Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) courses offered through the CMHA, Winnipeg Region office:

MBSR is an approach to self-care that can assist in managing stress, pain and illness. The practice of meditation is used to help people learn to focus awareness on body sensations, thoughts, and emotions in a nonjudgmental way. Through this practice, a person is given the opportunity to explore their inner world of mind/body, recognize and mobilize their inner psychological resources and take better care of the self.

The course is modeled on the program developed by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn at the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center

The course consists of eight weekly classes and one day-long class on a Saturday. It is designed to introduce Mindfulness practice as a way of reducing stress and developing greater balance, control, and fuller participation in your life. Mindfulness is a way of learning to relate directly to whatever is happening in your life, including the challenges of stress, pain, illness and everyday demands.

In the course, you will practice skills to improve your ability to let go of the past, worry less about your future, and live more fully in the present. The course includes guided mindfulness meditations and mindful stretching/movement. All instruction is modified for each individual's needs. You are provided with daily assignments contained in two guided meditation CDs and weekly handouts.

Courses are taught by trained instructors with backgrounds in Family and
Marriage Therapy, Social Work, and Recreational Therapy.

Cost (8 week course)

$150.00 for non CMHA Winnipeg Members/ $120.00 for Members of CMHA

Winnipeg. Notes: Subsidy available for low income households. Courses may

be covered by some insurance providers (ask your health benefit provider for

coverage details of social work services).

Taking an MBSR Course in Winnipeg

CMHA Winnipeg Region is committed to developing MBSR in Winnipeg and offers regular retreats for teacher development (usually annually in the spring).

CMHA Winnipeg Region offers 3-4 of the 8 week MBSR courses per year that are open to the public. The cost for this 8 week course is $150.00 for non- members and $120.00 for members of CMHA Winnipeg. Limited subsidized spaces are also available.

To add your name to receive notification of upcoming MBSR courses, email: mindfulness@cmhawpg.mb.ca.

CMHA Winnipeg Region can also arrange for closed MBSR courses for organizations who wish to offer it on site. For more information on arranging a course for your site contact Nicole Chammartin at nicolec@cmhawpg.mb.ca or 982-6103.

Persons who are board members or employed within any of the communities of service sponsored by the Catholic Health Corporation of Manitoba (including St. Boniface Hospital) are invited to participate in courses through this organization. For further information contact Dawn MacDonald, Coordinator, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction St. Boniface Hospital Catholic Health Corporation of Manitoba dmacdona@sbgh.mb.ca or (204) 235-3700.

Courses are also offered occasionally through the University of Winnipeg Continuing Education for more information http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/dce-community_programs
Courses in Winnipeg are also offered by Klinic Community Health Centre. For more information, contact Terry Wilson at 784-4068 or Chris Willette at 784-4042. Information is also available on the Klinic website at: www.klinic.mb.ca/balance.htm

Upcoming CMHA Winnipeg Region courses:

Spring 2012 - 8 week MBSR course - will take place on Monday evenings from March 26 - May 14, 2012. For details on this course, click here to access the poster. To register, click here to go to our online registration page.
Teacher Practicum (for persons who have completed the 8 week program and have a well-established practice of at least one year). April 28th-30th CMHA Winnipeg (live out). Click here to go to our online registration page to register for this course.
Seven Day Silent Retreat for a Deepening Practice - June 8th-14th St Benedicts Conference and Retreat Centre (Live in). Click here to go to our online registration page to register for this course.

Upcoming Klinic MBSR courses include:

Spring MBSR Session:

TBA

The cost for participants in the regular MBSR course is $75.00 for people who are not regular clients of Klinic services. Klinic clients attend for free. The service providers session, Jan-March, will require a fee that has yet to be determined.

Klinic also offers free meditation sessions on Tuesdays, during the noon hour, 12:00-1:00, and free qi gong sessions on Fridays, 1:00-2:00 pm at our Portage location. These practice sessions are open to the community, no registration required. www.klinic.mb.ca/balance.htm

If you have an MBSR program you are offering in Winnipeg let us know! nicolec@cmhawpg.mb.ca.

CMHA Winnipeg Region will offer to graduates of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) a monthly group meeting. For details, see the following poster: January - June, 2012.

Graduates of June 2011 MBSR retreat

MBSR Instructors - group photo from May 2010 Silent Retreat

Other MBSR News/Information/Resources:

Dr. Steven Hick, the director of MBSR Ottawa, was a key speaker for the launch event of Mental Health Week in 2008. Dr. Hick delivered a public education event called "Mindfulness and being in the moment... the key to positive mental health." Video of the event has been separated into three parts and can be accessed through the following links (the video files are in Adobe Flash format):