Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
What Is MBSR?
MBSR is a program based on the practice of mindfulness. The key to mindfulness is a non-judgmental awareness that enables you to respond with greater clarity, stability, and understanding to life’s stressors, rather than reacting in unhealthy ways.
Pioneered in 1979 by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in 1979, MBSR is highly respected in the medical community, with classes in over 200 hospitals nationwide. Research has proven MBSR to be an evidence-based treatment modality for a number of different maladies, including chronic pain, hypertension, cancer, heart disease, and autoimmune disorders.
Over the past 15 years, medical training centers (for physicians, occupational therapists, nurses) have begun to incorporate MBSR in their training curricula. However, many hospital staff members have not received MBSR training in their graduate programs. Participation in this program may not only assist hospital staff members in becoming more aware of the specifics of mindfulness practices, thereby facilitating their ability to make appropriate client referrals, but also enhance their own innate ability to cope with stress in general (e.g. stressful client load, challenging clients, personal stressors).
The program consists of eight weekly two and 1/2 hour classes and a one-day silent retreat (on a weekend) between sessions six and seven. Participants who complete the course can enhance their ability to relax, focus, improve performance, reduce anger, cope with chronic pain, live in the moment, find balance, clarity, and stability, and access inner resources of strength and wisdom.
What Can I Expect?
This highly participatory, supportive, and structured program will provide you with:
Some healthcare professionals, for example social workers, may qualify for up to 27.5 continuing education units for participation in this program.
2021 Live and Online MBSR Program dates to be announced.
Mindfulness has been defined as moment to moment non-judgmental awareness. Cultivating this kind of awareness is well known to have many emotional and physical health benefits, reducing the suffering of stress, pain and illness. This kind of awareness arises naturally and can be strengthened through mindfulness practices.
This six week Introduction to Mindfulness series is ideal for someone who is curious about mindfulness and wants to taste, or experience a variety of meditation practices. Each class will be a blend of information, practice, and discussion. Students will be provided with a guided recording and encouraged to repeat the practice throughout the week.
Join us for this exploration of mindfulness practices including self-compassion, mindful body scan, sitting meditation, mindful movement, eating meditation, loving kindness meditation and brief practices that can be used in the moment and on the go.
These VIRTUAL classes will be held on Zoom, Sunday afternoons February 21-March 28th from 4:00-5:00PM.
Registration is $99. OM members are extended a 10% discount.
