Universities across the country are bringing contemplative studies to the classroom to provide alternative learning methods to de-stress, improve focus and decrease distractions.
Diane Grimes sits cross-legged on a magenta Zafu meditation cushion in the front of the classroom as 21 students shuffle into her Tuesday afternoon CRS 347: Mindful Communication Skills class at Syracuse University. Fifteen women and six men deftly strip off thick parkas, down jackets, and heavy-duty snow boots; and place them in four large mahogany closets that line the sides of the room. Leaving behind everything but a folder and pen, the students assume a cross-legged position on their assigned Zafu cushions.