By Marc-Olivier Drouin |Staff Writer|
With finals just around the corner, CSUSB students had the chance to release some tension with dog petting and chair massages.
On Wednesday Nov. 28, the Student Health Center, in collaboration with the Center for Health Education and Wellness, invited massage therapists and dogs to the Commons.
About 10 dogs and their owners were gathered outside the Commons where students were invited to pet away worries and stress by playing with dogs.
As strange as it may seem, according to the International Journal of Workplace Health Management, students and employees that have access to a dog are less stressed during the day than those who had none.
The students were very amused by this unusual way to release tension. Many of them interacted with the dog owners and, of course, played with the furry stress specialists.
Giving students the chance to play with dogs during the most stressful part of their quarter can have positive effects. While they are petting a dog, students have a moment to clear their minds and not have to think about studies.
Erika and her seven-year-old blue merle Australian Shepherd, Chaucey, have been members of Wags-n-Kisses for more than six years primarily visiting convalescent hospitals.
For Erika, working with stressed out students is a totally different experience. Nevertheless, Chaucey and his other friends were the center of attention during the event.
The doggie therapy seems to be greatly appreciated. Everyone that was playing with the dog was looking zen and stress-free.
For the ones who were allergic to the dogs or wanted to experience other techniques that help reduce stress and tension, massage therapists were just next door in the basement of the Commons.
A couple of registered massage therapists were welcoming students on their massage chairs for a short, but valued, moment of relaxation.
Massages can have tremendous health benefits, especially if you are a stressed out person.
Massages, depending on the technique used, can help to relieve tension in particular areas of your body.
Massages can also help to remove toxins from your body and boost your body’s immune system, which can become compromised from extended periods of stress; especially during finals, where you push your body to its limits with a poor diet and few hours of sleep.
Beside the dog petting and the massages, students had the chance to visit a decompression booth where they were invited to talk about their stress and release their tension.
According to the National Institutes of Health, stress can affect your body and your mind with different symptoms such as insomnia, headaches, eczema, back pain, anxiety, weight gain, etc.
For those who missed the event, remember that it’s important to relax and take care of yourself during finals since academics is one of the biggest causes of stress.
If the end of the quarter is stressing you out don’t hesitate to visit the health center.