By: Lindsey Hamilton ‘22

Let me begin by addressing a few misconceptions. Yoga, as a practice, is neither about form-fitting Lululemon pants, nor turning yourself into a human pretzel. You don’t need a Hydroflask or even much flexibility. Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years by people of all skill levels and backgrounds with universal results: drastically increased mental and physical benefits. Kundalini yoga in particular focuses on maximizing mental health benefits through special yoga practice combined with mantras, a kind of chant and music intended to help direct and focus the mind. For a taste of these mantras, be sure to check out the Grammy Award-winning band White Sun, a group famous for their musical interpretation of yogic mantras. The FREE concert will be held on Monday, April 22nd at 6PM in Founders Park on campus. For a better idea of what this type of yoga is all about, keep on reading!

By: Lindsey Hamilton ‘22

Trying to get all of your classes — the right courses and the right time with the right teacher — can sometimes feel like a ferocious free-for-all. But with patience and a little strategy, figuring out next semester’s schedule should feel less like a mad dash and more like a fun puzzle. (Not even an exaggeration — I’m not the only one who finds planning fun…right?) Here are the top tips to finessing fall semester and taking another step towards that degree.

By: Lindsey Hamilton ‘22

You’ve seen them all. There are so many “top ten” lists and similar compilations of bite-sized information you could practically make an encyclopedia. Yet because lists are meant to be skimmed, depth is usually sacrificed. We have so much information easily available that we don’t know what to do with it — so oftentimes we don’t do anything. But that’s not good! We have the potential to do so much good in the world, and I believe that in approaching information from the right angle we can do just this. So in the spirit of our favorite easy-to-read format, here is a list of ways to hack the famous Top Ten List and deal with information overload (including some other fun Top Ten finds)!

By: Danielle Collins ‘20

When you go abroad, you’ll start to hear all the usual jokes about the “Abroad 15.” And to be honest, you might put on a pound or two. I mean, let’s face it, there’s a whole world of new foods to try. But that doesn’t mean you should completely let yourself go. Here are some tips to stay healthy, physically and mentally, while abroad.

By: Jamie Wu ‘18

Daniella Mohazab is a senior studying Communication, Media Economics and Entrepreneurship, and is a first year masters student studying Communication Management. Aside from her passion for communication, she is also a strong advocate for the mental well-being of students on our USC campus as well as young adults across the U.S.

By: Ellice Ellis ‘20

Before coming to college, I was a morning person. I typically would wake up early and do chores, exercise, and cook. I truly thought I was the early-bird who catches the worm. My first 8am proved me wrong. My first semester of freshman year I had an 8am on Mondays and it was h-e-double hockey stick. I was constantly late, tired and cranky. I forgot assignments and even went to the wrong classroom sometimes. Eventually, I learned from my mistakes and was able to thrive and get an A in the class. I bet you’re wondering how I did it, aren’t you? Keep reading for 8am survival tips.

By: Ellice Ellis ‘20

It seems like it’s always something when it comes to our health and wellness. From yoga to barre to being gluten-free or juicing every day; there is always a new trend. “Mindfulness” and “meditation” are popular buzzwords these days but they’ve been a part of my life for almost 10 years! I started meditating after attending group yoga when I was in middle school. My parent’s had recently gotten divorced and my mom found it was a good way to channel and focus negative energy and thoughts. 7 years later, I found she was right.

By: Ellice Ellis ‘20

There is no surprise that college is stressful. Between balancing work, friendships, internships and your financial life, these formative years teach us a lot about ourselves and the way we handle stress. In the event that something tragic happens, it can be hard to cope and balance it with the already strenuous college experience. In April as I was preparing for finals, my father passed suddenly. My world was flipped upside down. I talked to my dad twice everyday about anything from my lectures in my law class to Colin Kaepernick to drama with my friends. Suddenly not having him there to talk to for advice threw off daily life. No day felt complete. I was depressed - unable to focus and constantly feeling empty. Loss and subsequent grief can come in many forms. Whether it is being rejected from your dream internship (it’s happened to me), experiencing a heart-wrenching breakup, or losing a loved one, there are healthy and effective ways deal with the pain.

By: Lilly Kate Diaz ‘20

As the school year is rollin’ by, some of you might already be in need of some stress relief (like moi). And fortunately for USC students, we have some special companions that’ll be just the right being to help us. And yes – I’m talking about therapy dogs (or puppies, as I like to call all dogs).

By: Ellice Ellis ‘20

Anyway you frame it, preparing for finals can be stressful. Whether they come in the form of your normal tests, essays or other types of projects; these assessments are of the utmost importance because they reflect the hard work you’ve put in all semester and play a major role in your final grade. Personally, I’ve found myself stacked with studying, finishing projects, writing essays and completing other important personal tasks during this time. In addition to the stress there seems to be an attitude amongst many professors that their class assignments are the most important. Despite these tensions, here are five pieces of advice you can take into the next few weeks in order to reduce your stress and get your stuff together during this stressful time.

By: Ellice Ellis ‘20

Between midterms, jobs, internships, homework, and relationships taking time for yourself can be the last thing on a student’s mind. Taking on too many tasks, overbooking yourself, and never slowing down can put a student in a diminished physical, emotional, and mental state.

By: Anna Lipscomb

It’s 2017! New year, new you. Do you want to live a healthier lifestyle this year? Learn a new language? Save more money? Stop procrastinating? Here’s how you can keep up your New Year’s resolution at USC: