The Participants and What They Report*
Tens of thousands of ordinary everyday people have participated in MBSR programs world-wide. Current research indicates that the majority of people who complete the course report that by integrating the skills they have developed into their everyday lives they experience:
- Lasting decreases in physical and psychological symptoms
- Increased ability to relax
- An enhanced ability to cope with pain
- Greater vitality and passion for life
- Improved self-esteem
- An ability to cope more effectively with both short and long-term stressful situations.
MBSR: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
Mindfulness is the ability to see and experience things as they are in the present moment. This is achieved by intentionally cultivating non-judgmental awareness. When we are aware of ourselves, others and life circumstances as they are, we are then able take charge and engage in wiser more life affirming behaviors. Learning to take charge of our lives is something that only we can do for ourselves. The MBSR course guides participants to consciously and systematically learn work with everyday challenges, stress, and specific pain or illness.
Moments of “mindlessness”, in contrast, entail a loss of awareness, which can result in a separation from self, and lack of vitality and meaningful living. Mindfulness-based stress reduction is intended to foster the capacity to bring awareness to all aspects of the self; mind, body, heart and soul.
A Process of Reawakening, Rather then Creating
Mindfulness is not something that you have to create. It is already within each and every one of us. It is a deep internal resource, which is available to be used in the service of learning, growing, healing and living a meaningful life.
Paticipants Come to the program as a Result of:
- Job, family or financial stress
- Life seeming like a never ending race
- Chronic pain and illness
- Worry, Anxiety and panic
- Fatigue
- Lack of vitality or meaning in life
- Sleep disturbances
- High blood pressure (Hypertension)
- Headaches
- GI distress
This Challenging Life-Affirming Course Includes:
- Guided instruction in mindfulness practice
- Mindful Body movements
- Group dialogue and discussions
- Individually tailored instruction
- Daily home practices
- Three guided mindfulness CDs
- Home practice workbook
The course schedule consists of eight, two-and-a-half hour, evening classes and one day-long class between the 6th and 7th evening classes.
*Adapted from www.umassmed.edu/cfm/stress/index.aspx