February 2020

The world these days is abuzz with the benefits of mindfulness and meditation. New apps appear every few months and now you can even meditate on a bus (BeTime or PauseNow). Or you could spend thousands of dollars on a retreat blissfully away from your daily life. These products and programs will effect some of the changes you are looking for - mental and physiological transformations start from the first moment you sit in meditation. However, ask yourself “This change I felt, is it still with me? Do I feel prepared to go out into the world mindfully?” If you can not find a heartfelt yes inside of you, we invite you to turn your gaze towards Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction. MBSR is not only backed by 40 years of research by some of the world’s most prestigious universities, it is also an in-depth 8 week program delivered by teachers who have been trained rigorously within a clearly defined and standardized curriculum. Furthermore, MBSR is experience-based and inclusive: you learn to apply mindfulness to every moment of your day.

You are the one who knows what you think and feel, the only one who lives inside your body. With this training, you will find your insights inside yourself, at work, at home, or wherever you are - and along the way become an inspiration to others. MBSR is open to everyone, there is no path but your own. At Imagine Mindfulness, our certified instructors provide you with a live online framework, a space to develop your mindfulness practice, and a place to find a supportive community - all within the comfort of your home. We always refer you back to your own answers. We guide you to embrace your wisdom, recognize your own beauty, and acknowledge self-compassion. Ultimately, mindfulness is a practice of freedom to create what serves you and to let go of behaviors and perceptions that don’t. Becoming more familiar with your mind and your body with an attitude of compassion and kindness will set you firmly on this path, and continues beyond - as one of our cherished alumni. 

Deciding to make new choices in life can be simple, yet is not necessarily easy. It can even be challenging. However, when you dedicate yourself to these weeks of learning and sharing, your rewards will be life-long and impactful. Carl Jung wrote: “The attainment of wholeness requires one to stake one’s whole being. Nothing less will do; there can be no easier conditions, no substitutes, no compromises.” Mindfulness is a skill, like learning a new language or training your body. And like those, it is about active involvement and repetition. MBSR’s 8 week program is experience based, grounded in science, and invites you to practice with self compassion and a curious mind. When you truly connect with your own mind and body, the potential returns are enormous. No matter how seemingly hopeless or painful your situation, if you’re willing to do the work of cultivating mindfulness, change is on the horizon.

- Summer Meyer

CEO Imagine Mindfulness