Meditation Program to Calm Your Mondays

Friday, September 30, 2022

Madeline Wiseman & Annalisa Mazza

Another unique offering through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Campus Recreation Department is meditation. CREC offers six-week beginners meditation programs. These sessions introduce participants to mindfulness meditation. Techniques explored include RAIN, mindfulness, and movement meditation. Sessions are held at CREC, Mondays 6-7 pm, in both the Fall and Spring semesters, and are open to students, faculty, and staff.

Madeline Wiseman, a meditation and yoga instructor at CREC, shares what participants can expect from the program.

Tell me about the meditation offerings at CREC.

The program explores mindfulness, meditation, and mindful movement. The sessions discuss mindfulness, how to practice it, why it helps cultivate focus, and when and where to incorporate it into your day. Techniques include breathwork, body scans, and guided. Also, mindful movement is taught to help build mind-body awareness, focus the mind on the present moment, and build concentration.

What types of meditations will participants practice?

Participants try a variety of meditations, including ones on joy, gratitude, and equanimity. Breathwork, body awareness, and anchoring establish a foundation. From sensory work, practices expand to feelings, emotions, and thoughts. Understanding how the mind works and the habits of the mind help build resilience and lessen reactivity to day-to-day stressors. Other meditations include yoga nidra, forgiveness, RAIN, and lovingkindness or metta.

What sorts of mindfulness and mindful movement experiences does the program offer?

Mindful practices include meditations such as the raisin meditation. Mindful movement includes seated stretches, yoga basics, and walking meditation.

Are strategies explored for adding meditation and mindfulness outside of the meet-ups?

Participants can explore optional weekly homework, formal practices, and informal practices. This includes daily meditations, journaling on insight awareness, and mindfulness practices.

What other techniques are practiced?

Other techniques include learning the practice of anchoring and choosing an anchor. Participants will explore compassion, self-compassion, and guided meditations on appreciation and thankfulness.

Are there recommended materials?

Participants may bring a yoga mat, blanket, notebook, or a device for journaling. Wearing comfortable fitness apparel is encouraged. Additional recommended resources and materials will be discussed at the sessions.

Are there guidelines for participating?

Attend the sessions by arriving ready and prepared. Practice active, mindful listening during discussions. Bring questions and any thoughts or reflections from the optional activities.

Is there a format the sessions follow?

The sessions open with a check-in. Each session includes at least 20-minutes of meditation, including grounding, mindful movement, and guided. Meet-ups will include opportunities for group process, reflection, and discussion, as well as resources on the theme or focus for the session.

For more information on the meditation program or to register, visit the CREC website. 

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