Join Health Promotion and Wellness and Milner Library and get PAWSitively Stress Free! Take a study or work break to pet certified therapy dogs and enjoy other stress-relieving activities.

Research from the University of British Columbia shows that petting a therapy dog for a few minutes can be beneficial for college students. Data from this study, published in Stress and Health, indicated the respondents, college students, felt an increase in happiness and energy levels after spending time in a therapy dog session. The study’s results conclude that this type of activity aids with managing stressors more effectively, which in turn helps students maintain focus, improve retention of material, and boost their performance during finals.

Event details

What: PAWSitively Stress Free. Certified therapy dogs, free chair massages, resources, and coloring stations.

When: 2–4 p.m. Monday, December 9, and Tuesday, December 10

Where: Milner Library, third floor

Cost: Free

Registration: Not needed

Resources available through Health Promotion and Wellness

  • Massage is held Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays on campus and provided through Ada Givan, Licensed Massage Therapist. The cost is $15 for 15 minutes and scheduling an appointment/s through the online registration system is required.
  • Koru Mindfulness is a free four-week course that helps you learn about and practice various mindfulness and meditation techniques that can improve sleep; reduce stress and anxiety; improve focus, academic performance, and eating behaviors; and contribute to a greater sense of well-being and overall happiness. Koru basic and Koru 2.0 classes are available for students, staff, and faculty. Register online
  • Yoga, Balanced Bellies and Backs, and T’ai Chi classes are available through the Lifestyle Enhancement Program. Lifestyle Enhancement classes concentrate on functional health, social connectedness, relaxation, and supporting your holistic well-being.
  • Free guided relaxation audio is available for download. Led by Tona Schenck, the audio leads you through an exercise to help clear your mind and relax. The audio is approximately 11 minutes long. Download the relaxation audio file. The file should open up in your computer’s default audio player. The file can also be saved and added to your MP3 player’s library.

Need your furry fix now? Check out photos from past PAWS events

This slideshow requires JavaScript.