Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) to be offered at In-Balance Yoga Studio/CRC.
March 11- April 29, 2026. Wednesdays 6:30-9:30pm
All Day Retreat Saturday April 19, 2026
Shanti Meditation Hall, Pilot, VA
Experience the original 8-Week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program developed at the Stress Reduction Clinic at UMass Medical Center by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Since 1979 more than 25,000 people have completed this evidence-based training.
• Approach your life with more composure, energy, understanding and enthusiasm
• Develop the ability to cope more effectively with both short-term and long-term stressful situations, gaining insight into response rather than reaction
• Enhance your ability to manage and reduce pain levels
• Improve your focus, resilience, and capacity to recover more quickly from challenging events
• Learn how to access and cultivate a natural capacity to actively engage in caring for yourself and find greater balance, ease, and peace of mind
What is Mindfulness?
One definition might be “The awareness that arises from paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally.” How might you define mindfulness for yourself?
Offered as a complement to traditional medical and psychological treatments, not as a replacement, MBSR has proven to be effective in helping to treat a wide variety of medical conditions.
Throughout the program you will be consciously and systematically working with the challenges and demands of your everyday life. A safe and supportive environment will be offered for this work and learning through:
• 8 Live class sessions and one all day retreat.
• Systematic instruction in formal and informal MBSR meditation practices, including guided instruction and recordings to practice with at home
• Gentle stretching and mindful yoga
• Group dialogue, with discussions offered to enhance awareness in everyday life
• The opportunity for one-on-one check-ins with instructor throughout the course
• Resource materials: manual and access to guided recordings of the practices.
• What is the course structure and commitment?
• Eight weekly classes, 2 hrs each
• One All-Day class on a Saturday or Sunday
• Daily home practice assignments for 45-60 minutes each day
• You must be willing to make a strong commitment to attend all classes and to practice daily home assignments for eight weeks..
Your Instructor:
Bridget Simmerman, LCSW, RYT500 is a holistically oriented psychotherapist with over 39 years of experience. She received training in the MBSR directly with Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. and Skai Santorelli, Ed.D. in 1995 and has been teaching the program since 1996.
She has a unique ability to blend both traditional and alternative approaches for emotional healing.
For the past several decades she has studied and trained in body-mind-spirit healing. She is a certified yoga teacher (RYT 500), certified in acupressure, and has studied with many prominent psychotherapy, yoga, acupressure, chi gong, and energy medicine practitioners.
For more information about Bridget, please visit her website: www.bridgetsimmerman.com
Cost and how to enroll:
To enroll, please contact In Balance. You will be given an enrollment form to fill out. Once that is received, a brief interview (15-20 minutes), conducted via zoom, with Bridget will be arranged to discern, together, whether the program is right for you at this time in your life. Then you can set up payment with the Studio.
The cost of the program is $550.00
Early enrollment discount: $495.00 (before Feb 11)
Payment plans are available. Tuition reduction is available based upon need. Two work study scholarships are available. The work study involves assisting the instructor in set up and take down of the class and the all-day group.
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