Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction    Eight Week Course: To Be Announced  Eight group sessions One private session   Full day retreat Follow-up sessions and retreats Free CDs and supplemental materials (including Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach)   The Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program was developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn and is designed to restore balance and equanimity to your life. Mindfulness meditation-based programs have clinically proven helpful in recovering from chronic stress and illnesses such as depression, anxiety, panic disorders, fatigue and pain.     Dwelling Happily in the Present Moment Aware that life is available only in the present moment and that it is possible to live happily in the here and now, we are committed to training ourselves to live deeply each moment of daily life. We will try not to lose ourselves in dispersion or be carried away by regrets about the past, worries about the future, or craving, anger or jealousy in the present. We are determined to learn the art of mindful living by touching the wondrous, refreshing, and healing elements that are around us, and by nourishing seeds of joy, peace, love, and understanding in ourselves… --Thich Nhat Hanh, Seventh Mindfulness Training         Stress Recent scientific studies have confirmed that reducing stress can enhance physical and mental well-being but you will probably not be able to reduce the number of difficult situations you face. It is how you respond to these situations that determines how much stress you feel.   When you focus primarily on the difference between how things are and how you think they ought to be, your mind goes round and round, analyzing the past or anticipating the future. If you are caught in this mind set, you are probably only marginally aware of what is actually happening in the present.   Reducing Stress The key to reducing stress is bringing the focus of attention to immediate, direct experience of the present moment. The focus is on increasing awareness, not blanking out awareness, cutting off thoughts, or decreasing emotions.   Action that flows out of increased awareness, and a centered, present state of being is usually more skillful than habitual ways of responding.   Course Intention The aim of the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Training is to help participants:   ·        become more aware of bodily sensations, feelings, and thoughts Catch unhelpful mind states early when they first begin to happen.   ·        develop a skillful way of relating to unpleasant sensations, thoughts, feelings and stressful situations Replace rumination, worry, self-recrimination, avoidance, denial, and escape with mindful acknowledgement of unwanted feelings and thoughts followed by direct awareness of the present moment.   ·        choose skillful responses to unpleasant thoughts, feelings, or situations Act from a place of centered awareness rather than from habitual, automatic, preprogrammed reactions.   Curriculum Overview ·         Body scan ·         Sitting meditation including focus on breath, sounds, thoughts, feelings and body sensations ·         Walking meditation ·         Yoga ·         Chi Gong ·         Homework exercises ·         Discussion of ways to reduce stress in day-to-day situations For an in-depth view of the course, see  Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn.   Schedule Eight Group Sessions: TBA One Private Session: individually scheduled before the group sessions begin Full Day Retreat: TBA Monthly follow-up sessions Quarterly follow-up retreats     Tuition and Fees   Due Dates:     $   $