MBSR

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) was created by Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in 1979 and has been replicated in thousands of hospitals and community centers throughout the world since then. Most of the studies on the benefits of Mindfulness use MBSR participants to measure the changes they experience from taking the course. The MBSR course includes weekly sessions and a silent retreat. Students are introduced to mindfulness practices such as sitting and lying down meditations and mindful movement/yoga. Various mindfulness tools are introduced and practiced in a confidential group context. See current class offerings below and scroll to the bottom for informational video on MBSR.

The MBSR for Teens course is similar to the traditional MBSR course for adults in that it teaches Mindfulness practices with the intention of using them to better manage the stress and anxiety in life.  MBSR for Teens acknowledges the unique challenges adolescents face ranging from intrapersonal (e.g., attention, emotions, impulsivity) to interpersonal (e.g., social skills) to performance-based challenges (e.g., confidence, self-efficacy, procrastination). In order to more skillfully and adaptively confront these challenges.  Teens are taught fundamental skills of mindfulness, such as the cultivation of awareness of senses, thoughts, and feelings from moment to moment, as well as the development of positive coping skills. Teens learn to intentionally direct their attention toward self-care and aspects of experience that are positive and nourishing, rather than negative and depleting. As a result, teens discover how to become aware of thoughts versus reacting to them, discern between caring versus worrying, and ultimately bring mindful attention and orientation to daily life to manage emotions better and demonstrate more prosocial behaviors.

MBSR for College students and young adults: College students and recent graduates are in a time of transition, a time to be learning and preparing to make their way in the world.  This transition can often be stressful and overwhelming.  Young adults today are reporting increased levels of stress, anxiety and depression.  Big areas of stress for this group are the rising costs of living and social media. Mindfulness offers a proven tool to help  manage stress, stay focused and maintain healthy habits of mind and body.  Grounded in evidence based Mindfulness practices, The Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Course, adapted for young adults, will teach students how to cultivate the cognitive and emotional skills needed to increase well-being and reach their highest aspirations. Through practices such as Mediation and Yoga, they learn the power of the pause.  They will also learn positive coping strategies for dealing with stress, sadness, and anxiety—including diet, fitness, and sleep habits. Most importantly, they will discover three core self-regulation skills to help steer them toward the life they want: self-awareness, attention control, and emotion regulation.  The focus is on learning to respond to life’s challenges rather than reacting in habitual self-destructive patterns, and realizing they have a choice to do it differently.  The course is 7 weeks and includes a Mindfulness in the Outdoors Experience,  as we will hike Bergen Peak on July 9.

Upcoming Courses

Coming soon - subscribe at the bottom of any page to receive upcoming course information.

Course Outline

Each week of this eight-week course, I will spend the first half of class guiding you in mindfulness practices such as sitting/lying down meditation and mindful movement/yoga. The second half of each class, you will learn a new mindfulness skill:

Class 1: Awareness of breath, body and senses creates presence

Class 2: How our perceptions affect behavior and creativity

Class 3: How awareness changes what we experience

Class 4: Stress reactivity, handling discomfort

Class 5: How to use Mindfulness to respond rather than react

Class 6: Mindful communication and relationships

Class 7: Mindful living

Class 8: How to make Mindfulness a new way of being

Each class there is also an opportunity for confidential group sharing and questions. The course includes a silent retreat, where you will have the opportunity to practice everything you have been learning in an extended time period. Plan to attend the retreat as it is a very valuable way to deepen your practice. You will finish this class knowing how to practice Mindfulness in a variety of ways and without the need of any guidance. The most learning comes at that point, when you know how to just be with your own mind, and connect to the stillness and peace that’s always there.

For more information on MBSR: