Wellness Wednesday w/UMBC alumna, Dr. Karolyn Babalola

We would like to invite you to the third of five conversations on mindfulness this spring. In these sessions you will join members of the LSAMP community across the University System of Maryland as we learn the benefits of mindfulness and engage in exercises to help us appreciate the present moment.

Each session will be led by Dr. Karolyn Babalola. Dr. Babalola is an innovator, teacher, yogini, and learner. She is currently a Senior Lead Engineer at Booz Allen Hamilton leading AI-based Natural Language Processing (NLP) technology development. She completed her M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. She received her B.S. in Computer Engineering at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, where she was a Meyerhoff Scholar. 

Session 3 will be focused on Pranayama- Breathing Exercises for Energy, Focus and Relaxation

In this session we will introduce the concept of pranayama, yogic breathing techniques. We will discuss different breathing methods that can be used to energize, gain focus and relax. We will also discuss how to use breathing to enhance our affirmation practice. We will start with morning affirmation exercises, transition to exercises for work breaks and meeting preparation and conclude with post-work/wind-down exercises. We will conclude with a pranayama-based group meditation.

Materials:

• A mat on which to sit or recline