Recess: Stress Relief Retreat
Stress affects everyone, but excessive and long-term stress can eventually become harmful – both physically and mentally. In order to help combat the pressures of everyday life, we invited members and guests to take a break from the hustle and bustle and join our Recess host, Liz Cates, in a guided meditation and yoga practice centered around how to relieve stress and be more present in the moment.
Aptly titled Stress Relief Retreat, an intimate gathering of people from Midtown, Centergy One, the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC), Georgia Tech, and Technology Enterprise Park (TEP) joined our Recess activation, an interactive community gathering centered around wellness, health, and fitness, last Thursday evening at The Clubhouse to help let out some tension and gain some new perspective.
Prior to the start of the interactive session, which included a focused breathing exercise, guided meditation, and Yin yoga practice, participants were asked to rank their current level of stress on a scale of one to 10, with one being “not stressed” to 10 being “very stressed.”
Following the activation, attendees were once again asked to report their current stress level (and one new thing they learned!), with the idea being that these activities helped decrease their stress. And the data did not disappoint. Six out of the seven participants reported decreased levels of stress, with the one outlier experiencing no change – but their stress level was only a “one” to begin with (must be nice, right?)!
Our gracious host, Liz Cates, wasn’t surprised by this either. “Guided meditation and breathwork help you to focus on the present moment, ultimately calming the nervous system and helping to let go of anxiety and stress brought on by worries about the past and future.”
After the much-deserved mental and physical health break, everyone hung around the 9,000 square foot facility to enjoy cucumber water and fresh watermelon and to connect with new people. Not only did attendees reveal that they learned new breathing techniques and poses, but new bonds were formed over shared interests such as painting, photography, and exercise as well. The group also requested for more activations like this in the future – so be sure to check out our upcoming events and subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date with the latest happenings at Tech Square ATL (TSQATL) Social Club.
How do you relieve stress? Let us know in the comments below!
ABOUT THE HOST
Liz Cates is a professional child care provider with a background in music education (and collegiate flutist), as well as an avid gardener. She is a certified 200-hour yoga instructor as well and loves to bring that same nurturing attention, care, and creativity onto the mat.
As a teacher, Liz's goal is to help students find a release from the daily grind and make time for themselves to turn inward. One of the best parts about yoga is connecting breath to movement, which helps tune out the chatter of the mind and focus on being present and in the moment from pose to pose.