Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Course
It’s no secret that we are all stressed. As researchers have studied “stress”, they’ve learned that it is much more than a feeling, learning that it often shows up in our lives as medical issues like hypertension, chronic pain, or obesity, as well as substance abuse and smoking. Stress finds its way into our lives in so many ways; through relationships, work, school, parenting, or in periods of significant transition that inevitably arise. While experiencing stress is unavoidable, the good news it is possible to learn to live alongside the stress we experience in our lives, to take back control of the life we are living. That way is the practice of mindfulness.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) was developed by Dr. John Kabat-Zinn at the UMass Medical Center over 40 years ago as a way to teach mindfulness meditation to people who have little or no experience with meditation practice. Since then, MBSR has been applied in a wide variety of settings, helping participants decrease stress, but also to decrease symptoms of burnout, while increasing compassion, well-being, life satisfaction, and a variety of health outcomes. MBSR has been developed to compliment traditional medical and psychological therapies, working alongside and often enhancing the outcomes of these more mainstream approaches.
About the course
The 8-week MBSR course is offered in a group setting that provides participants with intensive training in mindfulness meditation - a way of paying attention and being more fully present to what is happening in this moment.
Course Structure
Orientation session lasting between 2 and 2.5 hours, typically occurring the week before your class starts
Eight weekly group meetings lasting 2.5 hours each
One all-day class, typically on a Saturday or Sunday
Daily practices lasting between 45 and 60 minutes
Additional Considerations
It is crucial that you take the MBSR class at a time that feels right for you and your life circumstances. The course asks for a steady commitment over the 8-week period, and your willingness, dedication, and ability to engage wholeheartedly is the most important prerequisite.
Over 8 weeks participants will:
Engage in live weekly group classes led by a qualified MBSR instructor, providing rich opportunities for practice, deepening understanding, connection, and introspection
Learn and practice a variety of formal and informal mindfulness practices, including use of provided audio recordings of guided practices between group meetings.
Develop personalized tools for managing the stressors and challenges in their life.
Maintain access to one-on-one guidance and support from the instructor through the duration of the course.
Upcoming Course Dates
The next MBSR course will be held virtually on Thursday mornings, running from May 16th, 2024 to Friday, July 5th (more details about dates are below).
Intro Sessions:
There will be two intro sessions offered for this cycle. The dates are as follows:
Thursday, May 2nd from 9:00am - 11:30am
Thursday, May 9th from 9:00am - 11:30am
When registering below, please indicate which intro session you would like to attend.
Course Dates:
This course will meet on Thursday mornings from 9am - 11:30am, with the exception of the final week when the course will meet on a Friday, July 5th.
Week 1: May 16th
Week 2: May 23rd
Week 3: May 30th
Week 4: June 6th
Week 5: June 13th
All-Day Retreat: Saturday, July 15th from 9am - 4pm
Week 6: June 20th
Week 7: June 27th
Week 8: July 5th
Program Costs
The costs for the MBSR course are outlined below. The sliding scale does not require any proof to qualify, and is offered with the humble request that you pay at the level you are able to. While the costs of the program are offered at a slight discount from what is offered elsewhere, I have included a limited number of spaces for a “pay what you can” option in an effort to make the course accessible for as many people as possible. If this is something that interests you, please reach out to me directly.
Tier 1: $550 ($18 per class hour)
Tier 2: $500 ($16 per class hour)
Tier 3: $450 ($15 per class hour)
Tier 4: Pay What You Can — please email me directly to inquire.