Last Modified Jan 7 2005
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program
What is mindfulness? Mindfulness is the attention to our moment-to-moment experience, an awareness of our reactions and interactions with the world around us. It develops an internal learning that teaches not only relaxation but also new ways of coping with whatever we are faced with in our lives.
The Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program is an approach to self-care and effective coping with stress, illness and chronic pain, for which there are no immediate cures. Nor is it a cure.
It is an intervention focused on how to live well in the presence of physical and emotional challenges such as stress and pain and not only in the absence of them. One's own inner resources become mobilized for healing and for moving to a greater level of health and well-being.
The underlying premise of this approach is that:
You are whole and complete just as you are and there is more right than wrong with you at any given moment
Who takes the program ?
Many people who come to the program want to experience a deeper sense of connection with their lives. They want to change the way they are dealing with a wide variety of personal challenges and are motivated to be actively involved in the process.
This mindfulness based approach has been effective in longitudinal studies in which individuals have reported lasting decreases in both the physical and psychological symptoms associated with:
- work/family stress
- chronic pain/illness
- fibromyalgia
- anxiety and panic
- GI distress
- heart disease
- high blood pressure
- depression
- sleep disturbance
The Program
You will participate in eight weekly sessions in which mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques will be taught and practiced; the body scan, mindful yoga and meditation. In addition there will be group exercises, discussions and the exploration of long-term self-care strategies. A full retreat day to integrate all the practices will be held at the end of the program.
Individualized Programs
The program can also be followed on an individual basis catered to your specific needs and goals.
Commitment and Benefits
In order to derive the most benefit from the program, a strong commitment to work on yourself through the daily discipline of meditation and relaxation over the eight weeks is required. To support your home practice, you will be provided with three CDs containing guided meditations and a Personal Stress Reduction Workbook.
*Receipts for insurance coverage and income tax purposes are available.
Winter Session
Dates: January 12th - March 1st, 2005.
Wednesdays, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Location: Cote St. Luc Recreation Department, 7500 Mackle Rd., Cote St. Luc, Que.
Participant Comments
I'm so happy to have made the decision to join the program. It has already changed my way of seeing and feeling things and will change my life. I am discovering myself.
I can really control my stress. I am more conscious about my how I live my life, enjoying the moment and feeling good about myself
This program is very interesting, helpful, insightful
The program is great. I'm learning quite a lot and I'm getting the tools to continue alone after the program is over
Great program - I've stopped sleeping through my life!
This program is giving me back some of the control I feel I lost with my illness. I'm taking care of me and it feels good