Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Course Information

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

The Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programme takes place over 8 consecutive weeks. It provides a training in mindfulness meditation and awareness practices which have been shown to reduce stress, and increase well-being for people with a wide range of concerns, from stress and anxiety, to chronic pain and insomnia and many more conditions. It was developed by Dr Jon Kabat Zinn in 1979 in the University of Massachusetts Medical School. This programme became what is now the Centre for Mindfulness in Medicine, healthcare and Society.

Within this 30 year time frame the MBSR has been rigorously researched and has been found to be effective with many forms of stress; from relationships, parenting, work stress, as well as chronic pain, and dealing with illnesses such as cancer. The MBSR curriculum allows participants to find their own inner resources for living life with more ease, and more resilience. It is the most highly researched mindfulness based intervention and spans many populations and disciplines. The MBSR programme has served hundreds and thousands of participants over the last three decades.

The course is interactive, supportive, and structured. It runs for 8 weeks, and each class is 2.5 hours. The MBSR will provide you with:

• Guided instruction in mindfulness meditation practices, ie: body scan, mindful movement, breath awareness and more
• An enquiry process to deepen individual and group understanding to support aligning ourselves to being more present in our lives
• Opportunities to discuss how to work with obstacles to mindfulness, and how we can best integrate mindfulness into daily life in a variety of ways.
• Less reactivity, and more awareness – building a greater ability to respond to life’s demands and difficulties with skill, openness, and self kindness

The programme is both rewarding and challenging and requires a high level of ongoing commitment to yourself and the home practice. Home practice is a major part of the course and will involve guided mindfulness practices of about 45 minutes a day. All materials needed will be provided including mp3s of guided practices, and a handbook.

Towards the final weeks (between week 6 and week 7 : Sat 5th of November ) of the course participants will attend an all day guided retreat. This is an opportunity to experiment with mindfulness through a longer period of uninterrupted practice. All parts of this day are guided by the teacher.