The Clinic’s mission is to support people who face the challenges of daily living such as stress, chronic pain, illness, and trauma. The 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Training Program (MBSR) is the core training we offer through our clinic. Our 8-Week Program is modeled on those of the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Healthcare and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. . Download the Evaluation and Review of our Clinic's 2007 MBSR program.

Almost 30 years ago Jon Kabat-Zinn began offering a program of stress reduction to patients and physicians at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center . His program combined stress medicine and psychology with meditation, gentle yoga, experiential education, group dynamic exercises, and aspects of Buddhist psychology.

He dubbed this 8-week 30 hour training Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Training or MBSR. The 8 week program is described in detail in Jon’s landmark book Full Catastrophe Living. A rich background of scientific research and subsequent books by Jon and others has made MBSR one of the most effective and respected methods of helping people though the most stressful challenges of life: heart disease, cancer, fibromyalgia, anxiety, depression, asthma, multiple sclerosis, sleep problems and much more. See the bibliography. Download an MBSR research summary.

MBSR is a way of systematically, directly and thoughtfully working with the catastrophes of life and learning to accept and take charge even in the face of these challenges. It’s a way of finding your inherent wisdom to face stress, chronic pain, and illness.

Since that first program tens of thousands of people around the world have taken the course. Two decades of published research indicates that the majority of those who have taken the course report:

• Reduction in pain levels
• A lasting ability to cope with stress
• Lasting decreases in physical and psychological symptoms.
• A greater ability to relax
• Greater energy

Students with a variety of challenges are helped with MBSR including:

• Stress from job, family, finances
• Chronic pain or illness
• Chronic anxiety or panic
• Gastrointestinal distress
• High blood pressure
• Depression
• Headaches
• Fatigue

Brant is one of the few MBSR teachers in the Pacific Northwest. He will offer the program at least once each term at the Yoga Hillsboro studios. We tailor MBSR trainings for organizations and businesses on request.

The Program is 8 weeks long, with a two and one-half hour class each week and will include a daylong retreat class on a Saturday or Sunday. The curriculum includes these:

• Practical learning of mindfulness meditation practices
• Mindful movement, gentle stretching and adaptive Yoga for anyone
• Exercises that help you enhance awareness in your daily life
• Instruction that is tailored to you personally
• Group dialogue and learning exercises
• Daily homework assignments
• Two audio-cassette CD's and a workbook

This Program is challenging by design and asks you to make a commitment to attend 30 hours of class time along with daily homework. We are committed to creating the 8 Week Program as a safe, engaging and relevant environment for you to explore the dimensions of your inherent wisdom to face the challenges of daily living. To register for the program you must attend a 2-hour Introduction/Orientation Session and submit a completed application. Check our schedule for dates and times of free Orientation Sessions and the dates of the MBSR Program coming up.