Your eyes are closed. It’s the middle of the day and you’ve removed yourself from past stress and future obligations. You’re sitting in a log cabin far away from the hectic lifestyle of college. The only sound you hear is the gentle weaving of trees along with brisk autumn winds. You’re at peace, knowing that for a few minutes you are completely isolated from a world of stress.

Or maybe not.

Instead you’re at your family’s beachside house surrounded by friends. You’ve just arrived for a weekend that will be remembered through stories of adventures and good times. You’re relaxed, knowing that right now there is nothing to worry about.

It doesn’t matter where your ideal getaway location is, just as long as you go to it. At least, that’s the idea behind Sister Susan Becker’s meditation and relaxation exercise.

“It’s a time-out from the day, or really time-in,” said Becker, Pace’s Chaplain, who hosts relaxation and meditation every Thurs. at 3:30 p.m. in Kessel’s conference rooms. The program started earlier this year, hoping to help students spend some time with themselves instead of their busy schedule.

“We are so disconnected from our human spirit from too much outside stimulation,” said Becker. Every student has a million things to worry about every day. Classes, part-time jobs, internships, monthly finances, planning events and being involved on campus, it’s difficult to set aside time just to relax.

Becker got the idea for the meditation sessions after attending similar programs outside of Pace. One of the sessions she attended was hosted by a priest who had a great deal of experience guiding people through the program.

She described the experience as being brought to the bottom of the sea, an isolated location with immense beauty. The priest was so convincing with his relaxed tone that Becker jokes he almost hypnotized the participants. She was impressed with its effect and decided to try it out at Pace. Becker’s version only takes 20 minutes but still has a similar effect on participants.

“It feels like you’re floating,” said Pat Milo, ID Coordinator for Pace University.

The exercise has had success with most people who have attended, but not many students and staff are aware of Becker’s exercise.

“We’ve tried a few different times, last semester we tried 9 p.m. during the week,” said Becker. “It was very lonely at 9 p.m..” This past week, four staff members attended the meditation and the week before Becker sat alone for twenty minutes before calling it a day. Despite the low attendance, Becker has remained positive about the program’s contributions to students.

“The first week several students showed up but didn’t return the following week,” said Becker, “and that’s fine.”

Becker hopes to adapt her schedule to what students are interested in. She’s open to changing the timeslot to make it easier for students to attend and is even willing to try out multiple sessions per week. The goal is for members of the Pace Community to benefit from the sessions, there’s no agenda besides that.

“I’m not here to preach religion,” said Becker. “I’m here to help people get in touch with their sense of values.”

Becker explained her interpretation of spirituality as something that’s personal to each individual, regardless of what organized religion they may or may not affiliate with.

“Religion should be an aide to developing a person’s spirituality,” said Becker.

As the Campus Chaplain, Becker also has other projects being developed outside of the weekly meditation sessions. She intends to work with Student Government Association’s Vice President of Unity and Social Justice to plan events centered on morality.

One of the topics mentioned was a presentation on Fair Trade, which is about the concept of corporations charging more for their goods in exchange for the assurance that factory workers and fruit pickers are paid a fair rate. Becker explained that many third world countries are being taken advantage of by paying below minimum wage to workers in exchange for lower overall prices.

Becker buys specific brands of coffee and sugar that are marked as “fair trade” in support of the movement and wants other students to be aware of it. Becker has a few other ideas in the works but hasn’t developed them enough to start advertising it. For now, she just hopes more students and staffers utilize the meditation sessions.

“I can’t do this alone, I need a group of people to stay focused on the meditation,” said Becker.  “The communal aspect is very important.”

As of now, meditation and relaxation sessions are held in conference room A-B in Kessel at 3:30pm on Thursdays. Becker invites everyone to take twenty minutes out of their busy life and spend some time developing their eternal life.