To the midterm warriors who stayed up late and studied long hours in a caffeine-induced state with stress levels skyrocketing: help was available.
The Meditation Club at UT can turn tension into relaxation.
A new organization, the Meditation Club aims to help students deal with the stress of college life. The club began last year but took a blow when one of the faculty advisors resigned. Rebirth came when Danielle Pickle, graduate student in social work, asked David Patterson, professor in the College of Social Work, to be the new faculty advisor.
Vidya Anderson, the club’s co-founding faculty advisor, said students interested in meditation encouraged her to start the club.
“There were students interested in meditation and how to do it,” she said. “We wanted to offer a place for students to learn and to support their practice of meditation.”
Founders said one of the club’s main focuses is helping students handle stress through practicing and developing meditation skills.
“Meditation is a natural way to manage stress and to help students become more centered before exams,” Anderson said. “Students who meditate have a tool that they can use to help them relax, anytime, any place. Students who have become members have benefited immensely.”
Each meeting starts with a brief introduction of new and old faces, followed by 20 minutes of meditation.
Pickle speaks from personal experience on how the club has taught her to relax more.
“(I) relax on a level I never thought possible. As a single mother of two sons and a graduate student, I need all the serenity I can find. Meditation gives me just that,” Pickle said. “When I slack off, I can feel a huge difference in my stress level.”
As the semester progresses, the group plans to incorporate different forms of meditation. The club also plans to encourage students who feel uneasy about the practice to join as a way to enhance relaxation.
Pickle said the club’s welcoming environment will put newcomers at ease while teaching them the power of meditation.
While still in early stages of development, the club is building membership, and newcomers are always welcome.
Currently the club meets Mondays in the University Center Room 209 at 2 p.m. For more information, e-mail Danielle Pickle at [email protected].
