Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
An eight week program to help you manage the stress in your life
Bring a greater sense of balance and meaning to your life
“I’ve learnt that I can make a choice about my stress, that I’m not powerless in the face of stressful situations and I can decide how to respond.”
What is MBSR?
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is an eight-week, evidence-based program developed by Dr Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical Centre in 1979.
The program combines mindfulness meditation, practical education about stress, and experiential exercises to help you develop new ways of responding to stress in your everyday life.
MBSR as taught at Simply Mindful is a direct reflection of the original program, which we have been offering in Canberra since 2004.
Who is MBSR for?
MBSR is for anyone who would like to develop practical skills for working with stress and bring greater balance and meaning to their lives.
No previous meditation experience is needed. The course is suitable for complete beginners as well as people who have previously practised mindfulness.
If you are being treated for a medical or psychological condition, MBSR can complement—but does not replace—the care provided by your doctor or psychologist.
MBSR is for adults aged 18 and over.
What to expect from your course
Mindfulness meditation training
Learning about the effects of stress on our bodies and minds
Exploring patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving and their relationship to stress
Developing strategies for applying mindfulness in daily life
Learning through brief lectures, group discussion and experiential activities
What to expect from yourself
You will need to commit to:
Eight 2½-hour classes
One all-day retreat, typically 9am–3:30pm on a Sunday
Home practice of 20-45 minutes per day
Regular home practice is an important part of getting the most from the program.
Your course includes
20+ hours of face-to-face instruction
All day silent retreat
Mindfulness meditation training
Printed and bound handbook
A range of learning approaches
Lifetime access to meditation recordings
Your eight-week journey
Week 1: Recognising the present moment
Week 2: Ways of seeing
Week 3: Moving into practice
Week 4: The shadow of stress
Week 5: Opening to the heart
Week 6: Minding your mind
Week 7: Being and connecting
Week 8: What really matters
Day of Mindfulness: A full-day silent retreat under the guidance of your MBSR teacher, usually held on a Sunday towards the end of the course.
Your course fee: $825
Concession: $625
Includes all classes, the Day of Mindfulness, course handbook and lifetime access to guided meditation recordings.
Where we meet
All classes are held at the Gathering Place unless otherwise noted.
How you can enrol
We offer the MBSR course 2–4 times a year. See the dates for the next course intake here, or click the button below to go to our bookings page.