When Julianna Pennings graduates in June and starts her career in Recreation Therapy, she’ll do it with something not many others in the field have: a DROM certification she can use with her future clients to find calm and relieve stress.
“We heard of DROM and its many benefits in our first semester,” said Pennings. “We had the opportunity to try a session with [DROM CEO and founder] Val Shah in our Facilitation Techniques class this past fall and it was a great experience. We participated towards the end of the semester when we were feeling the pressures of assignments and tests. I was impressed by how one session very much left me feeling energized and helped to calm my stress levels.”
DROM Practice is a unique activity that combines drumming (the DRUM) and meditation (the OM) to bring clarity and energy while drumming on an exercise ball or on tables and chairs. Through energetic and calming, rhythmic drumming exercises, participants relax and calm their mind to find a sense of focus and clarity.
Seventy-nine first- and second-year Recreation Therapy students recently signed up for DROM training after being introduced to it in the first semester, said School of Community Services professor Christine Wilkinson. Training is done through self-guided online modules, followed by creating a program plan and doing a practical demonstration for her.
“In recreation therapy, we talk about the five domains of wellness or five domains of health: physical, cognitive, social, emotional and spiritual,” Wilkinson said. “[DROM] really taps into all of those things and there’s very few recreation therapy interventions that capture all of those domains. It’s what I would describe as a completely holistic experience.”
DROM Practice can be modified in many ways and still have benefits across all five of those domains, she said. It’s what makes DROM suitable for people of all ages and abilities.
She noted that students have been designing lessons for the demographic they want to work with in the future, and using those lessons for the practical component of their DROM training.
Recreation Therapy students Jillian Collins (left) and Jaclyn Goheen completed their DROM Practice training in early March.
“I had six of them come (recently) to do their demonstrations, and two were for residents of long-term care, one was for teens with anxiety and depression, another one was (for) elementary school children and another one was (for) adults with autism (or) adults with physical disabilities,” Wilkinson said. “That’s another thing that’s really great about it for our students, because in recreation therapy, they can end up working with all those different kinds of groups.”
Pennings, who earned her certification at the end of January, said she sees the benefits of DROM and the way it can be adapted to diverse populations and age groups. For that reason, she knew being DROM certified would be an asset in whatever area of recreation therapy she pursues after graduation.
“I have already had an opportunity to lead a session on campus,” she said. “It was a very positive experience and I look forward to perfecting my programming and bringing others the same sense of well-being I myself have experienced after participating in it.”
Sue Chang, another second-year Recreation Therapy student who received her certification in December 2023, said she didn’t hesitate when the opportunity to receive DROM training came up.
“I was very excited,” Chang said, adding it’s a fun activity that all students can access through the Niagara College Therapeutic Recreation Activity Collective (nc-TRAC). ncTRAC is an initiative of the Recreation Therapy Program that provides therapeutic recreation services, experiences and resources that support the social, emotional, physical, cognitive and spiritual health of its participants. It also gives Recreation Therapy students experiential learning opportunities.
“Students will get their exercise physically and have fun at the same time. What can be better than that?” Chang continued. “They can drop in whenever (DROM is scheduled)… and anyone is welcome to join. We all know that students have high stress levels; DROM is something that they can look forward to, (a place to) meet other students and socialize.”
nc-TRAC program manager Abby Silver said some of the students who recently completed their certification are doing field placements at nc-TRAC. In addition to leading an nc-TRAC classroom DROM session for Fitness and Health Promotion students and a session at the Mental Health Retreat that the Health, Wellness & Accessibility Services (HWAS) department held at the end of February, they have started to lead DROM sessions on behalf of nc-TRAC at the YMCA.
“It’s been wonderful to be able to give our Recreation Therapy students more opportunities to practice their facilitation skills, giving them that practical, hands-on experience before they start working out in the community,” Silver said. “It’s truly rewarding to see the students have such excitement and interest in trying out DROM, and we look forward to offering students meaningful ways to engage in movement throughout their day.”
Having Recreation Therapy students participating and working towards their DROM certification is gratifying for DROM’s Val Shah, who created the practice as a way to foster personal growth through movement and mindfulness experiences.
She said her dream is to see people of all ages and abilities participating in DROM and experiencing its many therapeutic benefits.
“These students completely understand the mission and can help spread joy and happiness through DROM in the community,” Shah said. “It is the perfect fit and I’m honoured that Niagara College and the RT Program have adopted DROM Practice as an option for these wonderful students to learn and share.”
Watch for upcoming DROM Practice events on the nc-TRAC events calendar.
