8-week Mindfulness Based Stress Resilience (MBSR) Program (online)

An eight-week live online class suitable for beginners or people wishing to refresh their mindfulness practice.

You are greatly encouraged to attend the free introductory class offered on Feb 26 and Feb 28 to see if the class would be a good fit for you.

These have been some of the most stressful times in recent history. Understanding the science of stress helps to transform the depleting, isolating and damaging stress cycles into opportunities of growth, connection and resilience. Mindfulness tools offer simple ways to change and strengthen the protective neural pathways to calm, connect and befriend in these extraordinarily challenging times. The class emphasis will be on cultivating a compassionate and kind response to meet life with wisdom and understanding instead of judgment and anxiety.

This 8-week class meets once a week online and live for 2.5 hours.  It is based on the 8-week MBSR curriculum created by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

The dates for the 8-week class are as follows:

• Mondays: 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm US Central Time starting March 7, 2021 online.  Class dates: 3/7, 3/14, 3/21, 3/28, 4/4, 4/11, 4/18, all-day silent retreat on Saturday, 4/23, final class on 4/25

The fee for the 8-week class is $450 for a total of 26 hours of instruction.  Social Workers may obtain 26 hours of CEUs for an additional fee of $25. Other professionals may also be eligible for CEUs.  Need-based financial assistance may be possible.  Please contact Geeta for details.

In the 8-week program, participants are trained in mindful meditation that helps them explore their reactivity and response to stress.  In addition, practices that explore the mind-body connection are explored through mindful movement and body-awareness.  The practices of developing stress hardiness through training in kindness and self-compassion and training in mindful communication are also offered.

If you have significant physical or mental health issues, please email us in advance so we can help you determine if this class is a good fit for you.  Since this is an online class, it is very important to have someone available to offer support to you outside class for medical or mental health concerns.

The nature of the class requires participants to be respectful and considerate. The teacher reserves the right to cancel the registration with a partial refund if the class is not a good fit for the participant. If the class feels overwhelming, it is the participant’s responsibility to please check in with the teacher.

Participants are encouraged to set aside at least 30 minutes a day for practice during the 8 weeks of the class.

Class size will be limited to allow for a more intimate interaction to mimic in-person classes.

The MBSR Program is evidence based and has been clinically proven to benefit people reporting a variety of concerns:*

Stress – caused by work, school, family, financial, illness, aging, grief, and several other factors of daily living.

Medical conditions – including chronic illness or pain, high blood pressure, cancer, heart disease, GI distress, skin disorders, and many other conditions.

Prevention and wellness –including health enhancement and learning a better sense of balance in life.

This program is offered as a complement to traditional medical and psychological treatments.

Who can attend:  Anyone interested in exploring mindfulness practices for stress reduction.  No prior practice is necessary.  All exercises will be modified to meet the individual needs of participants.

What to wear during class:  Comfortable clothing that allows for gentle stretching and comfortable sitting.

Options to sit:  Chairs or back-jacks (for supported floor seating).  Participants are encouraged to have a yoga mat and blanket for the body-centered practices if they choose to lie on the floor.  If participants already have a meditation practice for which they use a meditation cushion, they are welcome to use it.