By Faith Jarrell
Student Life Editor
From Tuesday, March 19 to Tuesday, March 26, the wellness interns at Washington College hosted a series of events titled “Spring into Wellness” in celebration of the Spring Equinox on March 19.
“Learning about different ways to relax can help people to discover which methods are most effective for them. During the two weeks of ‘Spring into Wellness,’ students had opportunities to do crafts, engage in distraction techniques, try yoga, and experiment with reflexology,” Dr. Lauren Littlefield, the Dr. Carol C. Culp Professor of Psychology at WC, said.
The first event of the first week of events included a journaling session on Tuesday, March 19 in the Egg from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. According to an email sent out by wellness intern junior Maddie Fernandez, journaling has “been proven to reduce anxiety.”
Next, there was a yoga session co-hosted by ShoreFIT on Wednesday, March 20, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Johnson Fitness Center’s dance studio. The reasoning behind this is that, as the email states, “Yoga has many psychological benefits.”
Finally, at the end of the first week, the wellness interns hosted a Bob Ross-inspired paint night on Friday, March 22 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Egg.
The following week the wellness interns hosted reflexology courses. As described in the email, “Reflexology is a practice that focuses on how different pressure points affect our bodies.” In total, there were three reflexology courses in the Egg, the first occurring on Monday, March 25 at 2:30 p.m. and the other two occurring on Tuesday, March 26 at 4 p.m. and the next at 5: 30 p.m.
“Reflexology is a complementary therapy that involves applying pressure to specific points on the hands (and sometimes the feet or ears) to promote relaxation, improve circulation, and support the body’s natural healing processes,” wellness intern senior Dori McMenamin said.
The first 25 people who showed up at each session also received complimentary gifts, including a hand and foot moisturizing set.
For the reflexology courses, certified reflexologist Katie Warrington from Willow Tree Wellness in Chestertown was invited to lead these exercises.
“She does Reflexology sessions for nerve stimulation and/or energy balancing to aid in a myriad of issues such as pain management and inflammation, digestive ailments, hormonal imbalances, stress and anxiety reduction, and for maintaining overall wellness,” McMenamin said.
Along with that, the Gibson-Wagner Psychology Department Fund sponsored the reflexology events.
“Wellness events like reflexology sessions are important for students as they promote stress reduction, physical and mental health, community building, education, and skill development. These events contribute to creating a healthier and more supportive campus environment,” McMenamin said.
Wellness intern junior Maddie Fernandez seconded McMenamin’s sentiment.
“It’s really important that students take breaks and prioritize their mental health. Organizing fun events like this one allow students to have an intentional break that they are looking forward to! Also, with the focus of this event, mental and physical health are prioritized, so it’s really beneficial all around,” Fernandez said.
McMenamin also added that if anyone has suggestions for next year’s events planned by wellness interns, they should email Dr. Littlefield at llittlefield2@washcoll.edu.
Photo by Faith Jarrell
Photo Caption: Certified reflexologist Katie Warrington from Willow Tree Wellness in Chestertown led students through reflexology exercises as a method of self-care.