with Denise Gour
Thursdays, Sept 17 - Nov 5 (6:30-8:30pm) + all-day retreat Saturday, Oct 24 (9:30am-5:00pm)
**This course now meets online and via email.
2 for 1 Special Price: Invite a friend and share the cost!
$425 for the series if you register by Sept 10th; $475 after
You must attend a *free* orientation to MBSR prior to attending the series. Please sign up for an orientation on Thursday, Sept 3 or Thursday, Sept 10 (6:30-7:30pm). If you are NOT able to attend an MBSR orientation session, contact Denise at 503.860.1227 to schedule a required phone orientation or email her at [email protected]. Denise is a certified MBSR instructor and has taught since 2008.
Unfortunately we are unable to offer refunds after Session One. Online registration and payment is accepted after attending either orientation 1 or 2. Orientation is a required prerequisite for the series. Please contact Denise directly if unable to attend either of the orientations.
The full 8-week course also includes an all-day Saturday retreat.
8-Week Course Price includes:
• Recorded audio meditations
• Home practice guide
• Day-long retreat (Oct 24, 10am-5pm)
About Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR):
This is the official Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction model, developed by author/researcher Jon Kabat-Zinn. Over 30 years of research demonstrate its proven effectiveness for reducing the physical and emotional symptoms of stress. Participants typically report lasting improvements in their relationships at home and at work and a greater sense of inner calm and confidence when facing life’s challenges. See http://www.umassmed.edu/cfm/stress-reduction/ for more on MBSR.
What to Expect:
In this class, you’ll learn practical, user-friendly skills to deepen relaxation and improve health and resilience in the midst of everyday life challenges. You’ll also be given lots of guidance and support for establishing your own home practice in a schedule that suits your lifestyle.
Testimonials from the Spring MBSR online class:
“The whole program was useful.”
“The Zoom meetings were really helpful, and I really liked the small group discussions.”
“I enjoyed the retreat much more than I expected since we were doing it from home.”
“Appreciate the manual to refer to in the future.”
“Didn’t sense that we ‘missed out’ because of Zoom sessions.”
“I noticed that I felt more grounded in my day to day life.”
“I noticed that I was more mindful during everyday experiences.”
“Noticing pleasant/unpleasant moments helped me to see there are a lot more pleasant moments and a lot fewer unpleasant ones than my brain previously wanted me to believe.”
“I also loved the yoga portions of the class.”
“This really gave me the foundation for continuing on my own in the years to come. I can keep circling back to the manual and do the ‘homework’ as I grow as a person.”
“It’s sustainable.”
Instructor — Denise Gour
Denise Gour’s therapeutic focus helps people reduce their stress and learn to navigate adversity with more self-compassion, clarity, and ease. She has over 15 years of experience working in Portland with adults and families facing complex issues related to parenting, family and relationships, adult children of impaired parents, recovery from addictions, aging, grief and loss, career shifts, physical injury and illness, and the associated symptoms of depression and anxiety. She also offers presentations and trainings for health care providers, schools, and businesses interested in using mindfulness and stress reduction skills in the workplace.
Denise completed her Mindfulness Based Professional Training with MBSR founder Jon Kabat-Zinn. She has also trained with the researchers who developed Mindfulness Based programs for addiction and depression counseling. As a licensed clinical social worker and certified yoga instructor, she offers a richly integrated approach to teaching stress reduction.
She is deeply inspired by the courage and perseverance shown by the wonderful people she is privileged to work with. She finds purpose and connection in life by joining with all who are willing to face life’s challenges with a compassionate heart and the abiding strength of a good sense of humor.
