Mindfulness and Stress Management
What is Stress?
Stress is a reaction to a real or perceived threat. We feel stress for both protection and motivation – it is a part of being human. While stress is unavoidable, sometimes the amount of stress we feel can be overwhelming and may hinder our ability to function and effectively utilize our thinking skills. Chronic stress can impact the way that our brain functions and can lead to increased risk of illness or disease.
“Real meditation is how you live your life.”
—Jon Kabat-Zinn
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness involves being 100% present in the moment by paying attention to one’s present experience with open curiosity and a willingness to be okay with what is. It involves a blend of meditation and body awareness, to learn how to accept the present moment with compassion and loving kindness. There is growing evidence demonstrating the effects of regular mindfulness-based practice for improving stress management ability through functional and structural changes in the brain.
Who can benefit from Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction?
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
Developing stress management skills can help us bounce back quickly from challenging life circumstances and maintain our mental, cognitive, and physical health. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) can be helpful for regulating emotions (e.g. anxiety, depression, anger), effectively utilizing cognitive abilities like attention or memory, and managing health concerns (e.g. blood pressure, pain, sleep disturbance). Anyone interested in learning how to manage stress more effectively in their daily life may benefit from mindfulness skill building.
Please note, mindfulness-based stress reduction may not be appropriate for people who have a history of significant mental health concerns or trauma. Interested participants are encouraged to speak with their family doctor to discuss whether this type of training is right for them.
Care Wherever You Are
Our team can provide virtual care services (online or over the phone) to people across Alberta who have concerns about their physical, emotional, or cognitive health.
“We have only now, only this single eternal moment opening and unfolding before us, day and night.”
— Jack Kornfield
Care Wherever You Are
Our team can provide virtual care services (online or over the phone) to people across Alberta who have concerns about their physical, emotional, or cognitive health.
“We have only now, only this single eternal moment opening and unfolding before us, day and night.”
— Jack Kornfield
Maintain Mental, Cognitive & Physical Health
Mindfulness-based stress reduction can help individuals experience cognitive improvements, bias reduction and other benefits to their overall health and wellness.
Develop Stress Management Skills
With mindfulness training, stress management becomes easier. You will learn skills that help you keep calm, organize your priorities, and live a life with Balance.
Improve Quality of Life
Through mindfulness training, goal management support, or the Memory and Aging Program™, we can help improve your cognitive abilities, sleep, and overall quality of life.
Our Approach to Mindfulness
Although experiencing stress is an inevitable part of life, how we respond to that stress determines the type of experience we have. We believe that being mindful is a way of living and that a compassionate, present-focused mind can serve to improve mental, physical, and cognitive well-being by minimizing the detrimental effects that stress has on our health. Through practical strategies and a mindfulness-based approach, our psychologists and brain health specialists can support you in managing day-to-day challenges and building resilience for future concerns. Contact us directly to learn about how we can help you navigate the unique stressors in your life.