Twitter
Facebook
Reddit
Digg
Tell us what you think!Send a letter to the editor about this or any other article in The Maine Campus.
Take a deep breath and relax, because life can get pretty stressful from day to day. With the first round of prelims coming up and extracurricular activities bogging down study time, it’s no wonder that going insane seems like a viable option. There is hope though, and it can be found in the Drummond Chapel of the Memorial Union every Tuesday.
The Counseling Center provides students the opportunity to relax and put a perspective on a stressful week with a weekly Relaxation and Meditation Series.
These mediation services are offered free of charge and attempts to give students a hands-on activity to reduce stress. Led by Isabelle Bosclaire and occasionally Jay Coughlin, each student is greeted with an open mind.
“Mediation is a great skill to have any time, even when your stressed … you can learn to control your body and simply withdraw from your worries for a short while to get a hold on things,” said Coughlin.
With a growing focus on Eastern cultures and religions, it is no wonder that UMaine is beginning to offer their students a way to learn and relax in a tranquil and safe environment.
This meditation series runs the spectrum, offering each student their own unique and personal experience. Their diversity of studied themes always brings students back for more.
Interesting techniques are explored every week. They have included learning how to control one’s breathing, guided imagery, self-hypnosis and progressive muscle tension and relaxation.
“I think I can really use it … it’s something that could be really useful in any situation, let alone college,” said electrical engineering major Nick Pike.
“Really anyone can do this … It’s amazing to see such extreme cases such as Tibetan monks that can control their heart rate to the point that it beats four times per second,” said Coughlin.
People can go as often or as little as they like-it can be a treat during the week or something that is done religiously. How else could a student be offered gentle exercises through imagination, breathing and relaxation?
The services are offered every Tuesday from 4 to 5 p.m. in Drummond Chapel located on the third floor of the Memorial Union.
