Come join Shahnaz Khawaja of Student Wellness in a virtual wellness circle. Shahnaz Khawaja has led mental health projects overseas in times of crisis and is familiar with some of the stressors that come along with large scale crisis such as natural disasters, war, terror attacks etc. In times of crisis, our brains tend to go into full on fight/flight. This is effective ONLY if we are in immediate and life threatening danger. Our bodies are not intended to exist in fight/flight states for more than a few hours or our body systems will begin to exhaust and shut down into a numbed out, freeze state. This is unhealthy.

Our current situation while serious and alarming does not warrant that we exist for extended periods of time in high alert fight/flight states. Join me in a wellness circle as I talk about ways to turn off the body's fight/flight response and how to engage in activities that will allow us to remain calm and navigate the current situation from our most effective, creative and problem solving brain. During these wellness circles you will participate in some

• mindfulness and meditation exercises
• physical movement related stress release
• EFT tapping
• strategies to tone your vagas nerve which helps in stress reduction that will include
  • chanting
  • loud singing
  • increasing salivation
  • loud gargling with water
• laughter to reduce stress
• camaraderie and virtual social connection

What to bring

• YOU!
• An open mind
• Humor
• A willingness to take a risk and try something outside of your comfort zone to help you feel better           

Zoom link here

Wellness Circles are brought to you by Shahnaz Khawaja from Student Wellness and the Diversity & Student Success program in The Graduate School.