Plan to attend a free introduction to LVHN’s Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction classes
Mindfulness supports joyfulness, mental clarity and resilience. Learn to live in the moment and reduce stress in your life by exploring the eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course and other mindfulness programs offered by Lehigh Valley Health Network’s (LVHN) Center for Mindfulness.
To register for the eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course, potential class participants must attend a free orientation session. In this interactive and experiential 90-minute session, you will get a brief overview of what mindfulness is and how it can help you to feel better and to manage stress. Attendees of the free session will learn about Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and other mindfulness programs.
Virtual orientation session
In-person orientation sessions
Choose to attend one of these orientation sessions in advance of the next Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction training class series. That series of weekly classes starts Thursday, Sept. 28 and continues through Nov. 16.
If a later fall time commitment would be better for you, orientation sessions are planned for November 2023 in advance of the next series of classes.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction is a training program which enables us to meet life’s challenges with more resiliency. There is an extensive body of medical literature that supports the effectiveness of mindfulness in a wide variety of medical conditions, including chronic pain, anxiety disorders, depression and other chronic illnesses.
Participants will learn how to meditate over the eight-week program and are asked to practice daily between classes. Each class is 2 ½ hours. A half-day retreat, reference manual and guided meditation resources are all included.
About half of the class time is spent learning stress-reduction techniques, including meditation, mindful movement and deep relaxation. The remainder of the class is spent in dialogue about how stress affects our health, how to apply these practices in everyday life and how mindfulness can improve communications and relationships.
A good deal of the learning grows from the innate wisdom of all the participants as we ask people to share their own truths. As a result, the group members often develop a deep bond with each other which supports their efforts to make positive changes in their lives.
Those interested in taking the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program will be required to have a one-on-one interview with one of the instructors. The purpose of the interview is to clarify your goals in participation and to ensure that they are in line with program objectives.
An important part of the program is a home practice requirement. We ask that all participants commit themselves to daily practice of 30-45 minutes. Without practice, participants may enjoy the program, but will not take with them the lasting benefits and life changes that the program can provide.
Classes are taught by two trained and experienced co-facilitators whose goal is to create a safe, supportive and enjoyable learning environment.
