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"Music
Mellows ." Heart-Healthy
Living Winter 2007
“The primary health benefits of music come from its mood-boosting
effects,” says Kelly McGonigal, PhD, a health psychologist and
educator at Stanford University who teaches people how to use music to
improve their health. “A positive mood triggers a wide range of
physiological responses: lowered heart rate and blood pressure, improved
immune response, and reduced experience of pain,” she says.
"Benefits
of Membership ." Women's Health December 2007
It's
always good to go after your own goals -- but sometimes it pays to tap
the power of the sweaty masses. "Being around people with a similar
goal amplifies your enthusiasm," says Kelly McGonigal, PhD, a
health psychologist and fitness instructor at Stanford University.
"You want to keep up with the group. And the dedication, strength,
and stamina you need to get through a workout are reinforced because
your co-exercisers assume you have them. Subconsciously you feed off
that."
"Gym-goers
and Clubs Realize the Rewards of Fitness Friendships."
MSNBC.com
Kelly
McGonigal, a psychologist at Stanford University who teaches yoga and
group fitness, wrote an article earlier this year in the IDEA
Fitness Journal, a trade publication, urging fitness
instructors to promote social connections with their clients. She says
the benefits of fitness friendships are many. "Social connection
amplifies the health benefits of exercise," she says. "It
strengthens the immune system, protects the cardiovascular system,
improves mood and makes you more resilient to stress. Social connection
boosts motivation to work out and makes the experience more fun."
"Health
& Wellness: Relax and Renew Yourself." Martha Stewart
Weddings Fall 2007
Perhaps
you can't avoid frayed nerves when you're planning a wedding, but you
can use mind-body techniques such as yoga or meditation to keep from
being overwhelmed. Try these examples from Kelly McGonigal, a yoga
instructor and health psychologist at Stanford University....
"Chief
Exercise Officer." Women's Health October 2007
Women
were five times more apt than then men to come up with their best ideas
while sweating. "Women may be more likely to experience this
creative boost if men are treating exercise as a competition, with
themselves or others," says Kelly McGonigal, PhD. How to switch on
that inner light bulb? Vary your routine to keep your mind sharp, and
crank up your iPOD -- it'll boost your mood and limit distractions.
"The
Comedy Cure." Reader's Digest September
2007
A
little lightheartedness can lead to a more positive approach in everyday
situations, says Kelly McGonigal, PhD, a Stanford University
psychologist. She teaches guided laughter, a group technique in which
you prep your body for the physical work of laughter to reap the
benefits: joy and social interaction. "All the efforts we put into
reducing stress we ought to put into laughing," says McGonigal.
"Handling
Criticism." Current Health (a magazine for teens) Fall 2007
“Constructive
criticism helps someone to change a behavior or improve performance,”
says Kelly McGonigal, a psychologist at Stanford University
in California. Destructive criticism, on the other hand, is hurtful and
is sometimes used to make the criticizer feel better about himself or
herself, she adds. If you think the criticism is valid and
believe the person’s intention is sincere, ask specific and
non-defensive questions like, “How do you think I should handle it
next time?”McGonigal suggests. Then work on the behavior.
"Between
Poses." The New York Times August 23, 2007
The
question is: What responsibility does a studio or a teacher have if one
student is making another uncomfortable? Some instructors like Kelly
McGonigal, 29, who teaches at Stanford University and at the Avalon Art
and Yoga Center in Palo Alto, Calif., take matters into their own hands.
The
Washington Post. July
24, 2007. Live online discussion (60
minutes) with psychologist Kelly McGonigal. Topic: Stress, Debt, and
Health. Full
transcript available.
"In
Over Your Head? Ask Your Body." The Washington Post
July 24 2007
Kelly
McGonigal, a psychologist at Stanford University who studies stress,
called debt a "toxic version" of stress, the kind that
"feels uncontrollable, is chronic in time, [and] is the most
difficult kind of stress." Constant worrying over debt causes a
"lingering feeling that something bad is going to happen to you, so
you're having this brain-body experience of stress all the time. It can
lead to catastrophizing" -- worsening a situation by imagining bad
outcomes -- she said.
"Suburban
Dwellers May Feel Immune to Violent Crime." Baltimore Examiner
June 7 2007
Kelly
McGonigal, a psychologist at Stanford University in California, said
people who live in the suburbs feel most threatened after they hear
about violent crimes. “The people who experience the greatest stress
and fear from reports of crime actually have the lowest risk for it.”
"Forgive
Yourself."Yoga Journal
December
2006
“Guilt
and shame are destructive emotions," says Kelly McGonigal, who
teaches yoga and is a research psychologist at Stanford University.
"They may consume us, but they don’t do any good for the
suffering of the other person.” Then why
do we get so attached to these negative, destructive feelings?
"Much of our identity is tied up in narratives about our
past," McGonigal says, adding, "'We cling to emotional
experiences that are familiar to us."
"Online
Yogis." November 2006 issue of Yoga
Journal's My
Yoga Mentor
"Search
and Rescue: Finding the Right Self-Help Book."
Natural Health October 2006
For
some, the right book can serve as therapist and cheerleader. For others,
the search for the perfect book becomes a way to avoid action and
personal growth, says Kelly McGonigal, PhD, psychologist at Stanford
University. "Some books are so comforting that reading them becomes
a substitute for thinking about what needs changing," she explains.
"An
Attitude of Gratitude." Yoga
Life
Summer 2006
Dr.
McGonigal believes that it’s really through this cultivation of
connection to others that we create thankfulness. As she puts it, “You
sort of sneak up on the experience of gratitude.” All methods for
gratitude practice are designed to remind you that you are not alone,
and “they” are not out to get you. Says Dr. McGonigal, “Gratitude
is essentially that deep knowing that we are dependent on others and
finding comfort, not anxiety, in this.”
"Yoga
Therapy." Pacific Sun Magazine May 2006
"In
my own experience as a yoga teacher and psychologist, I see the greatest
impact on emotional suffering. Many of my own students are dealing with
depression, anxiety, and body-image issues. When yoWaga is helpful for
psychological issues, it seems to be because the practice of yoga
interrupts patterns of both the body and mind. We’re challenged to
experience our bodies in a different way – as strong, as powerful, as
able to feel pleasure and ease - and to pay attention to what is
actually happening in the moment, instead of letting our minds run off
on typical patterns of self-criticism or worry."
Yoga
Peeps:
60-minute audio interview with Kelly McGonigal, February 2006
"Already
Stressed?" The
Stanford Daily, January 13 2005
McGonigal
believes that the key to reducing stress is a matter of changing one’s
perception of life. “Keep in mind the big picture — your goals,
dreams and values, and how your actions now relate to them,” she said.
“Keep your focus on the things that matter most to you.”
She
also warned students not to sacrifice their current health and sanity to
worry about a hypothetical future. “The best way to prepare to be
happy in the future,” McGonigal said, “is to practice being happy
now.”
"Boost
Brain Power with Balance Training." Your Health Monthly
Balance
training “forces the nervous system to solve new problems,” says
Kelly McGonigal, PhD, a health educator at Stanford University. “In
‘use it or lose it’ fashion, this process (neuromuscular
facilitation) keeps neurons in the brain healthy and forming new
connections
"How
to Create a Home Yoga Practice." Every Woman Magazine
Tips
for personalizing your yoga practice and sticking with it.
To
request an interview, contact me by email (kmcg @ psych "dot"
stanford "dot" edu).
The
Association for Psychological Science (APS) has increased its commitment
to communciating the findings and applications of psychology research in
the popular media. For more information about how researchers and
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