Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Tools

We can’t control life’s waves but we can learn how to surf them. – Jon Kabat-Zinn

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) was founded by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn in 1979 and spread from UMASS Medical School into hospitals, schools, businesses, government organizations and into people’s lives all over the world. MBSR has been rigorously and widely researched and it has inspired countless other mindfulness programs. MBSR can help with anxious, worried and depressed moods, chronic health challenges, work stress, burnout, and parenting and caregiving stress.

During this workshop, we will go through the core practices of MBSR with guided meditations, gentle guided movement practice, writing reflections, sharing and discussions. The workshop includes one full day of silence, including meal times and breaks, to settle deeper into the practices and experience the power of silence — together. Learning to attend to our experience in an open, curious and friendly manner lets us see our habitual patterns and reactions. This can lead to profound transformation into more ease, joy and calm as well as more deliberate actions with ourselves and with the world around us. This workshop is suited for new and experienced students as well as health care professionals. Esalen’s gorgeous seaside setting is the perfect background for this work of learning to surf life’s waves.