Top Five Ways to De-stress at The University of Tampa

A college campus is often portrayed as a dream-like place with parties galore, dressed in beautiful people, and filled with never-ending fun experiences that all lead to a road of riches and success. If you have already begun your college career you now realize the movies left out the price tag on education, the part where you do not sleep for days to be able to pass exams, or the part where you skip meals when you are low on meal swipes. Obviously, people go to college to become knowledgeable but beyond the educational aspect of the college experience, students must face challenges to learn to become well-rounded, independent citizens. The constant pressure of college can become overbearing and students may become stressed or beyond a normal level of stress. Recently has your sexual desire decreased? Have you experienced a spike in feelings such as anxiety, anger, or sadness? Are you struggling to fall asleep or to work up an appetite? Though there is potentially other reasoning behind these feelings, stress is a likely and thankfully, manageable explanation. Stress can potentially be psychologically and physically damaging to an individual if it is not managed appropriately. Stress can increase an individual’s likelihood of being diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, upper respiratory disease, and even HIV. Stress is also a common cause of depression and anxiety. Though there is not much you can do to change the stressful environment of a college campus, at the University of Tampa there are a surplus of opportunities for students to de-stress and relax.

1. Yoga (Downward facing duhhh)

The University of Tampa’s Fitness and Recreation Center offers nine different yoga classes to students absolutely free. You do not have to be an experienced yogi to join a class since they offer beginner classes but eventually, with practice, you can move up to the intermediate and advanced classes they offer as well. Scientific studies suggest yoga can regulate the stress response system also known as the “fight or flight response” by reducing stress and/ or anxiety. When the response system is regulated appropriately this can lower blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing rate. Research also suggests that yoga allows the body to effectively respond to stress.

Stress-relieving yoga classes offered at UT:

• De-Stress Yoga which explores different yoga positions targeted to relieve stress throughout the body.

• Slow Flow Yoga which relaxes the nervous system.

• Goddess Flow Yoga which focuses on self-love meditation and inner healing.

• Sunrise Yoga, an early morning yoga class that ensures a calm and peaceful day as you relax your body while the sun rises.

Get your yoga on! GIF courtesy of WIX.

2. On-Campus Organizations (Don’t worry, SG is not included)

Though the yoga classes offered at UT take place in a group setting, there is not much of an interaction between yoga students. Yoga is an independent practice where participants truly focus on their breathing, the way the body feels, and meditation. Unlike yoga, there are many organizations at the University of Tampa, dedicated specifically to stress relief and management, where students are able to interact with one another. Socialization in itself is very effective in reducing stress. For example, socializing with other students in an organization can increase a hormone that lowers feelings of anxiety and allows people to cope with stressors more efficiently. Rather than retaining stress and energy within, which can create an overwhelming amount of stress, socialization allows a member of an organization to release energy out.

Stress-relieving organizations offered at UT:

• Balance UT aims to influence mental health wellness by providing students with yoga classes, meditation coaching, and other group opportunities aimed to educate members of the power and ability of the human thought process. Lastly, Balance UT holds many events such as Meditation Mondays and fun themed yoga classes like “Yoga in the Dark” which interestingly takes place in all different locations on the campus.

• UT Beach club allows students to get some time away from the college campus in order to completely emerge in a stress-free environment at the beach located near campus. Research suggests that being near or in the water can give the brain a break and stimulate a meditative state. Students can relax by the water or even play volleyball together to put worries aside. The club also offers transportation which is especially convenient for freshmen who are not allowed to have vehicles on campus.

• Healing Arts' mission is to give students creative outlets to actively express themselves through art such as music, theatre, or dance. Creativity can help people process emotions which permits stress relief and management.

Join UT Beach Club so you can have as much fun as this guy. GIF courtesy of WIX.

3. Meditation (ommmmm…)

Meditation requires you to focus so deeply on your breathing pattern and the sensations throughout your body that you ignore the muddled thoughts and feelings flooding your mind that are stressing you out. Meditation encourages you to focus on the present rather than mistakes of the past or potential incidents of the future which also stress the mind. Research suggests that practicing meditation also increases patience and tolerance. UT is known for its beautiful architecture and peaceful landscaping but there is one hidden gem many students unknowingly stroll by on their way to class. The Sykes Meditation garden, on the west side of the Sykes Chapel, is a harmonious space sheltered from the stressful fast past environment of the college campus. The symmetry, greenery, and vibrations existing in the garden allow students to reunite with their mind, body, and spirit through meditation when college lures them away from their spiritual path. The architectural structure and the captivating blooms were purposefully designed to aid students in connecting with their intangible beliefs. Though many of UT’s students are unaware of this sanctuary, the Sykes’s Meditation Garden is ranked number 28 in the “Top 50 Best Campus Meditation Spaces”, among the country. Beyond the Meditation Garden, the Sykes Chapel is open for meditation Monday through Friday from 1 to 4 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Kiana Hughes

Stress-relieving meditation practices:

• Guided Meditation suggests forming mental images of relaxing environments and imaginatively exploring the environment through the sense of smell, sight, sound, and texture.

• Mantra meditation distracts thoughts that the mind may find stressful by internally repeating a soothing word.

• Mindfulness meditation allows an individual to focus on different elements of the meditative experience such as the pace of the breath as well as the overall sensation on the body. This meditation does not attempt to distract the thought process but rather allow the free flow of thoughts without judgment.

Meditation at it's finest. GIF courtesy of WIX.

4. Physical Activity (That’s actually fun!)

If you are an avid studier, props to you! But, surprisingly enough there are some potential downfalls to studying way too much. Spending too much time with your head in the books may increase stress levels and diminish an individual’s health which could lead to an increase in headaches, digestive issues, and fatigue. College is a test of endurance more than strength so it is important for students to maintain a healthy balance between school and fun to avoid burning out in the first few months. Some students struggle to take a break because they believe that they are being unproductive. A great way for students to have fun but still be productive is to get involved with a physical activity. Exercise is one of the most recommended stress relievers because it reduces stress hormones in the body such as adrenaline. Endorphins are known as the body’s mood elevators, and exercise is one of the most influential stimuli of these hormones. If the thought of the gym stresses you out or just bores you, University of Tampa’s Office of Campus Recreation offers many exciting opportunities. Better yet, most of the activities take place off campus which is a huge benefit when you need a change of scenery, which also is an effective stress-reliever.

Stress-relieving physical activities:

• Day Hiking in October

• Moonlight Paddling in November

• Canoeing in February

• Standup Paddle Boarding in March

• River Tubing in April

• Sea Kayaking in April

Your life is a lie, this is how you actually kayak. GIF courtesy of WIX.

5. Stand-up Comedy (No, seriously.)

“Laughter is the best medicine.” Come on, you knew I was going to start this section with this cheesy saying because it’s absolutely TRUE. Not ALL of your tuition dollars are going to palm trees! Some of it is actually going to a great place, like stand-up comedy. Student Productions holds some of UT’s most awesome, FREE, and entertaining events right on campus at the Falk Theatre. Do not worry, President Vaughn is not the one choosing the comedians; thankfully, your fellow peers pick the best and most inappropriate ones of all. Whether your stressed or not, students always enjoy a great standup but the benefits of a good laugh should not be ignored. Research suggests that laughter has multiple short-term benefits such as increased endorphins, which we discussed earlier, reduced physical effects of stress such as muscle tension, and the activation and relief of the stress response. Laughter also has many long-term effects as well, such as the release of neuropeptides which help fight stress, the increased ability to manage difficult situations, and lastly, decreased feelings of depression and/ or anxiety. Below are some of the past performances UT has offered who gave our students a great de-stressing laugh, excluding Pete Lee who will be joining other unknown comedians at this time, this fall.

Stress-relieving past and upcoming standup comedians:

• Sam Conroe, the winner of Ricky Gervais' Comedy Competition and The San Francisco Comedy Competition, performs at over 100 college campuses a year. He has appeared on TBS' Conan and BET's Real Husbands of Hollywood with Kevin Hart.

• Nicole Byer has appeared in comedy series Party Over Here, reality show Girl Code, and the Upright Citizens Brigade as well as the scripted comedy Loosely Exactly Nicole based on her.

• Dulce Sloan, winner of Big Sky Comedy Fest in 2016, NBC’s Stand Up Showcase, and Just For Laughs Comedy Fest in Montreal in 2015. Sloan has appeared on Late with Conan O'Brien and "Comedian You Should Know" on the Steve Harvey Show as well as Greatest Ever and Comedy Knock Out on truTV.

• Emma Willmann has appeared on tour with Louie CK, Crashing, Prairie Home Companion on NPR, and MTV2. Currently Willmann is the co-voice of Wake Up with Taylor! On SiriusXM 109 Starz and the voice of The Check Spot on SiriusXM Raw Dog Radio

• Pete Lee has debuted on Premium Blend on Comedy Central, Video on Trial on FUSE TV, NFL Network’s Top 10’s, and VH1’s Best Week Ever. He also appeared on his own Comedy Central special and his own web show, New York Minute:30 on MSN.com. Pete Lee won standout performer at Just for Laughs Comedy Festival and was a semi-finalist on NBC’s Last Comic Standing.

GIF courtesy of WIX.

THANKS FOR READING!

Whether this post finds you in a time of overwhelming stress where you can use it immediately or during a time of peace and serenity where you can keep it as a future reference, I hope you enjoyed exploring the different ways you can manage your stress. Thank you for reading my Top 5 ways To De-stress at The University of Tampa! Now choose one or two or all the techniques to have a successful and laid-back semester!

GIF courtesy of WIX.