Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

As more and more people have begun incorporating mindfulness into their lives, formal programs that teach mindfulness techniques have started popping up everywhere. Onsite and virtual meditation classes are offered in hospitals, at community centers, and employee wellness facilities. One of the most popular techniques is Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction is referred to as MBSR. It was created by Jon Kabat-Zinn in 1979. Working with chronically ill patients, he created a curriculum combining:

Mindfulness meditation
Breathing
Yoga
Other relaxation techniques

Kabat-Zinn’s original MBSR program is still offered at U Mass Medical School’s Center for Mindfulness. It includes orientation, eight weekly classes, and an all-day retreat. Classes encompass:

Guided meditation
Yoga
Stretching
Group discussions
Formal MBSR meditation instruction
Daily assignments

MBSR is widely available across America in many variations:

• Online options
• Five-day intensive courses
• Downloadable classes

MBSR is built on mindfulness principles. This emphasizes staying in the present moment, and not thinking about the past or the future. During mindfulness meditation, you’re encouraged to feel your emotions without judging them as good or bad. The point is allowing your emotions to simply exist.

What is Mindful Meditation?

Mindfulness is not about trying to escape negative experiences, like pain, anxiety, or stress. It’s not about recapturing positive emotions, like happiness or love. Being mindful is learning to exist with whatever you’re feeling in the present moment.

MBSR programs take mindfulness a step further. Incorporating yoga and breathing, helps participants apply specific aspects of mindfulness to:

Reduce Stress
Decrease Pain
Lessen illness
Improve overall well-being

Is Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction effective?

Yes. Studies show that MBSR improves a range of conditions:

Depression
Stress
Diabetes
Arthritis
Psoriasis

Practicing MBSR can result in:

Better quality of life
Immune system boost
Positive effects on the brain
Better learning
Improved memory
Emotional regulation

​Mindfulness in the Workplace?

Studies show that mindfulness programs are effective at managing stress in the workplace. In an extensive workplace mindfulness study, participants who practiced mindfulness combined with therapeutic yoga – an MBSR program – reported:

Sleeping better
Feeling less stress

And mindfulness improves leadership. A study showed that when supervisors were mindful, employee well-being and job satisfaction were higher.

How Does an MBSR Program Work?

Mindfulness-based stress reduction is traditionally delivered in-person. Recent studies found it’s successful no matter how it’s delivered. The previously-mentioned workplace study found similar results in virtual corporate meditation classes and in-person programs. A study offered veterans with PTSD a telehealth mindfulness program. It found that participants improved mindfulness without attending classes in person.

MBSR has proven effective when delivered by audiotape to psoriasis patients undergoing skin treatment. These studies may pave the way, for MBSR options to accommodate workers who telecommute or travel frequently.

Strive Well-Being provides onsite MBSR programs in a range of options:

Drop-in Mindfulness/Meditation sessions
A recurring 6-week MBSR course with a 2-hour weekly commitment
One-on-one sessions

Strive Well-Being programs are taught by certified MBSR instructors. They’re structured to help employees use mindfulness in:

Handling stress
Managing pain
Dealing with illness

Participants learn:

• Fundamental differences between MBSR and other relaxation techniques
• Specific benefits of MBSR that can be shared with others
• Using mindfulness techniques in personal and professional settings
• How to improve communication in social interactions
• Brief practices that can be implemented to deal with acute pain or anxiety

Strive MBSR programs allow administrative time for notes, meetings, and consulting.

How do I Integrate a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program?

Mindfulness-based stress reduction can supplement existing programs. You can invite a Strive MBSR professional as a guest instructor. It will be fully-handled by your designated Strive program coordinator. This single point of contact works with your staff arranging program details of

• Deciding when and where to offer your MBSR classes
• Assessing how many classes to offer
• Hiring pre-screened, fully-certified experienced MBSR instructors

Your Strive MBSR program is entirely turn-key. We provide communications and marketing materials for your employees. We’re your partner in generating awareness and excitement for your wellness initiative. We’ll handle employee enrollment. And we track participation and engagement. You’ll get regular reports on class performance. And you can make adjustments at any time.

What About Liability?

We’ll handle the liability process. You’ll be covered. Strive has comprehensive liability insurance – including workers compensation – and a provision of services to fully-indemnify your organization from risk. Strive will distribute and manage electronic employee liability waiver forms.

Combine our MBSR program another Strive wellness program. It pairs great with Stress Management options, Therapeutic Yoga and Employee Fitness. Your Strive program coordinator will administer every program you run. They’ll work with you to establish programming in multiple locations.

Wellness is easy, working with Strive. We handle all administration, coordination, and invoicing. This frees you up, to enjoy the results.