Mindfulness for Health

1 Credit · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

This course will expose students to the biopsychosocial theory and application of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), and its relationship to young adult physical health and social/emotional well-being. MBSR (sometimes termed ‘meditation’) is a mind-body practice. Although there are many types of MBSR, most can be traced back to ancient religious and spiritual traditions. MBSR practitioners tout the benefits of becoming conscious of their own thoughts, feelings, and sensations and observe these states in a nonjudgmental way. Modern medicine has rediscovered the power of MBSR to heal both the body and mind. This has raised interesting questions about the mechanisms of action of MBSR (how and why it works), and wonderment about its utility (where it can be applied)? The course explores what is known about the neurobiological effects of MBSR on the brain, especially areas related to attention and memory, sensory processing, and stress and emotions, and downstream effects on physical functions. Importantly, this course exposes students to fundamental insights from mind-body medicine that can be used in everyday life. Lifespan experts have noted that transitioning from college to young adulthood requires students to become more self-reliant, self-confident, and remain "present" to help them focus on their futures. MBSR is widely available and commonly used for stress management: it is a teachable life skill for unlearning old habits and forming new and healthier ones. The course posits that MBSR is an essential tool that college students can appreciate the rich history of, acquire, and then apply across multiple school-home-life situations to help them remain grounded in the present while they prepare to leave The Hilltop.