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dailyorange.com
12 march 5, 2014
pulp@dailyorange.com
sex and health
Learning meditation skills takes stress out of hectic midterms week
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pring Break is next week, and in the midst of midterms, stress levels are running at all-time highs. Students are constantly on the brink of nervous combustion. There is a cure, though. It may sound hippie-dippie and über liberal, but meditation not only improves overall mental health, but also increases alpha and theta brainwave activity which can strengthen gray matter in the brain. Meditation refers to a group of techniques, most of which originated in the Eastern world via different religions or spiritual practices. The exact origins of meditation are debated amongst scholars, but some of the earliest written records come from Hindu traditions. The primary goal of meditating is to find your “right now.” That means no iPhone, no Twitter, no Facebook, no Instagram, no nothing. At any given moment, a person’s thoughts are usually bouncing between the past and the future — not the present.
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suoc
food and you can’t even get a flight anywhere for $200 dollars,” Sowalskie said. Corey Landis has been involved with SUOC for the past four years. He decided to go on the trip after some friends told him how much fun they had and asked if he wanted to go. “I haven’t really done anything for Spring Break yet and for the price, how could you pass it up?” said Landis, a senior biomedical engineering major. “You get hang out with cool
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origins show Brillantes had played in her life. At the party, she caught the interest of one
It is difficult to carve out time designated for doing what seems like nothing, but setting aside time to balance the soul leads to extreme health benefits. Just like lifting weights at the gym can build physical muscle, meditation is like a mental muscle builder for the brain. Other parts of the brain, such as those that control compassion or fear, will be strengthened through meditation, eventually leading to greater control over one’s emotions. Meditation helps cancel out negative energy and thoughts that can clutter one’s mind and get in the way of productivity. In fact, it even increases blood flow, which in turn lowers anxiety. Much of anxiety comes from obsessing over things you cannot change (the past) or things
yet to come (the future). Living in the moment automatically eliminates reasons to be anxious or to worry and gives a person a balance between the highs and lows of life. Beginners who are new to practicing meditation should make it a formal practice. Make sure to consciously set aside at least 20 minutes per day that will be your designated “you” time. It is best to start by focusing on breathing. Deep breathing slows down the heart rate, relaxes muscles and focuses the mind. Meditation is not simply thinking of nothing — make sure to meditate with a purpose, as it is an active process. After breathing, stretch your body. What breathing does to the mind, stretching does for the limbs. While stretching and thinking, notice what is causing anxiety or frustration. Try to zero-in on the present instead of thinking troubling thoughts. Just like it is recommended to set aside
a designated time, it is helpful to choose a specific room or place where you will practice meditation. This can be difficult in a college environment since daily schedules are often undetermined. In that case, try to find a quiet place in whatever area is convenient. Considering there are literally thousands of stressed students on campus, find a partner to meditate with you. Sharing thoughts or ideas with others can improve overall results. When it is a struggle to find time to meditate is when your body needs some TLC the most. There is some argument that meditation is a bunch of hocus-pocus and that it is a total placebo. But trying meditation is healthier and safer than hitting up the neighborhood psychiatrist for the prescription du jour.
people and spend time in the woods.” Landis plans to spend his time in West Virginia hiking, spelunking and repelling into a cave or two, but really wants to get the chance to climb a mountain or a few rock faces depending on the weather. “Climbing reminded me how much I liked climbing trees when I was younger. Just being on top of stuff, conquering nature, is a great feeling,” Landis said. But Mother Nature may have other plans of her own. There is a likely chance of snow and rain for the Franklin area next week. But a little precipitation won’t stop SUOC, which is used to the extreme temperatures of Syracuse.
“It’s definitely not Cancun. Probably going to be 40, maybe 50 and rainy, but if you bring some boots you should be fine,” Landis said. Chris Janjic, SUOC’s president and senior photojournalism and international relations major, said his most memorable outing club experiences came last year during the Spring Break trip. “We did a climb that took the better part of the day. It wasn’t too difficult, but it took four hours and involved 10 different pitches,” said Janjic, who is also a staff photographer for The Daily Orange. No matter rain, snow, sleet or shine, the group usually gets together and has at least one big celebration around the campfire during the trip.
“Dress warmly and be prepared to be wet for the entire week,” Janjic said. Last year the group had a big party to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. “At the end of the week we had a big pig roast, where someone roasted this huge pig over the fire for 14 hours,” Janjic said. If you want to do something for Spring Break, and you like adventures, campfires and the outdoors, consider heading down to West Virginia with SUOC. You may get a little wet this year, but it is an experience the club’s members say you will never forget.
MEG ZUKIN
LEAVE ROOM FOR YEEZUS
of the mayor’s friends, whose family owns JB Music Philippines, one of the biggest music instrument retailers in the country. After the gig, she got a call from the vice president of sales and marketing at JB Music, who asked her a question that seemed strange. “So how do you want to start your career?” Brillantes did not understand. “You’re going into music, right?” he said. Brillantes was shocked, but later that summer she recorded a demo with JB Music, before heading back to Syracuse for her senior year. She said she remained in touch with a JB Music representative, who was interested in helping her record an album. After graduating, Brillantes returned to the Philippines and soon found herself in a studio with musical legends from her home country. She signed to Lockdown Entertainment, a local record label, and recorded “Origins” from November to January. For those who knew her at SU, her success is not surprising — just her career path. “I’m very surprised and pleased,” said Pelligra, her classmate. “I knew that she was good and she has it all — she’s cute, multi-talented and has a unique voice. I just did not know she wanted a career in it.” sahenken@syr.edu
Meg Zukin is a freshman television, radio and film major. Her column appears every Wednesday in Pulp. Email her at mtzukin@ syr.edu and follow her on Twitter at @margaretTZukin.
eglyons@syr.edu
TONI BRILLANTES, a recent SU linguistics alumna, will soon release her debut single, “Carnival,” from her debut album titled “Origins.” courtesy of toni brillantes