On September 16, the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) Recreation and Wellbeing (RecWell) hosted the annual sunset yoga. Started in 2019, the event is typically run within the first week or two of classes. It’s meant to help participants disconnect from distractions and stress. Skills taught include yoga poses, breathing techniques and other tools to promote well-being to use year-round.
Additionally, student leaders learned valuable development skills as the main facilitators of the program.
“As the person in charge of the event, I had a lot of responsibility,” said Jessica Bresnick, a senior at UMass Amherst. “Ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for all participants, running a smooth and effective event, and assigning tasks to our student staff were a few highlights of my responsibilities. I had to solve challenges and make various decisions on my own. I was initially nervous to take on the role, however with the support of the professional staff, my team and the ability to trust myself, I grew more and more confident.”
Bresnick shared duties with Bella Costello, a senior at UMass Amherst, who had experience in helping run and teaching the content of the event last year. This year, she helped lead the class as well as operations with Bresnick. Ultimately, this work reaffirmed Costello’s passion for promoting health and well-being.
“My purpose in campus recreation is to inspire physical and emotional wellness campus-wide,” explained Costello. “Sunset yoga was the perfect opportunity to do so. I encourage people to let their passion and purpose in campus recreation pull them past their comfort zone.”
Key Considerations for Student Development
Giving students the agency to lead programs like this can be valuable for their leadership development and your own operations. However, Jason Incorvati, the associate director for Programs and Student Development at UMass Amherst RecWell, emphasized the need to provide guidance for student leaders.
“Aligning the proper balance between challenge and support is going to differ among each specific university context, each cohort of students and from individual to individual,” said Incorvati. “We — the professionals — are the programming experts. Giving students the opportunities to grow and be challenged while providing the necessary support to match the moment is key. Students appreciate your time. If they see you working to support their efforts during the event, they will feel empowered to give their best.”
While involving students can sometimes be a risk or require more energy than having professional staff run programming, Incorvati emphasized the power of getting students involved. Establishing systems and processes for them to work with can teach them valuable professional skills and help them engage with your department’s success. “Use the opportunity to pay forward the development opportunities that are the reason many of us are in the field,” he said.
Collaborate to Succeed
Having a solid team dedicated to collaboration was a big highlight for Costello. For example, the team ran into audio issues during the event. When none of the head-worn microphones were working, facilitators had to pivot. In effect, a group fitness manager demonstrated the poses on stage while Costello led the session with a handheld microphone.
“The solution ended up being more than just a fix,” explained Costello. “It shared the opportunity of leading sunset yoga with one of my teammates. I’m grateful for the challenges we faced, and our team’s adaptability to learn and grow.”
Ultimately, the event provided valuable time for attendees to destress and for facilitators to grow in their leadership. For Bresnick, experiences like this cement her time working with RecWell as some of the most impactful in her college career.
“Taking on a facilitating position at this year’s event was an incredible experience,” said Bresnick. “Working alongside Bella, Jason and our group fitness leadership team this year has been very rewarding thus far. The community we’ve built is very special, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the lessons I’ve learned and people I’ve met along the way.”
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