{"612303":{"#nid":"612303","#data":{"type":"news","title":"3 Reasons Why You Need Mindfulness","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMindfulness has many benefits including alleviating stress, increasing your ability to deal with illness, decreasing symptoms of depression, and improving overall health. In fact, people who practice mindfulness have been found to have improved cardiovascular health because they are less likely to smoke, be more physically active, and have a healthier body mass index (BMI). Not sold? Here are our top three reasons why you need to begin (or keep) practicing mindfulness:\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Col\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMindfulness improves your physical health.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\tStudies have shown that practicing mindfulness can actually lower your blood pressure, reduce chronic pain, help you sleep better, and even alleviate some stomach (gastrointestinal) issues.\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMindfulness improves your mental health.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\tIn recent years, psychotherapists have turned to mindfulness meditation as an important element of treatment for a number of issues including depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, partner conflicts, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMindfulness improves your overall well-being. \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\tPracticing mindfulness makes it easier for you to be present and savor the pleasures of everyday life as they occur, helps you become fully engaged in your activities and with your friends and family, and creates capacity for you to better deal with adversity. People who practice mindfulness are less likely to get caught up in worries about the future or regrets over the past. They are even less likely to be preoccupied with concerns about success and self-esteem.\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\u003C\/ol\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EReady to begin your journey with mindfulness? Get started with Mindful Moments. \u003Cstrong\u003EEvery Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Student Center Cypress Room,\u003C\/strong\u003E students can drop in and relax by coloring or participating in short, guided mindfulness exercises.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026ldquo;Mindfulness is a great way to practice self-care,\u0026rdquo; shared health educator, Sarah Morales. \u0026ldquo;In a nutshell, it\u0026rsquo;s about being as kind to yourself as you would be to others and knowing when your resources are running low and stepping back to replenish them. With the mindfulness exercises and coloring we will be offering, this new program is a great way for students to recharge.\u0026rdquo; Coloring, while it may sound silly, is a simple way to get started with mindfulness. The act of coloring allows you to focus on a simple task drawing your attention away from yourself and your worries and into the present moment. \u0026ldquo;Scientifically, coloring activates the right side of your brain which is the creative, artistic region of the brain,\u0026rdquo; explained health educator, JaPeera Edmonds. \u0026ldquo;Activating that side of the brain quiets the right side of your brain which is responsible for analytical and cognitive processes and is often activated when you are stressed or worried.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EMindful moments begins October 10\u003Csup\u003Eth\u003C\/sup\u003E and runs through December 5\u003Csup\u003Eth\u003C\/sup\u003E. Have a scheduling conflict? \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/healthinitiatives.gatech.edu\/well-being\/mental\u0022\u003ECheck out the Health Initiatives webpage for more resources and options to support your mental health and well-being\u003C\/a\u003E. From pet therapy to our JOOL Health app, there are lots of resources to support you.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Start your mindfulness journey with Mindful Moments every Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m."}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EReady to begin your journey with mindfulness? Get started with Mindful Moments every Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Student Center Cypress Room.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Start your mindfulness journey with Mindful Moments every Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m."}],"uid":"34604","created_gmt":"2018-10-03 17:54:22","changed_gmt":"2018-11-30 14:41:40","author":"Jessica Kolis","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2018-10-03T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2018-10-03T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"612236":{"id":"612236","type":"image","title":"Mindful Moments","body":null,"created":"1538502314","gmt_created":"2018-10-02 17:45:14","changed":"1538502314","gmt_changed":"2018-10-02 17:45:14","alt":"cherry blossoms with tect Mindful Moments","file":{"fid":"233053","name":"mindfulmoments.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/mindfulmoments.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/mindfulmoments.png","mime":"image\/png","size":735583,"path_740":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/mindfulmoments.png?itok=GMBrTkdR"}}},"media_ids":["612236"],"groups":[{"id":"428961","name":"Health and Well-Being"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[{"id":"12533","name":"health promotion"},{"id":"4076","name":"wellness"},{"id":"118891","name":"mindfulness"},{"id":"10343","name":"mental health"},{"id":"167229","name":"stress"},{"id":"10199","name":"Daily Digest"},{"id":"178819","name":"newsroom"},{"id":"123761","name":"well-being"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESarah Morales\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nHealth Educator | Health Initiatives\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nsarah.morales@health.gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}