MBSR and More

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MBSR is an acronym for Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction.  It describes a protocol for teaching mindfulness that is one of the most widely researched meditation programs available.  Developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn at U Mass Medical School, it is now widely available from certified trainers all over the country.  If we ever needed stress management, it is now.  The program I recommend is from Dr. Dave Potter at Palousemindfulness.com.  

Although Dr. Potter has always offered his own free MBSR course at palousemindfulness.com, and provided opportunities to connect socially with by offering monthly graduate meetings and a Facebook group, he is now promoting a Zoom based live program through Imagine Mindfulness.  Here's what he has to say about the program. 

"People who have been through both a self-paced MBSR course such as Palouse Mindfulness and a live MBSR course tell us that one complements the other in a very rich way - it's really not like taking the course "again".  I took one of Imagine Mindfulness's courses myself earlier this year (along with my wife, Lauren, and daughter, Tracy) in order to assess the quality of the instruction and was very impressed. It was wonderful to experience the sense of community that tends to happen in an online course and Lauren, who had done a live MBSR course before, and Tracy, who had not, both told me that the course was enjoyable and deepened their knowledge and practice of mindfulness.

Their classes are limited in size (12-15 people), so if you are interested, you should register soon at imaginemindfulness.com/sign-up."

Mindfulness, the Pali word is SATI, is an acceptance practice.  It teaches the skills needed to see and know things as they really are.  A second and equally important skill is the skill of cultivation of wholesome mind states (like ease, joy and kindness) which can develop into wholesome character traits.  This is the aim of cultivation; the Pali word is BHAVANA.  This course introduces meditation practices that foster both mindfulness and the cultivation of wholesome traits. 

There are no classes scheduled at this time. Please check back for future listings.  If you are interested in taking this class, please take it online with Dr. Potter at palousemindfulness.com.  The class is worth taking several times and I hope those of you who have take the course with me or elsewhere, will consider taking it again, with accountability through Dr. Potter.  I will be inviting local graduates to participate in special Bhavana Community events through my personal list of local MBSR local graduates.  

Feel free to contact me at catherine@bhavanacommunity.org for information.