Location: Zoom

Register online or call 319-356-5220

Instructor: Christine Allen

Tuesdays, January 31 – March 28, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

No Fee

Practicing mindfulness meditation, which involves paying attention to your thoughts, feelings, body sensations, and environment, has been shown to improve overall well-being. Mindfulness is being aware of what is happening as it’s happening in an open, non- judgmental, accepting, and compassionate way. This awareness helps develop habits of responding wisely and skillfully as we negotiate life stressors.

This class will promote the development of a personal practice of mindfulness meditation. Participants will learn formal mindfulness meditation practices including the body scan, mindful movement, sitting and walking meditation, and compassion practices. Informal mindfulness activities will invite participants to adapt daily activities such as driving, eating, communication, etc. into mindful activities.

Participants will be encouraged to make a commitment to engage in mindfulness activities for 20 to 30 minutes a day outside of class time. Audio links and class readings will be provided. This class is recommended for anyone who would like to respond with more skill, ease, and creativity to the stress in their lives. Fee: $90; pay Senior Center at registration. This course is taught by Christine Allen as a fundraiser for the Senior Center; the class fee is waived for participants in the Senior Center’s low-income membership program.

Christine Allen has taught Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction at UIHC since 2004 after receiving training from Jon Kabat-Zinn and staff at the Center for Mindfulness. She has taught classes in a variety of settings including undergraduate classes at the University of Iowa, a graduate class for educators at Grant Wood AEA, and teaching parents in school settings.