Dillard University Dining partners with black-owned yoga studio

End of the semester finals can be stressful for students, more so now than ever with the challenges presented by the pandemic.

To alleviate student stress and support local black-owned business, Dillard Dining by Sodexo offered a free "Mindful Yoga" event on the Dillard University campus.

Magnolia Yoga Studio, the first black-owned yoga studio in New Orleans, ran the socially distanced event which focused on relaxation and breathing techniques for students to practice during stressful times.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. adults reported considerably elevated adverse mental health conditions associated with COVID-19.

Younger adults, racial/ethnic minorities, essential workers, and unpaid adult caregivers reported having experienced disproportionately worse mental health outcomes.

Third year Dillard University student Jermany Gray said, "Participating in the Mindful Yoga event was a great way to disconnect from everything else going on at the end of the semester, the election, and the global pandemic. My first-time doing yoga, it was very interesting and felt nice to clear my mind.”

Yoga, long regarded as a proven stress reducer and mental health support, has become increasingly popular in recent decades.

"This semester has been very tough for students from a mental health and an overall wellness perspective,” said District Campus Dietitian Kelsey Rosenbaum, MS, RD, LDN. “Our Mindful Yoga event was about providing students a moment of peace and a few tools they can easily access, like deep breathing."