During the stressful midterms season, sometimes you just need to decompress for a second. If you find yourself overwhelmed, Barnard’s Movement Lab is the place to go.

My introduction to the Movement Lab was somewhat unorthodox. Two weeks ago, one of the clubs I am a part of had a meeting but no assigned meeting space. We were sitting in the hallway on the lower level of the Milstein Center when a wonderful person saw our plight and told us to sit in the Movement Lab. As we took our shoes off to enter the space, I was immediately taken aback by how tranquil it was.

For those who have never heard of the Movement Lab, it is officially described as “a space for experimentation and exploration at the intersection of movement, performance, and technology.” Throughout the year they have different installations from different student artists and artists in residence.

The room is kept dark for the visual and video displays and visitors are required to take their shoes off to protect the space. There are cushions that one can move throughout the space to sit on, providing a comfortable and adaptable relaxing environment. The Movement Lab also has “Stillness Lab” sessions every Wednesday from 1 to 2 pm where students can meditate or just sit in silence for an hour. The Stillness Lab provides a quiet reprieve from the hustle and bustle of New York City and college life.

If you instead want to engage in the movement that the name suggests, the large studio space lets visitors move with any current displays and explore the installations physically. They also host Open Lab sessions where all students are invited to explore the space on its own.

Tucked away in the lower level of the Milstein Center, the Movement Lab is the perfect sanctuary during stressful exam seasons. After spending hours hunched over a computer, you can stretch, move, rest, or relax in the space while enriching yourself in the experiential art.

The Lab is not open all the time, but when they have an installation or are hosting a Stillness Lab or Open Lab session, I highly recommend taking a short break from studying to visit it. Allow yourself to take a deep breath and let go of your stress for a little while. You will not regret it.

Moving Dancer via Unsplash