MBSR FAQ

What does the course involve?

• 2 ½ hour class once a week for 8 weeks plus one full day session (held on the weekend)
• Mindfulness meditation training, access to guided meditations and course notes
• 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 sharing of the theory, group discussion and experiential activities

What are the possible benefits?

Over 30 years of research into the MBSR program has found evidence for these outcomes:

• Greater capacity to deal with stress
• Increased sense of well-being and balance
• Lasting decrease in both physical and psychological symptoms
• Increased energy and productivity, feeling more engaged with life
• Stronger immune system
• Increased levels of attention and concentration
• Improved self-regard
• More creative problem solving and greater focus
• Increased sense of connection, meaning and purpose
• In recent years research in neuroscience has made compelling discoveries about the brain’s capacity to grow and change, including evidence that meditation helps to create new pathways in the brain that increase our ability to be more positive and creative.

What should I ask the teacher to make sure they are equipped to teach me mindfulness?

You could ask if they:

• Have their own personal meditation practice?
• Do regular silent retreats?
• Have trained in a reputable form of group-based mindfulness training (such as MBSR)?
• If so, what form of training did they do?

Our commitment to excellent teaching

At The Meditation Practice each of the teachers is following the Mindfulness Training Institute Australia intensive sequence of training. In addition, we participate in professional supervision with mindfulness teacher colleagues and regularly attend extended silent retreats in order to deepen our own meditation practice. You can view the MTIA recommended pathway for training to teach MBSR here.

Why should I do MBSR when I can go to a local meditation centre for free?

Many people come to MBSR because they specifically want a mindfulness training that is secular and has no particular spiritual orientation or beliefs attached to the process.

What is the difference between doing the MSBR course to learn mindfulness and doing an intensive silent retreat?

Both can be valuable in learning meditation. Many people find the intensive retreat process more manageable when they have some basic meditation skills and practice under their belt. The 8 week course is a practical approach to learning meditation and incorporating mindfulness into one’s life. One of the advantages of the slower, more gradual 8-week process is that we are incorporating it into our day-to-day lives. We incorporate how we relate with ourselves, and also family, work and the world – finding out how to integrate a regular practice into the demands of ordinary life.

How do I register?

I’ve sent in my online registration for an MBSR course, what happens now? You can expect to receive an email welcoming you to the course.  This email will contain details to enable you to pay the $150 deposit to reserve your place.  Once we receive your deposit a place will be reserved for you on the course. In the weeks leading up to the course, the program coordinator will phone you to arrange a pre-course meeting with your teacher.  At this meeting you will be able to ask questions about the program.  Your place on the course will be secured after this meeting and upon receipt of your full payment.

Who should attend?

Who should attend the MBSR program? MBSR is for anyone wishing to bring a greater sense of balance and meaning to their lives as well as those who are dealing with stress of any kind.  For people being treated for medical or psychological conditions, the MBSR program is a complement to, not a substitute for, the professional care of their doctor or psychologist.

Who should attend the Day of Mindfulness?

Your first experience of The Meditation Practice - Day of Mindfulness will be as a participant in the MBSR program as it is an integral part of the program.  The retreat is a full day of meditation practice held in silence under the guidance of The Meditation Practice teachers. Upon completion of the MBSR program you will receive regular invitations to join in our silent retreats as part of The Meditation Practice community. We are always delighted to welcome the many previous participants to the silent retreats.

Who should attend the Alumnus Practice group?

The Alumnus Practice groups are for members of The Meditation Practice community who wish to kick start and/or deepen their meditation practice in the good company of like minded people. In order to join these practice groups you must have completed an 8 week MBSR program. In this gathering you can extend your mindfulness practice in a group setting as part of  The Meditation Practice community. Each session is facilitated by one of our teachers.

What to bring?

What do I need to bring to my first MBSR class? For the first meeting of your MBSR program please bring any meditation practice equipment you use already. If you don’t have anything usually the studios we utilise will have chairs, yoga mats, pillow etc. If you would like to bring your own equipment bring something to lie on (a yoga mat, camping mat or soft blanket are ideal), pillow to support your head or for under your knees, and a blanket.  The suggested posture for the first meditation you will be learning is lying down and having these will help ensure you’re comfortable.

What do I need to bring to a Day of Mindfulness?

If you are attending the Day of Mindfulness silent retreat you will need to bring your meditation equipment and your own lunch that doesn’t need heating up. A water. There will be opportunities for going outside throughout the day, so please bring appropriate clothing.  If you’re attending the day in winter, or the weather has turned cold, please bring extra warm blankets or clothing. Please do NOT bring iPods, iPads, or book other than your course book.

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