Each Wednesday evening, rhythmic sounds of drumming echo through the Student Union.
Those sounds come from a drum circle called "Namaste," offered by the Health and Wellness Center. Namaste, which is taken from the Hindi language means, "We are one," according to Ron Ingalsbe, a UB graduate and founder of the drum circle.
After completing his degrees, Ingalsbe began working in the Health and Wellness Center, where he came up with the idea for Namaste.
"It's a great release of pent-up stress and anger," he said.
Thomas Agbanyo, a senior chemical engineer major, said he has been attending Namaste gatherings since 2000, and that he finds them to be "very relaxing" and a good way to "meet new friends."
"It's fun to get together without speaking and communicate rhythmically," said Kevin Casey, a first-year graduate student studying arts and humanities.
Ingalsbe said he started Namaste about seven years ago as a way of inviting students into the Health and Wellness Center, located in 223 Student Union, to relax. The program is funded with money from the Mandatory Student Activities Fee, making drums available for those who wish to participate.
Janice Cochran, a dietician at the Center for Student Health, encouraged people to join Namaste. Cochran can often be found in the circle, adding her own rhythms or talking to those who stop by to inquire about the activity, as Namaste often draws attention from onlookers who decide to schedule some drumming into their day.
"I'll stop by next week, because I have Wednesdays free now," said Lisa Murawski, a junior industrial engineering major, as she caught the final few minutes of the meeting.
"I would definitely recommend it. I love it," said Ekrem Burke, a sophomore political science and media studies major.
According to Ingalsbe, the goal of Namaste is not to make extravagant pieces of music, but to experience and share each person's own individuality. The circle is open to anyone who is intrigued and has a few spare minutes to dedicate to an alternate form of relaxation.
"I'm very open to new forms of stress relief," said Jason Ross, a senior civil engineering major. "I might go (to Namaste) if I had someone with me, I wouldn't just stop in like that."
If relaxation is the result of participating in a Namaste circle, most of the enjoyment lies in the journey, according to Ingalsbe.
"The end result is not the goal, it's the process," Ingalsbe said. "It always seems like there are new people trying it out."
Students are not the only ones choosing to benefit from the drum circle on campus. Professors Maryanne Burgos and Susanna Lumsford, who teach in the Learning and Instruction Department, attend Namaste, as well.
"It's a nice sense of community," said Burgos. "If you have stress, you need the release."
Lumsford agreed.
"I find that I'm more focused, activating both parts of my brain," said Lumsford, who called drumming her "de-stressor."
Scott Baxter, a sophomore undecided major, is unfamiliar with Namaste but said he would consider sitting in on a Namaste gathering.
"I'm open to anything; if it works, why not?" he said. "I'd try almost anything once, if it helps."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
