Thank you in advance for registering and completing the required forms. We realize the personal nature of these questions. Please be assured that the completed forms are kept in strict confidence.
Registration Process and Steps
Step 1: Read Benefits & Possible Side Effects of MBSR below
Step 2: Complete the online Registration Form and Informed Consent Agreement on the link provided below.
Step 3: Once the form is submitted you will receive confirmation via email by the UAMS Mindfulness Program of your acceptance/enrollment to the Course within 48-72 hours
1. Benefits and Possible Side Effects of MBSR
Please read through the following statements before signing and submitting the Informed Consent Agreement.
Benefits and Improvements (as reported by participants)
- Increased awareness and concentration
- Discovering new ways to cope more effectively with existing conditions difficulties, pain or suffering
- Learning to take better care of oneself
- Many physical, psychological and emotional health benefits of MBSR have been reported in scientific literature
- A quieter mind, a sense of balance and enhanced well being
- Increased present moment awareness and concentration
- Better able to manage stress, fear, anger, anxiety, and depression both at home and in the workplace
- Discovering new ways to cope more effectively with existing conditions, difficulties, pain or suffering
- Feeling less judgmental and critical of themselves and subsequently to others
- Learning to take better care of oneself in general
- Many physical, psychological and emotional health benefits reported in scientific literature.
- Please note that here is NO guarantee or promise to any particular results from participation in the MBSR course.
Possible Side Effects of MBSR
Physical Risks
- The primary physical risk is connected to practicing mindful yoga.
- Knowing oneself and taking care of oneself is at the core of mindfulness.
- If activity is NOT appropriate for the student’s body or condition, or if anything causes pain, the correct action is to disregard the teacher and either modify the pose/movement, rest and imagine doing the pose/movement, or notice and acknowledge any thoughts or emotions that may be arising in the experience of not doing the pose/movement. Focus is on exploring one’s physical limits, by going to the edge of those limits, but not beyond. This exploration is done slowly and with sensitivity, as guided by the teacher.
- Being aware of the body from moment to moment and in everyday situations is an essential aspect of MBSR. The formal yoga sequences are a structured way of developing greater body awareness, and as such, are awareness practices rather than practices to develop a specific form or alignment that is often emphasized in other types of yoga. The teacher may offer modifications or adaptations to poses/movements to meet the variety of capacities in the class.
- Participants with physical conditions or limitations should ask their healthcare provider to review the postures in the practice manual, and to suggest only those postures that are suitable.
Emotional risks
- Feelings of sadness, anger, or fear could seem or become stronger as practice develops, since paying attention in a conscious way—perhaps for the first time—can highlight emotions.
- A history of trauma, abuse, significant recent loss or major life changes, or addiction to substances may heighten emotional reactions. Please speak with the teacher if this occurs, and together you can determine the best course of action (i.e., modifying practice, dropping the course, waiting for another time when acute symptoms may be less).
- Participants may make discoveries about themselves that they may not like.
- Participants may be challenged and find themselves facing the unknown. Experiential learning is often non-linear; participants’ symptoms can sometimes worsen, particularly in the early weeks of the program. Even with regular practice, participants may feel like “nothing is happening.” This is normal and a typical aspect of any learning process. Participants are encouraged to speak to their teacher with any concerns.
Other people in your life
- It may be a challenge to set aside the space and time to do this practice; requesting assistance from family, friends and/or co-workers may be supportive.
- Participants may experience changes in reactivity, behavior and communication, and family, friends and/or co-workers may be uncomfortable with these new behaviors or attitudes.
- Participants may find that their relationships change as attention deepens and new behaviors evolve.
Time
- Finding time to make a new habit of mindfulness practice can be challenging and it’s normal to have the idea that there is not enough time for practice.
- Participants often find, counter- intuitively, that setting aside time for practice increases the sense of spaciousness in the rest of the day.
2. Complete your Registration using the Form Submission link below
Complete the UAMS MBSR Registration and Consent Online Submission Form
If you encounter any issues related to the submission of this form, feel free to email the UAMS Mindfulness Program at UAMSMindfulnessProgram@uams.edu.
If you have questions about the course content, benefits, side effects, informed consent or other course related matters please email the Program Instructor, Dr. Pele Yu, at FBYu@uams.edu and expect a reply within 48-72 hours.