The Behavioral Health team is starting up a new group this week to begin on Wednesday, Feb. 5! This six-week, repeating peer group focuses on centering and grounding through breath and gentle movement. It aims to bring curiosity and awareness to our mind and body as we gently stretch and move.  

In such a fast-paced world, it can be helpful to have time set aside for calming and quieting. Simple practices like following the breath or just noticing sensations in the body can help immensely with stress relief and coping skills.  

It’s easy to forget to breathe when we are stressed! It’s also easy to build up tension in our bodies from holding stress and difficult emotions. One of the key goals of this group is to help build a stronger connection with our internal sources of power and calm. This is what therapists sometimes call “self-regulation.” It’s about being able to regulate intense emotions and increase our ability to stay centered, especially in tough times. One of the key philosophies is just practicing what we give our attention to. This can be as simple as little connections we make like: “Wow, I’m holding my breath right now,” or “wow, every time I remember that, my stomach hurts.” As we get better at noticing what’s going on in our bodies and bringing our attention to it, the intensity of difficulty often dissipates.  

We welcome you to join the Breath and Movement group! Don’t worry, this is not “yoga” or exercise, and no experience is necessary. We will focus on gentle movements that can be done from a chair if necessary, with all kinds of adaptations built in for all comfort levels.  

The group will meet every Wednesday for six weeks from 10a.m. until 10:50a.m. We will keep the first two weeks open for enrollment. If you miss us this time, you can catch it the next time around. Please call us at 970-563-5700 to reserve your spot!  

Here’s to your good health! 

 

It’s okay not to feel okay 

 

If you or someone you know has been struggling with their emotions, behaviors, or substance use please reach out to us. We can help you find appropriate tools and services that could help you overcome obstacles in your life. We are here for you. Please contact the Southern Ute Behavioral Health Division at 970-563-5700 for more information or to set up an appointment to see a counselor or therapist.  

Reminder: If you need to talk to someone, please reach out. 

And for those interested in opioid use education, harm reduction, and support, please contact us for quick Naloxone (Narcan) training and fentanyl test strips. We can schedule individual, family, or friends training times at our Southern Ute Behavioral Health Building, or we can come to you, and the training is around 30 minutes. Please call us at 970.563.5700 to set up a training appointment.