Wellness Workshop

Feeling anxious over midterms? Overwhelmed by homework? Try these relaxation tips by Hypnotherapist Bruce Jackson, given at the Wellness Education workshop on Wednesday Sept. 20, 2006. Jackson said, “This world will make you nuts, if you allow it to.” He said that we can detect stress in our bodies by: moods, heavy breathing, feeling fatigue, getting extra sleep but not feeling rested, low immune system and digestive system not working properly.

Due to the stress caused in our lives by school, work, and other demands, we don’t have time for ourselves. Jackson suggested we should “claim our time” in the morning and in the evening. He said that we should get up 10-15 minutes early (I know this is a hard feat considering we do not get enough sleep due to our hectic schedules), and do something we enjoy such as: read, set goals, plan the day, and tap into our spirituality.

At night we need to turn off the TV, computer, and cell phones, and “get ready for bed” by thinking about the day, making a list of things we are grateful for, reading, and doing other “quiet” activities. The quickest way to relax is to do breathing exercises (you wonder why yoga enthusiasts are so calm) by sitting down and taking three deep breaths. Students can do this before taking an exam, the beginning of class or at work. Anytime is a good time.

Another way we can relax takes 10 or more minutes:
Sit with hands on legs and eyes closed. Take deep breaths, and feel the breath go through your body. Think of a relaxing color (he suggested blue or green), and imagine the color going through your body, from your toes to your head, and begin to feel yourself relax.

After your body is in a relaxed state, imagine yourself walking along a beach, feeling the sand in your toes, and then envision two palm trees with a hammock. Lay in the hammock, and feel it conform to your body, giving support to your neck and spine (this is the most comfortable hammock you have ever been in), and then start to sway.

Keep imagining for several minutes. When you are ready to get out of your hammock, walk by a bright, neon waterfall (color of your choice), and then slowly bring your focus back to reality by imagining your color again going through your body. Give this place a name, preferably a calming name, so you can go there anytime. If there isn’t time to do this exercise, one can just ponder on their place briefly.

Wellness Education will be giving another workshop on eating disorders in November. For more information on Wellness Education, you can visit their office in SC 222 (in the Student Health Center), or check them out on the web at www.uvsc.edu/wellnessed