Jacob Waring – Reporter
Meditation Club provides students with the chance of securing their inner peace and learning to navigate the daily grind and stresses of college life.
Denis Zack, adviser to the club said that the benefits of meditation are scientifically proven it helps to activate the part of the brain that is responsible for neurological thinking and calming individuals down.
“I love having a space where students come every week, and learn different types of meditations, and practice it on a regular basis,” said Zack. “They can hopefully incorporate it into their lives outside of these sessions.”
On Nov. 19, the group was guided in a Ho’oponopono meditation, a traditional Hawaiian practice that comes from the word for “correction.” Afterward students meditated silently, either sitting at the table with their eyes closed, laying down on the floor or sitting in the corner with their hat covering their eyes. Soft music played while the lights were dimmed down.
Chris Wilson, a freshman, communication major, said he joined the club a couple months ago, and was recently elected public relations co-officer. He said his passion for meditation started when he was searching for tools for coping with stress. Upon discovering and joining the club, he found that it expanded his understanding of meditation.
“I thought there [were] only a couple of ways of meditating,” Wilson said. “Then I found out there was all these different things such as positive affirmation, guided meditations, silent meditations. The club has exposed me to different meditations.”
Meditation Club’s public relations co-officer Annie Prusak said she liked to meditate with a beanie hat covering her eyes. Prusak, a sophomore, communication disorder major said the club does not have strict rules about how students meditate, and they are open to different methods.
“Some people prefer to sit at the table, some prefer to sit on the ground,” said Prusak. “I like to sit on the ground in the corner, and I had my cap over my eyes because of the light as it’s less distracting for me when I meditate.”
Prusak said it is dependent upon how students feel most comfortable. Some, she said, lay down on the floor to get the most out of their meditation. She said that club members have yet to discuss why they prefer the methods that they do to calm their essence.
“From a week to week basis we generally like to switch it up,” said Prusak. “We have gone outside, where we will meditate outside on yoga mats usually in a circle, usually in silence but with the sounds of the world around you.”
Week to week they either try something new or find new meditation methods that people prefer. Prusak said the goal is to expose everyone to new meditations, and find out what everybody likes the most.
Sarah Zuiewsk, a sophomore, social work major, was recently elected secretary of the club for the spring semester.
She meditates with her eyes open, which she said is an uncommon method.
“For me, it helps me to just gaze at something,” said Zuiewsk. “That’s just my process, because closing my eyes kind of freaks me out.”
Zuiewsk said she prefers guided meditations because she is a more structural person. She said it helps her to lay down flat on the floor or a table.
Meditating on Mondays, she said, sets the tone for the rest of the week. Zuiewsk said she appreciates the club, because they make her feel like she belongs.
Photo Credit: Palmer Piana
