Reaching out by looking within: The #WellnessWednesdays initiative at Texas Tech University

Burns, Erin

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/113411 Copy

Description

Title

Reaching out by looking within: The #WellnessWednesdays initiative at Texas Tech University

Author(s)

Burns, Erin

Issue Date

2021-09-13

Keyword(s)

• Academic libraries
• Yoga
• Self-care
• Outreach
• Student wellness

Abstract

Academic library outreach initiatives that focus on wellness include movement-based fitness programs such as yoga. These programs offer students, staff and faculty who participate a chance to de-stress, lessening the impacts of tension, anxiety, and depression. Academic libraries are suited for these types of programs because we already provide space for other de-stress events, and research of the academic library literature shows that yoga programs in these spaces are increasing. However, the COVID19 pandemic forced changes in outreach programming. In January 2021, Texas Tech University Libraries started offering a yin and restorative yoga program that met weekly in the evenings online via Zoom. Because the university was previously offering these sessions for free to on-campus students, there was a need for a different type of yoga programming that also included online students, as well as staff and faculty. Designated “#WellnessWednesdays”, this program allowed the Texas Tech University Libraries to facilitate yoga sessions for members of the university community by creating a therapeutic environment that is both inclusive and accessible in an online setting.

Series/Report Name or Number

Journal of Library Outreach and Engagement, vol. 1, issue 2

Type of Resource

text

Language

eng

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/113411

DOI

https://doi.org/10.21900/j.jloe.v1i2.803

Copyright and License Information

• Copyright 2021 Erin Burns
• This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

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