Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
"InsightLA is a precious resource in the Los Angeles area for bringing mindfulness into your life. Trudy Goodman is a superb and highly respected teacher with long-term experience with Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)." - Jon Kabat-Zinn
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) taught by InsightLA is Los Angeles' premier program based on the groundbreaking work developed 25 years ago by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn. Trudy Goodman worked closely with Dr. Kabat-Zinn in the early days, teaching classes and creating programs together. She directed one of the first Stress Reduction Clinic Internship Programs at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester.
In 1993, Bill Moyers featured Jon Kabat-Zinn's Stress Reduction Clinic in his series "Healing and the Mind". The program is described in Kabat-Zinn’s bestselling book “Full catastrophe living”. MBSR is now taught around the world to people from all backgrounds and in all manner of life situations. Currently there are over two hundred medical centers in the United States that have Mindfulness–Based Stress Reduction programs.
Benefits
Two decades of published research -- and more than 15,000 participants -- indicate that the majority of people who complete the 8-week program report greater ability to cope more effectively with both short and long-term stressful situations. By learning to actively participate in the management of health and well being, many participants report they are better able to manage stress, fear, anger, anxiety, and depression both at home and in the workplace. Participants have stated that they feel less judgmental and critical of themselves and subsequently to others. Many also report a decrease of the frequency and length of medical visits to hospitals, emergency rooms, and health care professional offices. There has also been a noticeable decrease in the use of prescription and non-prescription medications.
Class Structure
The Mindfulness–Based Stress Reduction Program is an intensive eight-week training to empower participants to take an active role in the management of their health and wellness. The classes meets weekly for 2.5 hours and there is an all-day session usually in the sixth week on a Saturday or Sunday. Participants are asked to practice mindfulness meditation and/or mindful movement for 30-45 minutes a day with instructional CD's. An intensive teacher – participant relationship helps the participant to integrate the teaching into his/her specific life situations and so really make the practice his/her own. After completion of the class InsightLA offers on-going drop-in groups as well as day long retreats to help graduates to keep their practice strong and alive.
MBSR Partnership with the Venice Family Clinic
We are proud to be offering our MBSR classes at the Venice Family Clinic this year. The Clinic provides free, quality health care to people in need who live in the Westside neighborhoods. The Clinic's Simms/Mann Health and Wellness Center (http://www.venicefamilyclinic.org) is the nation's first health, wellness, and integrative medicine program offered at a free clinic. The MBSR program is offered with all class materials in Spanish, as well as in-class translation. Our very first class had 17 participants, with great attendance. The participants loved the class and benefited enormously. The translator, a staff social worker, practices meditation herself, so she was able to do an excellent "inside" job
MBSR Cancellation Policy for 8-Week Class
Cancellations:
We will refund the full fee minus a $30 administration fee if the cancellation is made at least 7 days before the first class. There is also an option to apply the fee as a credit towards a future class.
Once the class has begun, we will issue a refund for:
- 75% of the fee if notice is given after the 1st class
- 50% of the fee if notice is given after the 2nd class
No refunds will be issued after the third class.
Extra Workbook and CDs:
The first copy of the workbook and the two CDs are included in the price of the course. If you need additional copies, there is a $15 charge for each workbook and $10 charge per CD.
Missed classes:
Attendance at a minimum of six classes is required to graduate from the MBSR program. Up to two classes can be made up for no extra cost during the following MBSR cycle. If you miss three or more classes, we will prorate a portion of the fee towards the next class cycle and you can come to the last three or four classes, including the daylong class.
Daylongs:
There is no fee for MBSR graduates to attend future MBSR daylong classes. There will be an opportunity to make a donation to the teachers and the MBSR scholarship fund at the class.