The Marilyn Magaram Center (MMC) SMART Garden was lively on Tuesday afternoon as students gathered for a midday pause, participating in activities that support mental health and overall wellness. Tea Haven workshops incorporate different aspects of well-being, including music, art, meditation and of course, tea.
Students at the workshop participated in a guided music session focused on mindfulness and grounding, painted terracotta pots, planted flower seeds and received gifts for participating.
The Tea Haven project was created back in 2022, with different organizers and student assistants each year. Sofia Arias is the graduate student lead and has a team of student assistants who help her organize events.
“I actually worked for the Marilyn Magaram Center during my undergrad years, and I was the social media lead for them,” Arias said. “I loved the workshops, and then when I became a graduate student, I was offered to take on the role of the lead, and I said yes, and I loved it.”
Tea Haven is a program designed by Nancy Miodrag from the Department of Child and Adolescent Development and Annette Besnilian from the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, where workshops are geared towards mental health and wellness and are supported by the MMC.
Among the activities that took place was planting either Marigold or Violet seeds into students’ painted terracotta pots. They could then take the plant home and watch it grow, with instructions on how to take care of the pot as well.
The tea provided was developed and designed by nutrition and dietetic students, with students getting to choose from Rosa De Jamaica tea or Rooibos Vanilla Chai tea.
After filling out a survey that helps the growth of future workshops, students received a free Matador Marmalade, handpicked and crafted by CSUN students and the MMC staff using oranges from the CSUN Orange Grove. There is also an option of orange marmalade with reduced sugar.
Students can purchase these products and more online through the MMC’s website and pick them up at the center.
Tea Haven members always welcome feedback from participants. Arias loves hearing when students enjoyed her workshop, and said it’s rewarding for her to know what works for them when de-stressing, as well as if they learned something new.
“The goal of Tea Haven is for [students] to take home tools that they can use every day,” Arias said.
Tea Haven workshops are free and open to all CSUN students, with registration available on their website. The next workshops are on April 7 and May 5 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
