8 - Week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Course

5708 Venture Court,Kalamazoo MI 49009

28 September, 2022

Description

8-Week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Course This MBSR course was created by Jon Kabat-Zinn in 1979 and will be facilitated by Dr. Marti-Peters-Sparling from SWMI Health Matters. The curriculum is informed by neuroscience, psychology, and educational methods that emphasize experiential, group, and discovery learning. This curriculum is known to yield significant health benefits for people, both physically and psychologically, and is recognized as complementary to traditional medical and psychological treatments. MBSR has been proven highly effective for everyone but is especially helpful for those living with: AnxietyWork, Family, and Financial StressChronic Illness and PainDepressionGriefHeadachesPanic AttacksPost-Traumatic Stress DisorderSleep ProblemsDATES/TIMES: The course will run every Wednesday from September 28th - November 16th, 2022, from 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM. We ask that all participants attend an orientation on Wednesday, September 14th at 6:00 pm to go over what to expect during this course and get your questions answered. LOCATION: Classes will be held at SWMI Health Matters located at 5708 Venture Court, Suite A, Kalamazoo MI 49009. Hybrid options are available. INVESTMENT: This course is valued at $350. We have payment plans available, if needed. If you are a SWMI Health Matter member, you will receive a $150 discount, offering you this 8 week course for only $200! Please contact us to get registered. OPTIONAL SILENT RETREAT OPPORTUNITY: During this 8-week course, there is an opportunity to participate in an in-person Silent Retreat. The date is not confirmed but it will either be held on October 29th or November 5th from 9 a - 4 p. QUESTIONS? Please contact SWMI Health Matters at 269.220.0648 or email [email protected]. WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR? The intention of MBSR is to support you in developing a regular practice of mindfulness in both formal and informal ways. No experience is necessary. Each week participants explore mindfulness ideas, practice meditations, gentle movements, body scans, and discuss how mindfulness can be applied in everyday living. Mindfulness is a natural quality but one that is easily forgotten as we get into the habit of increasingly busy and frantic lifestyles. As we practice paying attention, deliberately, to our moment-to-moment experiences with a non-judging and curious attitude, this grows our awareness and teaches us how to step out of ‘autopilot’ and the busyness of our constant ‘doing.’ We experience ‘being’ in our world by bringing awareness to our physical body sensations and patterns of thoughts and emotions. We see that thoughts/emotions are not facts and just as quickly as they come to us, they can also leave as quickly. We learn how to receive their messages rather than being overwhelmed by them. Tuning in to our individual stress responses in new ways we can discover creative solutions to the challenges of daily life. We see that we all get stressed. And stress is not a bad thing in and of itself. Stress is the feeling of being under pressure and symptoms might include anger and anxiety, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, breathlessness, and chest pains. Short bursts of pressure can help us rise to meet a challenge but long-term and unrecognized, stress can have a major impact on our physical and mental health. When we are repeatedly overwhelmed by stress, our health, well-being, and social relationships are damaged. Scientific studies are showing that participants of MBSR courses (compared to those not taking the course or taking alternative courses) are consistently reporting less stress, tension, and anxiety, greater concentration, and empathy for others, and generally feel more energized and engaged in life. Neuroscience is showing that regular practice really does change the physical structure of our brains. Even for those who are skeptical about the practices. This program is for adults who are interested in discovering how mindfulness may be applied in their lives. The skills are simple and easy to learn and can be practiced by everyone. WHAT TO EXPECT: Each week participants also complete home practices: practicing the exercises that have been learned that week using guided instructions from audio (MP3/CD) recordings that take up to 45 minutes each day and informal practices. The daily practices ensure that learning is based on participants’ own experiences. Session 1: What is Mindfulness? If we are breathing, there is more right than wrong with us. Session 2: Perception & Creative Responding: How we perceive the world and ourselves influence our experiences. Session 3: Mindfulness of the Breath & Body in Movement: There is both pleasure and power in being present. Session 4: Learning about our patterns of Stress Reactivity: Where you go, there you are. Session 5: Working with Stress: Mindful responding instead of reacting. Session 6: Stressful communications: Interpersonal mindfulness. Session 7: Lifestyle choices: How can I best take of myself? Session 8: A Mindful Life: Keeping your mindfulness alive.