The Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course is an evidence-based program that addresses a range of illnesses including: depression, anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders, binge eating, insomnia, chronic pain, psoriasis, Type 2 diabetes, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, ADHD, cancer, and heart disease.
MBSR was pioneered by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. and Saki Santorelli, Ph.D. at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center (www.umassmed.edu). The MBSR program is now offered in over 200 medical centers, hospitals, and clinics around the world, including some of the leading centers for integrative medicine.
Our MBSR Program is an intensive eight-week training that empowers participants to take an active role in the management of their health and wellness. The class meets weekly for 2.5 hours, with an all-day session during the sixth week. The class is group-based, but more akin to an adult education class than traditional group therapy. Participants are asked to practice mindfulness meditation and/or mindful movement for 30-45 minutes a day with instructional CD's. Upon completion of the Stress Reduction Program, alumni can continue with a once-a-month Alumni Graduate program.
This program has improved thousands of participants’ ability to cope with chronic pain, illness, stress related conditions, and the stresses of everyday life both at home and in the workplace. Participants have stated that they feel less judgmental and critical of both themselves and others. Many have also reported a decrease in visits to health care professionals and in the use of medications.
How does MBSR work?
The core skill that you will learn in the course is ‘mindfulness’ – a way of paying attention, on purpose and non-judgmentally, to what goes on moment-to-moment in your body, mind, and the world around you. By practicing in sessions and listening to guided meditations at home during the week, you begin to integrate mindfulness into your everyday life.
Highly participatory, supportive, and structured, the MBSR program will provide you with:
- guided instruction in mindfulness meditation practices
- gentle stretching and mindful yoga
- group dialogue and mindful communication exercises to enhance awareness in everyday life
- daily home assignments
- guided meditations and handouts
The program is challenging and life-affirming.
Participating in the MBSR Program requires an ongoing commitment to yourself.
