Notice
Road and parking lot construction in Madison, Wis. may result in travel delays and route changes to UW Health clinic and hospital locations. Please plan accordingly.Read more
Upcoming eventMindfulness Drop-in Session and Author Talk Sept. 22
A long-awaited opportunity to gather again in community! It’s going to be a fun, meaningful, deep evening of mindfulness practice, reflection and conversation. Our beloved colleague and longtime UW Health mindfulness teacher Chris Smith recently published a delightful and beautiful book of personal stories called “Be a Good Story.” We’ve invited Chris to share some of the stories from his book and to guide us through some mindfulness practices in his playful and skillful way. This event is free and open to the public; no registration is required.
Classes and programs
Improving well-being through practice
At UW Health, taking care of you is more than just being there when you are sick. It is partnering with you to offer options for your overall health and wellness. Mindfulness allows you to be in the present moment while teaching you how to deal with your emotions in a healthy way.
What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention and focusing your mind for relaxation and increased awareness. Mindfulness can have beneficial health effects by decreasing the negative impact of chronic stress on the body and mind. Mindfulness can also support physical and emotional well-being by reducing muscle tension and quieting the mind, reducing anxiety and stress.
Mindfulness classes
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction offers you an introduction to ways of reducing stress and developing greater balance. This course includes guided instruction on meditation practices, gentle stretching, mindful yoga, home assignments and audio recordings.
Drop-in sessions
Free sessions of guided mindfulness meditation. Tune up your mindfulness practice. Reaffirm your intention to lead a mindful life. No registration is required. Currently taking place online.
Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting
Cultivate skills and confidence for birthing, parenting and family living through meditation, movement and group dialogue. This course is for expectant mothers and partners/supporters/doulas. Hear from participants and teachers (mp4)
Mindful Self-Compassion
Mindful self-compassion is mindfulness-based compassion training that supports awareness of difficult emotions, recognition of the common humanity in our struggles and acceptance of ourselves with greater kindness. Research indicates that self-compassion is strongly associated with emotional well-being, coping with life challenges, lower levels of anxiety and depression, healthy habits such as diet and exercise and more satisfying relationships. This eight-week course, based on the pioneering research of Dr. Kristen Neff, includes short talks, experiential exercises, meditation, group discussion and home practices. Listen to a guided meditation from the MSC curriculum (mp3)
Mindfulness en Español
Mindfulness en Español explorará cómo mindfulness puede ser un apoyo para ampliar el autoconocimiento. Períodos de movimiento corporal y quietud, instantes de silencio, reflexión y conversación.
Mindfulness in Motion
Explore moving meditations, inspired by yoga, Qigong and other traditions, which allow you to connect to breath awareness, active relaxation, postural alignment, flexibility and resilience.
Mindfulness for People of Color
Explore or deepen mindfulness practice in a community where racialized forms of stress can be discussed. This class is for those who identify as people of color/multiracial/racial minority.
Mindful Seeing/Mindful Photography
Explore how the sense of sight can be a creative, thoughtful path for living a mindful life by helping you pause and notice what is happening around you. Watch video
Mindfulness and Aging
This course explores our relationship to the process of aging. Through mindfulness practices, deep listening and gentle movement, you can learn to befriend the changes and lighten your spirit.
Day of Mindfulness
This day-long session provides opportunity to deepen or refresh your practice within the support of community. Intended for those who have completed mindfulness-based stress reduction.
Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training
This course will help improve your relationship with food, through learning how to eat mindfully, practice mindful meditation, recognize your body’s feedback systems and choose wisely.
Mindfulness Training for Smokers
This class is designed for people who tried to quit smoking and have relapsed. Weekly meetings, choosing a “quit” date and training in mindfulness can help you succeed in your goal.
Mindfulness for Teens
This class is for teens in grades 9-12 who wish to explore mindfulness meditation in a fun and supportive environment, through brief meditations, reflections and group conversations.
Mindfulness for Middle Schoolers
This class is designed for youth in grades 6-8, to help them see their lives with greater clarity, creativity, kindness and compassion through explorations of mindfulness.
Mindful Families
This course for families and children ages 4-7 incorporates relaxation, movement, games, stories and glitter to introduce concepts of mindfulness and skills to weave into daily routines.
Professional training
UW Health offers options to people who are interested in furthering their MBSR experience or gaining skills for sharing mindfulness with others. We are committed to supporting people of color to have access to training and teacher development. BIPOC scholarships are currently available, made possible through the generous support of program donors, the Mindfulness for All Collective and the Kataly Foundation.
Volunteer program
This is an opportunity for graduates of our eight-week mindfulness class to participate in another mindfulness class deepening their own practice while assisting the course teacher. This opportunity is available for free with a commitment to attend and participate in all classes, help with class setup, chart notes and provide a perspective to the teacher. Total time commitment is 33-36 hours.
MBSR Teacher Training Intensive
The 2023 MBSR Teacher Training Intensive will be held in September–November. Financial assistance and BIPOC scholarships are available for qualified applicants. More information (pdf)
Locations
Our class locations
Contact us directly:
Science Dr Medical Center — Mindfulness Program: (608) 265-8325
East Madison Hospital — Mindfulness Program: (608) 265-8325
Meet our team
Helping you be present
Our mindfulness instructors are trained in mindfulness-based practices, including meditation, guided imagery and relaxation techniques. They help participants employ these methods to manage chronic pain, cope with chronic illness, reduce stress and develop greater balance, ease and fuller participation in their lives.
Meet our instructors
Subscribe to our newsletter
Learn about new opportunities and be among the first to sign up for classes when you subscribe to Mindfulness Updates from UW Health's Mindfulness Program.
Help bring mindfulness to others
When you donate to support the Mindfulness program, you help to make the programs more accessible to all.
Patient story
Mindfulness keeps Charlene grounded and grateful
Charlene Avery credits her mindfulness practice with helping her deal with a persistent, undiagnosed health problem over the past four years.