Mindful Stress Reduction teaches mindfulness meditation and gentle yoga to cultivate awareness and reduce stress. Participation in an MBSR course has been shown to decrease stress, increase peace and well-being, and decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression as well as symptoms of a number of medical conditions, including high blood pressure and heart disease, arthritis, cancer, gastrointestinal disorders, chronic pain, insomnia, and fatigue.
MBSR was developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn in 1979 at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center and is taught at locations worldwide, including Stanford and Duke. MBSR was created on the foundation of the ancient practice of mindfulness, which encourages being fully present in our lives with greater peace and ease. The class is a compliment to, not a substitute for, medical and psychological treatment.
Research indicates that people who participate in an MBSR course report an decreased stress, anxiety, and depression, increased capacity to relax, increased self-esteem, greater energy and enthusiasm for life, improved ability to cope more effectively with stressful situations, reduced pain levels and/or improved ability to cope with pain that may not go away.
The Mindful Based Stress Reduction Course Includes:
The program includes guided instruction in mindfulness meditation, the body scan, gentle mindful yoga, group discussions to enhance mindful awareness in everyday life, home practice, and downloadable digital audio files of guided meditations and mindful yoga sequences.