In our exceedingly fast-paced society, it can be challenging to exist in any state other than doing mode. Even when we think were resting, are we really?

Think about it when did you last create some space in your day to put down your to-do list, your phone or turn off the television and simply be with yourself in the present moment?

Its not easy, but it seems more of us are trying to do this by practicing techniques, such as meditation. According to Statista, the global meditation apps market is estimated to reach $7.09 billion by 2028. A 2017 survey conducted in the United States found that the percentage of adults practicing some form of meditation tripled between 20122017.

There are many different ways to meditate, which can make defining what meditation is a challenge. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health says that the term meditation refers to a variety of practices that focus on mind and body integration and are used to calm the mind and enhance overall well-being. Meditation has inspired many scientific studies over recent decades, with researchers increasingly eager to pinpoint if and how these ancient techniques can deliver such benefits in modern-day life.

In this article, we explore some of the latest research on meditation, the brain and well-being.

Our global population is aging in a society that presents a myriad of challenges and complexities, all of which carry the potential to adversely impact our physical and psychological well-being. Could practicing long-term meditation help?

That was the question fueling a recent randomized, controlled clinical study co-led by University College London (UCL) scientists. This trial, lasting 18 months, is the longest randomized meditation training study conducted to date.

It is increasingly crucial to understand how we can support older adults in maintaining and deepening their psychological well-being, said Dr. Marco Schlosser, honorary research fellow at UCLs Division of Psychiatry and the studys lead author. We tested whether long-term meditation training can enhance important dimensions of well-being. Our findings suggest that meditation is a promising non-pharmacological approach to support human flourishing in late life.

One hundred and thirty-seven healthy individuals aged 6584 years in Caen, France, were assigned to either an 18-month meditation training program, an English language training program of the same duration or a passive control group with no training.

The meditation program consisted of a nine-month mindfulness module followed by a nine-month loving kindness and compassion module. Often used interchangeably, mindfulness meditation refers to a type of meditation that encourages the practitioner to experience a state of mindfulness, which is the presence of the current moment without judgment.

These modules were delivered in various formats: weekly group sessions that were two hours long, a retreat day and daily home practice sessions that were 20 minutes in length. All participants were assessed at a baseline visit, mid-intervention at 9 months and post-intervention at 18 months.

Credit: iStock.

Schlosser and colleagues collected self-report data on several measures of well-being in the study, including the Psychological Well-Being Scale and the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL)-BREF Assessment. They also collected data on participants experiences of awareness, connection and insight.

In the context of this study, awareness refers to undistracted attention to our thoughts, feelings and surroundings, while connection denotes feelings of respect, gratitude and kinship. Insight describes self-knowledge and understanding how our thoughts or feelings can contribute and shape our perception.

The 18-month meditation training was superior to English training on changes in awareness, connection, insight and global scores (comprising awareness, connection and insight) and superior to no-intervention only on changes in awareness and global scores, the authors said.

While long-term meditation training induced changes in awareness, connection and insight, it was not associated with higher scores on the Psychological Well-Being Scale, nor the WHOQOL-BREF Assessment compared to the English language training or control groups. The researchers question whether these measures accurately capture the depth of human flourishing that long-term meditation training could bring.

As with many studies in the realm of psychological well-being, the study is limited by its reliance on self-report data, which is sensitive to biases. The research team also highlighted that the sample, being well-educated, healthy participants that were recruited from one geographical location, is not necessarily representative of the general population.

Mindfulness has been linked to improved sleep, but how and why remains unclear.

Researchers at the University of South Florida (USF) sought to explore this further, focusing on employee well-being specifically and drawing from a theory known as emotion regulation. A simple definition of emotional regulation is that it describes an individuals ability to influence which emotions they have and when. The study is published in Health Psychology.

Led by Dr. Claire Smith, assistant professor of psychology at USF, the research group followed two independent cohorts of nurses (144 in total) over two weeks in the United States. Nurses were selected as the study population because they typically experience disrupted sleep patterns and are subjected to high-stress environments.

We know that good sleep restores us physically and psychologically, and it keeps us happier, safer and even more ethical at work. We wanted to explore which aspects of sleep are influenced by mindfulness and why, Smith said.

Participants were required to complete a survey three times a day which explored their state and trait mindfulness, and how much time they spent fixated on negative thoughts. Quality of sleep data was recorded through self-report methods and actigraphy data the following morning.

The study findings suggest that being mindful helped nurses reduce negative emotions and the amount of time spent ruminating. For instance, if you got a negative performance review at work, you might choose to shift your focus from negative thoughts of how you have failed and are incompetent to positive thoughts of what you did right and how you can grow, Smith said.

This, in turn, is associated with better sleep quality. Our research suggests that day-to-day mindful attention may help people regulate their emotions in a way that promotes their sleep quality. Particularly for those in high-stress occupations, like health care workers examined here, mindfulness may be helpful in daily maintenance of emotional well-being and sleep health, the authors said.

Smith and colleagues hope that future research on mindfulness confronts not only big picture results like sleep or productivity, but also how we handle emotions.

Research shows that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) can be effective at helping individuals manage symptoms of anxiety and depression. However, a key barrier to the study of MBIs and their clinical implementation is time they typically require several weeks of commitment from participants to complete.

Professor Michael J Telch and colleagues at the University of Texas at Austin recently devised a mindfulness-based single-session intervention (SSI), which is designed to overcome this barrier and improve the accessibility of MBIs. Telch and colleagues recently conducted a randomized clinical trial, recruiting 91 participants, which evaluated the effects of this intervention on self-perceptions of loneliness, stress, depression and anxiety.

Preliminary research suggests SSIs may reduce anxiety, stress and improve mental well-being in nonclinical samples, the authors said. Further, research suggests single-session mindfulness-based interventions may reduce negative affectivity (e.g., depression, rumination, anxiety, stress).

To date, only one clinical trial has evaluated the effectiveness of an SSI on loneliness, which became increasingly prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic when the study was conducted.

The 91 participants (60.44% female) were randomized to receive either a one-hour mindfulness-only telephone intervention, a one-hour randomized mindfulness and compassion intervention, or were placed on a one-week waitlist to form a control group.

Credit: iStock.

Those assigned to the mindfulness and compassion intervention were taught a third skill related to compassion [] Participants were instructed to think of a person, place, object, or spiritual or religious figure that consistently evokes feelings of warmth, love, kindness or whatever compassion feels like to them. They were encouraged to focus their attention on any sensations that arose after evoking this feeling, the authors said.

A variety of scales were used to evaluate perceived levels of loneliness, stress, anxiety and depression at one-week follow-ups. Data analysis revealed that, compared to the waitlist control group, the inclusion of a compassionate element in the SSI led to meaningful reductions in perceived levels of stress, anxiety and depression after one week, as described by the authors.

The researchers believe that SSIs offer an approach that could be easily adopted in a wide range of contexts, but further research is required to evaluate whether changes in self-reported symptoms are maintained for long durations of time.

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The Latest Research News on Meditation, Well-Being and the Brain - Technology Networks

Many CEOs feel the pressure to be constantly available and connected. How do you set boundaries? What routines or habits do you have that help you disconnect from work?

I used to feel the pressure to be constantly connected and had the urge to reply to every single message or email as soon as possible. Over the years, I have learned to take a break from external stimulation and enjoy the present with myself. It can be a short break to read a book or do my daily meditation practice. For me, I have daily gym routines and I set time aside to read and meditate to seek clarity about life.

I also plan to make time every year for a ten-day silent meditation camp, which I attended in January 2024. It was my first silent meditation camp experience with no phone, no talking (not even eye contact) and no reading/journaling. I had the 10 days just to be with myself and look inwards to feel and observe. Though still amateur, it made me realise how important it is to be present and be mindful about your emotions and feelings without reaction. My mind became sharper and I became calmer after the whole experience.

What other aspects are important for sustainable leadership?

Personally, I find it very important to have fellow entrepreneur friends who can support one another in life. It makes you realise that you are not alone and things will be fine even when the current situation does not meet our expectations. I am also very grateful for people who voluntarily offer help to me as mentors or advisors. I have learnt from them enormously on both a personal and professional front.

Besides friendship and mentorship, having hobbies or passions outside of work is very important for me. I occasionally coach people as a personal trainer. The experience is very fulfilling and offers a good distraction from work stress.

Continuous learning and personal growth are vital for sustainable leadership. What are some ways you invest in your own development amidst your busy schedule?

Personally, I take continuous learning and personal growth very seriously and they are key sources of happiness to me. I invest time in holistic growth, meaning in mind, body and soul. A well-balanced personal growth keeps your ego in check and makes you a humble human being.

I have a daily gym routine, where I will try to improve my power lifting performance or enhance functionality of various parts of my body. I also try to allocate time for reading and meditation daily. These practices have become habits over the years.

Besides my routines, I occasionally register for courses to achieve certifications in my serious hobbies such as the ACE Personal Trainer certification and Precision Nutrition: Nutrition Coaching certification. The knowledge I have learned has been beneficial to myself and people around me. I have also made friends in the fitness community for sharing and learning.

See also: Fengru Lin on making time for movement, bonding over burning off leeches, and optimising exercise for longevity

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Jane Wang on the impact of a ten-day silent meditation camp - Tatler Taiwan

Weekly Vipassana mediation sessions are 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Sundays at Art at the Cave, 108 E. Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver. This type of meditation encourages self-observation by focusing on the inner self in a non-judgmental way. Theres a $1 to $10 suggested donation to participate but no one will be turned away.

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Weekly Insight Meditation at Art at the Cave Gallery - events.columbian.com

Saturday, July 13, 2024, 11 a.m. to noon

5059 Newport Avenue, San Diego, 92107

Age Limit: 18+ Cost: Free - $20

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Meditation, Awareness & Awakening - San Diego Reader

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MEDITATION: Lessons fit for a good book - Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

Photo courtesy of Flint Sparks

Just sitting or sitting Zen is the English translation of the word Zazen. Zazen meditation comes from the Buddhist tradition and allows for the transformation of the mind in a simple, seated posture.

Molokai residents have an opportunity to experience Zazen meditation at weekly classes by Koko Kawauchi Johnson and monthly instruction from Flint Sparks at the Guzeiji Soto Mission in Kaunakakai.

The temple is a puuhonua, explained Johnson, who is from Japan, and introduced weekly classes to a small but growing group of participants back in January. Anybody can come and well be open for everybody.

The primary principle of this Japanese meditation technique is establishing a comfortability and eventual fulfillment with nothingness, according to longtime Zazen teacher Sparks.

Its a sort of nothing that doesnt wait for a reward at the end, explained Sparks, who offers monthly meditation sessions at Molokais Guzeiji Soto Mission to supplement the weekly classes taught by Johnson. Essentially, its the practice of allowing thoughts, images and words to pass by without consciously interacting with them, he explained.

For Sparks, Zazen is an especially effective tool for dealing with difficult life moments. As a psychologist with a specialty in behavioral medicine, he worked for years with hospital patients in cancer care units.

I was working with people who were dying, Sparks explained. Theres a certain kind of question they were bringing to me. Some were certainly psychological, but some were questions of the soul, deeper things or spiritual questions.

These questions led Sparks to Buddhism and then to Zazen. Its the simple nature of Zazen and its alternative approach to achieving a state of relaxation that practitioners find attractive, he explained.

We sit for 20 to 30 minutes, said Sparks. Almost invariably people will say can we go for longer?

For Johnson, Zazen likewise provides mental health benefits.

Im offering this because so many young men are killing themselves, Johnson stated.

She explained that Zazen can help practitioners cultivate a safe space within themselves.

You can just be yourself, be quiet and safe, she said.

Molokai residents can try Zazen in their own homes, according to Sparks, by sitting in a garden or a place overlooking the ocean and being open and ready to see what arrives.

Molokai residents who wish to join the weekly Sunday Zazen practice should first participate in an orientation, which takes place the first Thursday of every month. For more information, contact Johnson at (808) 498-8351.

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Learn the Art of Nothing with Zazen Meditation - Molokai Dispatch

Director of cult favorites The Favorite and Poor Things, Yorgos Lanthimoss Kinds of Kindness is a cruel contemplation on the painful sacrifices we make to get what we want. The film asks: Are we controlled by our desires? And how much control do we give to those who hold the key?

Fittingly, the film opens with the high-synth Eurythmics Sweet Dreams Are Made of These, in which Annie Lenoxs voice calls, Some of them want to use you / Some of them want to get used by you. Kinds of Kindness concludes with Emma Stone dancing feverishly to COBRAHs Brand New Bitch.

In the nearly three hours which connect these two blithely-spirited moments, Lanthimos offers a triptych of stories each with different plots that all use the same set of actors. The cast includes Lanthimoss long-time favorite Emma Stone protagonist of Poor Things Hong Chau, Willem Dafoe, Jesse Plemons and Margaret Qualley, among others.

The first parable, dubbed The Death of R.M.F., follows businessman Robert, played by Plemons, as he grows consumed by the commands of his boss Raymond, played by Defoe. Raymond determines when Robert eats, sleeps and has sex. The audience never quite learns why Robert is so intent on pleasing his boss. Perhaps that is the point: Lanthimos critiques the all-too-common fiending after wealth and status.

R.M.F. is Flying, the second story, trails along as police officer Daniel, also played by Plemons, investigates whether his wife Liz just recently back from being lost at sea has been replaced by an imposter. As a test of her identity, Daniel asks Liz, played by Stone, to complete brutish tasks. In one scene, she chops off her finger to serve as dinner. In another, she cuts out her liver. Chilling, I know.

In the final story, R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich, Andrew, played by Plemons, is a member of a purity-obsessed cult in the bayou. Guided by a prophecy, Andrew along with Emily, played by Stone searches for a girl with the power to bring the dead back to life. The subsequent tale includes bizarre sauna ceremonies, a set of twins played by Qualley and a resurrection.

If these stories packed with rituals, sacrifice and prophetic dreams sound a bit sacramental, thats no accident. Not only does Kinds of Kindness include biblical references, including to the Parable of the Prodigal Son, but the entire film is also a rumination of gods and their followers. Several characters become god-like to those around them: the boss, Raymond or the policeman, Daniel. Those in their lives Raymonds employee, Daniels wife are driven mad by a feverishness to satisfy. What will we do to please the people we worship?

In addition to the films religious allegory, there are both visual and conceptual sinews which bind the film together: games of power and control, moments of dark humor. And in each narrative, the surreal is mapped against the ordinary. In the last story, for instance, Stone drives a purple Dodge Challenger to find a veterinarian who has the power to resurrect the dead into the living. Cloaked in everyday clothes, the characters embark on medieval-esque endeavors against the backdrop of New Orleans.

Of course, violence serves as a persistent throughline of the film. The characters treat both sex and violence with a subversive flippancy, while operating in a world that looks remarkably like our own. The absurdity of Kinds of Kindness mirrors our own existence: while the real world may appear more buttoned-up on the outside, it is just as rotten as that of Lanthimoss sick fables. Or so the film posits.

Especially as a fan of Poor Things, it feels tempting to chalk off the films gore and debauchery to some high-brow genius spilled from Lanthimoss imagination. Theres brutal rape, a myriad of naked female bodies notably, very few male ones orgies and faint-inducing violence. But ultimately, its perversion masked as intellectualism. Strip away the biblical references and avant-garde air, and the film is mere bone-chilling depravity.

Perhaps, I told myself, Im approaching Kinds of Kindness all wrong. Maybe Im too uptight. But Lanthimos never properly develops any part of the film. The entire spectacle seems to operate on the surface of a surrealist dream with no real center. The film never pushes past the rather incoherent first unravelings of each story. Its a strange, lurid world not simply without rules or logic, but without depth.

Lanthimos-fans might declare the film as representing a sort of nihilism that resonates with our time. Its a tired story. As our world teeters toward ruin, nothing means anything. We are all savage animals of flesh and bone. Frankly, Im bored of it. I just cant help but feel Kinds of Kindness is ultimately empty.

There are echoes of life, just barely audible, between the borders of Kinds of Kindness. Push deep enough, and you will detect something in the film about love about how desperately and wholly we are committed to being loved that we will do anything to receive it. Stone offers poignant acting throughout, giving a glimpse at what Kinds of Kindness might have been if Lanthimos was able to excavate a bit more of that humanness.

Instead, the film chokes up a dark conclusion. Taken from the Eurythmics Sweet Dreams: everyone is looking for something. Lanthimos makes clear that we never quite find it.

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Review: Kinds of Kindness is a bleak, disappointing meditation on control - The Dartmouth

Oftentimes I find myself scrolling on my phone for hours without realizing it, or sitting down to do homework with the urge to check notifications or look at a screen every five minutes.

When those tendencies worsen, I like to take a break from certain apps, deleting them for a few weeks to reset and focus on other things. At first, I think about it intermittently, wondering what Im missing out on or wishing I could share a funny thought online, but after a week its the last thing on my mind. Those hours that used to be for scrolling are divided into productivity or phone calls to connect to loved ones.

The constant digital overload of information leads to a need to be up-to-date with trends and social statuses. There are numerous studies on the effects of blue-light and the addictiveness of social media. When factoring in the instant gratification of short-lived data, people are conditioned to only need attention for fleeting moments before moving on to the next topic. However, there are steps one can take to improve their attention span without a self-diagnosis of ADHD.

Many studies have looked at the attention spans of adults to show an average result of 10-15 minutes of attention for a speech or lecture. A study in 2015 from Microsoft Corp. revealed people have an attention span of eight seconds, lower than a goldfish, with an attention span of nine seconds. The National Library of Medicine also found a correlation between high screen time and low brain development in children.

Considering the addictive features of social media with our societys dependence on it, lowering ones screen time is harder than ever. Social media platforms cause surges in dopamine levels in the brain from things like comments or likes. This activates the brains reward center to show effects similar to gambling and drugs. Its impossible to remove screen use completely from our lives, but with this in mind, the practice of moderation weighs heavily on mental health.

Through a fleet of YouTube videos, I've recently developed a fascination with the long term effects of mediation. Meditation is said to increase ones attention span and ability to focus. To meditate, one sits somewhere comfortable and quiet, closes their eyes and slowly breathes through their nose for a period of time.

The point is to completely clear the mind of any thoughts to rest and reset. The only focus should be on breathing and feeling air fill the lungs. Even five minutes of this is difficult after taking in immoderate loads of information all day, but with practice, one can clear their mind for 20 to 30 minutes at a time. I started to meditate every day and found my ability to focus when studying or listening to lectures in class became significantly easier.

The common knowledge of blue light produced from cell phones is the disruption of brain activity. Blue light disrupts ones circadian rhythm and melatonin production to inhibit sleep quality. This cognitive interference should be taken into higher consideration in regard to its negative effects on attention span without quality sleep. One way to counteract this is by putting away devices 30 minutes to an hour before bed, or strengthening habits like reading before sleep.

Reading and journaling are forms of meditation to calm the mind and wear out leftover mental energy that sits unused when trying to shut down for sleep.Sleep is necessary for both learning and memory. The National Institute of Health reported adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep every night, and without those hours, ones ability to focus is slim to none. This makes the instant gratification of content from social media even more desirable.

Taking a break from social media altogether is also an option. Many people set a maximum screen time on their phone to limit their use. To replace that time normally spent mindlessly scrolling, practice hobbies with similar passive entertainment like reading, journaling, baking or creating something artistic.

Calm, a wellness brand, claims other ways to improve attention span are giving yourself breaks, organizing your time by writing things down in a planner, playing classical music, creating small, attainable goals to stay motivated and focusing on one task at a time instead of multitasking.

Shifting away from dependency on phones is difficult when they are an important tool in daily life. However, without active practice in separation to improve attention away from the screen, the iPad kids of the world will become iPad adults, and no one wants to see that. What seems hard at first gets easier, then enjoyed, and eventually its the new normal.

Libby Evans is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Libby know by emailing her at le422021@ohio.edu.

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From the Grapevine: How to counteract a shortening attention span - The Post

On day one of the ESSENCE Festival of Culture, at 8:45 a.m., as I walked into the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans and watched the lines of people form, I could hear the commotion beginning. People were ready. But as I entered inside and walked to the Wellness House activation and inside a curtained space with elevated stages, poufy orange cushions to sit on, sound bowls placed around, and sage being spread, it was a completely different scene and vibe. The practitioners, beautiful Black women from New Orleans who were preparing to teach guided meditation and utilize sound therapy, were dressed in ethereal white ensembles, greeting people with warmth and in a calm voice. They were ready, too. They were there and would be there every morning throughout ESSENCE Fest weekend to help guests heal.

Meditation is not necessarily doing anything, says Dirieal Perkins of Stretch Galore Yoga about the practice, which shes done for about five years. As we talk, her two-and-a-half-month-old son Yiannis, also in white, sleeps on her chest in a carrier. It is more so becoming, not necessarily one with your thoughts, but really just entertaining those thoughts and not so much dwelling on it, but just allowing it to flow and just let it pass. It is not, we have to sit down and only think about good things. Thats literally not what it is. Its kind of impossible in a sense. Your mind works; its all over the place. Its allowed to be that, but just also allow yourself to come back to center at some point. Like I said, entertain it. Then let it pass. Let it fly. But dont dwell on or hold on to those thoughts.

One way to entertain and release those thoughts is through breathwork, which Aries D, one of the practitioners who works at NOLAs Divine Essential Magic, says is essential.

We take breath for granted. Thats something that were born with. Thats the last thing we do when we leave this earth. But at the same token, its the main way that you can allow yourself to release not only oxygen, but different endorphins to help yourself relax, she shares. As challenging as it sounds, we have the ability to tell our minds next. So if its a thought that you dont want to have, say next, push it to the next spot. You have so many things that you encounter on a daily basis, let alone that you endure throughout your whole life. So even though its some unwanted memories or thoughts that pop up, you have a plethora of other ones that you could bring forth to manifest different beautiful realities for yourself.

Practicing meditation and learning the ability to acknowledge and then move on from thoughts that fill our minds has changed the life of lead instructor Shan-coa Burke. She has been doing it since 2016 and guided ESSENCE Fest guests through a stirring experience.

I needed to heal. I needed to do some real healing, the Stretch Galore leader recalls. I was ready to grow, and I saw how the power of manifestation changed my life, and I wanted to bring it to our people because it wasnt big in our community. And I was just this Black girl from New Orleans and thought, I need to bring this to our people. Because our people really need some healing. And one thing I know about God, he aligned it, and he aligned me with every one of these women.

Not only does the practice provide mental clarity, but it can also have physical benefits. This was clear from looking at the very youthful Burke, who one might confuse with a young college student but is actually a soon-to-be 30-year-old mother of three.

Even by me looking so young, thats because Im not letting the stress take me. The meditation is the detachment, Burke says. I envision myself detaching from these situations and pushing the negativity out. Pushing it out, inhaling that light, and exhaling that darkness.

The setting for the guided meditation service was quiet, and they even asked vendors across the way to turn down their music to maintain the sanctity of the space. However, the ladies made clear that such introspection doesnt have to be done only in hushed rooms.

The best way is to just do it no matter what youre doing. Most people feel that they have to be in a certain area or a certain spot, and it has to be quiet. I read a book once where it talks about different meditations. So Ive learned a whole lot. But you can literally sit down and eat and do food meditation, focus on the foods that youre eating. You can meditate while youre walking. You can meditate literally while youre working out, in the tub, sitting at your desk, and working. You can literally meditate anywhere. So this whole ideology that it needs to be peace, quiet, certain surroundings only, its not true. So its about just implementing it in everyday life, no matter what youre doing, just knowing you can do it anywhere, Perkins says.

While the guided meditation started with just a few participants, by the time I opened my eyes at the end, the room was full. People were sitting wherever they could find a spot, whether there was an orange cushion to rest on or the hard floor. But they were centered and at peace, ready to take on the Festival experience in a good headspace. That impact is the purpose behind all of the womens work.

Its how you start your day. You control your day because you can meditate and say, Im going to have this kind of day. I just believe in the power of manifestation and positive thoughts, Burke says. I learned this trick and I want to share it with you so you can see how it transforms your life. If you want balance, ask yourself every day, Why is my life balancing out the way I need it to? Ask yourself that because the why reveals itself. The why reveals answers.

She adds, Anytime you question why, your brain starts to work. It helps you cultivate the answer. It starts to find answers, and it starts to reveal things, too. So I want you to get there. I want everybody to be there. I want, especially our people, to be there because we really, really need this. We do this for our people.

Originally posted here:

The Guided Meditation Space At EFOC Was A Perfect Place To Find Healing - Essence

A female client of The Caring Place walked past its newest amenity, the Meditation Garden, and yelled out to volunteers who were constructing it.

It looks good so far, she told them from the parking lot.

Youre gonna love it, replied Jessica Luth, the shelters president and CEO. Its more gorgeous than I ever imagined.

Volunteers from Ivy Tech Community College in Valparaiso create a Meditation Garden at The Caring Place shelter in Valparaiso on Monday, July 8.

Located on spacious property in a residential neighborhood of Valparaiso, the once-empty field is now a tranquil reprieve from the storm of emotional trauma for clients and their children.

The Caring Place serves people who have experienced domestic violence and sexual assault, as well as their dependents. It also operates the only 24-hour crisis line and emergency shelter in Porter County.

The Caring Place is a beautiful shelter and we have amazing resources for clients. But it is still communal living, Luth said. This Zen garden is going to be healing for our clients and their children.

Don Spears, a professor at Ivy Tech Community College in Valparaiso, helps create a Meditation Garden at The Caring Place shelter in Valparaiso on Monday, July 8.

The garden was conceived weeks ago but constructed Monday by students and staff from the Valparaiso campus of Ivy Tech Community College. They arrived at 8 a.m. and stayed through the day, digging and planting, putting together chairs, building a fire pit, and turning nothing special into something beautiful.

Last semester, students in the schools Human Development and Ecological Systems class conducted a literature review to show that exposure to nature is proven to have positive psychological outcomes for individuals who have experienced trauma.

Two studies were even conducted with the samples being residents at domestic violence shelters, said Donald Spears, a professor of human services and the programs chair. With this information, we decided to contact The Caring Place about providing them with a Meditation Garden for parents to enjoy and recharge.

Volunteers from Ivy Tech Community College in Valparaiso take a needed break while building a Meditation Garden at The Caring Place shelter in Valparaiso on Monday, July 8.

Spears and other volunteers tilled and toiled on a hot, humid day as clients continued to rebuild their lives inside the shelter, which has 12 rooms, 45 beds and countless blessings for clients.

This is a collaboration of several different groups and departments, said Dan Mohamed, a faculty member of design technology at Ivy Tech in Valparaiso.

He created and modified the layout of the garden in AutoCAD, computer-aided design software. He also showed up Monday morning to help guide the projects logistics. (Watch a video and view more photos at NWI.com.)

Rachael Bennett, a life coach at Ivy Tech Community College in Valparaiso, plants seeds of hope at a new Meditation Garden at The Caring Place shelter in Valparaiso on Monday, July 8.

I know that our clients will use this garden, Luth told Spears and Mohamed. Sometimes we have more kids than adults so it can be loud in there.

As sweat dripped through his green tie-dyed Ivy Life shirt, Spears explained, Theyre envisioning this garden as an escape. Thats what we have created here.

Many clients arrive here with very few possessions, only items of necessity when they fled their home. Some of them were referred to The Caring Place by social service agencies. Other clients found the shelter on the internet by secretly visiting its website.

A tab on the bottom of the website states, Click here to exit quickly, in case any visitors feel endangered by their abusers while researching their next step in life.

Volunteers from Ivy Tech Community College in Valparaiso put together a table while building a Meditation Garden at The Caring Place shelter in Valparaiso on Monday, July 8.

Many of our clients need to be here longer than 30 or 45 days to get back on their feet, Luth said. Most of them simply need a safe place just to breathe. When youre able to breathe a little easier, its also easier to plan for your future.

Only three other similar shelters are in operation in Northwest Indiana, Luth noted.

We work with all of them but there are still not enough beds for clients, she said. This garden allows our clients to be a part of nature and not be stuck in a room. Or they can come here to spend alone time with their children.

Funds for the project were donated by James Harper, stepson of former Porter County Superior Court Judge David Chidester, who died in March.

Judge Chidester was on our board and he loved this place, Luth said.

Later this month, a park bench in the Meditation Garden will be adorned with a special plaque of appreciation in his honor.

He left his mark here for sure, Luth said as volunteers worked near the bench.

Clients can immediately begin using this peaceful garden to unearth their emotional troubles. Jessica Bates, an intern at the shelter and one of the volunteers, aptly summed it up during a break in the project.

They can bury their old feelings of pain and begin growing new ones of hope, she said.

Chidester, who I greatly admired, discreetly donated luggage to the shelter so clients didnt have to use trash bags to haul around their sparse belongings.

Dignity was important to the judge. He did what he could to provide it to our clients, Luth said.

Clients can immediately begin using this peaceful garden to unearth their emotional troubles. Jessica Bates, an intern at the shelter and one of the volunteers, aptly summed it up during a break in the project.

They can bury their old feelings of pain and begin growing new ones of hope, she said.

Contact Jerry at Jerry.Davich@nwi.com. Find him on Facebook and other socials. Opinions are those of the writer.

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Davich: The Caring Place's new meditation garden blossoms overnight for troubled clients - The Times of Northwest Indiana