We’re wrapping up a wonderful semester, and wanted to share what we’ve done. Read on to hear about the different things the practicum did this semester and consider enrolling!
9/6/22 – Our first class was a Welcome and Introduction to the Practicum where we introduced ourselves, established group agreements, discussed the anatomy of a meditation sit, and a brief overview of meditation including its history and ways people traditionally like to practice it.
9/13/22 – Former practicum advisor and leader Professor Emerita Katja D’Ericco. It was an honor to learn from Katja about group dynamics. After that, we discussed Personal Identities and Different Ways to Meditate.
9/20/22 – We did Personal Practice Sharing and a Workshop on Facilitating a Meditation where the students asked questions to our panel of leaders.
10/2/22 – On a lovely Sunday, our class had the opportunity to attend a one-day retreat with our friend Rafa “A Loving Relationship With Meditation” and a private dinner with him the night before. Rafa has practiced Buddhism since 2013, training under Andrea Fella, Joseph Goldstein, and Beth Upton. During our retreat we learned about objects of attention and developing a beautiful relationship with them. The retreat included guided meditation, dhamma talk, lunch, group discussion, and the opportunity to speak with Rafa one-on-one, which many students found to be highly impactful. The retreat was on campus in the Du Bois library, which was very accessible for students!
10/4/22 – Following the retreat, we started our next class with some reflections before doing a Breath Workshop. Led by Nate and Brandon, we discussed breath as a fundamental practice, its history, and various techniques.
10/11/22 – With Brandon’s guidance, we explored Dynamic Mindfulness. We explored a few techniques including some adapted from Nat Turner and the Niroga Institute and discussed trauma-informed practice. We also did a social presencing theater led by our advisor Madeleine!
10/18/22 – We hosted guest speaker Jonathan Crowley, Director of Development in the Regional Development Office at UMass Amherst. Before coming to class, we watched a documentary that Jonathan was in, The Dhamma Brothers, where he and his partner Bruce Stewart from the Vipassana Meditation Center in Shelburne Falls, MA taught Vipassana meditation and facilitated retreats in high-security prisons.
10/25/22 – Another guest Deborah Evans, a doctoral student in the College of Education. We learned about yielding, the spine, and consciously feeling different parts of our body and how we engage them.
11/1/22 – Three guest speakers in a row! This week we hosted Tahn Pamutto, a mendicant monk. Tahn became a monk in Thailand before returning to the New England area where he currently wanders. We learned about Tahn’s practice and perspective and had a lovely conversation with him. Upon asked about wandering, Tahn discussed the concept of a home and attachment. What is your home? It certainly isn’t your house. It’s right here, now! You can read more about Tahn on his website Upavana.org.
11/8/22 – A super awesome field trip to the Windhorse Hill Retreat Center in Deerfield, MA. We visited here last semester and enjoyed it very much, so we decided to return, driving north from campus and along the Connecticut River. The retreat center sits secluded in the woods. Something about this place is special beyond words.
11/15/22 – Back in the classroom the following week, Nate led a Conscious Relating Workshop. The purpose of conscious relating, authentic relating, or nonviolent communication is to continue meditative practice and mindfulness while connecting with other people.
11/29/22 – Our second to last class was Open Space. We started with checking in, sharing about Thanksgiving break, and reflecting on our individual perspective on the semester and our outlooks. Then we put on some nice, soothing background music and everyone had the opportunity to practice in whatever way felt right to them. Some did yoga, some read, others wrote, and some even went for an adventure into the cold outdoors.
12/6/22 – And finally, our last class was a Celebration. We started with a reading which naturally turned into a small discussion and played a reflection game to share our thoughts on the semester, all while enjoying some snacks and the company of each other 🙂
We would like to extend our deep gratitude to all of those who aided us on our path this semester. From guest speakers to meditation club participants, each one of us has played a beautiful role in creating such a warm and fun community!
Practicum Leaders:
Amanda Rasmuson
Amanda is a senior studying Natural Resource Conservation. Being in the company of people who are lighthearted and like to laugh because life is too short to not find everything absolutely ridiculous makes her happy, and her favorite ways to meditate are barefoot walking meditations in nature, silence and body scans. She meditates because it’s the best thing she can do for herself. Plus there is only so much happiness pizza can bring one person before they plateau. The coincidences and synchronicities that we encounter everyday when we actually take the time to be present fascinate her most about the world. Outside of meditating, Amanda has an endless array of hobbies including writing, playing video games, and listening to and listening to/creating music. Her favorite things about UMass meditation are how many people in the community are invested in or interested in meditation, seeing new faces at the group sits, and then seeing those same faces come back after they notice it has a positive effect on their life.
Brandon Báez
Brandon Báez is a senior studying Psychology with a Spanish minor. Reading books, thrifting, music, and jamming make him happy. His favorite ways to meditate are vipassana meditation, dynamic mindfulness, chanting, and loving-kindness. Brandon meditates to help cultivate and strengthen his awareness, decrease his reactivity to events in life, and to understand the nature of the mind. He is fascinated most by how rapidly the world is changing and the opportunities that come with that. Also, by the shifting in the collective consciousness from the people that aim to heal! Outside of meditating, Brandon loves playing guitar and wailing, and his favorite thing about UMass meditation is the growing community of meditators.
Nate Wright
Nate W. is a senior studying Civil and Environmental Engineering. Taking a deep breath makes him happy, and his favorite way to meditate is by being here now. He meditates because it’s joyful and makes him feel more alive. Existence and the beauty of nature is what fascinates him most about the world. Outside of meditating, Nate W. enjoys running, spending time with friends, and laughing. His favorite thing about UMass meditation is the people and the community we’ve built 🙂
Practicum Students:
Anshul Gupta
Anshul Gupta is a sophomore at UMass Amherst studying Information Systems. He strives to advocate for the connection between mindfulness practices and science. He enjoys incorporating short- and long-term mindfulness and meditation practices like scientifically proven breathing exercises, mindful movement, and mindful eating. Anshul believes mindfulness and meditation can change lives. Anshul’s favorite part about UMass mediation is the inclusion and welcoming nature – a group seeking to be there for all students. Outside of school, Anshul likes to play racquet sports and share mindfulness’s power with his community.
Jenna Gouveia
Jenna is a senior studying Sustainable Food and Farming Major with a minor in Native American and Indigenous Studies. Just about anything makes her happy, and her favorite way to meditate is through metta and walking meditations. She meditates to observe the mind and appreciate stillness. Cyclical movements and relationships of the natural world fascinate her most about the world. Outside of meditating, Jenna most enjoys hiking, rock climbing, and wandering around barefoot. Her favorite thing about UMass meditation is community! shared experience! and different experiences too!
Jo Fuchs
Jo is a junior studying Sustainable Food and Farming, and climbing trees makes her happy. One of her favorite ways to meditate is through walking meditations. She meditates to create acceptance towards all parts of her life, both the good and the bad and all the in between. Meditation helps her embrace the sometimes difficult or complicated truths of our world! What fascinates Jo most is our ability to behold beauty ? It’s something beyond explanation; we can just bask in how wonderful the world around us is, and it asks for nothing in return. So much of the world is framed as a gift to exist and holding that truth is such a privilege. Outside of school and meditation, she enjoys dancing, climbing, gardening, knitting/crocheting, and crafting. She loves to create and make beautiful things inspired by being in nature as much as possible. Jo’s favorite thing about UMass meditation is the variety, diversity, and richness of the community!
Kyla Alexander
Kyla is a junior studying Sustainable Food and Farming with a community engagement & service learning certificate. Shooting stars make her happy, and her favorite way to meditate is with frequencies, which make it that her mind does not have a stage to speak on and thus deepens her practice. She meditates because it’s natural; it’s in forms, everpresent.. always changing… she returns to her core through breathwork and mindfulness. The world fascinates her most by the oneness of it all. Outside of meditating, Kyla likes to wander… it may be wandering the physical world (she feels the most embodied in nature).. or it may be wandering my mind and imagination through creative endeavors and absorbing the arts. Her favorite thing about UMass meditation is the community and its open, nonjudgmental space.
Lily Grinhauz
Lily is a junior studying Natural Resources Conservation. Cooking makes her happy! Her favorite way to meditate is through chanting meditations and alternate nostril breathing. She meditates to stay grounded, and she is most fascinated by the interconnectedness of everything. Outside of meditating, Lily enjoys being outdoors, playing and listening to music, and reading. Her favorite thing about UMass meditation is the space it creates to connect with other people.
Maeve Quilty
Maeve is a senior studying Sociology with a certificate in Social Work and Social Welfare. Nature and the people she loves make her happy! Her favorite ways to meditate are journaling, walking and yoga, and she meditates to help with her anxiety and because a still mind allows her to interact with the world in a more productive way. The world fascinates her most by how within all the chaos and hatred, there is still so much love and happiness. Outside of meditating, Maeve enjoys cooking, spending time outside, listening to music, and going on adventures! Her favorite thing about UMass meditation is the community; it’s such a safe and welcoming space to share and learn and it has really shaped her UMass experience.
Nate Cupertino
Nate C. is a sophomore studying Neuro-Psychology. Finding ways to be creative makes him happy, and his favorite way to meditate is by focusing on the breath. But, he also considers drawing to be a great form of meditation. Nate C. meditates to cultivate focus, and he is most fascinated by humanity’s capacity to reach a higher state of consciousness through genuine moral effort. Outside of meditating, he enjoys drawing, painting, hiking, skateboarding, and listening to music and podcasts. His favorite thing about UMass meditation is the community ? he’s made many like minded friends who are genuinely good people!
Practicum Advisor:
Madeleine Charney
Madeleine has worked at UMass since 2004 and she is the Librarian for built/natural environment majors. Watching the Norway spruces sway from her bedroom window every morning makes her happy. Her favorite way to meditate is labyrinth walks, and she meditates to liberate herself from constructs. The world fascinates her most when she slows down enough to notice how EVERYTHING is in constant motion. Outside of meditating, Madeleine enjoys growing medicinal herbs, singing, and reading autobiographies. Her favorite thing about UMass meditation is the camaraderie with people on campus who are curious, open and actively cultivating resilience for the Greater Good.
