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March 2011
Greetings!
  
maple sugaring"Perhaps I am a bear, or some hibernating animal underneath, for the instinct to be half asleep all winter is so strong in me" ~Anne Morrow Lindbergh
  

I echo Anne Morrow Lindbergh's sentiments.  Each year as we begin exiting winter and entering spring something within me wakes up...perhaps it is the early morning bird songs that I heard this week, or the pleasure of feeling the sun's warmth on my face as I walked from my car to my office, or slipping into cute shoes instead of clunky boots that begins my emergence from my winter cocoon. Whatever it is, I enjoy noticing how the energy begins to somehow flow, not unlike the sugar maples I pass each day, sweet sap flowing into buckets, the trees waking up to spring as well.  

 

Wishing you a month of sweet transitions,  

Pam

In This Issue
Meditation Maintenance Schedule
Communicating the Experience of Illness Through Blogging
Mindfulness Series in Newton, MA
The Art and Science of Self-Compassion
Private and Semi-Private MBSR Training
Opening to Our Lives
Stress Resources Channel on YouTube
Meditation CD
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 Monthly Meditation Maintenance
Wed. Evenings & Fri. Afternoons 
 4-leaf clover
Meditation Maintenance Sessions are a great way to give yourself a monthly self-care "tune-up" by joining with fellow meditators to discuss insights and challenges of your practice. You are welcome to attend each month or simply on an occasional basis. You will find a supportive and welcoming respite in the midst of your busyness. Note that evening sessions are now held on the 2nd WEDNESDAY of each month.
 
Winter/Spring 2011 Schedule

Evening sessions meet 7-9 PM
Wed, Mar 9
Wed, Apr 13
Wed, May 11

Daytime sessions meet 12:30-2:30
Fri, Mar 11
Fri, Apr 8
Fri, May 13
 
Hopefully the inclement weather season is history...but this IS New England, so please check for  cancellations by phone (978-369-5243) after 4:00 PM for Wednesday sessions and after 9:30 AM for Friday sessions.
 
Both evening and daytime sessions are held at Stress Resources' office (97 Lowell Rd, Concord, MA). Please pre-register for sessions as space is limited. 
 
Meditation Maintenance sessions are $15 per session. Register by e-mail or by phone (978-369-5243).  
 
Communicating the Experience of Illness Through Blogging

Pamela Ressler, RN, BSN, HN-BCLiving with chronic illness can be exhausting...and one can lose part of one's identity when we "become our illness".  Healthcare providers often "medicalize" chronic health problems by focusing solely on the disease state and not the whole person. This is often compounded by the specialist-driven model of health care we practice in this country. As we know, humans are much more than the sum of our parts, but that is sometimes hard to remember when we are confronted by life changing illness.  I am currently researching patient blogging as a way to more fully communicate the experience of living with a chronic illness and in turn increase coping and resiliency.  

 

Recently, I was interviewed on the topic of: Blogging to Communicate the Experience of Illness, by one of the leaders in the field of health literacy, Helen Osborne.  Click here to listen to my interview on Health Literacy Out Loud.

 

You can play an instrumental part in expanding medical knowledge in this new area of digital health communication.  I am in the formative stage of my research at Tufts Medical School and invite those of you who are currently blogging about your health or illness, or may know of someone who is a "patient blogger" to contact me to add your insights.  I would be grateful for comments and feedback...whether or not you are a "blogger".

Mindfulness Series in Newton, MA

Newton Community Education will once again offer a series of 4 evening talks beginning in April entitled: Mindfulness: Changing Our Minds, Our Lives and Our World.  The speakers will include some of the leaders in the field of mindfulness.  Dr. Sara Lazar, who I have mentioned in previous newsletters, will be speaking on the topic of changes in brain structure and function with mindfulness.  You can attend one talk or the series of four.  I recommend you sign up early, as tickets are limited. 

The Art and Science of Self-Compassion

Are you as kind to yourself as you are to others?  OfSelf Compassion Coverten we are very compassionate towards others, but have difficulty with self-compassion.  Often we equate self-compassion with self-indulgance.  University of Texas researcher Dr. Kristin Neff has developed a 26 question self-compassion scale to allow you to rate your level of self-compassion.  Dr. Neff and her upcoming book, Self-Compassion, were recently mentioned in an article in the New York Times.

 

Read the NY Times article here

 

Stress Resources Can Help You Begin or Maintain a Mindfulness Practice

Flexible MBSRAre you curious about the new research on the health benefits of mindfulness? Are you interested in exploring how to add mindfulness practices into your busy life? Do you feel you might benefit from gentle guidance in establishing, renewing or maintaining a mindfulness practice?  

 

Stress Resources will help you craft a mindfulness practice that makes sense for you.
  • Flexible MBSR/Private and Semi-Private Mindfulness Training: This unique option offered by Stress Resources allows the individual to set the pace for training but maintains the essential framework of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction in private or semi-private sessions. The individual mindfulness training option allows your MBSR training to take place over 8-12 weeks at your own pace and schedule. Four individual sessions (1-hour each) are scheduled at the participant's convenience with morning, afternoon and evening sessions available.  Additional training sessions may be added as needed for an additional fee and a Blue Cross/Blue Shield discount is available. Train with a friend for added savings.
    For more information about Flexible MBSR Training, click here  
Opening to Our Lives 

 

Jon Kabat-Zinn"Jon Kabat-Zinn has learned, through science and experience, about mindfulness as a way of life. This is wisdom with immediate relevance to the ordinary and extreme stresses of our time - from economic peril, to parenting, to life in a digital age" ~ Krista Tippett, On Being

 

If you missed Jon Kabat-Zinn's recent extended interview with host Krista Tippett on her show: On Being, you can download and listen here.

 

Jon speaks of the science of mindfulness and how it can play an important and relevant role in our world today. 

 

Audio interview with Jon Kabat-Zinn: Opening to Our Lives

Stress Resources is on YouTube


 

YouTubeCheck out the new Stress Resources Channel on YouTube.com  You will find a collection of clips, dialogs, and lectures from some of the world's foremost teachers of mindfulness, compassionate communication, stress reduction and relaxation methods...and some videos that I just plain like!  This will be an evolving and expanding collection, so be sure to check in often by clicking this link and subscribing to the Stress Resources Channel (it's free!)

 Opening the Door to Meditation 
Thanks for your positive feedback and support of Opening the Door to Meditation...we are on the second run of the CD!  
 
"Opening the Door to Meditation has become my favorite "GO TO" CD for my daily meditation. I love the 20 minute version with the guitar, and I have not missed a day now for the longest time."

"I hope Opening the Door to Meditation will find its way to people new to meditation (and those of us who've gotten sidetracked...). The music is great, and I think many people would enjoy it, whether new to meditation or not."

  
How can you order Opening the CDDoor to Meditation?
  • Stress Resources' secure online shopping cart by clicking here
  • Downloadable mail-in order form by clicking here 
  • Amazon.com and entering "opening the door to meditation" in the search box
Do you already have a copy of Opening the Door to Meditation?  First, thank you for purchasing a copy and secondly, we would love to hear your comments!  You can post them directly on the Stress Resources Facebook Page Find us on Facebook or to the Amazon.com review area.