On Wednesday, Jan. 31, the Office of Residence Life hosted the first-ever Meditation and Aromatherapy program. The program was led by Resident Director of the Office of Residence Life Kerry Mallett and Assistant Director of the Office of Academics Danielle Pagliuca. Mallett said that this event was intended to “give students more skills in the beginning of the semester to help them develop strategies to relax and try at home.” Mallett then explained that the essential oils of peppermint and lavender, samples of which were provided to the attendees, help increase concentration and relaxation. The oils can be put into a diffuser or applied to one’s wrists or temples.
Pagliuca, who teaches yoga and has a master’s degree in Health Education, then began to demonstrate breathing exercises to the students present. The simplest breathing exercise is box breathing, which entails inhaling through the nose for four seconds, holding one’s breath for four seconds, and then exhaling through the nose for four seconds. Pagliuca also led 10 minutes of guided meditation, which is supposed to help with thought and self-reflection, reduce stress, and increase focus. According to Pagliuca, the hardest part of meditation is “closing your eyes and letting go of distracting thoughts.” However, meditation doesn’t have to be time-consuming – it can just be shutting your eyes for 10 seconds and focusing on breathing.
The coordinators also explained the newfound popularity of meditation and mindfulness in the workforce. Large companies, such as General Mills, Target, and Intel, all do mindfulness training at their headquarters in order to improve the mental health and decision-making abilities of their employees.
Overall, this Meditation and Aromatherapy program helped ensure that the Office of Residence Life provides students with enjoyable programs that also give them skills to better navigate college and beyond.
Be First to Comment