Services
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
When life’s challenges become overwhelming, MBSR provides the skills and discipline to cope with them. This 8-week course teaches a method of focusing the mind. It is tailored for people experiencing many of life’s challenges, i.e., chronic pain, chronic illness, stress, overeating and smoking cessation. There are three parts of the course: learning about meditation, body awareness and gentle yoga stretches (adapted for those with disabilities).
The classes include guided instruction in mindfulness meditation, small group exercises, discussion and individually tailored instructions. Participants are expected to practice daily at home between classes. The home practice constitutes the immediate life-style change of mindfulness. The 27-hour course also includes a required 7-hour daylong class on a Saturday. This course is suitable for individuals and can be adapted for corporate wellness programs. Participants report a sense of peace by turning towards the very health concerns and difficulties that are the source of their stress.
Mindfulness (Insight) Meditation Classes
Insight meditation is nothing more mysterious than developing our ability to pay attention in the present moment. We are often pre-occupied with thoughts about the past or future. While sometimes such preoccupations may be innocent and harmless, more often they contribute to stress, fear and suffering. Classes bring the practice of mindfulness alive with individual instruction within the context of group interaction. Classes are periodically offered on a wide range of aspects of meditation including Mindful Eating. These classes are suitable for those new to the practice as well as more experienced meditators..
Silent Daylong Retreats
It is rare in our culture to spend a day away from the busyness of our lives, without phone calls, the internet and the “to do” list. A day of silent, guided practice is conducive to quieting the mind and body and awakening to our moment to moment experience. These retreats are suitable both as an introduction to meditation as well as a way to deepen practice for the experienced meditator.
Corporate Wellness Programs – Mindful Work Space
When leaders and employees no longer respond well to stress, the workplace lacks energy, vitality and innovation. The home life suffers as well. Productivity is hampered. A Mindful Work Space empowers employees to develop a special type of attention to what is happening in the present moment. This training guides them to skillfully respond to their stresses rather than react with automatic habits that no longer serve them. Employees will manifest actual lifestyle changes that positively affect healthcare costs. Mindful Work Space offers programs and courses tailored to an organization’s needs in the form of stand alone workshops and on-going classes at the worksite.
Programs include:
- Introduction to Mindfulness (full, half-day or weekly classes)
- 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Course (27 hours, 9 classes)
- Classes customized to focus on the specific needs of the organization
Private Meditation Classes
Meditation is a deeply personal experience. These classes are designed for individuals who are more comfortable in a private class. They may wish to start a meditation practice or start again a practice that has lapsed. The schedule and number of sessions are determined by the student.
Mentoring
Mentoring is helpful both as an introduction for those new to mindfulness meditation and as a way to deepen practice for the experienced meditator. It is an opportunity to explore the difficulties in your practice as well as the insights and also to use your practice to work with the challenges in your life.
Sessions can take place in person or by phone. The schedule and frequency of the sessions are determined by the student. Please note that mentoring is not psychotherapy, coaching or career counseling.
There is no established fee for the mentoring sessions. They are based in the tradition of the practice of “dana” or generosity, one of the central pillars of the spiritual life. It is said that there are three joys of giving: the intention to give, the act of giving, and the memory of having given.
This practice of generosity around mentoring/teaching creates a system of openhandedness, of interdependence between mentor and student. As the student is so inclined, s/he may wish to engage in the practice of generosity and offer “dana” (a donation) for the mentoring as a way to support the teacher so she may continue to offer teachings. There is no suggested or normal amount; that is left entirely to the student and the reality of their circumstances.
