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The newest addition to Donkey’s art showcase is Free Film Night held on Friday’s at 9 p.m. in the back room of the coffee house. The event was designed to give studnets and those in the community something to do uptown without having to go to a crowded bar.
This week, Donkey will be showing Harold and Maude, the story of a friendship that sparks between a young teenage boy and an older woman in her 70s. While Harold spends most of his time trying to scare his over bearing mother with fake suicide attempts, Maude is a woman living life to the fullest despite her age. The two begin a strange friendship and help each other learn more about life and living.
Free Film Night is the newest addition to the many events held at Donkey, which include Designated Space on Tuesdays and Thursdays, where participants can perform poetry and music in front of an audience.
Donkey is expecting to have Free Film Night every Friday. The films to be shown and other lists of events can be found in the weekly papers and on their Web site.
Halloween is fast approaching, and it is finally time for everyone to take part in the holiday’s most recognizable traditions: picking pumpkins. This tradition, usually saved for youngsters, is my favorite part of the holiday. Before you begin to blaspheme me over choosing a giant gourd over the Athens Block Party, think about all the fun and organic things you can do with a pumpkin. Once you get started, you’ll feel like a kid all over again.
First is picking the right pumpkin. Of course, the get the full effect, you’ll have to find a pumpkin patch, where farmers of the veggie grow them, pick out the best ones and set them in an area free for eager pickers to find their pumpkin. Unfortunately, these are hard to locate from the internet; the closest I could find was Jackson, Oh., about an hour away. Keep your eye out this time of year for flyers for patches. There is bound to be one hidden in the Athenian hills.
The perfect pumpkin should be completely orange and about medium size (too large, you can’t carry it; too small, you can’t carve it). Pick whatever shape suits your carving ideas. It might be a good idea to pick a pattern before you head to the patch. Don’t pick a pumpkin with any soft spots or scratches. Mold could be growing in and about your future Jack-o-lantern!
Once you’ve picked the pumpkin, you can take it home and start cleaning it out. Use your pattern or your free hand to carve your design and place a candle inside.
Now you have the seeds and the pulp of the pumpkin, which contain zinc, magnesium, manganese, iron, copper and protein. You can clean the seeds, let them dry out and then bake them for a healthy snack. Bake seeds on a lightly oiled pan for about an hour on 250 degrees, stirring about every 20 minutes.
There are many recipes for the pulp, as well. Use it to make muffins, cake, bread and more, all from scratch using the remains of your pumpkin. Remember, don’t throw anything away while you’re carving; everything can be used!
There is a lot involved with using a whole pumpkin, but it is a great way to get you in the mood for the season. You can experience fall by going to the pumpkin patch and feel playful for Halloween carving a Jack-O-Lantern. And the best part, of course, is the delicious foods you can make, most of which are delicious and healthy.
There are many, many benefits to physical exercise. You can tone your legs, burn some fat and build some muscle, all of which are benefits to your body. The best part of exercise, though, is its psychological benefits. Exercise gets the body working to naturally reduce anxiety and depression, and running can be a great way to get the most out of these benefits. Why not help someone in need in the process? To profit yourself and humanity, it may be a good idea to participate in a charity 5k run.
Ohio University loves holding 5k running events that seem to attract everyone and anyone from far and wide. There is the yearly Relay for Life 5k run, multiple philanthropy runs by Greek Life and the occasional charitable foundation, such as the recent Empower Campaign 5k, held on October 10, 2009. This run proved to be a great success with many participants able to raise money for vulnerable children in Uganda. There is another 5k coming up tomorrow, October 24, being held at the Ping Center and sponsored by Campus Recreation. There is no better time to begin your physical and mental health transition and help others at the same time.
The most obvious psychological advantage to running is the release of hormones, including the ever-so-famous endorphins. These happy hormones release into your body through physical exercise and make you happier. Exercise conducted over a long period of time can help balance depression and anxiety symptoms in sufferers.
Another amazing benefit would be the fact that exercise can help create new brain cells in the hippocampus area of the brain, where we store and recall memories. This helps improve “fluid intelligence,” intelligence that requires no previous knowledge, and can lead to an improved IQ. This will no doubt create a better, more positive image of yourself and influence some much-needed self love.
The Ping 5k, presented during parent’s weekend, begins at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow morning with registration beginning at 8 a.m. There are a few things to prepare for when running a 5k, so if you are not in the best of shape, try walking for the cause instead and work your way up to running for the next 5k held in Athens. I guarantee you’ll be feeling good, both inside and out.
One large component of stress-reduction is getting proper sleep each and every night. Without the right amount of sleep, we can wake up still tired, more irritable and more apt to have a day affected by negativity. Tough you might think it is worth shaving off two hours of sleep time to put the final touches on that paper or watch the next few episodes of “Family Guy” on TV, you are much better of budgeting your time to allow for your body to rest.
aarondelay.com
Health News states that Americans only get an average of 6.9 hours of sleep on the week night and only 7.5 on the weekends, opposed to the 10 hours of sleep Americans got in 1880, before the invention of the lightbulb. The people during that time used the sunlight to determine their nocturnal states. Today, we are more likely to let our bulbs burn into the wee hours of the morning and overshadow the dying daylight, a natural signal telling Earth to sleep.
While eight hours is the normal sleep recomendation, it varies for each person. If you notice, however, that you are sleeping less than 6 hours (involuntarily) every night, then that may be a sign that you have a sleep disorder.
The U.S. National Institutes of Health issued several recommendations for stubborn sleepers to adhere to in order to catch some more shut-eye:
- No naps after 3 p.m.
- Nix alcohol, nicoteine and caffeine an hour before bed time
- Stay away from late-night large meals and drinks
- Relax with music or a bat before you go to sleep
- Avoid exercise 5-6 hours before bed
- If you find you are still awake after 20 minutes of trying to sleep, get out of bed and do something to make you more tired and relaxed.
Though it might be the fashion in a town like OU to stay out late every night and get up early for those morning classes, it is not the smart thing to do. For you mental and physical health, do as your mother told you and get to bed by the right bed time.
It’s true: food, one of the most important and common needs among organisms, affects many aspects of our body, including the chemicals in our brain. Is this much of a surprise to anyone? Probably not, but many forget the importance of diet durring periods of depression, anxiety and stress. Believe it or not, your favorite tub of Chubby Hubby ice cream is not going to keep your mood elevated for long. Incorporationg those foods that do, however, could be easier and more essential than you might think. Here are a couple simple ideas to try as you begin to introduce stress-reducing foods into your diet.
Health Care Magic warns that filling up on high-carb, sweet treats are going to be your worst enemy when trying to combat stress. The seratonin in the carbohydrates will help with regulating anxiety, but it doesn’t last long (we call those “sugar highs”). Instead of reaching for your extra-large muffin with that sugary top, heat up a bowl of oatmeal and add cinnamon. The oats will release seratonin much slower than white bread and cinnamon helps with blood sugar regulation. And don’t skip this important meal–the earlier you get your metabolism moving after sleep, the more energy you will have for your day.
Drink plenty of water. Notice how you tend to get a bit cranky when you are thirsty? Keep a bottle of water nearby (in a reusable bottle–reusing plastic water bottles is unhealthy) at all times. Your body is bound to feel better after a few days of increased intake, leading to more regulation in your systems and an elevated mood.
The best news in this entire discussion of mood elevating food would be the benefits of dark chocolate on stress relief. Not milk choccolate, not chocolate chips, but dark chocolate. Eating this delicious treat releases caffeine and theobromine, both of which enhance mood. Eat in moderation, though, as too much chocolate, dark or not, is not good for your gut.
The best part about taking notice of what mood-enhancing foods you put in your body is cooking up new ways to prepare the given foods. Constantly try new recipes, such as the famous Mind Meal. It takes many of the most beneficial mood foods and encorporates them into a three-course meal that is guaranteed to get you feeling good. Not to mention that cooking is a simple pleasure in its own way!
There are many different avenues for self-expression in Athens. There are multiple bars with different nights of open-mic for musicians that have proven to be a valuable source for entertainment as well as enrichment. One of the most personal and, perhaps, most affecting, however, is that held one night a week at Donkey Coffee, where open-mic is reserved strictly for Athens community writers of all kinds.
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The open-minded crowd and relaxing atmosphere makes Donkey’s Designated Space a perfect place for self-expression, one of the most pertinent portions of self-reflection. Every Tuesday, starting at 9 p.m., the Donkey stage is set for poets to bare there souls and read their poetry for the masses. Whether it is a poem about a broken heart or a cup of coffee, each poet adds something to the mix and invited everyone in the room to share their sentiments.
This week was filled with a great assortment of talent and interesting points of view. There were poems about drug addiction and recreation, love found and lost, cups of mocha and black bears. There were no boundaries; poets spoke freely about illegal substances and sex, leaving no foul language unsaid. It is an eye-opening and interesting experience, to say the least.
Leaving this week’s poetry night, I was inspired to finally pick up my pen again, start writing and, perhaps, share my own poems on the stage in the future. Personally, I find writing to be one of the most freeing forms of expression and the key to happiness. If ever I have something to sort out, I find it best to do it on paper before opening my mouth. Perhaps the listeners at Designated Space will be my next audience and allow me to unveil my feelings in one of the most open forms of writing there is: poetry.
With the recent crime wave creeping over Athens, some people, namely women, are finding campus to be more unnerving than normal. With women getting grabbed in the dark of the night and ice cream shops being burgled by the armed and dangerous, it’s no wonder some people are choosing to stay indoors on late nights than brave the streets alone. There is, however, a workshop on campus to help build confidence and body strength and relieve stress all while having fun at the same time, and it is called Fight Back Fitness. There is no better time than now to take advantage of such a program.
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There are five classes left in the quarter for FBF, held every Monday from 8:15 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. until November 9, where participants will use kickboxing techniques to improve muscle strength and memory while also building confidence and honing focus on targets. Held at the Charles J. Ping Recreation Center, both members and non-members can participate to learn the motivating and, potentially, life-saving techniques, including “encourage comfort in a face-to-face confrontation.” The class does cost money, however, so contact the fitness office to inquire about changing rates.
Kickboxing, like that offered in the work shop, if beneficial both physically and mentally. First, it raises heart-rate and endurance in cardiac activity, obviously benefiting your heart and muscles. It is also a great work out for fat burning as well as training core muscle groups.
Fight Back Fitness will also benefit your mood. Workouts such as kickboxing allow nerves to “loosen” and the stress-reducing exercise begins to work its magic. It will help you relieve muscle tension, release endorphins (the hormone in our brain that gives the feeling of happiness) and build your focus, confidence, vigor and agility. These will all combine to both help elevate your mood and help you feel prepared if you find yourself in a dangerous situation.
Everyone hopes that the recent criminal activity will begin to subside, but until then, we must all be vigilant for precarious situations. Police are advising that those on the streets late at night travel with another person, stay on sidewalks and walk only in well-lit areas. It wouldn’t hurt to develop your ass-whooping skills either.
When one thinks about a campus recreation facility, they probably pictures rows of treadmills, girls racing on ellipticals and men pumping iron in the weight room. While you can find these clichés in Ohio University’s Charles J. Ping Recreation Center, it is not all it has to offer. While physical fitness is important for one’s day-to-day routine and to stay happy and healthy, one class helps you focus on both bodily and mental health: the age-old practice of Yoga, offered weekly at the center and free of charge to its members.
Ping Center, located on OU’s South Green, is the perfect place to find bliss for those who need a little instruction. No one ever claimed that learning to relax was easy, and the trainers at Ping are fully prepared to instruct students on how to do just that. The Yoga programs are open and available for students and members to take full advantage of the mental and body benefits.
According to the class schedule, Yoga is offered every day this quarter except Saturday and are taught in the Group Fitness Room, ranging from beginner Yoga classes to more intense, vigorous and sweat-inducing classes. People of all skill levels are sure to find something to suit them. Even if you aren’t quite sure what it is or are not hip to the Yoga-lifestyle, you are welcomed to the classes with opened arms, even if your goal isn’t reaching Kaivalya (ultimate freedom, the definitive objective of traditional Yoga).
The physical benefits of Yoga are immense and well known; with the help of an instructor, a participant can expect to gain strength, flexibility, better posture and a lower heart-rate leading to decreased risk of heart disease. It has even been known to relieve symptoms of asthma, back pain and insomnia.
The mental benefits are just as rewarding. Those who routinely practice their best downward-dog can expect to learn mindful breathing, which stimulates relaxation responses; calming effects, created by lowering hormone neurotransmitters such as dopamine and epinephrine; and a boost of oxygen levels to the brain, which leads to a lessening of depression, elevation of mood and a clearer mind.
While the schedule of classes offered changes with each quarter, seeing Yoga on that list will not. It is a staple of the institution and are some of the most popular classes being offered at Ping. If the larger classes aren’t to your liking, you can try out the private Yoga lessons for a fee to really focus on your postures and have one-on-one training that can’t be replicated with a Yoga DVD. If you are a member of Ping, or know someone who is and want to come as a guest, you are doing yourself a great disservice by not trying one of these classes.
If you want to calm your mind, elevate your mood and learn hot to strecth your legs over your head (and you’ve always wanted to learn, admit it!) then the Yoga instructors at Ping are available and are more than willing to help you with your mental and body health goals.
Stress is certainly a part of my life as a college student, as I know it is for many others. Obviously, if you look back on past posts, I am a fan of stress-relieving relaxation methods; it helps part the clouds that muddy up my mind, allowing me to fully appreciate who I am and where I am. That is why I recommend the Relaxation period offered by Counseling and Psychological Services held each week at Baker Center.
gardenswellness.com
Every Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., the members of Students Overcoming Stigma hold a relaxation technique practice free to students. Held in a conference room at Baker (the room may change from week to week, but the room number is posted on the Center’s electronic bulletin boards), a Counselor-in-Residence hosts a relaxation period for anyone who needs to forget about their stresses for the day and learn new ways to relieve stress, both in the mind and body.
Students Overcoming Stigma is a group on campus whose sole purpose is to better the student community in mental health. They “aims to transform the campus culture surrounding mental health issues” by increasing awareness to mental health issues, showing students what programs are available for their needs and developing advocacy for these issues. Their Relaxation period is only one of their programs helping to achieve this goal.
For the Relaxation group, participants move any furniture from the middle of the room to make space for everyone to sit on the floor. The shades are drawn and everyone is told to remove their shoes, glasses, hats and any other constricting clothing or accessories. Even if your pants are a little tight, they recommend that you let them loose to experience your relaxation time to the fullest. Constriction just gets in the way of the main goal for the meditation process.
Each week, a new type of relaxation is practiced. Sometimes, the group is lead through visualizations, where commands from a CD encourage participants to visualize certain scenes and images to move them towards a more relaxed state of mind. There is also muscle relaxation, where participants are told by commands when to tighten and relax muscles, group by group, in order to obtain a more relaxed and less tense body in the end. Everyone lies on the floor and journeys together towards relaxation.
When the session, which usually lasts 15-20 minutes, completes, the group is encouraged to discuss the methods and how they worked, or didn’t work, for them. It is not a therapy session where everyone puts their problems on a pedestal for everyone to see; it is a time to let your worries leave your mind and focus on bettering your spirit and finding the best way to achieve that goal.
If you are feeling stressed, the Relaxation group may be just what you need. I find that, with the burdens and pressures that I carry on my shoulders every day, taking the time to address your stress and relieve it from your body and mind is vital, and this group’s main purpose is to help in that endeavor.
