Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction for staff and faculty

This 8 week program is intended for students experiencing life stressors and their consequences, and for those seeking to enhance their daily living and life satisfaction.

Learn and practice the art and science of meditation, gentle yoga and body scanning to maximize personal, interpersonal and academic coping skills.

To see available dates and times register online

Welcome!

These are stressful times. Finding ways to manage stress is essential for personal health, job satisfaction, and an overall sense of well being. Over the past two decades, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction programs have demonstrated results in enhancing focus and concentration, positive affect, emotion regulation, self confidence and physical well being in a variety of populations, including university students. Our group at the University of Waterloo is based on the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn, (author of Full Catastrophe Living), at the Stress Reduction clinic, University of Massachusetts Centre for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care and Society; and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, as developed by Zindel V. Segal, Mark G. Williams and John D. Teasdale.

This eight week program offers students a forum for learning and practicing effective, meditation-based stress reduction skills including body scan meditation, gentle hatha yoga, sitting meditation, walking meditation, mindfulness of breath, body, feelings thoughts, and emotions.  The program also includes daily home practice, a practice CD, workbook and readings.

Important information for session one:

1. Group location: Needles Hall, room 2080
2. Participants must be able to attend the first session in order to register.
3. Please bring a blanket with you. We will be lying down on the floor for part of the first session and it sometimes gets chilly. Chairs are provided for anyone who would prefer not to be on the floor – this is completely optional.

Our group will run the dates posted on the current flyer and registration page.
If possible, plan to arrive a bit early or on time.  
If you are late, simply come in quietly and join in.

The cost for materials is $20.00. Payment will be collected in session one.

You can decide after the first session if this is a good activity for you.

Thank you for your interest and participation in our program!