With the help of clubs and organizations at Colorado State University-Pueblo, events will be created to help students stay stress-free and relaxed in preparation for finals for the fall semester.
Along with events, the Library and Academic Resources Center will be extending its hours during the week of finals and will be open from 7 a.m. to midnight Dec. 7-10 and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 11.
One of the events that will be held is the Midday Meditation and Yoga for Stress Relief and Empowerment led by graduate student Meral Sarper and put on with other members of the LEAF club. These events will be located in the Underground basement of the Occhiato University Center, Dec. 9 at 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. This will be the first year the event is being held.
“It is deeper than just relaxing and then jumping back into the stress. It is unlocking a tool, a constant state of inner-reflection that can make all goals more possible and life more seamless. Most importantly more happy, fulfilled and coming from the heart,” Sarper said.
Sarper’s advice to students who are stressing or overthinking about and during finals is that when feeling overwhelmed or that there is not enough time to do things, that is the precise moment students need to take a moment or two for themselves.
“We too often push ourselves too hard to the point of physical exhaustion due to social and educational pressures. When you feel stressed, write down the top three to five things that are stressing you out on paper or electronically. Then take three to 20 minutes to meditate. There is time if you make it. You can use Omvana and Insight Timer apps or Youtube for many guided meditations,” Sarper said.
Sarper also advises students to breathe fully in and out. She suggests that after meditating, students should write down the three things they can do to positively move forward and transform the stress energy into powerful energy.
More information regarding to the Midday Meditation and Yoga for Stress Relief and Empowerment can be found by emailing Sarper at m.sarper@pack.csupueblo.edu.