Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention from moment to moment in a non-judgmental way. This simple practice opens the door to self-healing and insight. It also can provide options for coping with the stress of everyday life and the stress of illness.

Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction is an eight-week program offered by the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at UCSF. It introduces you to the practice of meditation, body awareness and mindful movement. This course is modeled after a program developed at the University of Massachusetts by Jon Kabat-Zinn. There are more than 250 similar programs nationwide.

Medical research has shown that mindfulness-based stress reduction is effective for the physical and emotional symptoms of general stress as well as stress due to illness, such as cancer, depression, anxiety disorders, fibromyalgia, psoriasis and chronic pain. Benefit also has been seen in a wide range of other heart and vascular, gastrointestinal, and psychological conditions.

The program includes:

• Private interview with an instructor
• Weekly 2-1/2 hour classes for eight weeks
• Guided mindfulness practice, group discussion and instruction
• All-day retreat
• The book, "Full Catastrophe Living" by Jon Kabat-Zinn
• Audio CDs to guide home practice
• Workbook

Location

Osher Center for Integrative Medicine
1545 Divisadero St.
San Francisco, CA 94115

Cost and Registration

The fee for the class is $330 and an additional $35 for materials.

You can register online at www.osher.ucsf.edu or call the center at (415) 353-7718.