As the semester winds down and exams begin to draw near, many students are feeling the effects of prolonged stress. Tests, papers, registration: all these can have an impact on students' stress levels. On Monday evening, however, students had the opportunity to de-stress -- and learn what Judaism has to say about the topic.
Fifteen girls met in the South Hall Lounge for "Girls' Nite In," an event sponsored by Hillel, to relax and learn -- all at the same time.
Sharon Tarby, a consultant for the Body Shop, joined Tufts students and brought with her a colorful display of products for participants to sample.
Throughout the evening, students were able to sample Body Shop products and learn ways to relax. At one point in the program, each participant was given an individual plastic tub filled with lukewarm water and Peppermint Crystals. As they soaked their feet, Tarby gave a brief history of the Body Shop.
Started over twenty-seven years ago in England, the Body Shop sells naturally inspired skin and health care products. According to the company's website, they currently offer over 600 products and more than 400 accessories.
In addition to sampling the products and learning about the company, students who attended the program learned about the properties of some of the ingredients. After using a foot brush and pumice to scrub their feet, students rubbed peppermint foot lotion on their feet while listening to Tarby discuss the properties of peppermint. Tarby explained that peppermint is too strong for the rest of the body, but can have positive effects on feet.
According to Tarby, peppermint is an important part of London marathoners' medicinal routines. "Studies have shown that marathon runners that inhaled peppermint can run for a longer time," Tarby said. "Runners' feet ache less when they rub peppermint lotion on them."
In addition to the peppermint foot lotion, attendees sampled other products such as African Salt Scrub, Papaya Body Butter, Olive Body Butter, Nut Dry Oil Mist, Cooling Leg Gel, Snow Flocons Shimmer Gel, Cranberry Shimmer Gel, and Lip Scuff, a product which exfoliates lips.
After sampling numerous products, participants were able to look through Body Shop catalogues and place orders.
Students' favorite products varied. "I want to shimmer," freshman Lindsay Cohen said. "So my favorite products were the snow and cranberry shimmer gels." Freshman Caitlin Johnson, however, was partial to the papaya body butter.
By the end of the pampering portion of the evening, participants were very positive about the experience. "I totally enjoyed it," freshman Bic Leu said. "All I want to do now is take a nap. Every college student needs to relax and time to unwind like this."
When the pampering and primping was over and the tubs and towels had been put away, participants sat down with host and Hillel JCSC Abbey Nickinson and discussed what Judaism has to say about caring for your body.
A book called A Book of Life: Embracing Judaism as a Spiritual Practice addresses this topic. The book reads: "As the vessel that holds our soul, Judaism seeks most of all to have our outside selves be a reflection of our inner beings. Our inner beauty is what counts and it is always reflected on the outside. The important thing is to focus on who we are and how we live rather than how we look."
This same book, however, says that primping and pampering is not always bad. "Doing good to one's self is not regarded as being 'self-indulgent,' but rather as being pious, for we are created in the Divine image..."
"See? I wasn't indulging myself," Nickinson said. "I was being pious."
-Contributed by Miriam Sznyczer-Taub
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