With music selections from WHUR 96.3, bouncy house, and Rita’s Italian Ice, Howard University’s second annual BWell Bison Wellness Day can be likened to a festival of relaxation at The Yard. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., students, faculty and staff will gather in droves to participate in a free festival in the name of improving mental health.
As the semester ends, events like this give participants the opportunity to take a break from the rigors of academia before the final season begins. Activities such as Wellness Sessions focus on inner well-being through hour-long yoga and sonic healing practices, while others take a more direct approach to wellness with fun activities .
“I think it’s important to have intentional moments where people can think about something other than the stressor itself,” says Tiara Licadnay Smith, an intern at Howard University Counseling Services.
“Having access to places where people can temporarily free their brains, such as massages, music or bounce houses, will have a positive impact on their performance in the finals.”
In addition to free massages from certified masseuses, students and others also had the opportunity to get free haircuts at Bison Barber Shop and take photos in a 360-degree photo booth.
Cloudy skies provided the bison with shade from the sun as the event featured dance contests for prizes, raffles and cooking demonstrations for healthy food options.
“It’s really nice to see everyone taking care of their health,” said Eran Watson, a graduate and political science major.
“There are graduations, jobs, and other things that take over your life. It’s great to have time to reflect, spend time with your loved ones, and take care of your health. By doing so, you can avoid stressing yourself out. It’s a reminder that you can’t go too far and that it’s still important to take care of yourself even during stressful times.”
Each activity held at The Yard was free for students to participate in, allowing them to have fun despite the pressures that come with the end of the school year.
Healthy eating options are lined up in front of the Armor J. Blackburn Student Center in the form of food trucks. The lines at the truck for tacos, hibachi and po’boys rivaled similar lines for free hair products and massages at Shine & Jam.
A physical health feature of the event was a wellness station and resources with dental and blood pressure screenings. We also had the opportunity to ask doctors questions about topics such as mental health and health education resources at universities and in the D.C. metropolitan area. -big. The options for health and fun were endless.
“I don’t know what I want to do, but there’s a lot going on, so it looks like it’s going to be a fun day,” said Naima Enriquez, a freshman legal communication major.
