Social Isolation Supports – Online
Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis is still here to support the community. Services look differently right now, but 24-hour crisis line support is always available and can connect you with a counsellor for one-on-one support over the phone, via email or video counselling. As we continue to adapt our services during isolation we wanted to do our best to provide additional resources that might help. Check back often for new additional resources.
If you are looking for information, activities or resources that you did not find here, or have some great ones to share, please reach out to our Public Educator, Jensen Williams at wiceducator@gwwomenincrisis.org.
Breathing Techniques and Tips for Anxiety
Calm breathing (sometimes called “diaphragmatic breathing”) is a technique that helps you slow down your breathing when feeling stressed or anxious. Newborn babies naturally breathe this way, and singers, wind instrument players, and yoga practitioners use this type of breathing.
Various ways to help with relaxation can help us all during these times. When we feel that things are challenging us and pushing our ability to keep things together for ourselves and our families. Check out this great collection of relaxation strategies and techniques that can only add skills to your everyday survival toolbox. Check back in with G-W Women in Crisis for different ways to keep ourselves well in isolation.
“Have you ever been told to “just relax?” Of course feeling relaxed would be ideal – this is why we come to get help in the first place! But anyone who has felt panic or extreme anxiety knows “just” relaxing is much easier said than done.”
Download Relaxation Skills For Anxiety PDF
Additional Mental Health Resources
Cast this video to the family television and take a little time to chill out together…or find your ear buds, close the bedroom door and find your happy place. “The 4-7-8 breathing technique is a breathing pattern developed by Dr. Andrew Weil. It’s based on an ancient yogic technique called pranayama, which helps practitioners gain control over their breathing.”
Watch 4-7-8 Breathing Exercise Video on YouTube
Calming tools are in your hands as you scroll through social media. Feel free to check out the introduction video under the “Introduction to the Tapping Points” section and see how with just a few words of affirmation and some guided tapping you can make much needed time for you and your feelings.
“You want to be your best, living a life that is filled with peacefulness, joy, and fulfillment, from day to day and moment to moment. With Tapping, you can do that! You can discover the vital secret for emotional wholeness and physical relief. You can take your physical and emotional well-being into your own hands. It’s simple for anyone to master, and it’s completely available to you. While Tapping is set to revolutionize the field of health and wellness, the healing concepts that it’s based upon have been in practice in Eastern medicine for over 5,000 years.”
Journaling and Online Learning
Free Virtual Events and Learning Opportunities
There are so many things going on in our lives. Even if you had it all figured out a few weeks ago, things could look very different today for you today. Journaling is a great way to track how you are feeling, express your thoughts, vent about your worries and even explore your creative side.
Yale’s free online course “The Science of Well Being,” by Yale psychology professor Laurie Santos. Sign up with email.
“The Science of Well Being” highlights research that reveals misconceptions about what makes us happy — and the concrete steps we can take to live a more fulfilling life.
NASA makes their entire media library publicly accessible and copyright free.
Physical Wellness, Nutrition and Online Classes
Check out DB Fitness‘ Online Youtube Channel! DB Fitness hopes to provide you with the knowledge needed to become the happiest and healthiest person you can be. They strive to teach the importance of health and wellness education to the public as they see it as the key to improving the longevity of life. Check out their free video links below that you can try from the comfort of your own home.
Check out ANP Fitness and Nutrition Online Coaching for free nutrition tips and workout videos on Instagram.
View @anpfitnessandnutrition’s Profile
Or connect with Amber directly for additional support and coaching at her website here: ANPFitnessandNutrition.com
- Learn how to be healthy from the inside out.
- Establish healthy habits and routines that allow you to eat and live well
- Support and Accountability provided to help you reach your health and fitness goals.
Stay motivated! Feel good! Celebrate yourself today!
Visit ANPFitnessandNutrition.com
Believe fitness should be accessible to everyone, everywhere, regardless of income level or access to a gym. They offer hundreds of free, full-length workout videos, the most affordable and effective workout programs on the web, meal plans, and helpful health, nutrition and fitness information.
Join instructor Joanne O’Grady to dance it out. Fun, unique and effective Zumba classes for all ages, shapes and sizes! Joanne will make sure you get a great workout to awesome music!
Yoga
Yoga is a great activity to connect within yourself, to help with relaxation, fitness, calming, focus, breathing and mindfulness. Each of the following yoga studios are offering FREE online yoga at various times throughout the day. Please tune into their Instagram pages for the times and details. Find the right type of class for you, each one brings something new and unique!
Modo Yoga Guelph– @modoyogaguelph
Power Yoga Guelph–@pycguelph
Power Yoga Canada– @poweryogacanada
Dr. Kirstie Griffiths– @thechiropracticyogi and a free video when you sign up for her mailing list: click here
Yoga Nomads- @yoga_nomads
YouTube Channel: Cosmic Kids Yoga Yoga For Kids- Cosmic Kids Yoga: Yoga, mindfulness and relaxation designed specially for kids aged 3+, used in schools and homes all over the world. Click Here!
Kids Activities
Online field trips + ideas for keeping kids safe and entertained during isolation.
Keep Children Safe from Online Sexual Exploitation & Abuse During the Pandemic
United States National Parks Virtual Tours
Virtual Road Trip Through the USA + Geography Games
Virtual Museum, Art, Parks and Cultural Sites Tours
Monteray Bay Aquarium Live Cams
Georgia Aquarium Beluga Whale Webcam
US Space & Rocket Center 2018 (Huntsville, Alabama)
Tundra Connections: Experience Polar Bears | Virtual Field Trip
Virtual Field Trip: Bringing SEL to Life
Virtual COVID-19 Friendly Field Trips Around the World