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Practice Mindfulness

Mindful

See opportunities for you to practice mindfulness by joining campus and nearby community Practice Groups. Read more about the definition of mindfulness and see some UNCW mindfulness resources. 

Practice

In addition to formal opportunities to learn about mindfulness listed below, Mindful UNCW will offer one campus-wide event each year led by a guest expert in the field and open to students, faculty, and staff. A regular meditation group will be held for faculty/staff, support will be provided to the UNCW student meditation club, and we will also facilitate mindfulness practice in the Mindfulness, Yoga, and Wellness Makerspace in Pelican Hall (after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted).

A space on campus dedicated to mindfulness, yoga, and wellness is Retreat at Randall in UNCW Library! It is open to students, staff, and faculty members with a valid UNCW OneCard. The space use guidelines create a supportive environment for quiet contemplation, reflection, meditation, mindfulness, prayer, stretching, and yoga.

Practice Groups

Student
Faculty/Staff
Community

Student Practice Groups

There are different opportunities for students to practice meditation at UNCW, through Mindful UNCW, student groups, and the Counseling Center:

Faculty/Staff Practice Groups

  • Midday Mindfulness - Want a regular pause in your workday to settle? New to mindfulness? Looking to strengthen your established mindfulness practice? Join Mindful UNCW’s (virtual) Midday Mindfulness to bring presence, awareness, and intentionality to your day through a variety of mindfulness practices. We will start at 12:00 pm (noon), guide the group in a practice for 10-15 minutes, and offer (optional) time for discussion for those wanting to stay with us for the half hour. We will start these sessions in September 2022, so keep a lookout!
    • Fall 2022: Mondays at noon, starting September 12 until December 5 in Zoom: https://zoom.us/join | Meeting ID: 869 1101 5574 | Passcode: mindful
  • Counseling Center's meditation sessions on Wednesdays from 12:00-12:30 pm (Guided meditation, no experience necessary)

What Is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention, on purpose, to the present moment with an attitude of curiosity, non-judgment, non-reactivity, and compassion. The pause that accompanies observing and naming one’s inner experiences (i.e., thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations) can disrupt automaticity of thought and behavioral habits, positioning us to make more conscious, deliberate choices in how we relate to ourselves, others, and the world around us. Mindfulness is both a way of relating to our internal experiences and a skill to be cultivated.

A substantial body of literature reviews the benefits of mindfulness relevant to higher education. Studies report improved cognitive and academic performance with the enhancement of attentional and processing skills, improved mental and psychological well-being, decreased stress, anxiety, and depression, greater emotional regulation and more positive mood states (Shapiro, Brown, Astin, 2008).

Mindfulness also supports the trend in higher education to focus on the development of the whole person, as the practice can support an increase in creativity, effective interpersonal skills, empathy, and self-compassion. Further, mindfulness-based pedagogy supports instructors’ capacity to both practice and teach mindfulness effectively; benefits influence the classroom climate and set the stage for the aforementioned changes to occur.

Shapiro, S., Brown, K. W., & Astin, J. A. (2008). Toward the Integration of Meditation into Higher Education: A Review of Research. Retrieved March 12, 2020 from source. 

Resources at UNCW

Upcoming Events

We have concluded our events and offerings for the 2021-2022 academic year. We will be back in September 2022 with more Midday Mindfulness, Contemplative Conversations, and Pedagogy with Presence Workshops!
Retreat at Randall Space Now Open!

Contact

Jacquelyn Lee
leej@uncw.edu

Beverley McGuire
mcguireb@uncw.edu