PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson Healthcare hospital will offer the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program starting Tuesday, April 12, and continuing through May 31.
The program consists of seven two-hour sessions. Each session will be from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in a Jefferson Healthcare conference room on the third floor at 2500 W. Sims Way.
The program costs $100. Scholarships are available, and no one will be turned away for lack of funds, the hospital said.
Practice CDs and a workbook for home practice will be provided.
The class will be facilitated by registered nurse Jackie Levin, who has served as the patient advocate at Jefferson Healthcare since October 2011.
In 1998, Levin was trained by Jon Kabat-Zinn in the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program.
She said mindfulness is a particular way of paying attention to thoughts, feelings and physical sensations as they are happening, moment to moment.
“When practicing mindfulness, the use of the breath and other mindfulness exercises cultivate greater awareness of our triggers and stressors,” she said.
“Many people who practice mindfulness say they have an overall greater sense of well-being and improved coping.”
The program will include techniques to increase inner calm and well-being and provide new ways to work with stress and stressful events.
There also are benefits to improving many health conditions, such as high blood pressure, insomnia, chronic pain and anxiety.
Levin is an advanced practice nurse with a master’s in holistic nursing.
Class size is limited, and registration is required by calling Levin at 360-385-2200, ext. 2235.
