Twice a year, every Whole Foods Market holds two Community giving 5% days. Our team members are part of the local community and they are passionate about supporting the local causes that are important to our shoppers and neighbors. First off, it’s a given that each store donates food to area food banks and shelters. We have food; they know how to get it to people who need it. Done. Then several times a year, our stores hold community giving days (otherwise known as “5% Days”) where five percent of that day’s net sales are donated to a local nonprofit or educational organization. The groups that benefit from these 5% Days are as varied as the communities themselves.

On Thursday July 19th we are giving back to our community with the recipient 1 Giant Mind. Here is some information about this wonderful organization:

1 Giant Mind is a non-profit organization dedicated to the research and education of the

effects of collective ‘eyes-closed silence’.

Eyes Closed Silence (ECS)

The term ‘Eyes Closed Silence’ (ECS) refers to any mental process including most common practices of meditation, prayer, observance of the breath, and contemplation that induces a set of integrated psychophysiological changes termed as the ‘relaxation response’.

Physiological Changes observed to varying degrees in the relaxation response are: 

• Increased blood flow to the brain
• Increased Alpha brain wave activity
• Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system
• Lowered blood pressure
• Lowered heart rate
• Muscle relaxation

Psychological changes observed to varying degrees in the relaxation response are:

• Increased awareness
• Increased attention
• Increased clarity and perception
• Lowered anxiety
• Experience of being calm and internally still
• Experience of feeling connected
• Experience of feeling deeply rested whilst remaining awake.