Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
Essential Skills to Thrive in a Changing World
What Is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is about quieting your mind to see where you’re stuck, what your default reactions are to certain situations, and how you might make new and better choices.
Mindfulness is awareness. Awareness of the immediate experience without letting past experiences and emotions hijack what is happening at this moment.
About The 8-Week Program
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) was developed by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn in 1979 at the UMass Medical School to help people relate to whatever is happening in their lives with ease, compassion, and clarity. Since then, more than 2,000 academic studies have examined the physiological, psychological, and inter-relational benefits of mindfulness. There is strong evidence showing the structural and functional changes in the brain that take place after this eight-week program for better focus, problem solving, and empathy, among other benefits in the participants.
This is a secular program taught at Downtown Mindfulness by Shalini Bahl, Ph.D. and certified MBSR teacher.
This Course Includes
- An educational program based on experiential learning in a safe environment
- Guided instruction in mindfulness meditation practices
- Gentle stretching & mindful movement
- Group dialogue & discussions aimed at enhancing awareness in everyday life
- A small dose of multimedia to support learning
- Daily home assignments
- Guided audio instructions
- Supporting videos and content
- A day of retreat
- Ongoing support on Teachable.com
- Ongoing support at Downtown Mindfulness including monthly group meditations.
Your Instructor
Hi there! I'm Shalini, and I'm thrilled you've found your way to my mindfulness courses. For over 15 years, I've been on a mission to help people like you build practical mindfulness skills that lead to more intentional living.
I'm honored to have been named one of the 10 Most Powerful Women in the Mindfulness Movement by Mindful.org, but what truly drives me is seeing how these practices transform lives, relationships, and communities.
My journey has taken me through many roles—researcher, entrepreneur, business professor, and even elected municipal leader—but my passion has always been the same: helping people break free from automatic patterns to make choices that feel truly aligned with what matters most to them.
I believe mindfulness isn't just about feeling calmer (though that's a wonderful benefit!). It's about developing specific skills that help you navigate life's complexities with greater awareness and purpose. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, seeking more meaningful connections, or wanting to make choices that better align with your values, the practices I share here are designed to help you build those capabilities in practical, accessible ways.
I'm especially passionate about the connection between our individual choices and our collective wellbeing. When we become more intentional in how we live and consume, we naturally create positive ripples that extend to our relationships, communities, and our planet.
My approach blends ancient wisdom with insights from modern neuroscience and psychology. I've spent years researching these connections (my work has even been recognized by the American Marketing Association!), and I've distilled what I've learned into straightforward practices you can apply in your everyday life.
My recent book, "Return to Mindfulness" (which won the International Impact Book Award), outlines the systematic approach to mindfulness skill-building that you'll experience in these courses.
I'm so glad you're here, and I look forward to accompanying you on this journey toward more purposeful living. Together, we'll explore practical ways to make choices that benefit both you and our world. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or want to discern if this is a good fit for you - [email protected]
Let's get started!