Mindfulness Meditation Course
The Mindfulness Program in the Stanford Center for Integrative Medicine Clinic is designed to teach mind and body awareness techniques for coping with physical or psychological symptoms from stress and stress-related illnesses. By learning relaxation and awareness techniques, including mindful yoga and body movement, participants are taught to use their inner resources to relieve stress and manage pain more effectively. The Mindfulness Program was initiated 20 years ago at the University of Massachusetts by John Kabat-Zinn, PhD, who was featured on Bill Moyer's PBS series and book, Healing and the Mind.
The majority of participants who complete the program report these benefits:
Decreased physical and psychological symptoms
Increased ability to cope with stressful situations
Improved self-esteem
Greater enthusiasm for life
Greater energy
Improved pain levels or coping with chronic pain
The program can help complement care of the following:
Anxiety and panic disorders
Headaches/chronic pain
Sleep disturbance
Job and family stress
Type A behavior
Heart disease
Cancer/AIDS
Fatigue/depression
Arthritis
Gastrointestinal disorders