Published on: 2026-09-25
Source: Novosibirsk State University –
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On September 24, another meeting in the series “Free Conversation” took place at NSU. A psychologist from the NSU Psychological Support Department Matvey Semenikhin I spoke with the participants about the neurobiology of rest, the practice of mindful walking, and meditation.
At the beginning, Matvey talked about how a walk and shifting attention to bodily sensations help to break out of a state of constant tension. The participants discussed why anxiety can make a person keep replaying tasks, conversations, and worries in their mind even during rest.
— It often happens that we are stuck in our own heads, and even when we walk, we continue to spin thoughts about what we will eat for dinner, who said what, where I felt hurt, how to prepare for classes, and everything else. As a result, we rarely rest anywhere, and we have few opportunities during the day to stop our thoughts even for a little while., — noted the psychologist.
After a brief theoretical part, the participants went into the forest near the university and tried the practice of mindful walking. Matvey suggested focusing on the sensations in the feet, the movement of the hands, breathing, the touch of the wind, and the sounds and sights around. If intrusive thoughts appeared, the participants tried to bring their attention back to their bodies and the nature surrounding them.
— The faster you switch back to the sensations in this case, the better, — explained Matvey.
After the walk, the participants settled on benches and, under the guidance of a psychologist, tried meditating. Matvey also explained that meditation can be started gradually, with short intervals accompanied by audio guidance using special apps.
Meeting participant Nail he said that he came to the event out of a desire to understand the issue of anxiety. According to him, the meeting helped him once again to be convinced that walks really help to calm down and “ground” oneself, but this time he saw it from a more scientific point of view.
— The moment that stood out the most was the meditation after the forest walk, when, even if only for a short time, it was possible to feel the process, to immerse oneself in it together with an experienced person, as well as the discussion afterwards with the participants of this event, — the student shared.
Material prepared by: Ekaterina Mukovozchik, NSU Press Service
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