(THE PICKET)—For some stress relief, or just a break from the daily grind, members of the Shepherdstown and university community can enjoy mindfulness meditation at Meditation Mondays.
Mindfulness meditation provides myriad benefits for those who practice it regularly. It is also an integral component of Dialectic Behavioral Therapy, which has been shown effective in treating numerous psychiatric conditions. Research indicates it can reduce stress, slow cellular aging, improve emotional regulation, lessen anxiety, reduce depression symptoms and leads to more prosocial behavior and compassion.
Most often, Meditation Monday focuses on mindfulness meditation, though Dr. Murtagh has occasionally had participants engage in walking meditation and a related practice: Labyrinth meditation.
Labyrinth meditation is a special form of walking meditation in which a canvas labyrinth is set up with practitioners making their way to the center and back. They employ drums in the meditation as well, with participants rhythmically beating them after finishing the labyrinth.
In her personal life, Dr. Murtagh says meditation helps her clear her head and regulate her emotions. She finds herself more centered when she meditates regularly, more efficient and more capable of making good decisions.
Dr. Murtagh first became interested in meditative practices after reading about Native American traditions in the Way of Power and has been practicing meditation for well over 20 years.
One of her first experiences with meditation was at Dickinson College where she met a Buddhist Physics professor who hosted weekly meditation sessions. After going to a few sessions, learning about Buddhism and meditating more regularly, she became hooked into a lifelong interest.
Typically, she tries to meditate five minutes daily with 20-30 minute sessions on the weekend. She admits she hasn’t been practicing as regularly this semester and says she’s feeling more stressed than usual as a result.
Though she hasn’t been putting aside as much time for meditation each day, she says that she’s been carrying mindfulness practices with her into her daily activities. She’s more mindful of her emotions and tries to practice living in the present.
Meditation Mondays will be starting its seventh year; turnout varies depending on the time of year and other factors, she says, from just a few people to as a many as fifteen or twenty.
The group will be meeting with Dr. Anne Murtagh to practice mindfulness meditation every Monday, from 12:05 to 12:50 p.m., in the Cumberland Room.
John Gladstone is a staff writer for The Picket. He can be reached at jglads01@rams.shepherd.edu or followed on Twitter: @supicketjohn