Carnegie Mellon is a place where people are constantly solving problems, meeting deadlines, and balancing competing priorities. For staff and students alike, finding time to slow down and reconnect with themselves can be difficult.
When Arts and Humanities Librarian Kristin Heath launched her "Breathe, Reset, Connect with Your Heart" workshop in fall 2024, she wanted to create a welcoming space for members of the CMU community to step away from their daily responsibilities for a few moments and focus on their well-being.
What began as a workshop series has since evolved into a monthly virtual program that brings together participants from across the university. Along the way, the workshops have opened new opportunities for Heath to connect with departments throughout campus, introducing simple mindfulness and breathing practices to staff and students who might not otherwise engage with wellness programming.
Goal
- Create an accessible space for staff and students to pause, reflect, and reconnect amid their many projects and responsibilities.
- Reach members of the CMU community, particularly staff, who may be less likely to engage with traditional Libraries programming.
How We Helped
- After an in-person trial run, Heath adapted the workshop to a 30-minute Zoom session, making it easier for participants across campuses and departments to attend.
- During workshops, Heath leads guided breathing exercises, some light tapping on the body to clear stagnant energy, and ends with a short guided heart meditation designed to help participants feel more grounded, focused, and connected.
Results
- Heath offers the virtual workshop every month, helping new and returning participants feel more grounded, focused, and connected.
- Participants and campus units began inviting Heath to bring the workshop directly to their communities. During finals week in the fall of 2024, the Electrical and Computer Engineering department reached out about hosting an in-person workshop in the ECE space. Heath gave three 20-minute sessions, connecting with a part of the CMU community that might not typically work with a music librarian.
- Chisato Tada, Assistant Director of Foreign Student and Scholar Advising in the Office of International Education, invited Heath to an office staff meeting after attending a workshop session. “I’ve always been interested in practices that help me stay balanced, especially since advising on immigration matters for international students and scholars can be emotionally demanding. To be a better advisor, I realized I needed to carve out intentional time to care for my own well‑being before my cup ran empty,” she said. “Kristin is knowledgeable, attentive to our individual needs, and respectful of each person’s unique journey. Even in just twenty minutes, the session shifted the energy in the room — we all felt calmer, more centered, and more positive.”
- For two years in a row now, Heath has also attended GIS Day to offer attendees quick breathing exercises to help them ground themselves before the day’s activities. This past fall, around 50 people participated.
- Bridgette Bernagozzi, the Student Life and Office Coordinator from CyLab, invited Heath to the Collaborative Innovation Center (CIC) to host several sessions, attended mostly by staff and Ph.D. students.
- Participants have also joined from CMU Africa, giving the workshop an international reach.
Interested in participating in a “Breathe, Reset, Connect with Your Heart” workshop? Visit the Libraries’ workshop calendar to find the next session.