Meditation On The Rise, Locally & Nationally
BY KENDALL MCCABE | MARCH 24, 2011 7:20 AM
Yosra Elkhalifa felt stressed. She sat in an individual study room at the Blank Honors Center, her midterm in Theory and Practice of Argument just an hour away. But instead of cramming, she began to meditate.
She did not twist into a yogic pose but sat comfortably in a straight-backed chair with her eyes closed and her hands folded in her lap.
The University of Iowa freshman said transcendental meditation has given her a more positive outlook on life, though she has been practicing for only six weeks.
“I felt like I almost had an advantage over other people because I wasn’t panicking over the test,” she said. “I’ve been able to focus better, which is crucial, because I’m taking 17 credit hours.”
Nationally, the number of Americans meditating is increasing.