Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction is an eight week course that helps individuals reduce stress in their lives through the practice of mindfulness.  Mindfulness is the ability to be attentive to the present moment. It teaches us to be aware of our thoughts and feelings, so that we can learn to respond thoughtfully to each situation. It is the opposite of the  “automatic pilot” mode where we tend to react to situations without thinking, and repeat the same behaviors over and over again.

Throughout the course, students are educated about stress and its short and long term effects on our physical, emotional, and spiritual states. We explore how stress levels can be affected by our perception of events, communication styles, and life style choices. The course combines discussion, lecture, and activities in a relaxed and supportive atmosphere. Students are introduced to mindfulness from the first session, and experience a variety of practices; the body scan, sitting meditation, walking meditation, and yoga.

The course meets for two hours each week for eight weeks. There is also a half day session scheduled midway through the course. It is important to practice a mindfulness activity each day in order to develop a comfort level with the practice and to experience its benefits. Participants can find it a challenge to find the time to practice, but it is well worth it as they begin to experience changes in their lives. It is always rewarding and heartwarming to hear the conversations among students in the class, as they discover that they share many of the same concerns and struggles, and hopes and dreams.

After completing the eight week course, students are invited back twice a year to participate in the half day session as a way to reconnect, renew and refresh their practice.