As developed by The Center for Mindfulness
at the UMASS Medical School
“To the mind that is still
The whole universe surrenders.”
~ The Buddha
Offered by Nancy Bennett
Qualified MBSR teacher trained at the Center for Mindfulness (CFM), UMASS Medical School.
This course meets weekly on Mondays at 6pm for 2.5 to 3 hours from
September 30 - November 25, 2019.
The prerequisite for this course is attendance at one (1) of the free “Introduction to Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Orientation to MBSR” workshops from
6-7:30pm on: Monday, September 23
*Prospective participants must attend one Orientation & information session prior to registration*
Price: $365
Scholarships available.
Click here to register...
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is an intensive 8-week course designed to help people in distress discover the healing power of mindfulness.
Created by Jon Kabat-Zinn at the Center for Mindfulness at the UMASS Medical School in the late ‘70’s, MBSR has helped over 24,000 graduates learn to cultivate awareness in the present moment and discover their natural capacity for wellness, ease, and peace of mind.
“Moments of experiencing wholeness, moments when you connect with the domain of your own being, often include a palpable sense of being larger than your problems and in a much better position to come to terms with them.” -Jon Kabat-Zinn
In 8 weekly sessions and one All Day retreat, we will explore what causes stress, how perception affects stress levels, what makes it difficult to manage stress, and what helps free us from reactivity to stress so that we can respond with wisdom and compassion for ourselves and others. Through a variety of mindfulness practices including sitting and walking meditation, the body scan, mindful movement/yoga, and loving kindness meditation, participants will learn to bring awareness to thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations to empower themselves to live their lives more fully, more productively, more joyfully.
These are some of the many reasons people have turned to MBSR: trouble falling asleep, feeling overwhelmed or out of control, impatience with family or friends, feeling anxious or depressed, challenging physical conditions or illnesses, loss, or an inability to enjoy life.
Taught around the world, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) has been studied extensively by Jon Kabat-Zinn and his fellow researchers at the Center for Mindfulness and elsewhere and shown to lower stress, boost immune response, and bring relief and joy to people with a variety of physical and psychological conditions.
Participants report more balance, ease, peace of mind in their lives
“I love it.”
“I find being in meditation a sanctuary…a time to give myself permission to relax and be calm.”
“I really did love the course and have been trying to practice mindfulness and meditate daily.”
The Course consists of the following:
a free 1 ½ hour orientation and information session (This orientation is required to take the course)
8 weekly classes of 2.5 to 3 hours
an All-Day retreat
daily mindfulness home practices of 45 to 60 minutes a day
The Course Schedule In Detail
The course is 8 weeks and we will meet on Monday nights with an All Day session on Sunday, November 10, 2019. The schedule is outlined here.
· Class 1 Monday, September 30 6:00pm – 9:00pm
· Class 2 Monday, October 7 6:00pm – 8:30pm
· Class 3 Monday, October 14 6:00pm – 8:30pm
· Class 4 Monday, October 21 6:00pm – 8:30pm
· Class 5 Monday, October 28 6:00pm – 8:30pm
· ALL DAY Sunday, November 3 10:00am – 6:00pm
· Class 6 Monday, November 4 6:00pm – 8:30pm
· Class 7 Monday, November 11 6:00pm – 8:30pm
· No Class Monday, November 18 6:00pm - 9:00pm
· Class 8 Monday, November 25 6:00pm - 9:00pm*Monday, Weather Make up Day. 6:00-9:00pm
Most classes will be 2.5 hours; Class One and Eight will be 3 hours.
Please note the All-Day Session between class 6 and class 7 on Sunday, November 10 from 10am to 6pm. This session is a required part of the course.
A strong commitment to attendance, participation, and engagement over the 8 weeks is required. If a prospective participant expects to miss two or more classes, it is recommended he or she take the course at a later, more convenient time.
CD’s or MP-3’s for home practice are included.
Nancy Bennett - is a mindfulness and meditation teacher offering the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course and mindfulness and stress reduction workshops for several years. She trained and received her Qualification as an MBSR teacher from the Center for Mindfulness at the UMASS Medical Center and Brown Mindfulness Center and is on the Certification path. She has an MA in Pastoral Care & Counseling in the Buddhist track from New York Theological Seminary and the NY Zen Center for Contemplative Care with experience as a chaplain intern in NY & RI hospitals offering mindfulness groups for nurses, social workers, aides and other staff and leading mindfulness and spiritual care groups in psychiatric care units. She has been a meditator since 1998 in the Vipassana/Insight tradition working with renown Insight meditation teachers Joseph Goldstein, Guy Armstrong, Sally Clough Armstrong, Sharon Salzberg, Larry Rosenberg, and Analayo among others.