Students participate in mindfulness events for Inside-Out Week

University recognizes National Eating Disorder Awareness Week

Campus recreation recognizes National Eating disorder awareness week by covering mirrors in studios. PHOTO CREDIT: Maddie Bataille | Photo Editor

“Inside out week” is a time to recognize what your body can do for you, and how you feel, rather than focusing on how you look, according to Campus Recreation. 

The week operates in correspondence with National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA), a foundation to help raise awareness and resources for eating disorders. 

The University of Rhode Island’s Campus Recreation recognized this week and used it as an opportunity to lead classes and discussions to encourage students to nourish and fuel their bodies and minds, according to Kelly Zarka, senior and Spin Instructor at Campus Rec. 

During the week, Campus Recreation covered their mirrors in group exercise studio, Mind/Body Studio, and Cycle Studio in Anna Fascitelli Fitness and Wellness Center. Students were able to perform their classes focusing on how they felt rather than how they looked. 

“Of course, form and everything is super important, but we guide you through that as you just focus on how you feel,” Zarka said.

People were encouraged to write what they love about themselves on the paper banner that covered the mirrors to keep themselves and others motivated. 

The week also featured some limited classes such as a cycle class featuring Taylor Swift’s “Reputation” album, and personal online reiki demos. Zarka, who hosted the “Reputation” cycling session, mentioned that the people in her classes keep her motivated.

 “I always know everyone in the room is going to completely hype me up,” she said.

Our bodies are not the only things that can be recognized during inside out week. It also highlights how to make sure your mind and body are aligned. 

The virtual reiki demo was an outlet offered this past week to let students find a new way to destress. According to Campus Rec, reiki is a “Japanese-style technique that will help you feel more relaxed and better able to focus. It is a holistic tool that can support your overall well-being.”

The virtual demonstrations were led by a reiki master, Alyssa Knapp, who met with students for 15 minutes as an introduction to this method. 

Knapp started the session by briefly explaining the art of reiki and asking the student to explain their background in mindfulness, and where they feel like they carry their stress. She then encouraged the student to be open to receiving the energy and guided the student on meditation through each main chakra, a meditation focal point, and what its purpose was. 

According to Knapp, the experience of reiki is supposed to be grounding.

“Self-care is about acknowledging that you are worthy of your own energy, and reconnecting to yourself,” she said. “So often, we get so hung up on what’s outside of us that we lose that connection to our physical body.”

Knapp also acknowledged that our mental state comes through our physical body. 

“When that happens, we start to ignore all the signs and signals, we ignore the jaw, or shoulder, the pain and the headaches,” Knapp said. 

Inside Out week occurs each year in February at the University of Rhode Island to remind students to check in on mental health.