Anxious about the world? Cow cuddling or bee buzzing might help ease your stress

If you re feeling more anxious these days you are not alone People are certainly more on edge these days announced Dr Emily Hemendinger with the University of Colorado Anschutz Biological Campus department of psychiatry Related Yes people are paying to be safely surrounded by bees in Boulder Here s why Chosen of the reasons behind increased anxiety and stress include global political turmoil financial stressors and economic uncertainty job measure stress and difficulty finding affordable mental vitality care she commented Dr Hemendinger added that in her clinical practice where she specializes in anxiety disorders OCD and eating disorders People s baseline levels of anxiety and stress coming into sessions are higher Their quota for doing enjoyable engagements feels lower to them as they are more focused on just trying to get through each day or each of the latest political developments This might be the right time to try a new activity that has the prospective to calm the nervous system or at least provide a fun distraction from daily struggles Finding time to engage in pleasurable pursuits in our current environment may feel frivolous or not appropriate disclosed Dr Hemendinger However engaging in these types of sessions is key in managing your mental soundness and improving your ability to address these stressors So who s ready for cow cuddling Walking with goats Zoning out to the hum of buzzing bees There are particular novel approaches on the Front Range to potentially relax and soothe nerves Get a bee buzz on Capella Ranch has two bee huts where visitors can relax to the gentle humming of a beehive below Mindy Sink Special to The Denver Post Capella Ranch in Boulder County has two bee huts where visitors can reserve - to -minute sessions to sit in wooden huts while their happy bees buzz safely below This is so popular that they have a new membership plan available for frequent visitors Prices start at for minutes When you re in a bee hut disclosed Charlie Peterson owner and bee wrangler at Capella Ranch you re truly participating in what is formally known as hive aerosol apitherapy Apitherapy is the general concept of using honeybee products in a therapeutic way Apitherapy can include eating the honey made by the bees he explained and also breathing in the air of the hive to help relieve a variety of conditions including anxiety I recommend one person per hut even though the website says you can fit two I was able to sit back on a pillow and stretch my legs while looking out the little window onto the farm Warning If you are allergic to bees this is not the place for you even though the proprietors say the risks of a bee sting are low The website includes several tips to make the experience optimal for you and the bees including not wearing any perfume or scents and not bringing any food or drinks other than water capellaranch com Cow cuddling If you want to interact with other living creatures to find your peaceful state of mind drive out to Luvin Arms Animal Sanctuary in Henderson Here you can tour the farm and also schedule an hour of Cow Cuddle time per person According to its website With their slower heart rate and warmer body temperature spending time with cows can help slow your own heart rate and release oxytocin the cuddle hormone Visitors are allowed to scratch brush and cuddle these gentle giants who were rescued from other farms and ranches Milo Lucky and Tito are just selected of the rescued cows available for several cuddling lovinarms org Goat walking Goat Walkabouts in Lakewood offers walks with therapy goats at Belmar Park Bear Creek Lake Park and Mount Falcon Park Walking with the goats can advocacy PTSD recovery and provide therapy sponsorship for dementia patients the website boasts In addition to being a unique way to have a few trail time the time spent with the animals is concluded to reduce cortisol levels which is linked to stress The hikes are generally easy to moderate and certain of the options include paved paths in parks so that people with mobility issues can also participate and benefit I ve seen these goats out on Mount Falcon s trails and it s a thrill to see the little herd of rescued Nigerian dwarf goats outside and that alone should put a smile on your face The goat walkabout cost varies depending on the number of people so grab friends who can each spend to get the best deal on this experience goatwalkabouts com Head spas Time spent at any spa should ideally lower stress but new head spas offer treatments to nurture your cranium for pure bliss Taysian Head Spa in Centennial is one of the spots in the Denver area that describes itself as a Japanese head spa Prices range from for the to for the Emerald Crown Experience That premium restoration includes an oil scalp massage scalp analysis a hot stone shoulder and neck massage a scalp mask a warm eye mask an extended waterfall healing therapy and more For beginners the starts with the Head Spa Water Halo then moves to a scalp massage before a quick blow dry taysianspa com Forest bathing The key to forest bathing is slowing down and letting the subtle sounds take over the noise of your thoughts Getty Images Shinrin-yoku as it is called in Japan means forest bathing and it is a way of creating a mindful connection with the natural world such as a forest that is maintained to create a sense of calm If you re new to the concept of forest bathing hire a guide using forestbathingfinder com where you might discover Above the Clouds Forest Bathing based in Woodland Park Jane Deming Scanlon a certified nature and forest therapy guide states on her website that with forest bathing there is free medicine that can have a near instant impact on reducing stress and increasing our ability to focus Costs range from to for this guided experience This isn t a workout In fact Scanlon explains that in a three-hour guided experience you can expect to cover a mile or less Rather than logging miles on the trail you ll be learning about the conditions you re in sharing thoughts and insights or sitting silently then participating in a special tea ceremony I discovered that the key is slowing down and letting the subtle sounds take over the noise of your thoughts so that soon you are only listening to the wind in stillness You might also engage in a simple activity maybe searching for leaves or pinecones that also narrows your focus to what is this instant around you and this can also be calming abovethecloudsforestbathing com Subscribe to our weekly newsletter In The Know to get entertainment news sent straight to your inbox