Replenish and recharge: a new on-campus meditation space

Sanjay Kumar, the director of contemplative practices and well-being at Chapman University, has created a new meditation space to promote positive mental health for the community. TIFFANY LE, Staff Photographer

The new school year has brought a new set of stressors and anxieties that many students aren’t used to, like moving away from home, completing in-person schoolwork and addressing pandemic-related stress while balancing class, jobs and a personal life. 

Sanjay Kumar, Chapman’s director of contemplative practice and well-being, said these stressors may be difficult for students who don't practice and implement techniques to achieve greater calm and comfort, along with a greater sense of well-being. 

In order to help students address the unique challenges of the school year, Kumar has created a new meditation space in the garden area of the Fish Interfaith Center, called “Chapman Calm.”

“In the same way so many have been told repeatedly to practice physical hygiene like handwashing, (wearing) face masks and social distancing, I want to talk about mental hygiene,” Kumar said. 

Kumar created this space with the intention of helping the Chapman community feel a sense of tranquility, calmness and disconnection. “Chapman Calm” currently has drop-in hours Mondays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1-3 p.m.

“Come here and recharge your soul, not your cellphone,” Kumar said.

The past 18 months of isolation due to the pandemic have created an imbalance in people’s social brains, Kumar said. He explained that many people may now feel anxious about being in social settings.

“How can we, as students, practice mental hygiene to really help us cleanse all of the clutter and junk of stress and anxiety that we accumulate in our mind?” Kumar said.

This meditation space began two weeks ago, and Kumar hopes the space will one day expand to its own area on campus separate from the Fish Interfaith Center, eventually including even more programs and resources.

“We need that ‘Panther pause’ in our day to find that inner sense of replenishment and sense of connection — to find our foundation to help us navigate through this new environment,” Kumar said. 

Ruthie Weeks and Rebecca Greenwood. Courtesy of Jay Kumar

Ruthie Weeks, a freshman broadcast journalism and documentary major, would walk by the garden during Orientation Week and eagerly awaited its opening. While walking with her friend Rebecca Greenwood, another freshman broadcast journalism and documentary major, the two were the first students to stumble across the garden on the first day of class.

“It's really important to have a space where we can put our phones aside and really focus on de-stressing and taking care of our own self and own mental health,” Weeks said. “This is a perfect space to do so. Getting used to classes and getting used to life at Chapman (and) having a designated space to relax is super important. I appreciate that Dr. Kumar is trying to give that to students.”

Greenwood shared a similar sentiment about the positive affect the space has had on her mental health.

“It's such a chill and calm place to come and decompress in between classes,” Greenwood said. “I feel like I can escape the reality of everything for a bit when I’m there.”

In addition to the drop-in hours, Kumar has created the “Healthy Brain, Healthy Mind” group discussion series to promote emotional, mental and spiritual well-being. Because administration, staff, faculty and students often express different needs, Kumar has designated certain days to certain groups of people. Staff can come on Tuesdays from 12-1 p.m., while faculty can visit Wednesdays from 12-1 p.m. Students are welcome on Thursdays 12-1 p.m. 

Kumar expressed his pride in supporting people in this transition back into campus life, emphasizing that stress and anxiety aren't things people can just turn on and off. He compared this ability to a dimmer switch, and said that he hopes this new meditation space will help people find their inner “dimmer switch” to let their light shine through.