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.
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:
This class will be delivered through a hybrid of in-person and Zoom, an online meeting tool.
The Jung Center
5200 Montrose Blvd.
Houston, Texas 77006
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, that it is fine, but it is best to be on time to be respectful of the group. We understand, however, that things can happen beyond your control and we would rather have you come late than not at all.
If you will miss your class, please inform the instructor. You may make up the class the next time the series is offered; or you may take the entire next series again for free. Alternatively, you can pay for a private make-up session.
You are allowed to bring food and beverages. We do offer water, tea, and coffee at our studio.
There is no need to take notes. Our instructors will provide summaries of each class as handouts (or sent via email).
