Mindfulness is a way of learning to relate directly to whatever is happening in your life. It is a way of taking charge of your life, a way of doing something for yourself that no one else can do for you – consciously and systematically working with your own stress, pain, illness, and the challenges and demands of everyday life. Restoring within yourself a balanced sense of well-being requires increased awareness of all aspects of self, including body and mind, heart and soul. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is intended to ignite this inner capacity and infuse your life with awareness.

MBSR is an 8-week program that provides you with tools to help you cultivate greater mindfulness in your day-to-day life. Each session is highly participatory, and the training encompasses a wide array of mindfulness practices, including sitting and walking meditation, mindful eating and mindful communication.

Decades of published research indicates that the majority of people who complete the MBSR course report:

• Increased well-being and happiness

• Less stress and anxiety

• Strengthened immune system

• Less emotional reactivity

• Greater focus and cognitive flexibility

• Greater empathy and compassion

• Lasting decreases in physical and psychological symptoms

• Reductions in pain levels and an enhanced ability to cope with pain

MBSR is for everyone. No meditation experience is required. The only requirement is the desire for greater awareness, balance, ease, and happiness.