MINDFULNESS

The practice of mindfulness has many physical and mental health benefits. Research has shown that a regular mindfulness practice increases resiliency, focus, awareness, and attention for the individual. With semesters full of academic and extracurricular obligations, plus the stressors and activities of everyday life, mindfulness is an important practice for students and members to slow down, connect with themselves, and set themselves up for success.

Our mindfulness offerings are built for all levels and include education about the different types of practice. Our goal is to help participants build a foundational practice they can continue to return to the rest of their lives.

MEDITATE WITH US

Join us for in-person meditations at the Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center.

Sign up

IN-PERSON MEDITATION

Our in-person meditation classes are a time to unwind and focus on the present moment. We will incorporate elements of guided meditation, mindfulness, and relaxation practices. No previous meditation experience is required. Meditation classes will take place at the Bakke Recreation and Wellbeing Center.

 

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

Guidelines

  • Meditation classes are free (for Rec Well Members), however if you need to cancel your registration, please do so 2 hours prior.
  • You must pre-register for class at services.recwell.wisc.edu. Registration opens 48 hours in advance and closes 15 minutes before class begins. You may cancel your registration online up to 2 hours prior to the class start time.
  • A Rec Well employee will start checking in participants outside of the studio 10 minute before class begins. Once you’re checked in, you may enter the studio.
  • Late entry will not be permitted and no exit/re-entry will be allowed after class has started.

Policies

  • Participants must be 18 years or older to participate in meditation classes.
  • Please arrive on time for class; for the health and safety of all participants and employees, and to avoid interruptions, absolutely no late entries will be permitted and no exit/re-entry will be permitted after class has started.
  • A minimum of three participants is required for all classes to be held.
  • This is a no phone zone. Please avoid cell phone use while class is in session; if necessary, please make calls and texts outside of the room.
  • The use of mobile technology at any time for photo or video purposes is strictly prohibited unless approved in advance by the Marketing & Communications department (click here to submit a Marketing & Media Request).
  • Out of respect for the instructor and others, please avoid conversations while class is in session.

Questions? Please email wellbeing@recwell.wisc.edu.

How to cancel your reservation

  • Go to services.recwell.wisc.edu.
  • Click Log In in the top right corner of the page and log in using your NetID or Guest credentials.
  • Once logged in, click your name in the top right corner of the page and select Profile from the drop-down menu.
  • From the menu on the left side of the page, click Program Registrations.
  • Find the appointment you’d like to cancel, and click the red cancel button.

VIRTUAL MEDITATION

Take a breath and find a moment of calm with this 10-minute guided meditation from the Allen Centennial Gardens.

Headshot photo of Valeria Galetto.

Valeria Galetto

Valeria Galetto is a certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher (University of Massachusetts Medical School) and has taught the MBSR Program, both in English and Spanish, since 2016. She is a mindfulness instructor at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Osher Center for Integrative Health, where she teaches the MBSR Program and (starting in January 2024) a five-week course on mindfulness for alleviating chronic pain; she is also a mindfulness instructor at the UCSF Cancer Center, where she teaches the eight-week Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery (MBCR) Program to cancer patients and their caregivers. Also, she is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing at Samuel Merritt University, where she teaches a three-credit course on MBSR and the Neuroscience of Change; and a facilitating teacher at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, where she teaches the nine-week Satipatthana Meditation course. Most recently, she joined the UW Health Mindfulness Program, where she will teach the MBCR Program to cancer patients. In addition to teaching these programs, Valeria has developed and delivered a wide range of mindfulness-based courses and training programs, and has led silent meditation retreats, for universities, businesses, and non-profit organizations, both in the US and abroad. She is the founder and director of Samma Sati (samma-sati.org), an organization dedicated to the study, teaching, practice, and dissemination of mindfulness.

Valeria holds a Ph.D. in International Development from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Master’s degree in Social Anthropology from the Universidad Iberoamericana (Mexico), and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Communication from the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (Argentina). She has practiced and studied insight meditation since 2012.