DEH Meditation Workshop

On July 24, 2025, the Department of English and Humanities at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) hosted a workshop titled “The De-Stress Express: A Meditation Workshop”. The session was conducted by Ms. Raina Haq, who is a student at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA. The goal of the workshop was to enhance students’ mental and physical wellbeing through the practice of meditation.

The session began with a minute of silence to mourn the victims of the Milestone School and College tragedy. Following the period of silence, the workshop proceeded with a casual and warm interaction between the speaker and the audience.

Ms. Haq introduced the concept of meditation by explaining its history and importance while emphasizing its benefits for managing stress and finding inner balance. She then conducted a guided practice session which included three types of meditation — breathing exercises, focusing on pulses, and affirmation meditation. Her goal was to help the participants feel relaxed and calm, offering them a break from their routine-bound lives. To encourage individuals’ freedom in practice, Ms. Haq discussed how meditation can be done not only while sitting silently but also during activities like eating, walking, drawing, dancing, or embroidery. She also explained how it nurtures a deeper connection between the mind, body, and inner self.

This was followed by a question and answer session, with thoughtful questions from Professor Kaiser Haq, the Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities and Ms. Arifa Ghani Rahman, Associate Professor and the Head of the Department of English and Humanities. Several audience members also shared their personal experiences. Some reflected on how meditation supported them during the COVID-19 quarantine, while others described feelings of nostalgia by recalling past meditation sessions. Ms. Haq shared her own journey with meditation and its impact on her life.

The workshop concluded with a token of appreciation presented to Ms. Haq. Ms. Arifa Ghani Rahman also expressed her gratitude to Ms. Raina Haq for her time and effort in conducting the workshop.

               Report by Zumur Nath (243013011)