Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

Is stress keeping you up at night and impacting your productivity?

Do you feel nervous, tense, or even scared? Are you tired all the time? Having difficulty falling or staying asleep? Do you suffer from frequent headaches or have pain in your back, shoulders, or neck? Has stressed caused you to lose interest in things you once enjoyed… even sex?

Millions of Americans Suffer from Stress

You’re not alone in your struggle against stress. For many, stress seems to have become as big a part in our lives as the air we breath. We are constantly striving, pushing ourselves to the brink. The end result of which is literally making us sick. Studies and surveys have shown that more than half of Americans report struggling with stress and that those that do are more likely to suffer from obesity, high blood pressure, chronic pain, and fatigue as well as depression and anxiety.

Despite everything we know about stress, it continues to rise year after year. We live in a technology driven society where vast amounts of information lie literally at our fingertips. It can be so difficult, if not impossible, for most of us to unplug. Long gone are the days when one was only available during regular business hours. In fact, most of us find it frustrating when we can’t reach someone when it’s absolutely convenient for us.

The lack of down time in our society keeps our bodies on high alert- at a constant state of fight or flight. We are at the ready to reply, respond, retweet, and share. This heightened state can only be sustained for so long before the damaging effects of these stress hormones kick in. Our connection within ourselves is losing the battle to our perceived connection to others. This can lead to our bodies and our minds becoming more susceptible to illness.

The good news is that stress can be properly managed and even overcome. While there are always going to be events, people, and situations which bring about stress, you can learn to build resiliency and ground yourself in the moment to ward off the effects of stress.

Mindfulness Meditation Can Help Reduce Stress

Mindfulness meditation is a proven way to learn to manage stress. An evergrowing body of research shows that a mindfulness practice is an effective way to manage stress.

In session, you’ll learn techniques for stress reduction and discover the underlying root causes of your stress. Together, we will forge a daily mindfulness practice that fits for you. You’ll be asked to take what you learn in session and apply it every day (or at least most days). Yes, there will be homework.

Each week, we’ll talk about the insights you gain and any challenges you faced. Not every mindfulness exercise or meditation will yield stellar results. That’s why we’ll taylor make a mindfulness plan that works best for you. There may be times when the exercises feel less productive or even silly. That’s a natural resistance to the process. Stick with it. Those who persevere and develop a daily mindfulness routine are those that gain the best results.

Benefits of Mindfulness

I could write a dissertation on the positive effects of mindfulness (I still may some day), but I’ll just give you some highlights:

• Stress Reduction (duh)
• Improve Your Relationships
• Better Mood Regulation
• Increase Attention and Focus
• Lower Blood Pressure
• Improve Immune Function
• Decrease Irritability
• Boosts Creativity
• Better Sleep
• Decrease Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety

The list goes on… What other activity can you do for as little as 10 minutes a day that gives benefits like this? Other than maybe sex? Maybe.

You May Still Have Questions about Mindfulness or Meditation…

How long will I need Mindfulness Training?

The length of time that you stay in Mindfulness Training is entirely up to you. It really depends on your needs, goals, routine, and budget. We can meet once and devise a plan and equip you with the techniques to develop your own mindfulness practice. We can meet more regularly and develop an ongoing relationship in order to help you overcome obstacles in developing your practice. I offer convenient evening appointments to fit your schedule.

I have too many things on my plate to worry about managing my stress.

I would argue that that’s even more a reason to take the time to learn appropriate stress management techniques. Many people are under the impression that they have too many external sources for stress which are outside of their control for stress management to be effective. Through mindfulness training, you can develop the skills to manage the symptoms and lessen the impact that stress has one you. It also helps you to change how you think about stress and its causes.

Isn’t mindfulness like Buddhist or something?

Mindfulness in and of itself has no religious affiliation or pretext. Anyone can practice mindfulness. In fact, most people engage in mindfulness without even realizing it. Ever savored a bite of dessert? Or enjoyed something so much that you just focused all your attention and effort into it? Mindfulness simply means paying attention with intention, so you don’t have to be a Buddhist monk to practice it.

It still doesn’t seem like a very manly thing to do, and I am a very manly man.

So you’re saying that Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Derek Jeter aren’t manly? Interesting. The truth is that most top performers in all categories- sports, entertainment, business, technology, etc.- meditate.

You can break free from stress and enjoy life again!