This series is designed for those who want to include a mindfulness practice in their daily lives. Mindfulness helps practitioners live more fully in the present moment - not focused on what was in the past or worrying about what night be in the future. Its effect is to bring you more fully aware and more fully appreciative of yourself, your relationships, nature, and life itself. This puts you in touch with your inner source of peacefulness and vitality, and results in a greater sense of centeredness.

The program is based on the model established by Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center and featured in Bill Moyers' PBS television special and book, Healing and the Mind. Jon Kabat-Zinn is also the author of Full Catastrophe Living, Everyday Blessings, and Wherever You Go There You Are.

The program provides a supportive setting to learn relaxation techniques, including proper breathing - for tension release, body scanning, meditation and gentle yoga exercises for the release of muscle tension. With regular practice, after six weeks you will be able to:

Research increasingly shows the link between the mind and the body. While physical changes in the body can affect one's mental state, changes in your mental process can alter your physical condition. These "mindfulness" techniques have been shown to adjust the biochemistry of the body in a positive way, strengthening the immune system and helping the body return to its naturally balanced state.

This series was originally designed for patients with stress-related medical disorders. Participants have included those with hypertension and heart disease, cancer, anxiety, insomnia, asthma, back problems, headache and other forms of chronic or recurring pain, infertility, and many other conditions. Clinical research continues to document the effectiveness of these techniques in reducing anxiety, relieving pain, accelerating the benefits of traditional medical therapy and promoting general well-being.

This program benefits all people - with or without specific medical problems. If you are committed to finding balance in your life and are willing to perform the practice regimen, this program can work for you.