Mindfulness training helps kids sleep better, Stanford Medicine study finds

Good News Notes: “At-risk children gained more than an hour of sleep per night after participating in a mindfulness curriculum at their elementary schools, a study from the Stanford University School of Medicine found. The research was published online July 6 in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. The study is the first to use polysomnography techniques, which…

Petting therapy dogs enhances thinking skills of stressed college students

Good News Notes: “Programs exclusively focused on petting therapy dogs improved stressed-out students’ thinking and planning skills more effectively than programs that included traditional stress-management information, according to new Washington State University research. The study was published today in the journal AERA Open, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Educational Research Association. The paper demonstrated that…

CLC students relax with therapy dog visit

Good News Notes: “Students at Central Lakes College reacted in exactly that way Monday, March 2, when they caught sight of Chance, Goldie and Jet, three therapy dogs sent to make the day a little less stressful. All three dogs and their owners are certified through Alliance of Therapy Dogs in Baxter. CLC counselor Suzie…

Therapy Dogs Help Those on the Mend at Hampton VA Medical Center

Good News Notes: “‘On the weekends, things are quiet,’ said Brown, a 36-year-old Army veteran. ‘For myself, I don’t deal with silence too well. Depression kicks in. Anxiety.’ Enter rottweilers CoHo and Bella, who make weekend visits to the hospital’s domiciliary, where Brown and others are temporarily staying. These trained therapists boost sagging spirits with…

Homeless people find friends, ease stress in tai chi class

Good News Notes: “On a quiet morning outside a library in Salt Lake City, about 70 people are kicking and slicing at the air as they practice the ancient martial art of tai chi.” “This isn’t a well-trained class of health enthusiasts wearing new tennis shoes and expensive leggings. Many participants are homeless.” “This isn’t…