The choices we make when it comes to eating, sleeping and coping with stress and conflict can have profound effects on our overall physical and mental health, as well as our performance in school, work and personal life.

In light of this, College of the Canyons will host the “Body-Mind-Wellness Healthy Lifestyle Resource Fair” in March as the kickoff event of a two-month long series of events focused on healthy lifestyle topics.

“Time is the most common reason people give for not taking better care of themselves,” said COC Sports and Wellness Dietitian, Sheri Barke. “So this year’s series of events focuses on the theme of making time. After all, if you don’t make time for your health now, you will have to make time for disease later.”

The resource fair will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 5 in the COC Honor Grove, located on the college’s Valencia campus. The event is open to the public and will include a DJ, free food and resource tables hosted by more than 20 campus groups and local businesses.

The resource fair will also kick off a series of weekly seminars and events by guest speakers who will address topics including healthy eating, sexuality, physical activity, sleep and stress management.

“We are especially excited to have Bob Hall as one of our speakers,” said Barke. “His presentation on nonviolent sexuality is powerful and eye-opening. It is not to be missed.”

Hall is the founder of Learning To Live With Conflict, Inc., a company he established in 1987 to provide education and training in the analysis and resolution of conflict. A three-time nominee for the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) Lecturer of the Year, Hall has presented “Nonviolent Sexuality: Making Peace with Passion!” at more than 1000 college campuses across the nation.

A full list of event dates/times is listed below:

* Time for Stress Management

Marilyn Oifer (Certified Meditation Instructor)

2:00-3:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 5

Mentry Hall, Room 343

* Time for Sleep

Health educators Sheri Barke and Rhonda Hyatt (Health educators)

2:00-3:00 p.m. Thursday, March 13

Mentry Hall, Room 343

* Time for Cooking/Eating

Sheri Barke and McKenzie Hall (Registered dietitians)

1:00-2:00 p.m. Thursday, March 20

Aliso Hall, Room 101

* Time for Nonviolent Sexuality

Bob Hall (Nationally-recognized campus speaker)

3:30-5:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 2

Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center (PAC)

* Time for Physical Activity Body-Mind-Wellness Walk (Valencia)

11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m., 12:00-1:00 p.m., 12:30-1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 17

Meet at Honor Grove for a guided educational walk around campus

* Time for Physical Activity Body-Mind-Wellness Walk (Canyon Country)

11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m., 12:00-1:00 p.m., 12:30-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 23

Meet at the campus’ Amphitheater for a guided educational walk around campus

All events are free and open to the public.

These events are made possible with grant funding provided by the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) and the voter-approved Mental Health Act (Prop 63).

For more information about the Body-Mind-Wellness Healthy Lifestyle Resource Fair or the upcoming lecture series, please visit www.canyons.edu/bmw or contact Sheri Barke at (661) 362-3244.