Summary of the 8-week MBSR course intentions

Session Themes:

Session 1 - An introduction to Mindfulness.

Session 2 - Perceptions and creative responding. "It's not the stressors per se, but how you handle them" 

Session 3 - The Pleasure and Power in being present.

Session 4 - Cultivating Curiosity and Openness to the full range of experience, recognizing and reducing the negative effects of automatic, habitual stress reactivity.

Session 5 - Paying attention to your growing capacity to respond and recover more rapidly from everyday challenges and stressors. 

Session 6 - Interpersonal Mindfulness and Building Resilience.

Session 7 - Integrating Mindfulness practice and reflecting on life-style choices. "What do I need to take care of myself now"?

Session 8 - A Mindful Life, keeping up the momentum.

Course Intentions:

• The intention of the 8-week Mindfulness MBSR Course is to learn new ways to be with our body sensations, thought, and emotions.
• The course shows us ways to be kind to ourselves so that we are able to live our lives in a fuller and healthier way.
• It promotes a way of being that helps us to tackle life problems - physical, mental, social and emotional, you could call it a way of finding balance.
  
• The focus of the Mindfulness practice is to learn to ground ourselves in what is happening in the world around using the senses, to become aware of the small changes in the physical sensations in the body, to practice looking at thoughts, rather than from thoughts and to cultivate a new way of being with our emotions.
• During the course, we will learn about the power of an intention, how to notice what is going on for us right now in the present moment, how to gently turn towards our experience be it pleasant or unpleasant and how to be kind to ourselves. In this way, we learn how to respond more skillfully to situations, rather than simply reacting automatically.
• Overall, the course is often helpful in dealing with an ongoing difficulty whatever that may be - the problem may not change however studies show that the way we can learn to relate to it most likely will.
• Whilst taking part in the course it is important to remember that finding the time to practice involves a shift in our normal daily routine. We find it helps to think of building the time in during the 8 weeks, rather than trying to fit it into our busy schedules.
• As we practice, things may appear to be feeling more intense and challenging, and the course encourages us to bring a high degree of attention to everything, even the unpleasant or difficult. This forms an important part of the experiential learning - to stay and be with the unpleasant and difficult with kindness, rather than turn away pretending it is not there or avoiding them. You may have found already that that simply does not work! Of course, we will also learn when it is right to turn away and anchor with the breath or feet on the floor.

Please note there is little opportunity or time in either the group or 1-1 option to discuss any current or past personal problems not related to the session or home practices. If necessary these should be pursued through individual work with a counselor or other appropriate support.