GPSA and the Professional Development Initiative will be hosting an event to help students de-stress with mindfulness and breath work practices from 2-5 p.m. April 19 at the International Student Center in the CUB.
Sydnee Schwendeman, professional development graduate assistant, said this event will feature a variety of activities, food and drinks and techniques to help cope with stress. It is meant for graduate and professional students, but anyone is welcome because this is a community event.
“We suggest that people do register for events, that way we can get a better idea of how many people may attend for catering and material purposes, but if you don’t end up registering, that is totally okay,” Schwendeman said.
She said that she has been looking into planning a de-stress event for a while, originally trying to get puppies to come to the event to create a more playful and stress-free environment but was unable to secure an outside location.
Schwendeman said there will be a buffet style of food at this event, from cheese and cracker boards that feature cougar gold cheese, to fruit and dessert options, as well as a variety of beverage choices. There will be a giveaway of prizes every 30 minutes with items such as umbrellas, keychains and coffee mugs and they are also giving away three backpacks with a variety of items inside, she said.
The Access Center has previously hosted de-stress events, but this will be the first time it will organized by the PDI, Schwendeman said. The PDI has hosted other events that help with time management, wellness and lifestyle and other programs that help students succeed throughout their academic careers.
Schwendeman said she worked alongside Priya Panday Shukla, health education department graduate staff assistant throughout the whole event planning process.
Some of the activities to help with stress will include rock painting, making bath salts, aromatherapy, mindfulness techniques and breathing exercises, she said. Everything made at this event can be taken with atendees afterwards.
Panday Shukla said she works with anything related to stress management, mental health and mindfulness as a part of her job. She was glad she was able to work with Schwendeman to create an event that will hopefully have a positive effect on students and help them to be able to manage their stress better.
“It’s an event to help and alleviate stress, make people manage their stress a little better and cope a bit,” Panday Shukla said.
