Issue date: 11/5/05 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Having trouble focusing in school? Do you have issues with easing the never-ending anxiety?

The University of West Florida Meditation Club offers free classes that provide ways to improve focus in school as well as to find some peace of mind.

Meditation Club president Sabine Kraweitz, a psychology graduate student, helped establish the club.

"We're trying to promote meditation as a form to train your mind and make you more aware of life," Kraweitz said. "We teach different forms of meditation." She said the class draws from all kinds of meditation.

She said the forms that are taught include Christian, yoga and Buddhist meditation.

Kraweitz said the idea for the class came from William Mikulas, professor of Buddhist psychology.

"It was the students' idea after taking a meditation course with me last spring," Mikulas said.

Mikulas said the meditation group serves a positive purpose in the community.

"It would include helping students and non-students learn how to use their minds more effectively," Mikulas said. "This includes how to focus the mind and how to be more aware of body, feelings, mind and environment."

Kraweitz said the class doesn't stress any particular faith.

"It's very universal," Kraweitz said. "It's bound to religious beliefs, but it's very neutral."

She added that people who meditate can concentrate on everything better, whether it is sports- or school-related.

"It's more of an exercise for the mind. It could improve study skills. Your mind becomes more quiet," she said. 

Psychology graduate student Nick Balderston said the meditation has benefited him, so he is trying to get more people involved.

"I can read things a lot more thoroughly, and I can focus a lot more," Balderston said.

Club instructor Linda Turner said meditation aims to facilitate everything in one's life.

"It's an experimental process," she said.

Club instructor Jennifer Whitley, a senior majoring in psychology, said meditation has helped her greatly.

"My mind is so much calmer," Whitley said. She added that those who meditate have the ability to improve their focus.

Senior psychology major Kamesha Jordan, who has attended a previous meeting, said she was interested in the club to improve her focus and to control her mind.

Whitley said the group tries not to associate with one particular type of meditation or emphasize a particular religion.

"We try to incorporate different practices into the group," Whitley said. "We don't want to stay in just one area."

Last Thursday illustrated what happens in a typical group meeting. The group met in the Olympia room at the Commons and first went over future plans. Club members said they intend to start a Web site, send out flyers and put up posters. Next, two guides were passed out explaining concepts of meditation and tips on improving study skills.

While they did this, a CD played a soft harmony of flutes and a piano, simulating musical raindrops. The lights then dimmed, and the group began to meditate. A recording by psychologist Sharon Salzberg called "Insight Meditation" spoke soothing words to ease everyone into a mood for emotional reflection. The focuses on "lovingkindness," which is indeed one word, Turner said. 

Salzberg focused on the symbolic word, Metta, which is the word for the Buddhist virtue of kindness. As everyone sat with their eyes closed at the beginning of the course, she told them to get a direct sense of their heart, find a connection to themselves and think of one thing they like about themselves. 

Throughout the 20-minute recording, Salzberg repeatedly emphasized everyone to strive to be free of danger, live in safety, be happy and live with ease. She said these principles should be applied to everybody because everyone is a human being. Every time she spoke those words, there would be silence for about 30 seconds so every individual could concentrate on their mediation.

Additionally, Salzberg's recording instructed everyone to move Metta from people they truly admired down to those they could not tolerate. Salzberg said the idea was to bring "lovingkindness" to everyone.

When the recording ended, Stephen Mayeaux, a Milton High School senior, said it was the first time he has tried meditating. He said the meditation helped him "on a small scale."

"The first obstacle was becoming comfortable," Mayeaux said. "It's going to be a process."

The Meditation Club meets 7 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays on the second floor of the Commons. It is open to UWF students and faculty and the public.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools