Meditation marathon challenges students to find inner peace

Some UNC students believe health of the mind is just as important as health of the body. 

“I think that people’s inner self is just as important to their health as their exterior. If you go for a run every day, you’re taking care of your body and it’s important to take care of your inner self as well,” first-year Alex Ludwig said. 

The Carolina Meditation Club's 90 day meditation challenge began yesterday. 

Maura Hartzman, president of the Carolina Meditation Club, said the challenge was inspired by a blog post a club member found online. 

“The logic was it takes 90 days to make or break a habit,” Hartzman said. “So if he sticks with meditation for 90 days it will become more habitual and he’ll stick with it.”

Hartzman said there are about 30 people signed up. Participants track their own meditation on a spreadsheet and write in what type of meditation they completed and for how long. 

“It’s pretty open-ended because there are so many ways to meditate throughout your day,” she said.

Hartzman said the 90 day challenge is open to all students. The Carolina Meditation Club’s meetings are also open to all students during the 90 days. 

“We meet a few times a week and we try to create a safe space for people to either learn how to meditate or just have a solidified group to consistently meditate,” Hartzman said.

The money from the $4 entry fee goes to prizes for the participants who meditate for the most days or the most time, added up over all 90 days. 

Linda Chupkowski, a clinical social worker at Counseling and Psychological Services, said meditation can offer students several health benefits. 

“Meditation helps us see how our minds create suffering, and see how the mind creates its own suffering,” Chupkowski said.

Chupkowski said she teaches a meditation section offered by Campus Health and regularly recommends meditation to students. 

“I would encourage people to have an open mind and be willing to give it a try. A lot of times it’s different than what people would expect,” Chupkowski said. “And some people kind of dismiss it as this hippie thing, but there’s so much science that supports it.”

Ludwig said he had never meditated before signing up for the challenge.

“I signed up because I thought, well it’s something new. The idea of meditation is very interesting to me and it was a good way to become introduced to it,” he said.

Ludwig said he hopes to gain a steady rhythm by completing the challenge.

Chupkowski said she hopes students do not get discouraged if they miss a day of the 90 day challenge.

“Stay the course and let yourself be imperfect, rather than quit altogether,” Chupkowski said.

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