Bringing a Little Calm to Your Day

Sound Familiar?

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  • Do you feel stressed or anxious most of the time? Is it difficult to relax?
  • Do you have trouble with focus and concentration?
  • Want to be more present in your relationships?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these, Intro to Mindfulness courses can help!


Intro to Mindfulness Courses

Mindfulness is simply the practice of paying attention to whatever is happening in the moment, with curiosity, kindness, and no self-judgment.

You can be mindful anywhere, anytime. However, as most of us know, it isn’t always easy to pay attention to the present moment. That’s where meditation comes in. Fortunately, it doesn’t take much meditation practice to feel less stress, less anxiety, and more calm.

NOW CATS offers Intro to Mindfulness courses each semester. These courses teach skills that have no expiration date, meaning you can apply them now, and continue to use them throughout your life.

Attention:

Thank you for a wonderful Spring semester of NOWCATS classes. We are currently planning our upcoming Fall 2026 NOWCATS sessions and will post dates and times here around the start of the Fall semester. Please check back for additional information. In the meantime, feel free to explore the resources below.

FAQs

  • Learning to meditate is one way to become more mindful, In these classes you will have the opportunity to practice several different types of meditation, each with a different purpose. 

    For example, many of us eat while watching television. Not typically a big deal, until we realize our attention is on the television and not what, or how much, we're eating! Being more mindful can help you slow down and enjoy more of your food. An eating meditation is just one type of meditation you'll have the opportunity to practice in the Intro to Mindfulness course.

    Another example: You know that feeling when you're standing in line at the store and the line seems to be moving too slow? We have a stealth meditation to help with that too. It might not make the line move faster, but it will help lower the stress you feel about it.

    Everybody can meditate. You just need to find the meditation types that work for you. This course can help.

  • Each course is one class a week for 4 weeks; each class is 75 minutes. 

  • No. There is no additional cost.

  • Registration is required as space is limited. 

    When registering, keep in mind that you need to attend all four classes as the skills build on each other. 

     

  • This workshop a non-credit course, but you will receive a certificate of completion after completing all four classes. 

  • All you need to do is register and show up! 

    In the first class, you'll be given digital access to the book for the suggested readings, as well as an app that has every meditation we use, meditation tiers, and a log to keep track of your progress. Again, no additional cost to you. 

  • The NOW CATS team

  • The NOW CATS team guides the Intro to Mindfulness courses and contributes to the other mindfulness resources listed on the Mindfulness page. 

    The team consists of Staff from the Counseling Center and University Health Services, as well as several Faculty members. 

    Each team member is certified, or actively working toward certification, by the Mindfulness Institute for Emerging Adults (MIEA). 

    Each NOW CAT team member is committed to offering skills that can enhance your academic success and overall wellness.

  • Click the button on the right side of the screen, under Boko, and you'll be taken to the the registration form.

  • If you require accommodations due to a disability in order to participate, please contact the Counseling Center at 512-245-2208 at least 72 hours in advance of the event.

boko with thought bubble saying now cats

Meditation Spots on Campus

Need a place to rest and decompress but no time to go home? A quiet space might be closer than you think!

San Marcos Campus

room with yoga mats and pillows on floor

Student Recreation Center, behind the basketball courts on 1st floor. 

No reservation needed.

Round Rock Campus

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Avery building, Room 110 (across from the Student Recreation Center)

Reservations are required and can be made with staff in the rec center


Guided Meditation Videos


Mindful Minutes

Check out Mindful Minutes using our slideshow to the right. 

Follow the “Mindfulness Program” button above to visit the NOW CATS Mindfulness page to explore ways to practice mindfulness in your daily life. 


Watercolor background with text that reads Today, stop and recognize a piece of nature (e.g., a flower, rain cloud, rain drops, a tree, a breeze) by utilizing and processing it through each of your senses.