Finals are coming up and Moorpark College is offering mindfulness training to help relieve stress.

This past November, Moorpark’s Health Center has coordinated a three-part event to help promote physical and mental wellness in order to teach students how to manage stress before finals kicks in.

Allison Barton, a health educator, has held a series of presentations including Tai Chi, yoga and seminars throughout the month of November.

“Mindfulness reduces stress because it allows [the student] to focus on one thing,” said Barton. “When people practice mindfulness, they can also reduce stress that way.”

Each mindfulness training session spans an hour long on Mondays at 1 p.m. and Tuesdays at 4 p.m. in Fountain Hall 112A.

Twenty-nine-year-old automotive engineer major, Hamza Saleh said mindfulness training has allowed him to handle his stress levels more effectively, and plans on continuing the program.

He notes that a specific exercise titled The Box where students are encouraged to put all of their problems, worries and stress in an imaginary box, and then take time for themselves.

“When I came in here I had a million things on my list, but I was effectively able to put those things in that box and not think about them,” Saleh said.

Barton hopes that students will take the tips they have learned through mindfulness training to help improve their concentration, memory, focus and performance in school, especially with finals nearing.

“I think that some particular course are very difficult and they don’t realize all of the resources they have available for them here at school,” said Barton.

Along with free mindfulness training, Moorpark’s Health Center, located at the Administration Building in room A-111 offers help in managing stress or any health related issues.