Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

Offered in-person by Michael LaValle

8 Tuesday evening sessions from 6:00 to 8:30 pm

Next session Spring of 2025

+ a day of mindfulness on a Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Location:

REGISTRATION CLOSED

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What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness means deliberately paying attention to present experiences with complete acceptance, thus stepping out of the “automatic pilot” way of living.  As you develop a mindfulness meditation practice, you can expect to enhance your concentration, clarity, insight, and resilience.  By bringing an open-hearted, non-judgmental curiosity to the present moment, you may begin to experience reduced stress, an improved sense of well-being, and a greater capacity to meet life’s challenges.  Mindfulness practice is a profound way for each one of us to experience the sense of taking care of our self and to cultivate compassion for others, while expanding the capacity for gratitude and joy.

Who is mindfulness for?

Mindfulness is for everyone, regardless of age.  Mindfulness is not a religion.  Anyone, with any belief system or religious tradition, can enjoy the benefits of mindfulness practices, without conflict.  More than 1000 research publications have documented its validity and breadth of application – such as positively impact our experience of

• everyday stress,
• anxiety,
• depression,
• chronic pain, and
• physical symptoms related to stress or disease.

Medical practitioners increasingly embrace mindfulness practice for its therapeutic benefits, connecting reduction in stress to physical resilience and recovery.  Follow this to MindfulNet for a comprehensive collection of information, research reviews, and resources http://mindfulnet.org/index.htm

What's included in the course?

This course includes eight weekly sessions and one “all day” of mindfulness practice. The series of sessions provides instruction in exercises such as the body scan, sitting meditation, walking meditation and stretching exercises based on yoga. A personal commitment of 30 to 45 minutes of daily meditation practice, supported by recorded guided meditations, is strongly encouraged to experience the full benefits of the course. No prior experience with meditating or yoga is expected or required. Guidance in “informal” practices to help integrate mindfulness into everyday activities is an important component of the course.

MBSR is intended to help individuals:
• Recognize and step out of automatic/habitual assumptions and reactions
• Assess life situations more clearly and respond more effectively
• Access and tap into creative resources
• Enhance compassion for self and others
• Learn specific strategies to deal with stress, depression, anxiety, and chronic pain
• Cultivate balance between personal and vocational roles

Participants should be committed to attending all sessions, with very limited exceptions. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come basis.

Find out more about Michael HERE.