Step away from the stress, for free

By Maggie Roth, Class of 2015

As final exams approach, and the fall semester comes to a close, everyone's consumed by late-night study sessions at the library, energy drinks for breakfast, and on-edge attitudes because of lack of sleep - all in the name of stress.

The end of semester stress is just a rite of passage for most college students, but what if it didn't have to be?

Last year, University Health Center Health Educator Veronica Jones, and MAD4U Student Involvement and Activities Coordinator Shari Scofield created a program to help combat student stress. The daylong retreat, Mindful Experience, was created to help teach students the importance of self-care and discovery through sessions of yoga, meditation, and mindfulness.

Besides using the retreat as an opportunity to spark curiosity about mindfulness practices, Scofield said that the intent was to teach students, "how to step back and take a pause. In a society that values multi-tasking, it's important to learn about yourself and gain perspective."

The event accomplished that and more, as it was awarded the Student Affairs and University Planning (SAUP) Program of the Year. The University Health Center and Student Activities and Involvement Office are organizing it again this semester.

On Saturday, December 6, the Mindful Experience will be back and better than ever. It will begin at 12:30pm in Festival, and end at 4:45 that afternoon. The retreat will offer 8 different sessions, open to all skill-levels. Each session will offer students an opportunity to work with different facilitators and learn about different practices.

Jones, a registered yoga teacher, stressed the importance of making the retreat a personal experience.

"It's about finding your own mindfulness, learning what you like and dislike, and not getting discouraged if something doesn't resonate right away. Every new thing takes time."

The four-hour experience is not only designed to open students to the world of mindfulness practices, but to help increase focus, stay calm, and manage stress during a time that seems unmanageable.

The best part? The Mindful Experience is entirely free.