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
Mindfulness drop-in sessions
Join together for guided mindfulness practice, dialogue and community on Tuesday mornings and Thursday mid-days. All are welcome to these virtual drop-in sessions. No pre-registration required.
Overview
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 can be an important and portable tool for identifying physical, mental, and emotional habits and needs. Armed with this knowledge, we become better advocates for our own well-being.
All programs are led by one or more of our skilled instructors, who will support you in applying mindfulness within the context of your own life. Our classes can be the perfect complement to at-home learning and use of mindfulness apps. Together we explore how mindfulness can be integrated into the demands of daily living at any stage. New programs begin quarterly.
Adult classes
Reduce stress and develop greater balance in life
Active classes
Mindfulness-based stress reduction
An introduction to ways of reducing stress and developing greater balance in life, through guided instruction in meditation practices, gentle yoga, group dialogue and applications to daily life.
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.
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.
Additional class offerings
The following classes may be offered at various times throughout the year. Sign up for our newsletter so you can be notified of our upcoming offerings.
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.
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.
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.
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-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.
Mindful Self-Compassion
Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) is an evidence-based 8-week course designed to cultivate the skill of self-compassion through short talks, experiential exercises, meditation, group discussion and home practices. Prior meditation experience is not necessary to participate.
Family and youth classes
Supporting kids and families through present moment awareness
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 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.
Instructor training
Deepening your practice through sharing and guiding others
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)
UW Health's Mindfulness Program has been serving individuals and our communities for more than 30 years through research-based mindfulness classes, programs and retreats and a commitment to foster healing and well-being through mindfulness.
