Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

Online course

Learn to address everyday stress, chronic pain and illness more effectively.

This evidence-based 8-week workshop is taught online via Zoom by Dr. Patricia O'Hagan. The MBSR program was developed by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn. 

What to expect

  • guided activities, including
    • body scans
    • mindful yoga
    • stretching
    • other movements to learn how to listen to your physical body
  • teacher-led instruction in mindfulness meditation practices
  • exercises to improve awareness in everyday life
  • interactive learning with group dialogue and mindful communication
  • daily at-home assignments
  • reading materials and links to guided audio meditations 

Please check the video " Widening the Circle of Mindfulness"

Course schedule

Course Section: MBSR 001 S25W70

Orientation: TBA - dates will be set for Spring 2025 shortly. Please watch this space.
8 sessions: TBA
All-day workshop: TBA

Questionnaire form

Once you have registered for the course, please complete the questionnaire form and send it to pdt.hhs@viu.ca before the course starts. 

mbsr-participant-questionnaire-poh-2024.pdf

Course fee

$250 + GST (one-time introductory price)

If you are a VIU employee signing up for this course, please register as a student using your student number.

Cancellation policy

Please note that there is no refund for withdrawing from the course within 7 days of the start date. Please see our Professional Development and Training refund policy

Sign up for MBSR

Instructor

Dr. Patricia O’Hagan, M.A., Ph.D., completed certification as an international DRU Yoga instructor in 2007.  For over twenty years, her daily practice includes yoga, meditation and the informal mindfulness practices as developed by Dr. Jon Kabat- Zinn at UMass Medical Centre. Patricia has participated in several silent meditation retreats and workshops and began the formal teaching and learning pathway in 2018 through Brown University.  Patricia is approved to teach the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) 8-week program. The 8-week program is the gold standard in mindfulness training and follows MBSR Standards of Practice. This well researched program is offered through Vancouver Island University, Professional Development an Training, Faculty of Health Sciences and Human Services. 

Enlightening and fun classes

“This past two months has been beyond my wildest imagination for my learning experience in MBSR. The classes were enlightening and fun, and it was a great opportunity to connect with others interested in these concepts. You, as well as the others in the class, have given me so much to think about and continue to work with. I can quite honestly say that this has been the best value for money I have ever spent”. 

Valerie T.