The Mindfulness Center has had a very successful year. As part of the University of Virginia, the Center is on an academic calendar, and our fiscal year ended on June 30. We had more participants than ever enroll in our courses this year, which included Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Mindfulness for Healthcare Providers, Mindfulness for Teachers and Educators, the Science and Practice of Mindfulness, and Mindfulness Reconnect. Many past participants also attended the daylong retreats held as part of all the eight week classes and the Tuesday night meditation group.
As interest in mindfulness continues to grow and more opportunities to learn and practice are available, the Mindfulness Center remains committed to providing the highest quality, evidence-based mindfulness instruction possible, highlighted by the eight-week classes we offer based on MBSR and MBCT. There are now over 450 articles in the medical literature addressing the effects of MBSR and MBCT, and a recently published review concluded that “the evidence supports the use of MBSR and MBCT to alleviate symptoms, both mental and physical, in the adjunct treatment of cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic pain, depression, anxiety disorders and in prevention in healthy adults and children” (PLoS ONE 10(4):e0124344, 2015).
We at the Mindfulness Center look forward to continuing to expand our offerings and to providing new opportunities for practicing mindfulness. We appreciate all those who have participated in Mindfulness Center activities over the past year and are grateful for these opportunities to practice and learn together.
May you have an enjoyable and mindful summer.
“Life only unfolds in moments. The healing power of mindfulness lies in living each of those moments as fully as we can, accepting it as it is as we open to what comes next—in the next moment of now.” Jon Kabat-Zinn
Filed Under: Monthly Musings