Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
Online Class
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is an eight-week program that introduces mindfulness practices in the form of sitting meditation, body awareness, and mindful movement, modeled by Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD. This program can help if stress is having a negative impact on your life, if you are experiencing chronic physical or mental distress, or if you are simply interested in learning ways to maintain health and well-being. Over 6,000 research papers have published findings on MBSR including decreased depression, pain, and distress, and increased attention, concentration, performance, and quality of life.
The MBSR program is comprised of the Orientation and Introduction to Mindfulness, a 30-minute private interview with the instructor before the first class, 8 weekly sessions, and one daylong session on a Saturday or Sunday.
The Orientation and Introduction to Mindfulness session consists of meeting the instructor and other participants; an introduction to what participation in the class entails; a talk about the impact of stress and mindfulness on health, the history of MBSR, and research on the MBSR model; and instruction in and practice of introductory mindfulness techniques.
If you are interested in attending the Orientation and Introduction to Mindfulness, but you are not ready to register for the class, please email [email protected] for information on how to join. Note that classes do tend to fill and develop a waitlist, so if you don't register for the full class, there may not be a space available for you.
Announcement:
If you are interested in learning mindfulness in an online course that is specifically designed and offered exclusively for patients with chronic low back pain for free at the UCSF Osher Center, you may check the research study website: https://osher.ucsf.edu/mbpr.
Fee: $395
UCSF faculty, staff, and students are eligible for a $35 discount and will be charged $360. Email [email protected] before registering to receive the discount.
Read our Transfer and Refund Policy here.
Please note that you will need to individually purchase a copy of Full Catastrophe Living (Revised and Updated Edition, 2013) by Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD. The book is available in hard copy, electronic, and audio formats from most public libraries and major booksellers.
Due to program capacity, students can participate in up to three MBSR courses.
If you have any questions or need accommodation in order to participate, please contact [email protected] or 415-353-7718.
2022 Class Schedule (dates subject to change)
All class activities are online, including the retreat.
Registration opens two months prior to orientation. First and last classes for each cohort may be up to 3 hours.
January-March Thursday Evenings
This class and waitlist are currently full. Please enroll in a different class.
- Orientation: January 6, 7:00-9:30 pm
- Class Dates: January 20-March 10, 7:00-9:30 pm
- Retreat: Sunday, February 27, 9:30 am-4:30 pm
- Instructor: James Mitchell
January-March Monday Afternoons
This class and waitlist are currently full. Please enroll in a different class.
- Orientation: January 17, 2:45-5:15 pm
- Class Dates: January 31-March 21, 2:45-5:15 pm
- Retreat: Saturday, March 12, 9:30 am-4:30 pm
- Instructor: Bonnie O’Brien Jonsson
March-May Tuesday Evenings
This class is full. Please add your name to the waitlist.
- Orientation: March 1, 6:00-8:30 pm
- Class Dates: March 15-May 3, 6:00-8:30 pm
- Retreat: Saturday, April 23, 9:30 am-4:30 pm
- Instructor: Nichole Proffitt
March-May Monday Afternoons
- Orientation: March 28, 2:45-5:15 pm
- Class Dates: April 11-June 6, 2:45-5:15 pm. *No class on May 30 due to Memorial Day
- Retreat: Saturday, May 21, 9:30 am-4:30 pm
- Instructor: Bonnie O’Brien Jonsson
April-June Tuesday Evenings
- Orientation: April 12, 6:00-8:30 pm
- Class Dates: April 26-June 14, 6:00-8:30 pm
- Retreat: Saturday, June 4, 9:30 am-4:30 pm
- Instructor: Jane Baraz
May-July Wednesday Evenings
- Orientation: May 25, 6:30-9:00 pm
- Class Dates: June 8-July 27, 6:30-9:00 pm
- Retreat: Saturday, July 16, 9:30 am-4:30 pm
- Instructor: James Mitchell
June-August Wednesday Evenings
- Orientation: June 22, 6:30-9:00 pm
- Class Dates: July 6-August 24, 6:30-9:00 pm
- Retreat: Saturday, August 13, 9:30 am-4:30 pm
- Instructor: James Mitchell
July-September Monday Evenings
- Orientation: July 18, 6:00-8:30 pm
- Class Dates: August 1-September 26, 6:00-8:30 pm. *No class on September 5 due to Labor Day
- Retreat: Saturday, September 17, 9:30 am-4:30 pm
- Instructor: Nichole Proffitt
August-October Tuesday Evenings
- Orientation: August 2, 6:00-8:30 pm
- Class Dates: August 16-October 4, 6:00-8:30 pm
- Retreat: Saturday, September 24, 9:30 am-4:30 pm
- Instructor: Nichole Proffitt
September-November Tuesday Evenings
- Orientation: September 8, 6:00-8:30 pm
- Class Dates: September 22-November 10, 6:00-8:30 pm
- Retreat: Saturday, October 29, 9:30 am-4:30 pm
- Instructor: Jane Baraz
September-November Thursday Afternoons
- Orientation: September 15, 2:45-5:15 pm
- Class Dates: September 29-November 17, 2:45-5:15 pm
- Retreat: Saturday, November 5, 9:30 am-4:30 pm
- Instructor: James Mitchell
October-December Tuesday Evenings
- Orientation: October 11, 6:00-8:30 pm
- Class Dates: October 25-December 13, 6:00-8:30 pm
- Retreat: Saturday, December 3, 9:30 am-4:30 pm
- Instructor: Nichole Proffitt
October-December Monday Evenings
- Orientation: October 17, 6:00-8:30 pm
- Class Dates: October 31-December 19, 6:00-8:30 pm
- Retreat: Saturday, December 10, 9:30 am-4:30 pm
- Instructor: Bonnie O’Brien Jonsson
Upcoming MBSR Classes
Instructors
Jane Baraz, MA
Nichole Proffitt
Bonnie O’Brien Jonsson, MS
