Campus meditation options aim to relieve student stress

As students try to become comfortable in their classes, get to know their peers, and to cope with the pressures of bill paying, apartment or dorm living, time management, and academics, some sort of release from stress is necessary.

Wilkes University's answer to the challenge of stress is meditation.

Not many students or faculty members know that the campus offers two forms of meditation. Last spring, the labyrinth circle located behind Evans and Conyngham Halls was finished to encourage Wilkes community members to walk and simultaneously unwind. The other alternative is a weekly meditation class led by two faculty members, Philosophy professor Dr. Linda Paul and English professor Mischelle Anthony. The meditation sessions take place every Wednesday at 5 p.m. on the first floor of Kirby.

But what exactly is meditation and why do people do it? According to WebMD.com, "Meditation is the practice of focusing your attention to help you feel calm and give you a clear awareness about your life."

Meditation can also alleviate an ample range of mental and physical problems. Paul explained that meditation can aid an individual by "reducing the stress response in the body, lowering blood pressure, and many more, including changing the structure of the brain if one practices long enough."

Both Paul and Anthony are long-time practitioners of meditation. While there are numerous methods of meditation, Anthony and Paul teach mindful meditation.

"Mindfulness is a non-religious meditation that focuses on the breath and makes you aware of what is in front of you," said Anthony. She continued to explain that this type of meditation is very relaxing and releases stress.

The meditation session is held on the first floor of Kirby Hall. Each session draws about 16 people who sit in two rows that are 10 seats long. They sit back to back so participants don' t feel as though other people are watching them.

For 25 minutes, in silence, students and faculty sit focused on their breath.

"In and out," Anthony repeated every so often so that participants would not lose their focus.

The goal of staying focused on your breath is to make you feel as though you have control over your life and to feel at peace with yourself. Once the time is up, you should feel refreshed and level headed.

Freshman Carolyn Ryan attended the session and enjoys the relaxing feeling meditation brings with it. "Meditation is something new [for me] that expands the mind and relieves stress," she said.

Ryan also finds the people who attend the sessions to be very welcoming. She encouraged anyone interested in meditation to try it out.

The labyrinth, which is the circle of stones in the green way on the north side of Breiseth Hall, serves as a center for meditation.

On September 22, 2008, Wilkes University held a fall equinox labyrinth walk that celebrated the fall equinox and focused on peace in the world. The walk also brought attention to labyrinth for meditation.

Patty Gilmour, who arranged the walk explained, "The winding towards the center and out again [of the labyrinth] is an aid to meditation and losing oneself in walking the winding path with no agenda is quieting and brings a sense of peace."

The labyrinth is available at all times for students or faculty.