Health and Wellness workshops provide resources, stress relief

Stop. Breathe.

This simple technique promotes relaxation and stress relief, according to a free workshop by Health and Wellness. The “Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Life: Mindfulness for Managing Stress” workshop is held Tuesday nights from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., Oct. 27 through Nov. 17.

In the workshops, Christina Berg, director of Wellness and Natalie Griffin, wellness Assistant, teach methods of handling stress.

In the first session, nine students of various backgrounds gathered in the SUB’s Ah Fong ballroom to learn about the importance of the mind/body connection, the stress response system and the benefits of breathing and meditation.

“What I want you to walk away with today is how the mind affects our bodies,” Berg told participants.

Though stress can be beneficial to motivation, it is the number on health issue affecting students, according to the National College Health Assessment.

“I see it (the workshop) as a high need for students,” Berg said.

Berg engaged attendees with self examination questions such as determining stressors, stress warning signals and coping mechanisms. Breathing exercises, done at the beginning and end of the session, promoted awareness and living in the present.

“It’s really a challenge to live in the moment and the only moment we can guarantee is this moment,” Griffin said.

COURTESY/MCT The crowd is usually more enthusiastic than this.

The series will focus on skill building through instruction and interactive exercises. Through a PowerPoint and handout, Berg and Griffin supplied scientific and historical information, such as case studies, behind the concept of stress.

Michael Adams, a junior social science major from Idaho Falls, appreciated the scientific approach. Adams participated in another stress management course earlier in the semester and wants to continue his exploration of the subject.

“I’ve been getting into meditation. This stuff interests me so I wanted to learn more about it,” Adams said.

In addition to mediation, other stress management tips include:

-       Physical activity

-       Social support

-       Healthy diet

-       Appropriate sleep

-       Positive thinking

-       Religious/spiritual practice

Griffin, a masters student in health science/health policy, understands the academic strains students face. She helped design the workshop to appeal to individuals from various backgrounds.

“What I want them (students) to get out of it is what they want to get,” she said.

Though registration for the workshop is now closed, Health and Wellness offers a “mindfulness based stress reduction” two-credit course beginning near the end of February. The 10-week class counts toward kinesiology, health science and counseling education credits.

Health and Wellness also offers a variety of free or low-cost classes and workshops throughout the year ranging from weight management, smoking cessation and even cooking.

“All of our events and workshops are based around the needs of students,” Griffin said.

For a full listing of events, visit http://www.boisestate.edu/healthservices/events/index.asp. Online registration is required and closes 24 hours prior to the event or workshop.

Health and Wellness is located on University Drive across from the Old Campus School. Staff is available to answer any questions or concerns at (208) 426-5686 or wellnessservices@boisestate.edu.

For more stress relief techniques, visit http://www.helpguide.org/mental/stressreliefmeditationyogarelaxation.htm.

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