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January 26, 2023 @ 2:00 pm - 4:30 pm
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with Phebe Duff and Sondra Albert, E-RYT 500
This program is being offered virtually through Zoom over 8 weeks from Thursday, January 26 through March 16 from 2:00-4:30pm ET. The program also includes a mini virtual retreat on Saturday, February 25 from 9:00am-12:00pm. We ask that participants commit to attending all sessions including the mini-retreat. Limited space available.
In order to participate please complete the brief application below. If you have questions please email programs@smithcenter.org.
We are asking participants to contribute toward their participation in this program, however, we do not want cost to be a barrier to anyone in accessing this program. As such, we are encouraging each person to choose to contribute a one-time amount between $25 to $150 that feels comfortable for you based on your own personal income circumstances. If you have any questions, please contact us, we are happy to discuss any additional issues privately.
You will receive the Zoom information no later than the morning of your program.
Are you at a tipping point, overwhelmed by the stress of our fast-paced lives?
Are you experiencing life events affecting your physical, psychological or emotional wellbeing?
Are you just looking for a way to get your life back into balance?
The good news is that you already have the resources you need to come back to health and wellbeing. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training can help you reconnect to those inner resources. Even if you’ve never heard of mindfulness or have never meditated, MBSR can teach you these skills.
This interactive, experiential course runs for 8 weeks (January 26 through March 16) and includes:
- Guided instruction in mindfulness meditation practices
- Gentle stretching and mindful yoga
- Small and large group discussions
- Daily home practice assignments
- A three-hour mini-retreat of uninterrupted practice on Saturday, February 25
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) was developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Center for Mindfulness. MBSR has over 25 years of peer-reviewed research covering a wide variety of physical and mental health issues. It is the most scientifically researched and validated mindfulness program and is used in clinical and non-clinical settings worldwide.
What are the benefits of MBSR?
Mindfulness is the practice of present moment, non-judgmental awareness of one’s life experience. Through the use of mind/body techniques, one begins to relate to the stress and anxiety in life differently in ways that allow for more creative solutions and possibilities.
It can help you:
- Improve focus and concentration
- Improve mind-body awareness
- Reduce reactivity and increase calm
- Support better behavioral choices and Improve the ability to handle the ups and downs of life
- Feel kinder to yourself and others
- Improve relationships
- Experience more positive emotions
- Start or restart a meditation practice
About Phebe Duff
Phebe Duff is a long-time meditator and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) facilitator. She completed the Community Dharma Leader program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, CA and the Dharmacharya program offered by the Venerable Pannavati at Heartwood Refuge in Hendersonville, NC. Phebe has facilitated MBSR courses for a wide variety of populations since 2005. Since retiring after a 30+ year career in human resources and as a professional musician, Phebe has taught meditation and MBSR for Wellness House of Annapolis, a cancer support organization providing various kinds of emotional and other support services to people recently diagnosed with cancer or living
with cancer, family members and caregivers of cancer patients and people who have lost a loved one to cancer. Working with the cancer community and sharing the practices of meditation and mindfulness to support their healing journey has been the best experience of her teaching career.
About Sondra Albert
Sondra is an Experienced Certified Yoga Teacher (E-RYT 500) trained at Kripalu Center for yoga and health, and Flow Yoga in Washington DC. She has been practicing yoga for almost 30 years and teaching for over 13 years. She is a three-time cancer survivor and has firsthand experience with the healing power of mindful movement and meditation.
She is certified to teach yoga to special populations from Kripalu Yoga center and kids from Circle Yoga in Washington DC. She also participated in the Year of Living Mindfully (YLM10) directed by Jonathan Foust. She is also certified to teach Trauma Sensitive yoga from Lisa Danylchuk. She is currently finishing the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certificate Program led by Tara Brach and Jack Kornfeld.
Sondra runs a weekly mindful movement and meditation group for young adults with brain tumors and their parents. She volunteers teaching gentle yoga at the Annapolis Wellness house. She also volunteers her time in the summer teaching yoga and mindfulness to kids and young adults with cancer at Camp Mak-A-Dream in Gold Creek, Montana. Sondra also teaches weekly yoga classes on zoom.
Sondra has two teenage children and lives in Bethesda with her husband and her rescue puppy.
