Wellness Day Held to Support Students, Faculty and Staff Mental Health

Variety of Activities Provided Choices for Everyone

MEDIA CONTACT: Elijah Taylor, [email protected]

(BOWIE, Md.) - Wellness Day at Bowie State University brought together students, faculty and staff to emphasize mental and physical well-being during a busy academic season with a variety of activities under the themes "Mind & Body" and "Rest & Relax."

From Tai Chi, yoga and massage therapy to group counseling and breathwork sessions, participants were able to step back from their usual routines and focus on self-care last Friday. Wellness Day provided practical tools to help everyone manage stress.

Dr. Tamisha Ponder, a Bowie State alumna and owner of Sankofa Yoga and Wellness Center, led yoga and mindfulness workshops.

"What Wellness Day means to me is being able to pour back into students, the administration, faculty or any member of the campus community," Ponder said. "Even if it is good stress, your body doesn't know the difference between good and bad stress, so it's important to focus on your wellness." She emphasized that students need to give themselves "permission to rest" and recognize that wellness is just as essential as academic success.

Wellness Day participants were also encouraged to take part in Rest & Relax activities, including discussions on work-life balance. Loletta Osborne, Bowie State's Case Manager in Counseling Services explained that ensuring students have their basic needs met is a core part of wellness.

"Wellness Day was very successful," she said. "It's important to make sure a student's basic needs are met, that is what wellness means to me. Students were able to come between classes and take small moments throughout the day to distress."

Wellness Day gave the campus community a moment to step back, recharge, and realize that even small steps toward self-care can make a big difference. The event goes hand in hand with Bowie State's commitment to student well-being and helping students recognize that prioritizing health (both mental and physical) is key to thriving in college and beyond.

###

About Bowie State University
Founded in 1865, Bowie State University is the first Historically Black College/University (HBCU) in Maryland and one of the ten oldest in the country. As a leading institution of higher learning, Bowie State offers more than 65 bachelor's, master's, doctoral and certificate programs across arts and sciences, technology, business, education, healthcare and related disciplines. The university provides high-quality and affordable educational opportunities in a supportive environment that empowers students to think critically, make new discoveries, value differences and emerge as leaders in a highly technical, rapidly changing global society. For more information about Bowie State University, visit bowiestate.edu.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.