It’s your last chance to complete your Stress Less Stamp Card! Get a stamp and celebrate YOU at Beach Balance’s Self-Care Celebration on Feb. 24 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the USU Southeast Terrace. Play with puppies, lay in a hammock, get a 10-minute chair massage and more during this Week to Unwind celebration.

Discover your creative side at Guided Art Therapy! Join us via Zoom where an instructor will break down the steps to creating a unique piece of art. This month's theme is desert sunset. Have the following items ready: Canvas, various colored paints and brushes. Attend for an opportunity to win one of two paint kits!

Meeting Id: 961 4738 5839

Password: Fall2021

Zoom Link

Meditation and Matcha
Feb. 15
SRWC East Lawn
5 - 7 PM

Join us for Meditation and Matcha on Feb. 15 from 5 to 7 p.m., on the SRWC East Lawn. Decorate your own mug while learning about the benefits of adding tea to your meditation practice. Don't forget to stop by our tea station to grab a smooth cup of matcha.

5 p.m. Mug Decorating
5:30 p.m. Gentle Yoga
6 p.m. Guided Meditation
6:30 p.m. Sound Bath

RVSP on SRWC GO. Free blankets to the first 20 participants who arrive!

Destress and discover your creative side at Guided Art Therapy. Join us via Zoom where an instructor will break the steps to creating a unique piece of art. The theme this month is Paint a Pumpkin with a donut theme. If you want to continue celebrating the fall season, this guided art is the perfect activity for you! Make sure you have the following when attending this event: small pumpkin, acrylic paints, brushes, and your creativity. You can also use sharpies if you do not have acrylic paints.

Image Theme: Donut

Items Needed: Pumpkin, various colored paints and brushes.

Meeting Id: 961-4738-5839

Password: Fall2020

Zoom Link

Join us for a spooky Meal Prep 101 session on Oct. 2, from 5 to 6 p.m on the SRWC East Lawn! Kick-off the new season with Halloween-themed snacks and learn how to prepare delicious meals. Attend for a chance to win one of two prizes.

Destress and discover your creative side at Guided Art Therapy. Join us via Zoom where an instructor will break the steps to creating a unique piece of art. The theme this month is DIY Mug and is the perfect opportunity to be creative and abstract! If you want to surprise a loved one with a gift this holiday season, or even gift yourself with a unique mug, this guided art is the perfect activity for you! Make sure you have the following when attending this event: a white mug, Q-tips, rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover, and permanent markers.

Image Theme: Abstract Watercolors

Items Needed: White mugs, Sharpies, Rubbing Alcohol, and Q-tips.

Meeting Id: 961-4738-5839

Password: Fall2020

Zoom Link

Impress your friends with your cooking skills! Learn delicious recipes for your next summer BBQ.

Please have the following items ready: skewers, potatoes, onions, bell peppers, wonton wrappers, apples, and other various fruits.

Meeting ID: 918 7113 1405

Password: Summer2021

Zoom Link

Scheduling an Appointment

Spring 2022

Registration Period: Feb. 14 – Apr. 29

Looking to adopt a healthier lifestyle through nutrition? Work with a peer nutrition counselor to discover eating habits that best fit your lifestyle, dietary preferences and individualized goals. Virtual and in-person options are available. All nutrition counseling appointments are FREE of charge.

Request a nutrition counseling appointment at the link below. A Beach Balance staff member will contact you to confirm your time slot. Appointments must be made 72 hours in advance. A completed intake form must be submitted prior to scheduling.

Receive a set of reusable utensils after completing two sessions!

Request an Appointment

**Clients seeking counseling for an eating disorder, or complex medical condition will be referred to the university’s Student Health Services.

The Beach Balance Newsletter is emailed to subscribers monthly by the SRWC Wellness Team and aims to inform students about our upcoming wellness programs and events. Check out current and past newsletter articles below, and don’t forget to subscribe!

Monthly Challenge	Nutrition In a Minute
December: Meditate twice per week Our theme this month is managing stress and finding ways to decompress during this holiday season. We challenge you to meditate at least 2 days per week during the month of December. If you complete the challenge, you will be included in an opportunity drawing for a Beach Balance gift bag. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE CHALLENGE HERE	December: Brain Foods Fuel your brain before finals with brain foods! Studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids have a positive effect on brain activity. The brain uses fats as a major fuel source, as well as carbohydrates. Caffeine has also been shown to contribute to brain function and focus. Caffeine can come from natural sources such as cocoa, coffee beans and tea. Other examples of brain foods are: avocados, flax seeds, apples, blueberries, chocolate (contains caffeine), walnuts, salmon, tuna and other fish. Try incorporating these brains foods into your next study session! FIND THE FULL RECIPE HERE!

 

Ask an Assistant

Got a pressing question about fitness, nutrition or wellness? Click here to Ask an Assistant! One of our expert staff will get back to you as soon as possible. Your question may even be featured in a future edition of the Beach Balance Newsletter or Rec Report.

 

Wellness Corner

December: Stress Less
By: Meghan Artia, Beach Balance Graduate Assistant

With the holidays approaching and fall semester coming to a close, we may be experiencing higher levels of stress. Stress can appear in a variety of forms, and it is important to be able to identify when we may be experiencing these feelings.

Stress can be defined as an increased demand placed on the brain or physical body. Many individuals start to feel stressed when multiple demands are placed on them at the same time. Negative stress can prevent individuals from feeling and performing their best - whether it be mentally, physically or emotionally. While the feeling of stress may be overwhelming, there are techniques you can use to manage the stress you may have in your life!

Self-care is taking time out to care for yourself and simply being mindful of your own needs. Self-care can come in a variety of forms and does not have to be a grand event. Even taking five to 30 minutes out of your day to relax, meditate and live a more balanced life counts as a form of self-care. Regularly practicing self-care techniques can help with reducing stress while creating feelings of calmness and a sense of control. Essentially, taking some time for yourself can give you renewed energy, which we all can use. Make sure to take some time for yourself, set boundaries if you need to and remember that your needs are important too.

Techniques to Manage Stress:

• Exercise: Working out regularly is a great way to relax one's body and mind, while improving your overall mood!
• Relax Your Muscles: This can be done in the form of stretching, taking a hot bath or shower, receiving a massage and/or getting a good night's sleep. Research shows that getting a massage reduces stress and anxiety by lowering your adrenaline hormones.
• Deep Breathing: Research shows that deep belly breathing stimulates our vagus nerve, which triggers our body's relaxation response. Incorporate exercises like Box Breathing into your daily routine to reduce stress.
• Make self-care a priority: Self-care can come in many forms including cooking, creating art, giving yourself a facial or catching up on a favorite TV show. Take time to do what you enjoy the most!

It is time to take care of your stress and relax. Let's finish the semester with a bang and make stressing less a priority.

 

• October: Self-care and Investing Time in Yourself

  By: Darlene Gonzalez, Beach Balance Assistant

  We live in a world where everyone is usually go, go, go. It can feel as if you have no time for yourself when focusing on school, work, relationships and family (just to name a few). The current pandemic has forced many of us to adjust our “normal” routine, which has allowed many of us to slow down. Although the change has not been the easiest, it's reminded us of the importance of allowing ourselves to have some self-care time without feeling selfish for it.

  What is self-care exactly?

  Self-care is taking time out to care for yourself and simply being mindful of your own needs. Self-care can come in a variety of forms and does not have to be a grand event. Even taking five to 30 minutes out of your day to relax, meditate and live a more balanced life counts as a form of self-care. Regularly practicing self-care techniques can help with reducing stress while creating feelings of calmness and a sense of control. Essentially, taking some time for yourself can give you renewed energy, which we all can use. Make sure to take some time for yourself, set boundaries if you need to and remember that your needs are important too.

  Here are some tips for practicing self-care:

  • Five minutes: take a few breaths, stretch your body, listen to your favorite song, make a gratitude list, say affirmations that ground you.
  • 15 minutes: meditate on your purpose, read a chapter of a book, journal out your thoughts.
  • 30 minutes: take a walk outside, cook a new recipe, get crafty with DIY projects, talk to someone you haven’t seen in a while.

   

 

De-stress and discover your creative side at Guide Art Therapy! Join us via Zoom where an instructor will break down the steps to creating a unique piece of art.

Date and Time: Tuesday, June 16 6-7PM
Meeting ID: 998-6898-4579
Password: Summer2020

Date and Time: Tuesday, July 28 6-7PM
Meeting ID: 994-8933-7112
Password: Summer2020

Suggested Items: Canvas, Various Acrylic Paints & Brushes
Alternative Items: Watercolors, Colored Pencils or Markers

Join the University Student Union (USU) Beach Balance for A Week to Unwind, Oct. 25 through Oct. 28, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., in USU 313. Book a Relaxonchair using the SRWC GO app, receive a welcome gift, and be entered into an opportunity drawing to win a massage!

Visit the USU Beach Balance daily for free spa water, drop-in wellness activities, and to find the BB origami crane. The first person to find the BB origami crane each day will receive a $10 Robek's gift card.

• Monday: Origami
• Tuesday: Art Therapy
• Wednesday: Pony Bead Bracelets
• Thursday: Gratitude Wall

To learn more about the USU Beach Balance visit asicsulb.org/corporate/discover/usu-beach-balance

Join us via Zoom for a cooking demo, where we will teach you how to prepare nutrient-dense meals using affordable kitchen staples

Chicken Burrito Bowl
Date and Time: Tuesday, June 2 4-5PM
Meeting ID: 934-6255-9918
Password: Summer2020

Chickpea Curry
Date and Time: Tuesday, July 14 4-5PM
Meeting ID:951-9535-0112
Password: Summer2020

Items Needed: Rice, Onion, Garlic, Canned Chickpeas