Stress reduction class teaches new techniques to achieve the balance of school, work and social time.
Mary Sandage, clinical supervisor for graduate students in speech language pathology, leads the class.
Her goal is to help students become "mindful."
Mindful eating and breathing, as well as awareness of the body, are techniques she teaches.
"Being mindful is learning to be in the present moment," Sandage said. "Train the mind to pay attention to what is happening now."
Sandage said some of her students who previously suffered from weekly migraines finish the semester without them.
Similarly, students have reported they were able to stop taking blood pressure medicine because of the lessons learned in the class.
Lauren Thomas, junior in communication disorders, already notices the changes in her lifestyle.
"I have become very mindful about life and what is going on right now," Thomas said. "I am learning not to stress about the future, especially schoolwork and tests, but to concentrate on my life day to day."
A typical class period begins with sharing on how the students did on their challenge from the previous week.
Next, they begin the yoga portion, which includes a variety of poses, all while still focusing on breathing.
"This is not your typical athletic yoga; it is an awareness of your physical self," Sandage said. "Mindfulness isn't just going through the motions: it is being there for every millimeter of movement."
Flexibility is not an issue because most positions can be done in alternate ways to accommodate the different abilities of the students.
"I'm not very good at the yoga part, but it isn't difficult," Thomas said.
The class cools down with a series of breathing exercises, usually followed by a passage of reading.
The reading ends with a challenge for the students to watch their reactions for that week and try to understand why they reacted the way they did, be it positive or negative.
"Taking time to think about the situation helps us see what is important and what is not," Sandage said, "or see when it is just a different point of view than ours that makes us react the way we do."
T.R. Amason, senior in social work, has a lot on her plate. She said the class has helped her tackle her busy schedule.
"I think it is awesome," Amason said. "I do school and work full time, and I have learned so many techniques that have helped me to stay focused."
Stress reduction has even helped her eating habits.
"I've learned about mindful eating, which is when, as you eat, you notice the textures and flavors of the food," Amason said. "Thinking about what I was tasting and what I felt in my mouth helped me to feel fuller faster."
Thomas recommends the class to fellow students.
"It is an easy class, and if you fully engage, it can really be helpful," Thomas said.
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