Mindfulness training involves practicing techniques to improve one’s ability to focus on the present moment without judgment. It can be conducted independently or guided through a workshop like the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction or MBSR training by Jon Kabat-Zinn. This eight-week mindfulness training program began with the goal of evaluating the effects of mindfulness on a group of people suffering from chronic illnesses who had not been responding to conventional forms of medicine.
The results were so extraordinary that they eventually led to the founding of the MBSR program, which has since enrolled over 25,000 people. It has even attracted a global audience, with MBSR classes taught all over the world, from hospitals to yoga retreats.
Mindfulness training through MBSR involves eight weeks of meetings, classes, and workshops led by certified trainers. The entire program focuses on teaching mindful awareness and using mindfulness to help manage and reduce stress in everyday life.
MBSR is also said to promote other benefits of mind and body awareness, including a reduction in stress and anxiety, nonjudgmental awareness in daily life, equanimity in dealing with change or loss, experiential exploration as it relates to stress, achieving serenity and clarity, and experiencing a more joyful life through effective stress management.
More specifically, the program features 2.5-hour weekly group meetings, a seven-hour, one-day retreat, 45 minutes of daily homework, and formal instruction on three mindfulness techniques: mindfulness meditation, body scanning, and mindful yoga. The workshop is centered on group discussions and allows participants to explore their behaviors, thoughts, and emotions.
Additionally, there is an emphasis on informal practice and not so much on the formal type so the participants can find time to adopt mindfulness into their daily routines. Lastly, the MBSR workshop is guided by the seven pillars of mindfulness (non-judgment, patience, beginner’s mind, trust, non-striving, acceptance, and letting go).