As midterms came to an end, the Psychology Club collaborated with the Yoga Club in order to help students de-stress, making Psychology Club activities open to anyone—as long as they’re willing to stretch into downward dog.
“I think we’re all in need of a de-stress, a de-frag time. So, I think it’s really important that the people come and just ground themselves and sort of touch back and base with reality,” Nicholas Passaro, vice president of the Psychology Club, said.
The Yoga Club provided mats, and 14 students surrounded the instructor and president, Andrew Chital. This was his second class taught after learning yoga from his mother.
The class focused on gentle stretches and relaxing poses accessible to all skill levels, offering students a peaceful break amid the park’s calm surroundings.
“Take the time and release any stress from this week with midterms. Let go of any of those thoughts. Just let them pass by if they come up,” Chitel said.
Yoga has been shown to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation, making it an easy choice for students seeking to balance their academic life with mental wellness, especially during one of the most financially stressful periods of young adulthood, according to Lily Rowe, a psychology and communications major at SLU-Madrid.
“I started doing yoga a while back and found it’s an excellent way to ground yourself when you’re feeling stressed or if you have a lot on your mind,” said Rowe.
Physical and mental health is just the start for the new leaders of the Psychology Club, who say they want to make discussions about mental health more open and turn them into a shared campus conversation.
Michaela Monterola, the president of the Psychology Club, says the club is about connection as much as psychology. She plans to create an inclusive space for all students, not just psychology majors.
“We want it to be a safe space where people can express themselves and also further their interests,” Monterola said. “Hopefully, we can give clarity to psychology students’ future career plans, but also make sure every student knows their mental health needs matter.”
Mariela de la Peña, the club’s new creative director and a psychology and philosophy major, is bringing the vision to life. She is in charge of rebranding the club’s image, including social media and event materials.
“My job is to make everything engaging, social media, posters, events, more llamativo,” she said. “We want Psych Club to feel like a community, even a family.”
