FAQ's

Mindfulness means becoming more aware moment-to-moment of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment non-judgementally. When we practice mindfulness, our thoughts tune into what we're sensing in the present moment rather than using habitual patterns of recounting the past or imagining the future.

MBSR stands for Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction. As early as 1979, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) was developed by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn and his colleagues at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center’s Stress Reduction Clinic. At that time they were treating patients that general medicine could not solve such as PTSD from many Veterans coming back from the Vietnam War. Today, MBSR is offered in many hundreds of hospitals, clinics, health centers, educational, management and other settings around the world.The 8-week stress reduction program is based on training in mindfulness practices. It was initially targeted to people with chronic health problems, helping them to cope with the effects of pain, illness and the impact of these conditions on their lives. Today MBSR is taught to people throughout the world who are experiencing challenges in all areas of life. The motivation for many people to enroll in a course begins with a desire to reduce stress and to enrich their lives by becoming more present using the aspects of mindfulness, self - awareness, and a sense of being in touch with oneself and living a more happy, peaceful life.

The 8 Week MBSR course consists of eight, weekly classes of 2 - 2.5 hours each, plus an all-day session after the sixth week that includes a full day of mindfulness practice in a modified retreat format. Each session starts with a mindfulness exercise that the participants have learned during the weekly sessions. The main exercises of the MBSR program are: - The body scan - Gentle yoga ("Mindful Movement") - Sitting meditation Through the course of the program, participants will practice one or more of these exercises every day. In addition there are various exercises centered on incorporating mindfulness practice into daily life. Other exercises train mindful awareness in relation to thoughts, sensations, emotions, and communication. Each session focuses on one particular topic that is explored with specific exercises, as well as presentations from the teacher and in dialogue among the group participants. Some topics in an MBSR course are: - Mindful communication - Working with difficult emotions - Understanding how perception influences our relationship to stressful events. - Working with pleasant and unpleasant events - Learning to craft creative responses rather than reactions - Mindful eating - Learning to work with physical pain - And much more

The 8 week MBSR course cost is $495.00. To enroll and reserve your space for the next class, please choose the "Enroll" link here on the website. Payment option plan: We do not want finances to be a barrier for any individuals to take this course. We will require a 50% payment ($247.50) at the time of enrollment. Then each week you pay $30.95 plus a processing fee of $20.00 to be added to your final weekly payment. Please contact us if you wish to request this payment option plan. Refund Policy: A full refund will be processed to any enrollee who has requested in writing through our Contact form up to two weeks before the start date of their scheduled "Class One". Beyond the two week period and up to "Class Two" or sooner, a refund will be issued of 50% of the total course fee, minus a $25.00 cancellation processing fee. Beyond "Class Two" requests for a refund will receive, upon instructor approval, a credit towards the next available course or one in the future of their choosing depending on class size and limitation for newly enrolled participants.

If you are a health and wellness program administrator, HR/People, or key decision maker within your organization that is interested in learning more about our 60 or 90 minute workshops then please email us for our detailed information packet at mindfulfoundations101@gmail.com

If you suffer from chronic pain or injury first and foremost we will say there are no requirments for anyone to do any of the excercises, postures, or practices as stated. All of the practices and movements are very gentle in their design and nature throughout the entire course. We will guide each partcipant with a sense of "non-striving". There is never a need to push past your own limits unless you choose to do so, and always the option to take rest or sit out of any of the practices. We help many participants find alternative ways to practice. For example, a student with previous back injuries may choose to take a more comfortable position laying down, seated in a chair, or standing up. We honor those wishing to opt out of some of the movement exercises they find challenging or uncomfortable and simply rest in awareness of the breath. Our teachers are trained specifically to work with participants of all physical levels and we never ask anyone to stretch, move, or sit beyond their limits. If concerned please ask your Doctor for more specific advice related to any physical injuries or limitations you might have. In regards to psychological illness or disorders we ask that you please send us an email through out Contact page so we can discuss further. Many accomodations to take the course can stil be made however if you are taking medication, we would need to know more details to properly assess.