There is No Time Like the Present

Mindfulness is the practice of experiencing the present moment, in a non-judgmental way, without trying to change it.  Being with things as they are – if only for a moment.

So right now, check in with yourself. Are you reading this or are you thinking about what you will be doing 5 minutes from now?

Since everything only happens in the present moment, why not live here more? Well – the mind is great time traveler and likes to travel to the future and to the past. So we get lost in thought, fear, doubt and worry making it difficult to respond to life’s challenges. Mindfulness practice helps us to respond with awareness rather than automatically reacting.

Sometimes it’s easier to relate to mindlessness – Have you ever driven somewhere and not remembered how you got there? Or, my favorite is eating a carton of French fries only to grab another and realize the box is empty? These are examples of drifting away to auto-pilot mode and being mindless. While we can’t be present all the time, studies* are showing that people tend to be happier when their minds aren’t wandering as much.

* Wandering Mind Not a Happy Mind, Harvard Gazette, 2010/11, Killingsworth and Gilbert, Harvard University

Why Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction?

In order to bounce back from adverse distractions that bombard us daily, we need to take steps to interrupt these stressors. 

But first we need to become aware that we’re off somewhere else rather than in the present moment. If you have a moment, that’s enough time to pause and refocus your attention on the here and now.

Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) helps us to wake up from auto-pilot. I discovered MBSR because I was very interested in experiencing my life differently. When I began my mindfulness meditation journey in 2012, I soon realized during much of my day my thoughts were lingering over the past, dreaming of or stressing out over the future.

Benefits of MBSR

• Increase ability to concentrate and focus
• Calmly learn to interrupt repetitive thought patterns
• Complimentary tool for reducing stress, anxiety, depression and chronic pain
• Expand ability to see situations more clearly
• Lower heart rate and blood pressure
• Develop a deeper sense of compassion for self and others

Stress Reduction and Mindfulness Trainings

• Safeguarding the Well-Being of Healthcare Workers: Mindfulness Tools for Stress and Trauma, evidenced-based mindfulness tools help healthcare professionals develop resiliency and a renewed sense of hope | Download Flyer
• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) - 8-week Course | Download Flyer
• One-on-One Mindfulness: Private stress-reduction classes for individuals

View details of available trainings and classes here.