This 6-week course provides an introduction to mindfulness meditation and mindful awareness practices. In the first three weeks, you will learn to ground in your body through your breath, sound, and body sensations while still and while moving.
The last three weeks offer specific practices for being with physical pain, emotional distress, and difficult thinking. Concepts from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy are included in the class on thinking.
All courses will be delivered through Zoom, an online meeting tool, until we are allowed to re-open our Houston studio. If you register for an in-person class and it later must meet through Zoom, the class will be shortened to 90-minute sessions and we will refund $60.
You will learn specific ways of paying attention to your body, breath, thoughts, feelings, and the world around you. These ways of paying attention can be powerful because when you can observe your thoughts and feelings, you have more choice in how you respond. You can also bring relaxation to your body when you are feeling stress.
The practice of mindfulness has been shown to increase attention and focus, reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, and increase an overall sense of well-being in both adults and children.
Mindfulness is a practice used by professional athletes, healthcare workers, educators, lawyers, military personnel, and business executives to be at their best.
These classes draw on the material provided in the UCLA Mindful Awareness Practices (MAPS I) course. Classes include guided instruction, meditation practice, group discussion, walking and movement practices, scientific research on the mental and physical health benefits, and practices for challenging emotions, difficult thinking, and physical pain. You will also learn how to bring mindfulness into daily activities like eating, driving, and showering or bathing.
This class also incorporates discussions and practices of some positive emotions, such as equanimity, loving kindness, compassion, and gratitude. The class includes downloadable guided mindfulness practices, as well as handouts.
Typical Class Structure:
Location:
All classes are currently being taught through Zoom, an online meeting tool. Once our Houston studio re-opens, we will have classes held in person again.
Mindful Being Studio
4544 Post Oak Place Dr., Suite 100
Houston, Texas 77027
*NOTE: Please be sure to type this address exactly into your navigation app as there are several variations of the Post Oak street name in our area. We want to be sure that you are specifically routed to our building.
Parking:
There is free parking available in the front and rear of our office building. For students attending the night classes, we want you to know there is a security guard on staff.
Please note that the building doors lock at 6pm, so you will need to enter through the back door of the building — this is where the security guard is located.
Other Items to Note:
(Applies to both our Zoom online classes and the in-person classes at our studio)
Come as you are, and be comfortable. Some of our students may be in business attire, and others in workout clothes.
Class is experiential and includes some teaching, as well as practices with discussion. No one is pressured to speak.
We recommend that you arrive 5 minutes before class starts. If you are going to arrive late, we want you to know that it is ok, but it is best to be on time to be respectful of the group. But we all understand that sometimes things happen beyond our control and we would rather have you come late than not at all.
If you miss a class or two, you can make it up for free the next time the class is offered. You can also take the full course again for free. If you prefer, you can arrange an individual session to make up the class(es) missed at a cost of $125/class. If you are going to miss more than two sessions, we recommend that you do not take the class.
You are allowed to bring food and beverages. We offer water, tea, and coffee at our studio at no charge.
There is no need to take notes. Our instructors will provide summaries of each class as handouts (or sent via email).
