The Student Meditation Team

Hi there! Get to know our team!

Student Meditation is a society (Studentenvereniging) run by committed students who regularly practice meditation and are moved by bringing the benefits of the practice to peers.

Our main goal of Student Meditation is to increase mental well-being, resilience to stress and quality of life of students in Amsterdam and staff at the UvA, by introducing people to down-to-earth meditation and its benefits. We offer science-backed forms of meditation that are shown to benefit people in terms of happiness, concentration, stress levels and self-compassion.

Our second focus is on fostering a sense of community, creating a space where people feel like they can be themselves and find likeminded individuals who are interested in cultivating more peace of mind and presence. We focus on organizing meaningful activities aimed at personal growth.

All team members are committed to this goal, and we love to see the organization grow to have a positive effect, however small, on as many individuals as possible.

If you also like to bring change in your life and in the lives of your friends/peers/communities, the best way to get in touch with us is to talk to the guide at the end of a guided meditation or message us through WhatsApp. We swear we don't bite. You can also reach out to mail@studentmeditation.nl or send us a message on Instagram.

Interested in joining our team?

Here at Student Meditation we like to keep it simple. We do what we like, for the well-being of others.

We are really enjoying the Student Meditation project, but at the moment we're just a handful of people. We would like to expand and get some help from you.

We need people for:

• Organising events, bringing people together and buying cookies
• Creating promotion material and posting on social media
• Hosting guided meditations.
• Booking rooms and making sure our logistics are handled
• Reading our emails and handling collaborations with external partners

You have:

• Enthusiasm about meditation
• Some free time to help us out

Then we are looking for you!

Approach the guide at the guided meditations or send a team member a message on WhatsApp.

Currently, the team of volunteers consists of Myriam, Beau, Diana, Prateek, Sabina, Niels, Mi and Sam (some of which are missing on the picture!).

Within the team there is also a group of board members.

The Board of 24/25

Myriam (Chairperson – Teacher)

I am Myriam, meditation teacher and chairperson of Student Meditation. As a teacher, I guide meditations, facilitate courses and workshops, and train new guides. As the chairperson, I coordinate the team. Aside of this, I study feminist political philosophy at the UvA. Meditation has brought so much to my life and I'm really passionate about sharing mindful practices and building community. My guiding style is focused on cultivating acceptance, self-compassion, and the capacity to inhabit our bodies fully. I am influenced by secular mindfulness, Kristin Neff's Mindful-self compassion, Nonviolent communication and Somatics. I am also interested in bringing mindfulness into all sorts of activities – journaling, yoga, dancing, singing, touch, communication. If any of this interests you, feel free to approach me at the guided meditations!

Diana (Treasurer – Promotion)

I'm Diana, a 20-year-old studying psychology at UvA. I wear two hats at Student Meditation — I handle the money stuff (as the treasurer) and lead the team that spreads the word about our events (as head of the Promotion Committee). My mission? To build a welcoming space where everyone can count on finding peace through meditation and mindfulness. Kindness is my guiding principle, and I live by the motto "It will pass," reminding myself to approach life with resilience and a commitment to promoting well-being to those around me. I thrive on creating a positive impact within the university community and beyond.

Beau (Secretary – Guide)

Hello, I'm Beau—an active meditator for 5 years. As the events committee coordinator, I seek to transfer the meditation knowledge our association has gathered over the years and to create opportunities for connection with one another through mindful events (like experiential dance). As a guide and teacher, I wish to provide a welcoming space for anyone to try out meditation without any experience needed.

Above all, my motivation for being on the Student Meditation board is rooted in promoting mindful living, especially in a studious environment where you sometimes forget to notice where you're at and recenter. I'm currently listening a lot to Alan Watts and trying to incorporate the insights I gain into my own practice, mainly focusing on the breath. Outside of Student Meditation, I love to play music and create long-lasting memories with friends.

You will slowly get to know us when you join our guided meditations, follow the beginners' course, or participate in other events.