mindfulness
mindfulness
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What does it mean to be mindful? To practice mindfulness?
Thich Nhat Hanh, acclaimed Zen Buddhist monk, who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1967, has written extensively on this topic of mindfulness. Here is an excerpt from The Pocket Thich Nhat Hahn.
The energy of mindfulness is something concrete that can be cultivated. When we practice walking mindfully, our solid, peaceful steps cultivate the energy of mindfulness and bring us back to the present moment. When we sit and follow our breathing, aware of our in- and out-breath, we are cultivating the energy of mindfulness. When we have a meal in mindfulness, we invest all of our being in the present moment and are aware of our food and of those who are eating with us.
To be mindful is to be fully aware of and in the present, not dwelling in the failures of the past or the concerns for the future. It is a practice anyone can engage in and, with practice, can have transformational physiological effects.
NEW Mindfulness Suite - Fall 2021
There is a space designated for you - for meditation, quiet contemplation, private, self-led yoga practice. Part of the expanded services of the student counseling center, the mindfulness suite, located in Middle Bassett Room 214, is open by appointment at the hours listed below.
ONLINE BOOKING COMING!
Student Only Hours: Mon-Thurs 10A-12P & 2-4P Faculty/ Staff Only Hours: Mon-Thurs 12-1P
Contact Lee-Ann O'Dell lodell@ferrum.edu to request an appointment time.
Mindfulness Talks, Meditations, and Resources
Music and Imagery for Meditation
College and University Mindfulness Resources
Daniel Goldman
Kristen Neff
Kristen Neff self-compassion exercises
The Team at the Student Counseling Center
I was drawn to social work because I have always felt called to help others and have done so in a variety of ways throughout my career.
I have worked as a victim advocate for the court system, and as a counselor at the Women’s Center at Virginia Tech, as well as in clinically demanding settings such as Assessment and Emergency Services at Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare.
I use a client-centered, nonjudgmental approach and believe in the importance of overall wellness and self-care for mental health.
Mindfulness training folds well into my work as a way to focus on and notice the present moment rather than on things that are out of our control. This is so important in today’s fast-paced world that emphasizes the importance of “busy-ness” and does not always recognize the importance of taking care of ourselves. I am excited that the counseling center can offer a safe space to slow down!
Jessica Stallard, LCSW
Director of the Counseling Center
At my core, I am an educator, a connector, a sharer of resources, and a believer that all things are possible with belief and persistence. My current research interests are in the fields of contemplative practices like meditation and yoga, somatic experiences, the impact of trauma on the body, and polyvagal theory.
Ferrum is my second act. A career educator, I retired from the University of Virginia in 2019. Over the course of 25 years, I worked with traditional age students, adult learners, faculty, and the larger community identifying needs and developing customized credit and non-credit programs designed to address them.
A firm believer in the power of a liberal arts education, the diversity of my career is a testament to the idea of learning to learn - the very foundation of liberal arts. I hold degrees from two such institutions - The College of William and Mary and Virginia Wesleyan College (now University), but consider myself a lifelong student, ever evolving and learning new and different ways of being in this world.
Lee-Ann O'Dell, M.Ed.
Outreach & Programming Coordinator
lodell@ferrum.edu ext. 4220
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