Mindfulness/MBSR

Mindfulness is a way of learning to relate to whatever is happening in your life, a way of taking charge, a way of doing something for yourself that no one else can do for you — consciously and systematically working with your own stress and the challenges and demands of everyday life.

Mindfulness practice can help you heal and cope with many conditions, including:

• Stress
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Fatigue
• High blood pressure
• Gastrointestinal (IBS)
• Insomnia
• Chronic pain
• Headaches
• Some autoimmune conditions

A typical MBSR course works like this:

• Registered participants meet once a week for 9 weeks.
• Each weekly session is live-online through the My Health at Vanderbilt patient portal and includes:
  • Group discussions designed to help you integrate mindfulness into your daily life
  • Daily home assignments
  • Guided instruction in mindfulness and meditation practices, wuch as sitting and walking meditation, mindful eating and mindful communication
  • Gentle stretching and mindful yoga
• Weekly sessions are led by a trained MBSR teacher.
• Sometime during the 9 weeks (usually between weeks 5 and 6), an all-day Saturday retreat is held in-person at the MNPS Employee Wellness Center.

To qualify to participate in an MBSR course, you must:​

• Be an active MNPS employee, retiree or dependent age 16+
• Wish to learn techniques to better manage stress, burnout, anxiety or depression
• Have not completed a previous MNPS-provided MBSR course
• Be able to meet the significant time commitments, which include attending sessions approximately 2.5 hours a week, completing assigned homework and attending an all-day Saturday retreat​

When an upcoming MBSR course is announced, registrants who meet all course requirements are accepted on a first come, first served basis until the class is full. You’re encouraged to read and understand the commitments required of the course before applying to participate.

MNPS is offering the course at no cost to those who meet all registration requirements (typically, the cost is ~$700). Because spots are limited, we ask that you register only if you're confident you can meet the significant time commitment the course requires. Doing so helps ensure every spot goes to someone who can fully benefit from the experience.

Virtual MBSR participant and English teacher Ed Lawless says, “I fit into the ‘doesn’t play well with others’ category...[but] this is a shared experience. Witnessing others go through the process...is enlightening and comforting. I noticed positive effects after the first class. I was able to be more open and honest. Being in my own home and space fostered a level of comfort I seriously would not be able to attain if I was in a classroom or outside setting.”

Other participants say:

• The course far exceeded my expectations. It opened my mind at to how my body reacts to stresses.
• I honestly thought I was pretty good at dealing with the often-intense stresses of being an educator. But now I realize I only had one or two tools I was using to cope. Now my toolbox is full.
• Before the course, I would bury the stress without realizing it — to the detriment of my body and mind. I can now handle the stress in a healthy way.
• I have gained an overwhelming sense of “I can get through it” — whatever “it” is.
• If you want to bring more awareness to your life and reduce stress, then take the course.
• This is a wonderful introduction to mindfulness. Be prepared for a significant time commitment.
• If you are open to meditation and reducing stress in your life, take it.
• The time commitment is certainly worth it and it will change your life.
• You won’t believe how beneficial it will be to your personal and professional life.

Your personal information is confidential and will not be made public or shared with anyone outside Vanderbilt staff coordinating the course.

Questions about MBSR? Contact stressless@vumc.org.

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