology has increasingly played a key role in reaching Hispanic Catholics,” the statement added. “But there hasn’t been a Catholic app that provides them – until now.”

“With over 1.7 million downloads, Hallow has become an essential resource for prayer and meditation in the English-speaking world,” Jaime Gil, Hallow’s team manager for Spanish content, said in a statement. “As we move forward in our vision of having millions of people praying every day, we are excited to make the same great content available in Spanish.”

A 14-day trial of Hallow Español is available. Information to register for the trial is available at www.hallow.com.

Those who have the English edition of the app can change the language to Spanish and all the Spanish prayers and meditations will appear.

“Spanish is not only spoken in 21 countries in the Americas, Spain and other parts of the world,” Gil said, “but it is also the second most spoken language in the United States. Hallow Español, we believe that God will continue to sanctify the lives of many millions of other people around the world.

Hallow Español’s original content is tailored specifically for Hispanic audiences and will be continually updated throughout the liturgical year.

For its official launch in December, this content included the Our Lady of Guadalupe novena, a Las Posadas community challenge, and special meditations for Día de los Reyes Magos (the Feast of Epiphany).

Hallow, which has received over 40,000 five-star reviews, is available on the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and Amazon App Store.

Over the past year, Hallow has added numerous faith leaders to the app, including Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles Robert E. Barron, founder of the Word on Fire media ministry; Father Mike Schmitz, priest of the Diocese of Duluth, Minnesota, who is co-creator of the daily Bible in a Year podcast; Scott Hahn, founder and president of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology in Steubenville, Ohio; Leah Darrow, Catholic wife and mother, author and podcaster; and Sister Miriam James Heidland, a member of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity, who is a sought-after speaker at youth conferences.

Hallow also formed a new council of advisers, led by Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, who is the immediate past chairman of the Committee on Doctrine of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Hallow tries to be “an app that helps you disconnect from apps and technology,” according to its CEO and co-founder, Alex Jones.

It sounds like a contradiction, he admitted in a 2020 interview with Catholic News Service.

But while other religious apps have users glued to their screens reading the Bible, he explained, Hallow lets its users press “play,” close their eyes, and listen to the Bible. audio of a prayer.

Users are encouraged to develop a prayer habit by spending at least one minute in guided prayer with Hallow each day.

“The hardest part of praying is just doing it,” Jones told CNS. “It’s easy during the seasons of Lent and Advent when it’s a priority, but (at other times of the year) when there’s a lot of other things going on, it’s easy to fall short. side of that.”

The app lets users set goals and “you can add family members and friends to the app to keep you accountable,” he said. “You can set daily reminders.”

Read More Hispanic Ministry

Copyright © 2022 Catholic News Service/United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

To print

]]> https://adroberts.net/sounds-local-retrospective-on-the-local-music-scene/ Mon, 10 Jan 2022 17:34:19 +0000 https://adroberts.net/sounds-local-retrospective-on-the-local-music-scene/

It’s time to say goodbye to 2021, a year of roller coasters if there ever was one! And as we move towards 2022, all I can say is tighten your seat belts, because this journey shows no signs of slowing down. Just when it seemed like life was getting back to normal, the omicron variant has arrived and now cases of COVID-19 are increasing rapidly. I’m sad to say this is already having an impact on our music scene.

Last week we talked about the New Years Eve shows and sadly concerns about the spike in COVID-19 cases combined with the goal of keeping everyone as safe as possible led to the cancellation. or postponing most concerts on a larger scale. The Rubblebucket shows scheduled for December 30 and 31 at the Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center in Greenfield are postponed to February 24 and 25. According to the venue’s Facebook page, they will email all ticket holders with more details.

Bella’s Bartok also had two shows scheduled for December 30 and 31 at Stone Church in Brattleboro. These shows will not be happening, but the band is hosting a live broadcast for New Years Eve. Details on this event are not available at the time of this writing, so check the Facebook page for updates. of the group.

The return of First Night Northampton was cause for celebration, but last Thursday the Northampton Health Department, with the support of Mayor David Narkewicz, announced it was canceling all in-person events inside for First Night Northampton on New Years Eve. Instead, First Night will now be a live broadcast from noon to midnight and the performances can be watched on Firstnightnorthampton.org.

Ten Forward on Fiske Avenue in Greenfield canceled their New Years party, even before we went to press last week. Alternative folk-rock group Deer Tick also called off their New Years’ Show at Gateway City Arts in Holyoke out of “being cautious.”

We actually have a new show that has been added to the New Years schedule that might appeal to those of you who prefer to stay on New Years Eve, but still would like to go out and enjoy the live music during the holidays. holidays. The group Ragged Blue will perform at the Four Star Farms in Northfield on New Years Eve, Thursday, December 30 from 5 to 7 p.m. as well as cover some popular songs.

Looking back

Despite these recent setbacks, 2021 has been the year of the return of live music and what a welcome comeback it has been. People desperately needed the connection and energy that one experienced during a performance and the musicians were more than ready to come out and perform for a real audience. It all started in the summer, when people felt comfortable listening to music in the open air, whether it was the weekly Coop concerts at Energy Park or some of the shows that the Shea Theater put on at Peskeomskut Park in Turners Falls. It turned out that there were plenty of shows to choose from during the warmer months.

The festivals were a bit trickier due to the size of the crowd that attended. The Charlemont Reggae Festival, StrangeCreek Campout, and the Wormtown Music Festival, both of which take place in Greenfield, all remained closed in 2021. On the other hand, Barbes in Woods in Montague and Green River Festival here in Greenfield all closed. went off without a hitch, as did WRSI’s 40th Anniversary Party with Rubblebucket at Unity Park in Turners Falls.

The return of the Green River Festival was big news as the festival’s absence in 2020 was one of the biggest voids music fans have experienced this summer. But it wasn’t just the festival’s return at the end of August that made it such a special event; this is the year the Green River Festival found a new home at the Franklin County Fairgrounds. When the festival’s long-standing location, Greenfield Community College, was not available this year, Signature Sounds were forced to move the festival to the exhibition grounds. The more spacious exhibition center has turned out to be an ideal venue for the event and when the festival returns in 2022 (June 24-26) it will be at the exhibition center.

Overall, the festival was a huge success with an audience obviously delighted to see the event again. This will be the year people will always remember seeing Jon Batiste perform at the festival. Batiste, who comes from a long line of accomplished New Orleans-based musicians, had a fantastic year in 2021. His album “We Are” was a huge hit and now Batiste is up for 11 Grammy Awards.

When fall came, it was time for the music to move indoors. This has resulted in the establishment of COVID-19 guidelines with most sites requiring proof of vaccination and with some places also accepting proof of a negative test in the past 72 hours. Establishments like the Shea Theater in Turners Falls and Ten Forward and the Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center in Greenfield have opened.

When Signature Sounds decided it wasn’t quite ready to reopen the Parlor Room in Northampton, it was decided to move all of the shows it had booked for this small venue to Hawks & Reed. It was a big boost for the Greenfield venue and also a treat for the local music fans who enjoyed everyone from Robbie Fulks to Mary Gauthier performing here in Greenfield.

Good new music

There was an abundance of good local music released this year. Some musicians took advantage of the experience of confinement to write, record and reflect on the strangeness of the situation. Other successful versions that were originally due out in 2020, and released them this year when they could do shows in support of their new work. Either way, the result has been an abundance of good new music this year.

One of my favorites was “Reason to Live” by Lou Barlow. On this album, the Greenfield resident offers us 17 stripped-down tracks that are classic lo-fi Barlow. Dinosaur jr. based in Amherst. also bowed with “Sweep it Into Space”, a collection of some of their most melodic and catchy tracks of their careers, including two great contributions from bassist Barlow.

On her 11th studio album, Erin McKeown gave us a rock breaking album, titled “Kiss Off Kiss,” which is full of great tracks that celebrate rather than mourn the end of a relationship.

Shelburne Falls native Seth Glier was blown away by “The Coronation,” an album that explores a wide range of topics, including his hope that we build a better future after the pandemic.

Mark Schwaber of Greenfield released the beautiful and thoughtful “Everything Around Me,” a meditation on loss as he faces the death of his mother on several of these songs.

Philip Price, the frontman of Winterpills, gave us “Oceans Hiding in Oceans,” an album he recorded at home during the pandemic that explored his feelings about the situation. It’s a pop gem that offers a wider sound than we’ve heard from the Northampton-based musician in the past, which includes plenty of pianos and synths.

The Whiskey Treaty Roadshow picked up classic tunes on their cover album, “Recovered”, while Mamma’s Marmalade continued to advance the bluegrass sound on “Rabbit Analog”.

Some have chosen to skip all the albums and focus on releasing singles. Folk-rock group Love Crumbs led by Michael Dubuque of Greenfield released the song “Ellipses” and has garnered over 100,000 plays on Spotify. Alison McTavish’s vocally enhanced song proved that Love Crumbs is a new band to watch out for.

Losses

We had a few losses in the music business last year, most notably Montague fiddler David Kaynor who lost his battle with ALS. Kaynor, who was a teacher, musician and songwriter, achieved many accomplishments throughout his career, but he is perhaps best known for starting the Greenfield counter dance scene in the early 1980s. Involvement as a caller and musician in these dances at the Guiding Star Grange has helped to make them known and loved by dancers across the country.

Last week we lost another musician linked to our area, drummer Billy Conway, to cancer. Conway was the drummer for the revolutionary Boston-based band, Morphine, and prior to that, he was a member of Treat Her Right, a group that also included Morphine’s Mark Sandman. But for the past 10 years, he’s been the drummer for Shelburne Falls singer-songwriter Jeffrey Foucault. The two have recorded and performed countless shows together.

“Billy Conway was one of the best American drummers produced in the second half of the twentieth century,” Foucault told Rolling Stone magazine. “With his supernatural empathy and sensitivity, his dedication to simplicity and restraint, and his impossible spiritual power, he played the song, never the instrument, and when he played he was unmistakable. He embodied fierce love.

These two musicians are a huge loss to music fans around the world.

Look ahead

So what’s next for 2022? I think I would need a crystal ball to answer this question. I expect a calmer winter than usual, but hopefully by the spring the live music will prepare for an even bigger comeback this year. A few festivals have already been announced and have put tickets on sale.

Signature Sounds Presents will once again host the Back Porch Festival, which takes place March 3-6. This festival will feature a weekend of performances at various venues, including Rickie Lee Jones at the Academy of Music in Northampton.

Wilco’s Solid Sound Festival is scheduled to return to Mass MoCA in North Adams on Memorial Day weekend and Fresh Grass, also at Mass MoCA, will return September 23-25. The Shea Theater in Turners Falls will host Della Mae on February 11 and Amy Helm on April 1.

And that only scratches the surface. There will be a lot of shows and new music in 2022, so here is a safe and healthy new year filled with an abundance of great music!

Sheryl Hunter is a music writer originally from Greenfield and currently residing in Easthampton. She can be contacted at [email protected]

]]> https://adroberts.net/music-can-help-modern-workers-in-more-ways-than-one/ Sat, 08 Jan 2022 14:33:06 +0000 https://adroberts.net/music-can-help-modern-workers-in-more-ways-than-one/

[ad_1]

From relaxation and creative inspiration to helping with content creation, music is a tool to explore.

Author of the article:

StackCommerce

Release date :

08 Jan 2022 • 15 hours ago • 3 minutes to read

Content of the article

This article was created by StackCommerce. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission on purchases made through our links on this page.

Advertising

This ad has not yet loaded, but your article continues below.

Content of the article

Music and the arts in general are often seen as distractions from things like finance, although this can be a limiting perspective. According to this article by Inc. People who play music have been shown to have better than average long-term memories, are more mentally alert, and generally have good cognitive health.

Content of the article

If you want to add a musical skill to your repertoire, train your mind for better performance, and save on lessons, then check out one of these online learning packs on sale for a new year, new you.

The ultimate guitar lesson pack for beginners to experts

Rated 4.5 / 5 stars by verified buyers, this collection of nine lessons covers strumming, ear training, and a wide range of effective guitar playing exercises for beginners. It also includes lessons in guitar playing genres such as jazz, blues, and bluegrass. Available to be revisited for future lessons, you can use these lessons as a benchmark for future content creation campaigns and your own personal noodle. Never before has it been so possible to explore your guitar-related interests from home.

Advertising

This ad has not yet loaded, but your article continues below.

Content of the article

Get the Ultimate Beginner to Expert Guitar Lesson Pack for just $ 25.50 in the New Year New Sale.

The Learn to play piano and musical composition pack

For those with their eyes on the keys, these courses are for you. This set includes five lessons in music theory, piano playing, composition, and more. The piano is one of the most classic instruments, and being able to explore classical compositions and discuss them with others is a great networking tool. The bundle’s courses cover songwriting for beginners, music production, scales, chords and more. By the time you finish your first attempt at this ensemble, you should have a solid foundation as a pianist.

Get the Learn to Play Piano & Music Composition Bundle for just $ 25.50 during the New Year’s Sale, New You.

Advertising

This ad has not yet loaded, but your article continues below.

Content of the article

The Complete Music Reading and Writing Master Class 2022

Even if you prefer quieter activities for your meditation, music can still be helpful. Writing and reading music is a fantastic exercise for the imagination, and people have been doing it for thousands of years. This bundle includes 11 courses in composition, reading notes, and other specialty areas. With the content here, you can start learning about movie and video tagging, sound design, etc.

Get the Complete 2022 Music Reading and Writing Master Class for just $ 25.50 in the New Year New Sale.

Skoove Premium Piano Lessons

Another fantastic home resource for those who want to learn the piano, Skoove takes a really interesting and modern approach to music. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars on the App Store, this program uses AI technology to teach you to play songs with different lessons, exercises and games. It offers over 400 lessons and thousands of instructional videos. Its success has been cataloged by Apple, Forbes, The Guardian and other trusted publications.

Get a Skoove Premium Piano Lesson: Lifetime Membership for just $ 191.99 in the New Year, New Sale.

1. Entrepreneurs believe daily reading is the key to success

2. Warren Buffett spends most of his day reading books

3. Warren Buffet spends up to six hours a day reading books

Prices subject to change.

Share this article in your social network

Advertising

This ad has not yet loaded, but your article continues below.

Featured Articles from the Financial Post

Sign up to receive the best daily stories from the Financial Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.

By clicking the subscribe button, you agree to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300

[ad_2]

]]>