The importance of movement to good mental health is the central theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week. With over 42 acres of grounds and gardens, and facilities ranging from two dance studios to a College gym Churchill is well equipped to help keep our community moving!
Movement isn’t just about staying fit; it’s a secret weapon for staying mentally strong and focused. The pressures of academic life can often lead to heightened levels of stress and anxiety. However, participating in physical activities such as sports, yoga, or even brisk walks can help alleviate stress by releasing endorphins, the body’s natural mood lifters.
Regular physical activity can also enhance concentration, memory, and learning abilities. When you engage in movement, whether it’s through structured exercise routines or spontaneous activities like dancing or sports, you stimulate blood flow to the brain, which can sharpen cognitive skills and enhance academic focus.
And here are just some of the ways you can get your movement fix if you’re part of our community at Churchill!
- Take a daily 15-minute stroll around the Churchill grounds perimeter path which runs in a 700m circuit around the edge of the College land and sports pitches.
- Grow your own flowers, herbs and vegetables on-site! If you’ve not come across the wellbeing seed library yet, it’s located in the College Library in the Bracken Library foyer. You can help yourself to free seeds to plant in the greenhouse, raised beds, or in pots in your room! Compost, pots and tools are all available in the student greenhouse in the garden of 70 Storey’s Way and if you need some help or advice, you can speak to our fab grounds & gardens team🌱🌼🥕
- Try yoga! Yoga’s benefits are so numerous it gives a high pay-off for the amount of effort involved. Churchill Yoga Society runs every Monday from 5.00-6.00pm in the dance studio or outdoors when the weather is fine.
- Something else? A pilot Qigong session for Churchill College students was held on Friday 17 May in the Chapel Grounds and plans are in place to extend this opportunity in future. Qigong is a beautiful moving meditation that will leave your mind, body and soul in a state of deep relaxation.