Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program
2020 has been a challenging year that’s brought up many emotions — ranging from relief, anxiety and fear to grief and sadness. Whatever you’re going through, there’s a lot to process and navigate right now. These feelings are strong, they are real, and they are global.
Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is an eight-week evidence-based program that offers secular, intensive mindfulness training to assist people with stress, anxiety, depression and pain.
Mindfulness is a buzz word nowadays, used in everyday conversation when you want someone to pay you more attention. But this is actually a science. The NHS is now prescribing diagnosed mental illness cases a MBSR course before turning to medication.
Researchers have concluded that mindfulness-based therapy may be useful in altering affective and cognitive processes and attentional functioning. A person’s ability to be mindful can help predict relationship satisfaction — the ability to respond well to relationship stress and the skill in communicating one’s emotions to others and (Barnes et al., 2007); is positively associated with the ability to express oneself in various social situations (Barnes et al., 2007; Wachs & Cordova, 2007).
Research published the benefits of learning are:
- Reduced rumination
- Stress reduction
- Decrease in anxiety, negative affect, and emotional reactivity
- Increase Focus
- Relationship satisfaction
What to expect:
The MBSR program is an approach of Mind-Body and Participatory Medicine designed by The Mindfulness Centre, University of Massachusetts Medical School. It is defined as ‘the awareness that arises from paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgementally’– since the present moment is the only time anyone ever has for perceiving, learning, growing and transforming’. – J K Zinn.
Each 1.5-hour session introduces mindful awareness in various ways such as gentle yoga, mindful breathing, meditation and awareness practices, group discussions and home practice.
The 8-week model is carefully devised and will provide an overview of the background and science alongside the underlying attitudes of these approaches.
It will help you ease tension, release stress, and teach you strategies to calm your worrying mind. It will teach you simple yet powerful strategies to rewire your brain for peace, gratitude, and presence. Helping you bring this into the classroom and your everyday life.
When? Where?
8-week program with a retreat day
Saturday 09th January (weekly with 1 Sunday on 14th February)
10am– 11.30am
The program will be delivered online via ZOOM
Cost: £25 per person including manual and guided meditations
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is mindfulness the same as meditation or yoga?
Mindfulness is essentially the practice of paying attention, on purpose, to the present moment, without judgment. You can do this many ways and ideally, we work towards practicing this in every moment of our lives. It is most commonly practiced through some form of meditation such as breathing focused activities, focusing on a guided directions or imagery. However, mindfulness can also be practiced in a more casual way and yield the same benefits.
Mindfulness has always been an essential aspect of the physical practice of yoga. The difference between Mindful Yoga and the wide variety of yoga practices is that the main focus is on mind-body awareness, as opposed to alignment details and the exact physical posture.
Do I need previous experience? What do I need to bring?
No, just an eager and curious mind-set. You need some loose-fitting clothes and a pen.
What is a usual session like?
Each session is around 2 hours. This goes quickly! We start with the theme of the day, its significance and objectives. Two or three new skills are shared with discussion in between. We end with a challenge to take into your week and report back.
Do I have to attend all sessions?
Yes, this is important. It’s progressive learning. The course requires a commitment and regular home practice. Missing a week will have an impact. It can be challenging to fit this practice into your life and also the process can be difficult. The intention of the course is to develop our ability to be more aware of our moment by moment experience. This requires practice and guidance so each week counts. It is a worthy investment.
Will we need to attend over the holidays?
The program will start on 09th January 2020 and run until the 06th March 2021.
The retreat day is on the Sunday 07th February 2021. The retreat offers a chance to spend the day for yourself, to relax and reconnect. The day will be spent in silence, with a range of guided meditations learnt thus far, that will help you to engage and deepen your mindfulness practice.
What are the expected outcomes?
A regular mindfulness practice will have some serious positive effects such as improved concentration, energy and sleep as well as increased overall life satisfaction and reduced anxiety.
What do I do if I am interested?
Email mymindfulway@gmail.com to register your interest. After registering you will be called by your practitioner for a chat to confirm details and introduce you to the program.
Your Practitioner
Natalie Hodgson is a certified Mindfulness In School (MISP®) and Level 1, MBSR practitioner and currently completing her Masters in Mindfulness with Bangor University. You may have seen Natalie in the RGS corridors or in class supporting SEN students. She specializes in teaching the youth yoga and mindfulness practices. Before joining RGS Natalie taught mind-body approaches to sportsmen, corporate clientele in the Middle East, Australia, Seychelles and in the UK since 2000. She holds, a Yoga Alliance Prenatal and Hatha Yoga instructor title (300hr),TFQ LSA Certificate and a BSc Honors in PR &Marketing and Communications. Natalie follows the good practice guidelines for mindfulness teachers. Her particular interest is in how mindfulness can help teenagers develop well-being and resilience.
