Mindfulness Meditation and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Classes and Individual Training at Inspiration Center
Mindfulness-based stress reduction is a program in which people learn to utilize their own internal resources to change their relationship to stress, chronic pain or illness. Mindfulness meditation is at the core of the program. Jon Kabat-Zinn, the director of the original MBSR program at the University of Massachusetts School of Medicine, described mindfulness as: "Paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally." With dedication and practice individuals can learn to respond rather than react to situations, and cultivate a greater sense of calm and well being.
At Inspiration Center we teach an eight week class twice a year, which consists of a 2 1/2 hour session once a week, with a whole day retreat one of these weeks. The class consists of a mix of lessons presented by the faculty; practice; discussions; and homework. The student is expected to formally practice at least 30 minutes and day, and we have found the outcome is strongly related to students' commitment. Drs. Maureen and Richard Hall are the faculty for the Inspiration Center program (see Inspiration Center people). Both have practiced extensively in Mindfulness Meditation/MBSR and have completed the professional training class taught by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn.
Since in these busy times many people cannot devote eight weeks in a row to attending classes .... (those who are the busiest need the classes the most) .... Dr. Maureen Hall also offers the same class on an individual basis during her regular office hours. This allows the student to schedule the class around their own time committments.
Since the program was introduced at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in 1979, it has been introduced at hundreds of hospitals and clinics throughout the U.S. due to its popularity and effectiveness. Clinical trials examining the effectiveness of the technique have found that MBSR can lead to a number of health benefits, including effective treatment of:
- chronic pain
- anxiety and panic
- fibromyalgia
- psoriasis
- depression
Tuition and Payment Plan details
(For more on MBSR efficacy research, see a review:
Baer, R.A. (2003). Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 10, 125 – 143.)
