Connecticut Mindfulness

 Mindfulness Meditation is a discipline that cultivates wakefulness and openness through intentionally attending to one's moment by moment experience without judgment.  When practiced regularly, mindfulness has the potential to enable a person to respond to life's stressors with more calm, and to perceive and think more clearly.

Connecticut Mindfulness provides a forum for the sharing of information and education pertaining to mindfulness-based practices that is independent of any religious or spiritual organization.  It aims to be a resource for all individuals who have an interest in practicing and learning more about mindfulness:

• Professionals involved in the field of healthcare in Connecticut applying mindfulness in their work
• Persons who have learned to practice mindfulness at a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) class who are looking for further  opportunities to practice with others
• Persons who are just curious about mindfulness. 

What We Do

• Provide instruction in mindfulness meditation and/or referral, if requested, to instructors from various traditions (Zen, Tibetan, Theravada, etc.)
• Teach Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) classes
• Host meditation retreats
• Provide educational programs pertaining to mindfulness meditation and its relationship to basic health and respond to requests for speakers on these subjects
• Provide linkages to related contemplative organizations, educational resources, and training opportunities

Founder:

Connecticut Mindfulness was initiated by Randy Kaplan, PhD.   Dr. Kaplan is a licensed Marital and Family therapist and has been practicing mindfulness meditation for over 35 years.  He was an early graduate of the Contemplative Psychotherapy Program at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, and has spent his career identifying linkages between western behavioral health practices and eastern contemplative traditions.   He has received training in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) at the University of Massachusetts Center For Mindfulness, and is an authorized Meditation Instructor within the Shambhala International Buddhist Organization.  Dr. Kaplan teaches classes in MBSR, retreats in mindfulness practice, and workshops for behavioral health professionals in mindfulness meditation and its applications as a tool in the training of psychotherapists and as a method for augmenting treatment of a variety of clinical issues.

When & Where

• Dr. Kaplan will be teaching  two upcoming MBSR classes, one in the Winter and one in the Spring, at Hartford Hospital.  MBSR is an 8-week course modeled after the original acclaimed program at the University of Massachusetts Stress Reduction Clinic founded by Jon Kabat-Zinn. The times and dates of the programs are as follows:

Winter, 2012 Program:

Tuesday's from 6 pm to 8 pm, Jan. 24 (orientation) though March 27, with a retreat on Saturday, March 17. 

Spring, 2012 Program:

Tuesday's from 6 pm to 8 pm, May 1 (orientation) through June 26, with a retreat on Saturday, June 16.

These classes include the following:

•  8 weekly 2 hour group sessions, with an all day retreat on the Saturday of week 6. 
• Guided instruction in mindfulness meditation:  breath awareness, sitting meditation, the “body scan”, loving-kindness, walking meditation
• Gentle hatha yoga routines for body awareness, flexibility, muscle tone, and tension release
• Techniques for applying mindfulness into one's daily life and learning to respond skillfully rather than react impulsively to stress
• The support of a group whose members will be making a commitment to improve their health and well-being
• Daily homework, your own CD’s and a course workbook

Information  regarding registration to this program is available on the calendar page.