Sydney Stam
(Graphic by Sydney Stam | The Daily Utah Chronicle)
The University Guidance Center has dedicated resources and staff to provide therapy and other services to students. One source is the Mindfulness Center which has added new mindfulness classes for students to use.
On its website, the Mindfulness Center describes the practice as “paying attention to what is going on in every moment of your life. Basically, mindfulness gives us the ability to wake up to our life and stop the automatic lifestyle, which disconnects us from our body, mind, and relationships.
Classes are varied in subject matter, but include sessions for depression and anxiety. They are open to graduate, undergraduate, first generation, neurodiverse and BIPOC students.
One class that is offered is mindfulness sessions, which take place throughout the week to provide a break for students.
“We thought it would be helpful for the students to have a quiet space where they could spend a few minutes, engage in a mindfulness practice that will help them anchor them, maybe help them to cope better with stress or take a break from daily business, ”said licensed psychologist Luana Nan.
These mindfulness classes are taught by a rotating group of UCC counselors and interns, and use skills to manage stress and slow the mind.
Nan said these classes are open to any student who needs them.
“I would recommend anyone interested in learning, especially practicing certain skills that can help them deal with stress better and be more fully present in what they are doing,” Nan said.
Students virtually attend sessions by joining a Zoom meeting. These sessions are free for students and can be taken as many times as needed.
Angela Pham, an intern at UCC, said classes had previously seen low attendance, due to reservations about group mindfulness practice.
“If you’re nervous about it, then that makes sense, ”Pham said. “I think something the students don’t know is that they’re on Zoom, so they’re pretty accessible and you can turn your camera off – you’re like completely private.”
Pham also said that UCC makes every effort to ensure the security and privacy of these sessions.
“We’re doing this on HIPAA compliant zooms, so it’s like an opportunity for you to take a break,” Pham said. “You can just do the meditation, take some of your day running around campus and have fun. “
According to Nan, there are several academic advantages to practicing mindfulness, such as significantly improving academic performance.
“It contributes to better concentration, greater efficiency in studying, reading and comprehension,” Nan said.
Classes are offered four days a week, Mondays and Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m. MDT, and Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:00 p.m. MDT. Classes take place every week, excluding school holidays and public holidays.
Pham said the sessions have helped her stay grounded even when things get stressful.
“I can just sit back and guide other people in a relaxing meditation, ”Pham said. “In a way, it’s like meditating myself, so being able to take that break and take that break from your day to take care of yourself is really important.”
The Mindfulness Center is located inside the Student Services Building, Room 344. They can also be viewed online.
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