Principal and Co-Creator, MBSR Initiatives (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction)
At the start of 2020, our teachers Merel de Boer and Jerry Cambra received their Certified MBSR Teacher status. While trained with the University of Massachusetts program, where Jon Kabat-Zinn developed MBSR in 1979, their certification was granted by Brown University. (Brown's Center for Mindfulness at the School of Public Health started handling MBSR teacher training in 2019.) Imagine Mindfulness is now in its fourth year of teaching Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction worldwide via our Live Online Format. Our 100+ alumni have seen real benefits. Beyond the noticeable reduction of stress and anxiety, they report enjoyment of the present moment, increased awareness, less rumination and spinning mind, relief from pain, better sleep, improved concentration and focus, growing creativity, and more joyful and efficient social interactions. Somewhat counter-intuitively maybe, students feel that the live online format creates a sense of cohesion and support that they haven't found in any other training programs. Being part of the Imagine community, hearing how everyone else is learning and growing, while by yourself in an environment at home (or at the office) that you have created, allows you to connect on a deep level with your own mind and body. Mindfulness ultimately is "a practice of freedom to create what serves you and to let go of behaviors and perceptions that don't." (February 2020 newsletter). A convincing case is developing that our live online MBSR program allows for additional benefits over the traditional 8 week MBSR Program, a program that is already grounded in 40 years of science. Imagine is currently expanding its program into classes for organizations and corporations. While the 2 ½ hours per week 8 week program is foundational mindfulness training, shorter programs also open the mind to new ways of perceiving the world around us. A curious mind unlocks many doors and leads to true innovation.