Students explore mindfulness, meditation to combat college stressors

CAITLIN MULQUEEN Staff Writer

College is a unique time where one must balance academics, work, extracurriculars and everything in between. The fast-paced nature of college life is enough to make anyone feel overwhelmed, and many college students have reported struggling with burn out, depression and anxiety. One way some Vols have tried to combat this has been by turning to the methods of mindfulness and meditation – cultivating a more relaxed, focused life.

Meditation and exercising mindfulness is largely rooted in South and East Asian religions that have been in practice for several thousands of years. However, this way of living has steadily grown in popularity across the world and throughout all demographics, including having its impact on the student population at the University of Tennessee.

From mindfulness sessions held at the TREC, to course study on its history and the Meditation and Mindfulness Club for students, Rocky Top is feeling the good vibrations, following the uptick in meditative habits – striving to not just clear one’s head but to understand what is going on within it.

Megan Bryson, associate professor and as- sociate head in religious studies, regularly teaches a course called “Mindfulness.” Professors Andria Yates in psychology and David Patterson (now emeritus) in social work have also offered courses that deal with mindfulness.

Bryson’s course explores the history of mindfulness in Buddhist meditation practices and its gradual transformation from the 19th to 21st centuries as Buddhism spread throughout the world.

“We consider different facets of mindfulness in the United States, including medicalization, commodification, corporatization and political engagement,” Bryson said.

The class also gives students the opportunity and freedom to deeply explore specific mindfulness traditions and different forms of secular and religious practices — a sentiment that is unique to her particular focus in religious studies. Bryson has seen first hand the way mindfulness has been able to relate to her students’ lives and careers.

“One student, who is now in physical therapy school, developed a program for incorporating mindfulness into physical therapy,” Bryson said. “Another student developed a mindfulness-based art curriculum for elementary school students. Other students completed three-week mindfulness programs to decide if it was something they wanted to continue.”