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As Meditation Goes Mainstream, One Maker Rethinks Meditation Seats for Aging Bodies

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HŌM Furnishings introduces a line of meditation seats designed to help practitioners sit comfortably as their bodies age.

ASHLAND, Ore., Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Meditation has moved well beyond the yoga studio and retreat center. Millions of people now incorporate meditation and mindfulness into their daily lives, yet one fundamental part of the practice has changed little: how people sit.

For longtime practitioners, particularly as they move into their 50s, 60s and beyond, the traditional meditation cushion can become increasingly difficult to use. Hips become less flexible. Knees and ankles complain. Lower backs tire. And the seemingly simple act of sitting cross-legged on the floor can become an obstacle to a practice that people want to maintain for years to come.

That problem led Ashland, Oregon furniture designer and longtime meditator Brad Boucher to rethink the meditation seat. After years of prototyping in his workshop, Boucher founded HŌM Furnishings, a small hardwood furniture company creating handcrafted meditation seats designed to provide support without disconnecting the practitioner from the floor.

“At a certain point, it became obvious that discomfort wasn’t a virtue,” says Boucher. “Strain wasn’t deepening the practice — it was shortening it.”

Rethinking How We Sit to Meditate

Traditional meditation cushions have served practitioners for generations, but they assume a degree of hip and lower-body flexibility that not everyone maintains throughout life.

Boucher’s approach was to preserve what matters about floor-based meditation while addressing the physical demands of getting there.

The result is a family of meditation seats that elevate the hips just enough to make a cross-legged position more accessible, while maintaining a grounded relationship with the floor. Curved rocker feet allow the pelvis to find a natural angle, while the open-front design provides additional room for the legs and feet.

The seats are deliberately understated. “The seat is meant to support practice in a way that gets no attention,” Boucher says. “Like the ground itself.” The philosophy reflects Boucher’s broader view of meditation: the physical setup should remove barriers rather than become another thing the practitioner has to think about. “A dedicated seat in a dedicated corner removes a surprising amount of friction,” Boucher says. “The body learns where it goes. The mind follows.”

From One Meditation Seat to a Four-Seat Collection

HŌM Furnishings launches with four handcrafted meditation seats, each designed around a different approach to posture, movement and home use.

The Bodhi is the original HŌM seat and Boucher’s daily meditation seat — the design that started the company.

The Self Shelf is designed for movement, featuring folding legs that allow practitioners to take their meditation seat wherever their practice goes.

The Chairish is a refined variation designed for shared living spaces and convenient storage, with a stackable design.

The Epiphany offers a more open, grounded form with a lower center of gravity and a handwoven seat.

All four seats are designed in Ashland, Oregon, and crafted from solid Acacia hardwood. The collection is currently available, with prices ranging from $249.99 to $399.99.

A Furniture Maker’s Answer to a Growing Challenge

For Boucher, the opportunity isn’t simply to create another meditation product. It is to reconsider what happens when a practice that people love meets a body that changes over time.

The question is particularly relevant as meditation becomes increasingly integrated into everyday life. A practice that may begin with a cushion on the floor can become more difficult to sustain when physical discomfort becomes part of the routine.

HŌM’s answer is neither a traditional chair nor an attempt to eliminate the experience of sitting on the floor. Instead, the company’s seats are designed to occupy the space between the two. The seats place you approx 9 to 11 inches off the ground, depending on the model.

“We’ve spent years thinking about what the body actually needs to sit well while preserving the essential qualities of traditional meditation posture,” says Boucher. “The goal isn’t to make meditation easier. It’s to remove unnecessary obstacles to doing it.”

That distinction is central to the HŌM design philosophy: create furniture that supports the practice without competing with it.

About HŌM Furnishings

HŌM Furnishings is a small hardwood furniture company based in Ashland, Oregon, founded by designer and longtime meditator Brad Boucher. The company creates handcrafted meditation seats and companion pieces designed to support a practice that integrates with daily life — not one that demands escape from it. Each piece is designed to last, designed to disappear beneath the practitioner, and designed to make the simple act of sitting down and slowing down more comfortable.

To learn more about HŌM Furnishings and its collection of handcrafted meditation seats, visit the HŌM Furnishings website homfurnishings.com.

Notes for editors

Brad Boucher is available for interviews, in-shop visits, and photography in Ashland, Oregon.High-resolution product images and lifestyle photography available on request.Two founder essays — “The Problem Contains the Solution” and “Sacred Space” — are available as background reading and for excerpting with attribution.Review units may be available for select outlets.

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SOURCE HoM Furnishings

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Clarkson University Earns Inaugural Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability

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September 22, 2026

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POTSDAM, N.Y., Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Clarkson University has earned the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability, becoming one of the first institutions nationwide to receive this new recognition for its longstanding commitment to integrating sustainability throughout the University.

Clarkson is one of just 14 institutions nationwide to earn the classification through its 2025 pilot. The recognition reflects the University’s broad commitment to sustainability across research, education, community engagement and campus operations, bringing together faculty, students and partners to address real-world challenges in the North Country and beyond.

Clarkson participated in the pilot program that helped shape the classification’s framework and review process. The classification recognizes institutions that demonstrate a comprehensive commitment to sustainability.

The Institute for a Sustainable Environment serves as an interdisciplinary hub connecting sustainability education, research and outreach across Clarkson. That work extends throughout the University’s research enterprise, including the Center of Excellence in Healthy Water Solutions, Center for Air and Aquatic Resources Engineering and Science (CAARES), and Center for Advanced Materials Processing (CAMP).

Clarkson researchers are tackling challenges involving clean water and energy, air quality, resilient energy systems, waste reduction and advanced materials. Research through the Center of Excellence in Healthy Water Solutions has supported technologies to destroy PFAS and harmful algal blooms, while other Clarkson research has explored alternative solvents for semiconductor manufacturing.

Some of that research has moved from the laboratory into the marketplace. Clarkson-developed technologies have led to startup companies addressing environmental challenges, including PFAS treatment. Student-founded KLAW Industries developed a process that repurposes waste glass for use in concrete, reducing waste and the material’s carbon footprint.

Sustainability is also integrated into the Clarkson student experience. Courses including Climate Change for Engineers, Sustainable Infrastructure and Building, and Water Resources II examine issues ranging from climate adaptation and resilient infrastructure to flood control. Students also put those lessons into practice through research, capstone projects and community-based learning.

That combination of education and community engagement is particularly visible in the North Country. Clarkson faculty and students have supported the Potsdam Climate Smart Communities Task Force and worked with the Village of Potsdam on stormwater infrastructure and flooding risks. Student work has helped lay the groundwork for additional engineering projects and contributed to the village securing outside funding.

Clarkson also has a decades-long partnership with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Air Quality Program at Akwesasne. Through CAARES, faculty and students have supported indoor and outdoor air-quality monitoring and helped identify opportunities to improve indoor air quality.

Students have also contributed research and data to sustainability planning with the New York Olympic Region and worked with regional schools, municipalities, nonprofits and businesses on food waste, infrastructure, environmental education and community resilience.

Together, these efforts reflect Clarkson’s view of sustainability as more than environmental stewardship. Guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Clarkson’s approach also considers human well-being, economic opportunity and the strength of communities.

“The first group of inaugural institutions help bring this new classification to life,” said Timothy F.C. Knowles, president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. “We’re proud to recognize their leadership and the many ways they are advancing sustainability across their campuses and communities.”

The Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability is hosted by the University of Colorado Boulder in partnership with the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education.

The 14 pilot institutions will become part of the inaugural cohort of classified institutions, which will be announced in June 2027. Institutions receiving the classification retain it for six years, through 2033.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/clarkson-university-earns-inaugural-carnegie-elective-classification-for-sustainability-302886583.html

SOURCE Clarkson University

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Bitwise Recognized Among Top Databricks Partners Globally for Delivery Experts

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September 22, 2026

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Recognition underscores Bitwise’s investment in Databricks expertise, customer delivery success, and enterprise AI transformation capabilities

PUNE, India and CHICAGO, Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Bitwise, an AI-First engineering enterprise, today announced it has been recognized among the top Databricks partners for Databricks Delivery Experts, reflecting the company’s continued investment in Databricks talent, certifications, and delivery capabilities that help enterprises modernize data platforms, advance analytics initiatives, and accelerate AI adoption on the Databricks Data + AI Platform. The Delivery Expert program launched in May 2026 and recognizes partners investing in technical excellence and building deep migration and modernization expertise across the Databricks ecosystem.

Databricks Delivery Expert credentials recognize consulting partners that demonstrate advanced technical expertise and successful delivery across key Databricks solution areas. The recognition reinforces Bitwise’s ability to help organizations build modern data foundations, modernize legacy environments, and scale AI initiatives with confidence.

The achievement adds to Bitwise’s growing momentum within the Databricks ecosystem, including:

More than 330 Databricks certifications across its engineering organization

Recognition as a Databricks Genie GTM Partner for solutions that enable conversational, AI-powered access to enterprise data and business intelligence

Databricks Silver Partner status

FulkrumAI, Bitwise’s AI-powered modernization platform that helps accelerate Databricks migration, modernization initiatives, and reducing risk, effort, and time-to-value

Industry solutions leveraging Databricks technologies, including the Talent Intelligence Platform built on Databricks Lakebase 

Rahul Athalye, Vice President and Global Service Line Leader for Data & Analytics, Bitwise said, “This recognition reflects our continued investment in building deep Databricks expertise and delivering meaningful business outcomes for clients. As enterprises increase their focus on data modernization and AI transformation, the combination of strong technical capabilities, proven delivery expertise, and platform innovation becomes increasingly important. We are proud to be recognized among Databricks’ leading partners and remain committed to helping organizations unlock greater value from their data and AI investments.”

Bitwise supports customers across a broad range of Databricks-led initiatives, including data platform modernization, lakehouse implementations, analytics modernization, AI and machine learning solutions, and Databricks Genie-powered business intelligence solutions.

Building on its Databricks expertise, Bitwise has developed a portfolio of Genie-powered solutions focused on business outcomes, including Proactive Sales Pipeline Intelligence, Intelligent Customer 360, and Proactive Supply Chain Intelligence. These solutions enable business users to interact with enterprise data using natural language while maintaining governance, trust, and enterprise controls. The company also combines Databricks capabilities with proprietary accelerators such as FulkrumAI to help organizations accelerate modernization initiatives and reduce transformation risk. 

Bitwise is also expanding its innovation efforts around Databricks Lakebase, leveraging its capabilities to support next-generation data applications, including its Talent Intelligence Platform. By combining operational and analytical data with AI-driven insights, the platform helps organizations make more informed workforce and talent-related decisions.

Denilson Camilo, Senior Director, Partner Enablement, Databricks, said, “Partners play an essential role in helping organizations realize the full value of the Databricks Data + AI Platform. Bitwise’s achievement in earning 130+ Delivery Experts badges demonstrates a strong commitment to technical excellence and customer success. We look forward to continuing our collaboration as enterprises modernize their data foundations and expand their use of AI.”

About Bitwise

Bitwise is an AI-First engineering enterprise that helps organizations turn AI into a sustainable source of competitive advantage. Backed by 30 years of legacy in data modernization, precision engineering, and enterprise-scale delivery, Bitwise delivers a comprehensive set of AI-First capabilities, enabling organizations to move from AI experimentation to scalable, production-grade outcomes.

Headquartered in Chicago with global delivery centers in Pune, India, Bitwise pairs onshore client alignment with offshore delivery efficiency to serve as a strategic growth partner to leading global organizations.

To learn more, visit the Bitwise website and follow Bitwise on LinkedIn.

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SOURCE Bitwise Inc

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CMIT Solutions Celebrates 30 Years and Honors Top Franchise Owners at Connect Live! 2026

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September 22, 2026

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Annual managed IT services franchise convention in Indianapolis brought the CMIT community together for business education, peer collaboration, networking and an awards celebration at Union Station

INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — CMIT Solutions, a national provider of managed IT services and cybersecurity solutions to small and midsize businesses, celebrated 30 years in business at CMIT Connect Live! 2026. The annual convention brought franchise owners, technicians, service professionals, the corporate team, and technology partners together in Indianapolis for professional development, business collaboration, networking and recognition of outstanding performance across the CMIT Solutions franchise network.

The multi-day event reflected the relationships that support CMIT’s nationwide network. Programming included educational sessions, meetings of CMIT’s high-performing Mastermind Groups, informative breakout sessions, the Partners and Solutions Pavilion, networking events, a Women’s Happy Hour and a Million Dollar Dinner celebrating franchise owners whose businesses have reached at least $1 million in annual revenue.

CMIT also welcomed and toasted franchise owners who joined the organization after October 2025 during a Welcome Party at the NCAA Hall of Champions.

Key technology sponsors supporting CMIT Connect Live! 2026 included Kaseya, ConnectWise, Pax8, ThreatCaptain, and Cytracom.

CMIT Solutions also welcomed the Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA), which had an onsite presence and conducted video interviews highlighting members of the CMIT community and broader technology industry.

Franchise of the Year Caps 2026 Awards Celebration

The CMIT Connect Live! Awards Banquet was held at Indianapolis Union Station, where the historic architecture and elegant setting provided the backdrop for CMIT’s 30-year celebration. The evening combined franchise and support team recognition with live music and a performance by the event band.

The evening’s highest honor, the Franchise of the Year Award, was presented to Dayal Bhagat of CMIT Solutions serving the Roanoke, Virginia and North Charlotte and Statesville, North Carolina regions. The award recognizes sustained business growth, service delivery, participation in the CMIT system, alignment with the organization’s core values and contributions to the broader franchise community.

Franchise of the Year nominees: Dayal Bhagat; Matt McCracken; Mike Minkler; Tom Shirey; Cheryl Nelan and Evan Stein; and Marty and Leslie Wood.

Other CMIT Solutions Award Winners and Nominees

Award

Winner(s)

Nominees

Marketing Excellence

Elizabeth and John Boyette

Elizabeth and John Boyette; Adam Lopez; Yusuf Ujjainwala; and Andrew Vaughan

Sales Excellence

Leslie Chiorazzi

Leslie Chiorazzi; Larry Kerrigan; Mike Minkler; Cheryl Nelan and Evan Stein; Chris Parmigiani; Tom Shirey; and Jeff Steele

Mastermind Group of the Year

The Afterburners

Afterburners; Alliance; Disruptors; Forerunners; Pacesetters; and Gamechangers

FAC Member of the Year

Arvind Hariharan

John Boyette, Southeast; Leslie Chiorazzi, Northeast; Arvind Hariharan, Pacific; Matt McCracken, Central; and Zen Piotrowski, Midwest

Technician of the Year

Phil Ellis

Phil Ellis; Andrew Golden; Bob Hanson; Austin Kupper; Don Kupper; and Mark Stephens

Service Delivery Manager of the Year

Jenn Fortunato

Josh Carroll; Jenn Fortunato; Bea Stockler; and Anna Zwicky-Kasemodel

Rookie of the Year

Adam Lopez and Mike McCain

Mitul Chothani; Elina and Scott Greenstein; Adam Lopez; Mike McCain; Laurel Mueller; and Damian Sanderson

President’s Award

Cheryl Nelan and Evan Stein

No nominee slate was announced

Partner Awards Presented at CMIT Connect Live

CMIT Solutions technology partners Kaseya, Pax8 and ConnectWise presented additional awards during the banquet.

Kaseya Partner of the Year: Matt McCracken 

Kaseya Breakout Franchise of the Year: Elina and Scott Greenstein

Pax8 Partner of the Year: Milton Perez, Greg Humble, and Mark Boedecker

ConnectWise Franchise of the Year: Scott Graflund (Pam Elliott accepted the award on Scott’s behalf) 

ConnectWise Rising Star Award: Adam Lopez

A 30-Year Milestone Built on Community

A video featuring CMIT Solutions founder Georgia Jones was played during the celebration. In the video, Jones shared touching reflections on CMIT’s 30 years in business and the people and relationships that have helped shape the organization throughout its history.

“Celebrating 30 years is a tremendous milestone for CMIT Solutions, but what I’m most proud of is the community we’ve built and the franchise owners who continue to move this organization forward,” said Roger Lewis, CEO of CMIT Solutions. “Connect Live gave us the opportunity to celebrate where we’ve been, recognize the people driving our success today, and look ahead to the next chapter of growth and innovation.”

About CMIT Solutions

CMIT Solutions provides managed IT services and cybersecurity solutions to small and midsize businesses through a network of locally owned offices backed by national resources. CMIT helps organizations manage technology, strengthen security, support employees, protect data and plan for growth through trusted local relationships and a broad network of technology expertise.

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SOURCE CMIT Solutions

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