Walking to Integrate Spirituality and Physical Activity

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Columbia, SC (WLTX) - Taking a walk to combine spirituality and physical activity is a rising trendamong young adults.

One such group of young adults at Shandon United Methodist Church walk as the sun comes up on Wednesday mornings.

"It's a nice break from everything," said Amanda Rosinski who says the group is doing good on attendance despite theearly hours.

Rosinski brings her dogto what is now themid-weekmorning routine.

The group, ranging from 4to 12 members depending on the week,uses a devotional book to guide their time and praybefore hitting the pavement.

"A lot of the book and scripture we read deal with nature," said Rosinski. "You have a reflection time and it's nice to get your thoughts gathered from the beginning of the week towards the end of the week."

The group started seven months ago and is marketed to young adults, both men and women, in the church.

"Started off as a way for us to spend a little more time together in a very different setting," said Julie Songer Belman, a minister at Shandon United Methodist Church. "Instead of getting up and thinking about all the things I have to do today and all of the stresses and worries ... Just take a walk."

It turns out taking a walk is gaining popularity among a younger generation looking for something less traditional and structured.

Columbia International University professor David Cashin says the popularity comes from those looking to investigate spirituality while staying active.

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Walking to Integrate Spirituality and Physical Activity

Mount Kailash Comes Closer To Pilgrims, Thanks To Government Subsidies

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With the Tamil Nadu Govt. in India announcing a 40% (Rs.40,000) subsidy on travel costs to Kailash-Manasarovar, the dream of visiting this hallowed pilgrimage spot is coming true for hundreds of Indian pilgrims and seekers.

Los Angeles, California (PRWEB) May 22, 2012

The legendary Kailash has been worshipped for millennia by the Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Bons and Jains as the living form of divinity. Located in the trans-Himalayan range in the western corner of Tibet, this breathtaking snow-capped monolith rises to a majestic 22,000 feet above sea-level. The sacred lake of Manasarovar at the foot of Kailash is among the highest freshwater lakes on our planet, located at 15,060 feet and spanning 320 km2 in surface area. Kailash is also the source of four of Asias longest rivers. Well-hidden from the eyes of the causal tourist, Kailash still remains a virgin land of rugged natural beauty.

Devout Hindus regard Kailash as the dwelling of the supreme Lord SHIVA and His consort Devi. Tibetan Buddhists believe this mountain to be the abode of Buddha Chakrasamvara, while followers of the Jain religion worship Kailash as the place where Rishabhadeva, their primary spiritual guide, attained liberation. In the Vedic scriptures, Kailash is described as the earthly manifestation of Meru, the legendary mountain which is the source and axis of the universe. In fact, Hindus consider Kailash so sacred that going around the mountain just once is enough to destroy all karmas and grant the pilgrim the ultimate liberation. Over the centuries, innumerable spiritual masters have traveled to this remote spot in the mountains for the vision of Kailash, including the Buddha and Adi Sankara, the 12th century pioneer of Indias Vedic renaissance.

Says His Holiness Paramahamsa Nithyananda, who heads Madurai Aadheenam, a 1500-year-old spiritual establishment believed to be the worlds most ancient living Hindu organization, You can never capture Kailash in words! Kailash is not merely a place, it is a glorious wordless statement by Shiva Himself! Just as the mitochondria are the energy powerhouses of each human cell, Mount Kailash is the mystical energy powerhouse for the entire Cosmos. Kailash is one of the most powerful energy fields on planet Earth. Over the centuries, thousands of saints have meditated and entered into enlightenment at Kailash, so the very air you breathe carries this intense energy.

Nithyananda, who personally leads groups of over a hundred pilgrims to Kailash-Manasarovar every year, insists that no matter how much has been said and written about Kailash, nothing can come close to the wonder of being personally awakened to the sacred secrets of this hallowed ground. Kailash is your shortcut to spiritual experience. You dont have to be a Hindu or Buddhist to experience this. Kailash is a spiritual superconductor, and anyone who enters its field will be taking a giant leap towards their own enlightenment, whether they realize it or not.

Revered as a living avatar (divine incarnation) by his 15 million followers worldwide, Nithyananda is an accomplished yogi and an adept in Indias mystical yogic sciences like levitation and teleportation. He says, Anything can happen to you in Kailash! Intense kundalini energy awakenings, magical materialization and spontaneous healing of diseases - our group has experienced all forms of energy play here. The important thing is to ensure that you are physically and mentally fit to hold all these energy experiences. During the trip, Nithyananda initiates the pilgrims into a gradual kundalini awakening process, to help them receive and hold the higher energies safely.

Nithyanandas organization goes a long way to ensure a safe trip for their group every year. At least 4 doctors are part of each group, and oxygen cylinders are provided free to those who experience breathing problems at high altitudes. Last year, the entire proceeds of the trip were donated to a non-profit organization working to improve the general safety conditions in Kailash.

For those interested in an unusual holiday, Nithyananda is personally leading a trip to Kailash-Manasarovar between 27 July and 12 August this year. For more details: http://en-yatras.nithyananda.org/

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012/5/prweb9534475.htm

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Mount Kailash Comes Closer To Pilgrims, Thanks To Government Subsidies

SpaceX Ship Rockets into Space

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Opening a new, entrepreneurial era in spaceflight, a ship built by a billionaire businessman sped toward the International Space Station with a load of groceries and other supplies Tuesday after a spectacular middle-of-the-night blastoff.

The launch of the Falcon 9 rocket and its unmanned Dragon capsule marked the first time a commercial spacecraft has been sent to the orbiting outpost.

Tracing a fiery arc across the night sky, the rocket lifted off just before 4 a.m. and smoothly boosted the capsule into orbit. The capsule is expected to rendezvous with the space station within days, delivering a half-ton of provisions for its six crew members.

It is considered just a test flight in fact, the capsule was packed with only nonessential items, in case something went disastrously wrong but if all goes well with this mission and others like it, commercial spaceships could be carrying astronauts to and from the space station in three to five years.

"Falcon flew perfectly!!" billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, founder of the SpaceX company, said via Twitter. "Feels like a giant weight just came off my back."

Musk later told reporters: "For us, it's like winning the Super Bowl."

Up to now, flights to the space station were something only major governments had done.

The White House offered congratulations.

"Every launch into space is a thrilling event, but this one is especially exciting," said John Holdren, President Barack Obama's chief science adviser. "This expanded role for the private sector will free up more of NASA's resources to do what NASA does best tackle the most demanding technological challenges in space, including those of human spaceflight beyond low-Earth orbit."

NASA is looking to the private sector to take over flights to the space station now that the space shuttle has been retired. Several U.S. companies are vying for the opportunity.

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SpaceX Ship Rockets into Space

Private supply ship rockets toward space station

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- A first-of-its-kind commercial supply ship rocketed toward the International Space Station following a successful liftoff early Tuesday, opening a new era of dollar-driven spaceflight.

The SpaceX company made history as its Falcon 9 rocket rose from its seaside launch pad and pierced the pre-dawn sky, aiming for a rendezvous in a few days with the space station. The unmanned rocket carried into orbit a capsule named Dragon that is packed with 1,000 pounds of space station provisions.

It is the first time a private company has launched a vessel to the space station. Before, that was something only major governments had done.

"Falcon flew perfectly!!" SpaceX's billionaire founder, Elon Musk, said via Twitter. "Dragon in orbit ... Feels like a giant weight just came off my back."

Musk later told reporters: "I feel very lucky ... For us, it's like winning the Super Bowl."

This time, the Falcon's nine engines kept firing all the way through liftoff. On Saturday, flight computers aborted the launch with a half-second remaining in the countdown; a bad engine valve was replaced.

The White House quickly offered congratulations.

"Every launch into space is a thrilling event, but this one is especially exciting," said John Holdren, President Barack Obama's chief science adviser. "This expanded role for the private sector will free up more of NASA's resources to do what NASA does best tackle the most demanding technological challenges in space, including those of human space flight beyond low Earth orbit."

Flight controllers applauded when the Dragon reached orbit nine minutes into the flight, then embraced one another once the solar panels on the spacecraft popped open. Many of the SpaceX controllers wore untucked T-shirts and jeans or even shorts, a stark contrast to NASA's old suit-and-tie shuttle crowd.

The hopes of SpaceX employees were riding on that rocket, Musk noted, and everyone felt "tremendous elation."

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Private supply ship rockets toward space station

SpaceX rocket lifts off for space station trial run

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - An unmanned rocket owned by privately held Space Exploration Technologies blasted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Tuesday on the first commercial flight to the International Space Station. The 178-foot (54-meter) tall Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 3:44 a.m. EDT from a refurbished launch pad just south of where NASA launched its now-retired space ...

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SpaceX rocket lifts off for space station trial run

SpaceX rocket on its way to outer space

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This is the first privately-funded spaceflight to the International Space Station; it launched Tuesday after a scrubbed mission over the weekend.

Opening a new, entrepreneurial era in spaceflight, a ship built by a billionaire businessman sped toward the International Space Station with a load of groceries and other supplies Tuesday after a spectacular middle-of-the-night blastoff.

The launch of the Falcon 9 rocket and its unmanned Dragon capsule marked the first time a commercial spacecraft has been sent to the orbiting outpost.

Tracing a fiery arc across the night sky, the rocket lifted off just before 4 a.m. and smoothly boosted the capsule into orbit. The capsule is expected to rendezvous with the space station within days, delivering a half-ton of provisions for its six crew members.

It is considered just a test flight in fact, the capsule was packed with only nonessential items, in case something went disastrously wrong but if all goes well with this mission and others like it, commercial spaceships could be carrying astronauts to and from the space station in three to five years.

"Falcon flew perfectly!!" billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, founder of theSpaceXcompany, said via Twitter. "Feels like a giant weight just came off my back."

Musk later told reporters: "For us, it's like winning the Super Bowl."

Up to now, flights to the space station were something only major governments had done.

The White House offered congratulations.

"Every launch into space is a thrilling event, but this one is especially exciting," said John Holdren, President Barack Obama's chief science adviser. "This expanded role for the private sector will free up more of NASA's resources to do what NASA does best tackle the most demanding technological challenges in space, including those of human spaceflight beyond low-Earth orbit."

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SpaceX rocket on its way to outer space

New era begins for space exploration

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STORY HIGHLIGHTS

(CNN) -- A new era in space exploration dawned Tuesday as a slender rocket shot into the dark Florida sky before sunrise, carrying the first private spacecraft bound for the International Space Station.

"We're now back on the brink of a new future, a future that embraces the innovation the private sector brings to the table," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said. "The significance of this day cannot be overstated."

The unmanned SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 3:44 a.m., carrying 1,300 pounds of food, clothing and scientific experiments on a demonstration mission to gauge the company's ability to safely and efficiently deliver supplies to astronauts staffing the orbiting station.

Opinion: Private space travel -- A new era begins?

If successful, the test could open the door to a wave of commercial exploitation of space.

Tuesday's launch marks the culmination of six years of preparation to bring commercial flights to the space station following the retirement of NASA's space shuttle fleet last year. It's backed by entrepreneur Elon Musk, the founder of PayPal.

Stellar week for SpaceX founder Elon Musk

"Every bit of adrenaline in my body released at that moment," Musk said of the launch, in a statement released by NASA. "People were really giving it their all. For us, it was like winning the Super Bowl."

The rocket launched without a hitch following a flawless countdown that came three days after a faulty valve on one of the rocket's engines forced a last-second postponement. Its solar array panels deployed later Tuesday.

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New era begins for space exploration

X marks the spot in space history

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Wednesday, May 23, 2012

The test flight of the Dragon space capsule, which launched atop SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, aims to show that commercial industry can restore US access to the ISS after NASA retired its space shuttle fleet last year.

The mission is set to include a fly-by and berthing with the station in the next three days, before the capsule returns to Earth at the end of this month.

Shortly after liftoff, the cargo- carrying spacecraft entered orbit and video images showed mission-control staff at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California, jumping from their seats, hugging and clapping.

SpaceX chief executive and internet entrepreneur Elon Musk said watching the rocket rise from the launch pad was an "extremely intense moment."

Speaking after the apparently flawless launch, he added: "Every bit of adrenaline in my body released at that point."

The flight was unmanned, but six astronauts are already at the space lab to help the capsule latch on, to unload supplies and then restock the capsule with cargo to take back to Earth.

The spacecraft's sensors and flight systems are to undergo a series of tests tomorrow to see if it is ready to berth. If NASA gives the green light, the Dragon will then approach the ISS on Friday in an attempt to berth with the station.

The astronauts onboard the ISS will maneuver the station's robotic arm to help capture the capsule and attach it to the orbiting research outpost.

The hatch of the Dragon is set to open on Saturday for unloading 521 kilograms of cargo for the space lab and restocking it with a 660-kilogram load for the return journey.

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X marks the spot in space history

SpaceX Launch of Falcon9 and Dragon Capsule – May 22, 2012 – Liftoff for Private Space Flight! – Video

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22-05-2012 07:20 SpaceX successfully launched its Falcon9 rocket with Dragon Capsule and Orbcomm satellites on board. Article coverage: It lifted off from Cape Canaveral in Florida, USA at 3:44 AM ET. (Cape Canaveral AFS Launch Complex 40 - is the launch pad used for Falcon9 rockets.) It is heading to the International Space Station (ISS) for docking. This starts a new era of private sector space flight. Let's wish all the best for SpaceX and its partners! The video starts from T -30 seconds and shows the first 6 minutes of the journey to ISS. Whole coverage: http

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SpaceX Launch of Falcon9 and Dragon Capsule - May 22, 2012 - Liftoff for Private Space Flight! - Video

Local Experiment Aboard Commercial Flight To Space Station

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HARTFORD

The rat cells have been launched into space.

SpaceX's Dragon blasted off early Tuesday from Cape Canaveral, Fla., carrying aboard roughly 1,200 pounds of cargo and a Hartford science project in the first commercial flight aiming to dock on the International Space Station.

The private cargo includes 15 student experiments from around the country. One is from Annie Fisher STEM Magnet School and the University High School of Science and Engineering in the city's North End.

"Finally," said Aime Levesque, an assistant professor of biology at the University of Hartford who mentored the team of students on their project involving osteoporosis.

"There's been delay after delay," Levesque said Tuesday afternoon, "so I'm happy it finally launched."

So are government and SpaceX officials. Under President Barack Obama's direction, NASA is now relying on private companies to resupply the space station, a new era following last year's retirement of the space shuttle program.

Enter the Dragon, a thimble-shaped capsule from Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, the California-based space transportation firm that has a contract with NASA.

"The significance of this day cannot be overstated," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said in a statement released Tuesday after Dragon's launch.

Hartford's participation is through the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program, an initiative of the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education in Washington, D.C., and NanoRacks, a company that operates a research lab on the space station.

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Local Experiment Aboard Commercial Flight To Space Station

Enter The 'Dragon': Hartford Science Experiment Aboard First Commercial Flight To Space Station

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click here to continue to article cliquez ici pour lire l'article weiter zum Artikel clicca qui per visualizzare l'articolo weiter zum Artikel ir a la noticia klik hier om door te gaan naar het artikel Yazya devam etmek iin tklayn Tovbb a cikkre

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Enter The 'Dragon': Hartford Science Experiment Aboard First Commercial Flight To Space Station

Private space flight to International Space Station a historic 1st

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By The Associated Press

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. Opening a new, entrepreneurial era in spaceflight, a ship built by a billionaire businessman sped toward the International Space Station with a load of groceries and other supplies Tuesday after a spectacular, middle-of-the-night blastoff.

The launch of the Falcon 9 rocket and its unmanned Dragon capsule marked the first time a commercial spacecraft has been sent to the orbiting outpost.

Cutting a brilliant, fiery arc through the darkness, the rocket lifted off just before 4 a.m. and smoothly boosted the capsule into orbit. The capsule is expected to rendezvous with the space station within days, delivering a half-ton of provisions for its six crew members.

It is considered just a test flight. The capsule was packed with only nonessential items, in case something went disastrously wrong.

But if all goes well with this mission and others like it, commercial spaceships could be carrying astronauts to and from the space station in three to five years.

Falcon flew perfectly!! billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, founder of the SpaceX company, said via Twitter. Feels like a giant weight just came off my back.

Musk later told reporters: For us, its like winning the Super Bowl.

Up to now, flights to the space station were something only major governments had done.

The White House offered congratulations.

More here:

Private space flight to International Space Station a historic 1st

Falcon 9 rockets toward International Space Station

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.

A first-of-its-kind commercial supply ship rocketed toward the International Space Station following a successful liftoff early Tuesday, opening a new era of dollar-driven space flight. The SpaceX company made history as its Falcon 9 rocket rose from its seaside launch pad and pierced the pre-dawn sky, aiming for a rendezvous in a few days with the space station. The unmanned rocket carried into orbit a capsule named Dragon that is packed with 1,000 pounds of space station provisions. It is the first time a private company has launched a vessel to the space station. Before, that was something only major governments had done. "Falcon flew perfectly!!" SpaceX's billionaire founder, Elon Musk, said via Twitter. "Dragon in orbit ... Feels like a giant weight just came off my back." Musk later told reporters: "I feel very lucky ... For us, it's like winning the Super Bowl." This time, the Falcon's nine engines kept firing all the way through liftoff. On Saturday, flight computers aborted the launch with a half-second remaining in the countdown; a bad engine valve was replaced. The White House quickly offered congratulations. "Every launch into space is a thrilling event, but this one is especially exciting," said John Holdren, President Barack Obama's chief science adviser. "This expanded role for the private sector will free up more of NASA's resources to do what NASA does best -- tackle the most demanding technological challenges in space, including those of human space flight beyond low Earth orbit." Flight controllers applauded when the Dragon reached orbit nine minutes into the flight, then embraced one another once the solar panels on the spacecraft popped open. Many of the SpaceX controllers wore untucked T-shirts and jeans or even shorts, a stark contrast to NASA's old suit-and-tie shuttle crowd. The hopes of SpaceX employees were riding on that rocket, Musk noted, and everyone felt "tremendous elation." So did NASA. The space agency is banking on the switch from government to commercial cargo providers in the U.S., now that the shuttles no longer are flying. Astronauts could begin taking commercial rides to the space station in three to five years, if all goes well. "The significance of this day cannot be overstated," said a beaming NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. "It's a great day for America. It's actually a great day for the world because there are people who thought that we had gone away, and today says, `No, we're not going away at all."' The real test comes Thursday when the Dragon reaches the vicinity of the space station. It will undergo practice maneuvers from more than a mile out. If all goes well, the docking will occur Friday. Musk will preside over the operation from the company's Mission Control in Hawthorne, Calif., where he monitored the liftoff. The space station was zooming over the North Atlantic, just east of Newfoundland, when the Falcon took flight. NASA is looking to the private sector to take over orbital trips in this post-shuttle period and several U.S. companies are vying for the opportunity. The goal is to get American astronauts launching again from U.S. soil -- creating jobs at home and halting the outsourcing, as Bolden put it. Until their retirement last summer to museums, NASA's shuttles provided the bulk of space station equipment and even the occasional crew member. American astronauts are riding Russian rockets to orbit until SpaceX or one of its competitors takes over the job. Russia also is making periodic cargo hauls, along with Europe and Japan. Musk, a co-creator of PayPal, founded SpaceX a decade ago. He's poured millions of his own money into the company, and NASA has contributed $381 million as seed money. In all, the company has spent more than $1 billion on the effort. Hundreds of SpaceX and NASA guests poured into the launching area in the early morning hours Tuesday, eager to see firsthand the start of this new commercial era. The company had a single second to get its rocket flying, and that's all it needed. Everyone, it seemed, was rooting for a successful flight -- even Musk's rivals. "The shuttle may be retired, but the American dream of space exploration is alive and well," said Mark Sirangelo, chairman of Sierra Nevada Corp.'s space systems, which is developing a mini-shuttle to carry space station crews in another few years. The six space station astronauts were especially enthusiastic. The crew beamed down a picture on the eve of the launch, showing the two who will use a robot arm to snare the Dragon. In December 2010, SpaceX became the first private company to launch a spacecraft into orbit and retrieve it. That test flight of a Dragon capsule paved the way for this mission, which also is meant to culminate with a splashdown of the capsule in the Pacific. This newest capsule is supposed to remain at the space station for a week before bringing back experiments and equipment. None of the other types of current cargo ships can return safely; they burn up on the way down. SpaceX and NASA officials stress this is a demonstration flight and that even if something goes wrong, much can be learned. Two more Dragon supply missions are planned this year, regardless of what happens during this week's rendezvous. While acknowledging the difficult course ahead in the next few days, Musk and NASA officials savored Tuesday's triumph. "I would really count today as a success, no matter what happens the rest of the mission," Musk said. Musk, 40, is the chief executive officer and chief designer for SpaceX. He also runs Tesla Motors, his electric car company. Hitching a ride into space, aboard the discarded second stage of the rocket, were the ashes of more than 300 people, including Mercury astronaut Gordon Cooper and "Star Trek" actor James Doohan, who played Scotty. It's a redo flight for a paying customer, Houston-based Celestis Inc. The Falcon 1 that carried the first batch of their ashes failed in 2008.

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Falcon 9 rockets toward International Space Station