The Wellness Center’s Project for Mindfulness and Contemplation is giving students, staff and faculty a chance to take a break from their stress by offering meditative sessions each week throughout the semester.
The project started last semester with a mission to “create a safe space for supporting and educating the (St. Thomas) community in meditative and contemplative practices,” according to its website. Birdie Cunningham, interim director of the Wellness Center and co-director of the project, said the ultimate goal of the program is to create a mindful university.
“It’s integrated into the lives of our students, staff and faculty in our curriculum,” Cunningham said. “So really wanting to bring the resource to staff, faculty and students on meditation and contemplation resources. Really wanting to have this woven within the university community on campus.”
Cunningham said participating in meditation helps lower students’ stress levels. During spring 2014, the psychology department measured students’ cortisol levels, an indicator of stress, before and after meditation as a way of testing the Wellness Center’s meditation sessions. Cunningham said the study found that every student who participated had lower cortisol levels after the meditation exercise.
“It will help students lower their stress,” Cunningham said. “We know from the health survey students are really stressed out, so this is a nice program to offer.”
Senior Carley Jorgensen, who participated in a meditation exercise for the first time Feb. 10, said the experience will help her manage the stress in her life.
“It’ll calm your mind down,” Jorgensen said. “Makes stressful situations like tests and whatnot easier to deal with.”
Senior Mitchell Snyder, a frequent participant in the mediation sessions, said the time allows him to stay centered.
“This is really nice to just check out, but it’s different than a nap too. You’re actually consciously centering yourself,” Snyder said. “After not doing this for a while, my thoughts are everywhere.”
The techniques used during mediation, Cunningham said, can extend beyond the meditation session to everyday life as well.
“The skill and things that you learn, how to become more in tune with your breath and body and how to live in the present moment, can be applicable to outside of the meditation room as well,” she said.
After participating in a session, senior Ben Adamich said he was more prepared for the other responsibilities of the day.
“I feel a lot more centered right now and ready for the rest of the day,” Adamich said. “It’s a good way to focus yourself on something inside instead of all the external things going on around you.”
St. Thomas community members can relax through meditation sessions, special programming, retreats and personal coaching through the Wellness Center. Meditation sessions are held every Tuesday and Thursday during convocation hour in the Wellness Center in the Murray-Herrick Campus Center and Thursday at 5:15 p.m. in the O’Shaughnessy Educational Center Room 209. The different meditation sessions include mindfulness meditation, centering prayer and mindful movement.
Rebecca Mariscal can be reached at mari2162@stthomas.edu.