Classes

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is an intensive 8-week program developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn a scientist, author, and the creator of the world-renowned Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Studies of MBSR have consistently found several key developments that demonstrate its effectiveness as a health-promoting activity.

During this intensive program, some participants experience a newly found state of self-awareness. This is particularly helpful in helping recognize mind habit patterns that contribute to unhelpful thoughts and emotions.

This class is for those who feel stuck from habits caused by the uncertainties of everyday life and for those who are new to meditation and would like to start a regular mindfulness meditation practice. If you are sometimes overwhelmed with worry, distracted by recurring thoughts, experiencing problems with restlessness, tension, or insomnia you may have a habit or even be addicted to anxiety or stress which is often an upstream cause of other habits and behaviors.

An estimated 40 million Americans are affected by anxiety on a regular basis. For many it’s a developed habit that can be untangled with mindfulness practices. Stress and anxiety follow a habit loop of specific triggers, behaviors, and rewards that support this loop when we get anxious. Our brains get caught up in “thinking or “fix it” mode” that leads to more anxiety or moves us to avoid stress with unhealthy behaviors like stress-eating, smart phone overuse, substance abuse, or procrastination, creating obstacles to happiness, health, sleep, connections with family, friends, and even ourselves.

This course introduces mindfulness skills that train you to become more aware of and help change your relationship with anxiety. The program will demonstrate science behind the habit loop and the theory of how we form distracting thoughts that can lead to worry and avoidance strategies. You apply the knowledge of how your mind and body works to respond with healthier behaviors that lead to more resilience, calm, and happiness. You actually use the habit loop to diminish your unwanted habits, including Anxiety.

Mindfulness-Based Habit Change (MBHC) is based on the work of researcher and addiction psychiatrist, Judson Brewer, MD, PhD. Integrating both ancient wisdom based on Buddhist psychology and new learnings from modern science, Dr. Brewer developed a step-by-step approach to habit change demonstrated to be effective with anxiety, stress eating, and smoking cessation. You can learn more in his Ted Talk – click here.