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Meditation for Health is a Toronto medical clinic that has taught group programs of mindfulness since 1997. Patients come to us to learn Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), a self-care treatment for stress-related symptoms and chronic illness. The MBSR program complements and supports conventional medical care. Through MBSR, patients learn how to mobilize their inner resources for coping and healing — especially for dealing with symptoms of chronic illness, and symptoms that no longer respond to standard medical treatment. Mindfulness practice helps people promote their own health by reducing the effects of stress in mind and body.

Has been useful for such conditions as:

• chronic pain
• anxiety and panic
• sleep disturbance & insomnia
• gastrointestinal distress
• fatigue
• headaches
• job or family stress
• skin disorders
• high blood pressure
• stress factors in heart disease

What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is a particular way to be aware of the present moment.

When you’re mindful, you pay attention to what you’re experiencing right now. You’re simply aware of your experience — not needing to judge or change anything. You recognize the present moment just as it is.

When you practice mindfulness, you will often focus attention to things you usually ignore, for example:

Noticing the sounds you’re hearing right now… or feeling your eyes moving… blinking… Experiencing yourself sitting here in this chair… feeling your legs… your feet… Do you notice your next breath beginning?… Here you are… sitting… breathing… Aware of being here, now… This is mindfulness.

What is MBSR?

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a program of meditation, physical movement, and other simple exercises that develop a person’s capacity for mindfulness.

show that many people who suffer from chronic pain and stress-related illness have been helped by the daily practice of MBSR.

The MBSR method was developed by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn and his colleagues at the Stress Reduction Clinic of the University of Massachusetts Medical School (now ). Since that clinic first opened in 1979, MBSR has become a recognized medical intervention that inspires continuing research, and influences other treatment programs around the world.

MBSR is fully described in Dr. Kabat-Zinn’s book, . The Meditation for Health program is closely modeled on this original MBSR program.

The practice of mindfulness has developed most formally in the spiritual traditions of Asia, but mindfulness is present also in traditional practices of the Western religions (, , Islam). However, Meditation for Health is a secular medical program. We teach mindfulness as a basic awareness practice — a way of looking at things that can be shared by people of all faiths and philosophies.

Program Details:

This 9 week program is offered in 2 parts. (Participants usually find it’s more effective to attend both parts, but they can choose to attend only Part One if they prefer.)

Part One:

• Two private interviews before group sessions begin
• Five weekly, 3 hour group sessions (on a weekday)

Part Two:

• Four weekly, 3 hour group sessions (on a weekday)
• “The Day of Mindfulness” (a 6 1/2 hour group session on a Saturday)

All sessions are held at locations near Bloor & Spadina.

Between-session, telephone support is available, as needed.

Patients who complete the program are invited to attend follow-up meetings of meditation and discussion. These meet 3 times a year.

About Payment:

The medical services of the program are covered by OHIP if an insured patient is for medically necessary treatment.

As well, patients are charged a sign-up fee to pay for materials and program services that aren’t insured by OHIP. (Materials include a workbook, supplies, handouts & 6 recordings. Non-OHIP services include the participation of the program’s non-medical health professionals.)

• Part One fee for materials and non-OHIP services: $295
• Part Two fee for materials and non-OHIP services: $295

Is your health worth 60 minutes a day?

For more information:

Address of our administration office : Meditation for Health Suite 509 – 720 Spadina Avenue Toronto, ON, M5S 2T9 Canada

We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time…

— T.S. Eliot — Four Quartets