The Reflection Room, popularly known as the ‘Zen Den’, is part of the Wellness Center here at UW. This chamber is provided to the students free of cost, as a ‘relaxation area’ where they can go to de-stress from the rigors of college life.
From 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., the reflection room is available to relax in at the Wellness Center in Half Acre Gym. The area is occupied with several couches, coffee tables, coloring books, meditation pillows, a small radio and even a television, along with plenty of sunlight.
“There are many dimension of health and while the gym focuses on physical health, we provide for the mental aspect of it. We want our students at the university to have a service that allows them to relieve the enormous stress that they carry,” Assistant Director of the Wellness Center Lena Newlin said.
The Zen Den has many features to it that allows students to go in and have some time to relieve their tension. One of its major features is the Drop-In Meditation. This service occurs every Thursday from 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. and is guided by a leader. This event is open to all who wish to join a quiet and soothing environment away from the rush of university life.
Another unique feature is the variety of coloring books, which a lot of students find as an alternative to break their tension. They also have a monthly coloring competition.
The room also has a small radio if students wish to play some music and a television if they require it. Their large windows do provide plenty of sunlight and a view of the university.
“If nothing, students can simply come here to sit and enjoy the sunlight,” Newlin said. “Although I wouldn’t recommend doing your assignments here, as homework can be quite stressful.”
Stress has always played a destructive role in the life of university students. According to the 2015 National College Health Assessment: 30 percent of students reported that stress had negatively affected their academic performance within the past year; 85 percent had felt overwhelmed by everything they had to do at some point within the past year; 15.8 percent of students reported that they had been diagnosed or treated by a professional for anxiety over the past year; while 13.1 percent had been diagnosed with or treated for depression.
This statistic report goes on to show how stress negatively affects a students’ life and their academic performance. The University of Wyoming has provided services to its students in order to promote mental health and relaxation. The Wellness Center has many other activities that promote relaxation and stress relief, like the Doggy De-stressor, Massage Therapy, Stress-Relief Mindfulness Workshops and Free Fruit Fridays, where they provide free fruit to UW students in order to encourage a healthy diet.
