Zen Bus in Belfast

University students in Belfast are being invited to jump aboard the Zen Bus to relax, restore, and reset ahead of the new academic year.

Student Roost, the third-largest purpose-built student accommodation provider in the UK, has teamed up with The Zen Project, a social enterprise on a mission to offer a mobile, stress-free sanctuary to deliver restorative and meditative sessions to help students relax and reset before the start of the new academic year.

The Zen Project’s ‘Zen Bus’, a converted yellow school bus which travelled from New York to London to be lovingly restored into a space of tranquillity and calmness, will be rolling through two university cities where Student Roost properties are located.

Arriving in Belfast on Tuesday 17 September, just days after students have moved in to begin or continue their university journey, the Zen Bus will be opening its doors to Student Roost residents and university students in the city, encouraging them to take some time for themselves and join one, or a few, sessions of meditation and breathwork to reduce stress and anxiety and encourage creativity and relaxation.

Zen Bus sessions have been carefully curated by the founders of The Zen Project, who dropped their corporate careers which caused exhaustion and disconnection, to create simple tools and techniques to support mental health and make zen accessible to all.

With space for up to 15 people, each session on the Zen Bus lasts 11 minutes; the right amount of time to override the nervous system and have a positive impact on the mind and body. Sessions on offer include guided meditation, sound baths, and breathwork to energize, release anxiety, increase success and lower stress.

The Zen Bus will be at Student Roost’s Nelson Place property, which opened its doors for the first time in September and is their fifth property in Belfast, from 11am to 5:30pm. With 14 sessions available, students can pre-book or turn up for a walk in session, to relax and prepare for the beginning of their studies.

Lowri Edwards, Resident Wellbeing Manager at Student Roost, said:

“I’m thrilled that we can once again bring the Zen Bus to thousands of Student Roost residents and university students in Belfast, during what is a pivotal chapter in their lives. In September, we opened the doors to Nelson Place, our fifth property in the city and an addition to our Belfast Student Quarter, so we can’t wait to bring the Zen Bus to a new community of students.

“Last year, the Zen Bus toured our properties in Nottingham, Brighton, Swansea and Liverpool and the reaction and feedback from residents was so positive, we knew we had to get the wheels in motion to bring the bus to other cities so more of our residents could experience the sessions available.

“The sessions created by The Zen Project will help students prepare for their studies, feel grounded, reset and relax, and discover the importance of switching off and taking time for themselves.”

Corinne Gardner, Co-Founder of The Zen Project, added:

“Supporting the mental health and wellbeing of university students in a fun, supportive and engaging environment is one of our priorities at The Zen Project, which align with Student Roost’s visions for improving the mental health and wellbeing of thousands of students throughout the UK.

“We’re so happy to be partnering with Student Roost once again to bring a period of calm and relaxation to students across Belfast, many of whom will have moved away from home for the first time and may feel anxious about university life.”

For more information on Student Roost and its Belfast properties, visit www.studentroost.co.uk/locations/belfast

More information on The Zen Project can be found at www.t-z-p.co.uk