Editorials

Meditate, It’s Great!

Leah Malone, Student Writer|January 27, 2022

Meditation is a practice that has countless benefits, which people around the world should feel free to experience. As it has become a valuable resource for many people to use to help prevent stress, anxieties, and depression, it should be a common exercise used for students during school. Some opposers to meditative practices claim that it may be associated with various religious practices, and so implementation into schools may hold spiritual bias or disrespect faithful traditions. In reality, meditation can be done in many different ways that do not need to associate with religion.

Breathing focus, sleep meditation, and many more options are simple to rehearse without relation to any religious affiliations. The most basic types of meditation can be guided by personal, individual needs. When considering applying meditative practices into school environments, some critics believe that meditation takes away from educational time, and isn’t important enough to perform in school. However, with research supporting that meditation helps to improve focus and concentration levels, improve life quality, and help with alertness, it would be a useful practice to help students while in school.

In a study done by UCLA med school, Aurora Reyes, MAEd, stated that “Meditation is believed to help relieve stress, lessen depression, lower blood pressure and improve sleep [while boosting] memory, mood, and even social intelligence”. She also explains that the usage of meditation has been a positive practice for UCLA med school students when under pressure. Other schools that have already incorporated meditation into their schedules say that their students have increased attention after meditation, which aided in learning throughout the day. In addition, practicing meditation has been a way for people to improve their quality of life, as shown in some studies. People who perform meditation report having life improvement and enjoy it more. Kaylee Drummond, 21, says that “meditation has helped me find my peace in the everyday little things”. She described meditation as something she loved, as it helps her regulate her emotions and be happier overall. Research hasn’t shown any negative side effects of meditative practices, so why shouldn’t we try it in schools?