SharkFit Recreation

Fitness, Aquatics and Wellness Center

Meditation is a mind and body practice that has a long history of use for increasing calmness and physical relaxation, improving psychological balance, coping with illness, and enhancing overall health and well-being. Mind and body practices focus on the interactions among the brain, mind, body, and behavior.

What happens when you meditate?

When you are meditating, your brain produces theta and alpha waves. ... Alpha waves occur when your mind is in an idle state, like when you are daydreaming. This means that, though you are awake, meditation induces brain activity that happens when you are either in your most relaxed state or when you are sleeping.

Why is it important to meditate?

Meditation reduces the production of stress-related hormones like cortisol and increases the production of good chemicals like serotonin. Sound sleep is very important for the proper functioning of the body. Regular meditation helps in relieving stress and thus improves the quality of sleep.

College life can be stressful in balancing the responsibilities it carries, along with others we encounter. The Health and Wellness Department is committed to providing resources through physical and mindfulness experiences to assist you through successful completion while a student and employee at the college.

Join us every Wednesday from 12:15pm-1pm in room G110-11 and 5:00pm-6:00pm G103. Periodically, classes will be announced prior to being held outside, in a selected green space area, weather permitting.

Hatha Yoga classes offered weekly through the Group Exercise Class program schedule.

Gibson Health Center, Building G (7000) room: G139 Fitness Center, and G110 Wellness Center, Classroom and teaching fitness lab/employee wellness center and Group Class Studio G208.

Taking Care of Yourself, Your Mind and Your Community

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.

It is more important now than ever to take care of yourself, you family and friends.

Some ways to help cope with stress and anxiety:

Take a break from the day to day strenuous chores and watch something positive and educational on T.V.
Something easy to do it watch a quick 20 min TedTalk about any topic you find interesting, its quick, you'll learn something, and it gives your mind a break.

Read or re-read your favorite book, possibly a series (like Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Twilight). Sit outside, or in a calm place and take a 30-60 min break to read and relax.

Reduce your social media exposure. Hearing or seeing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting and cause negative responses.

Try to take deep breathes, stretch and meditate. It calms the body and mind to be at peace. Eating healthy and well-balanced meals will help the body and mind as well. You are what you eat they say. Maybe trying new recipes, trying a new diet or something different can help boost moods and increase connectivity with your family or loved ones.

Zoom is a free app that can be downloaded onto any phone or PC and is something similar to Skype and Facetime. Really you can use anything similar to those services. The point is to hop on that maybe two or three times a week to connect with friends and loved ones you can't see right now. You can play games, watch movies, just talk and see how everyone is doing. Now more than ever, we should stay connect and stay close to others. It's nice to be nice!