Nickeshia Bullock of South University, Yani Daes of Soham Yoga, group founders Denis Eirikis and Michelle Elliott, and Roszel Fletcher of South University.
NEW LOCAL GROUP HELPS PEOPLE LEARN THE ART OF MINDFUL MEDITATION STORY AND PHOTOS BY JULIE UNGER
The reverberating hum of a crystal harp danced through the air on Tuesday, June 2, as Yani Daes, founder and CEO of Soham Yoga, walked among a group of 25 people meditating at the South University Learning Commons. Daes led the group through a guided meditation before the silent meditation took place. “What is important about meditation is where you give your attention,” she said. “What are you giving your attention to?” Daes explained that when you’re working on something you enjoy, time passes quickly and seems to disappear
because you’re present in the moment. She asked participants to concentrate on their breathing, to be fully involved in what they were doing, and to only think about their breath. The week of June 2 was the third week for this new Mindful Meditation Club, and its first meeting while partnered with South University in Royal Palm Beach. “Meditation groups are important because they create a sense of connection and belonging,” said Nickeshia Bullock, South University’s campus director and dean of academic affairs and operations. “They provide a safe
and welcoming environment where individuals can step away from the demands of daily life, focus on their well-being, and build meaningful relationships with others who are seeking balance and personal growth.” Hosting the meditation club at the school was the perfect fit. “In today’s world, opportunities to slow down, reflect and connect with one another are more valuable than ever. That is one of the reasons I wanted to open our campus space to the meditation group,” Bullock said. “South University is more than a place of learning, it is a part of the commuWELLINGTON THE MAGAZINE | July 2026 19