Meditation on Mondays reduces Stress

Every Monday Azra Khan from student support services at Stratford University leads a meditation class in the Jefferson room on the fifth floor from 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm. Students from every faculty as well as teachers participate in the meditation session. Now there are around ten students as well as faculty members in this session.

The definition of meditation is a practice of focusing on thoughts in a calm and quiet environment. According to Azra Khan,"To focus on a moment and your breath and not worry about the future or past, enjoy the moment. This moment is going to be the past. Peace in yourself is meditation."

Many people believe that meditation helps to reduce stress, anxiety, tensions and increases happiness, love, harmony and positive relationships. Parth, a student worker at Stratford who has participated in the meditations, said," At the time of meditation I feel relaxed, energized, refreshed and it also helps me to improve my concentration power."

According to www.healthandyoga.com. whatever you do with awareness is meditation. "Watching your breath is meditation. Listening to the birds is meditation. As long as these activities are free from any other distraction to the mind is the effective meditation." Margaret, an ESL teacher and participant in the meditation, said,"Meditation is a quiet time that clears and relaxes my brain focusing on breathing. The process of breathing in and out trains my brain to put everything out and relax."

Azra Khan said "Being a part of meditation and mindfulness project provides a great opportunity for me to connect with students personally and to be able to teach students soft skills."