Defeating Student Stress with Meditation (and Money!)

    At Will Williams Meditation, one of our main goals is to help people deal with the demands of everyday life. The hectic pace of life and strains of the modern world can be very stressful, at times leaving people feeling as if they are unable to cope. For young people these everyday challenges can be even more overwhelming, especially through periods of change and new found independence, and there\’s few experiences more transformative than going to university. This is why this week we have launched \’Survive & Thrive\’, a competition where students have the chance to win a place on our beginner\’s meditation course and up to £2000 cash! With financial worries eased and a grounding in the practice of meditation, the winners will be able to apply what they\’ve learnt in order to face the scary parts of university (such as the exams, deadlines and homesickness) with ease and assurance. All we\’re asking students to do is to write approximately 500 words about how they\’ve adjusted to university life. For more information on how to apply, visit \’Survive & Thrive\’. Last month it was reported on the BBC news website that universities are experiencing a sharp rise in demand for their counselling services. On the one hand it is encouraging that students are willing to seek out help when they need it, but on the other it suggests that they are experiencing more pressure than they can comfortably manage. With the daunting prospect of having to perform well in their degree, university can be an emotionally challenging time, especially when many students have moved away from the support network of their friends and family. Of course it isn\’t all bad news. Going to university is exciting, inspiring and opens doors to new experiences and opportunities. Learning the ancient practice of Beeja Meditation will allow the lucky winners of our competition to make the most of these advantages while confidently dealing with the challenges. By offering a balance to the demands of 21^st century life, making meditation part of their daily routine will alleviate the stress which leads to anxiety and unhappiness, as well as a host of other health issues. Unfortunately far too much in the modern world is triggering our stress response, and for students facing academic pressure and emotional upheaval this can be especially true. Meditation unwinds our brains from this stressed out state, and just 8 weeks of meditation has been shown in MRI scans to reduce the activity of amygdala, the part of the brain that induces fear and anxiety. This helps with productivity and self-esteem, two things students will need throughout their university days. We hope that this competition, while directly benefitting three winners, will have a wider effect in introducing students to the benefits of meditation, helping them be the happiest, most successful and healthiest they can be throughout university and beyond. Students can go here to enter the competition.