ENGL 10
"Be"ing whole; finding homeostasis through practicing yoga, mindfulness, meditation Winter 2023

This is not the current course catalog

Class Details

We all hear all of the time to “just relax,” “just breath,” “just let it go,” but for many students at Williams the calm and stillness of slowing down, not running around and checking things off a long to-do list, not competing in athletics, performing in dance groups, acapella groups, or organizing multiple different extracurricular events and activities, is too anxiety provoking. At some point, we all hit a wall or our batteries just die out and there is no moving forward until we can recharge and learn how to balance the calm/stillness, relaxation, and letting go feeling with this fast-paced movement forward. You hike a mountain to see the view at the top, enjoy it, take in the scenery and the endorphins from hiking. You don’t hike a mountain to not look at the view at the top, turn around, and climb another mountain (well we will explore why we shouldn’t during our own hike(s)). In this class we will dive into powerful yoga practices, meditations, and other mindfulness practices such as mandala making, viewing art at a museum, taking mindful walks/hikes in nature as well as learn just why these practices allow us to relax, breath, let go AND balance our nervous system. We will join with other Winter Study Classes to practice meditation, observe art, and do other reflective practices. The class will emphasize teaching and learning the science behind our nervous system, the neurotransmitters and hormones that comprise the HPA axis, as well as learning REAL strategies to apply while at Williams and beyond. It’s a great class for anyone interested in the science behind wellness practices, a holistic approach to medicine and wellbeing, as well as learning more about one self and how to maintain a healthy balance between the parasympathetic/sympathetic nervous systems, the yin/yang, the fast pace/sedentary in order to “be” whole and flourish now and beyond.
The Class: Format: lecture; Meet: Tue/Th - 10-12:45pm; Option to teach practices at local elementary school Tue. 3-4:30pm
Limit: 15
Expected: NA
Class#: 1123
Grading: pass/fail only
Requirements/Evaluation: Final project or presentation
Prerequisites: Interest in trying new things, engage in different activities that might seem "weird." No yoga experience is necessary, but students should have an interest in the practice as well as an interest in winter play/hikes, and field trip to local museum.
Enrollment Preferences: juniors and seniors
Unit Notes: Amy Sosne, class of '05, works at the CLiA as the North Adams Program Coordinator. She has an MD and M.Ed, multiple yoga certifications, and experience in working in wellness with individuals of all ages and from a variety of different backgrounds.
Attributes: EXPE Experiential Education Courses
SLFX Winter Study Self-Expression
STUX Winter Study Student Exploration
WELL Winter Study Wellness

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