One of the focuses on the workshop is correcting breathing to reduce stress which starts with deep breathes with your belly instead of your chest. (Shell's Fitness & Soul Center/Facebook)

By Rachel May

Understanding the science of stress

Teaching the Northeast mindfulness one breathing session at a time

Apr 25, 2023 | 5:00 PM

Practicing mindfulness and working through stress is the focus of a wellness program in the northeast.

April is stress awareness month and Shell’s Fitness and Soul Center is taking to Melfort and Nipawin to share tips and tricks for reducing anxiety.

Lead educator Shelley Enns told northeastNOW that incorporating mindfulness is as simple as putting your phone down and doing your daily activities.

“The biggest difference is just not just doing but is being. Just being present,” she said.

Those with high levels of stress or simply wanting to reduce the stress levels they are experiencing can start by teaching themselves how to utilize something we all know how to do.

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“Breathing has been such a key factor. It’s what got me through a lot of things.”

Correct breathing starts with using your stomach to breathe instead of upper chest. This allows your lungs to work at capacity when you inhale and exhale.

Enns explained she is leading youth workshops in order to help teens deal with daily stress.

“Kids learn from adults and I see so many kids being stressed out and I think it’s because they’re learning,” she said.

For those wanting to take a workshop, Enns said that there are key aspects all attendees should learn.

“We connect and set our intentions then I do the science of stress, understanding the science behind stress and then introducing the practice of meditation and a bit of yoga at the end.”

Melfort residents can contact Prairie Hope Wellness to join the Stress Management Tools Mediation Workshop followed by Teen Yoga in the Melfort Canalta Hotel meeting room. The workshop begins tomorrow.

Nipawin will have various events running throughout the rest of April and the month of May.

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Rachel.May@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RachelMayFM