MBSR Plus: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction w/Maker Practices
For the mindful maker in all of us
For the mindful maker in all of us
Orientation Session
Friday, March 19, 2027
10:00 Am - 12:30 PM ET
Weekly Sessions
Fridays, April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, May 7, 14, 21, 2027
10:00 AM – 12:30 PM ET Virtual via Zoom
All Day
Sunday, May 16, 2027
9:30 AM – 3:30 PM ET
Virtual via Zoom
What's Included
An orientation session (2.5 hours)
Eight weekly virtual sessions (2.5 hours each)
An all-day Virtual Silent Retreat (6 hours)
Instructor-led recordings for home practice
All session handouts and resources
What to Expect
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is an eight-week program that teaches you to meet life's challenges with greater awareness, steadiness, and compassion. Originally developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, MBSR blends mindfulness meditation, gentle movement, and body awareness practices into a structured, supportive experience. What makes this course distinct is that, alongside the full MBSR curriculum, it weaves in creative, hands-on practices: simple making and art-based activities invite you to explore mindfulness not only through stillness, but through your hands, your senses, and your imagination. Each week, we'll explore practices you can carry into daily life, learning to notice thoughts and sensations without judgment and to respond rather than react.
Research suggests that MBSR can help:
Reduce stress, anxiety, and symptoms of depression
Ease the experience of chronic pain and illness
Improve sleep, focus, and concentration
Strengthen emotional balance, self-compassion, and resilience
Foster more patience and ease in relationships
No prior meditation or art experience is necessary. Whether you're navigating a demanding season of life or simply looking to feel more present, this course offers a space to slow down, reconnect with yourself, and build skills that last well beyond the eight weeks.
Who This Is For
This series is for individuals looking to deepen their creative and mindfulness practices, and to individuals who are curious about the intersection of making, mindfulness, and wellbeing. Participants must be 18 years of age or older. Please note this series is an educational experience and does not constitute therapy.
Session Overview
Orientation Session
Friday, March 19 | 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM ET
Get to know the facilitator, your fellow participants, and MBSR as a research-supported practice. We'll explore its history, how it can support everyday life, and what to expect over the eight weeks. All registered participants are strongly encouraged to attend.
Week 1
Friday, April 2 | 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM ET
We'll explore what mindfulness really means and introduce the STIIR model, clearing up common myths about both mindfulness and creativity, including the belief that you have to be "artistic" to create. You'll learn a bit about how creativity works in the brain and begin building present-moment awareness through first practices like mindful eating, the body scan, and focused-attention meditation.
Week 2
Friday, April 9 | 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM ET
This week, meditation and reflective practices take us further into mindfulness. We'll look at how our perceptions and assumptions color what we experience, and explore the difference between reacting on autopilot and responding with intention. We'll also step into Space, the first stage of the STIIR model, discovering how curiosity, a sense of safety, and a beginner's mind can open room for both skillful choices and creative making.
Week 5
Friday, April 30 | 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM ET
We'll practice bringing mindfulness to intense physical sensations, strong emotions, and challenging thoughts, and explore the idea of "Turning Toward," choosing to engage with discomfort instead of avoiding it. This practice carries into Innovate, the fourth stage of the STIIR model. Using the learning zone model, we'll explore how frustration and setbacks are a natural and even valuable part of the creative process, and practice staying present when making gets hard.
Week 7
Friday, May 14 | 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM ET
Mindfulness reaches far beyond formal meditation. This week, we'll explore ways to bring awareness into every part of life, reflecting on our habits and choices to recognize which ones nourish us and which ones no longer serve us. We'll also move into Reflect, the final stage of the STIIR model, pausing to look back on our making with curiosity and compassion and to notice what the process has revealed about ourselves.
Week 3
Friday, April 16 | 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM ET
As our mindfulness practice continues, we'll pause to share what's been challenging and what's been illuminating so far. We'll explore ways to meet difficult moments with skill and care, and practice noticing the small, pleasant moments that so often slip by unnoticed. We'll also move into Tinker, the second stage of the STIIR model, where playful, hands-on experimentation with materials invites us to focus on the process rather than the outcome and to discover what unfolds when we let curiosity lead.
Week 4
Friday, April 23 | 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM ET
This week, we'll approach difficult emotions and sensations with curiosity and openness, looking at how stress reactivity affects both body and mind and exploring mindful ways to respond to stress with greater ease. We'll also enter Ideate, the third stage of the STIIR model, where we open ourselves to new possibilities, generating ideas freely and without judgment, just as mindfulness invites us to meet each experience with fresh eyes.
Week 6
Friday, May 7 | 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM ET
This week, we'll bring mindfulness into our interactions with others, exploring how self-regulation and stress management shape the way we communicate. We'll look at different communication styles and how mindfulness helps us respond thoughtfully and stay grounded in challenging conversations. Continuing with Innovate, we'll discover what happens when we lean into challenge rather than away from it, and celebrate our setbacks as part of the path to growth.
Week 8
Friday, May 21 | 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM ET
In our final session, we'll bring it all together: the STIIR model, our mindfulness practices, the making, and the community we've built. We'll revisit key themes, make space for lingering questions, and explore creative self-efficacy, the growing confidence in our own ability to create. Together, we'll consider how our practice has grown and how to sustain both mindfulness and creativity well beyond the eight weeks.
All-Day Retreat
Sunday, May 16 | 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM ET
Set aside a full day to settle into silence and immerse yourself in practice. Free from everyday distractions, we'll return to familiar practices and explore some new ones, including quiet, hands-on making that lets creativity unfold at its own pace. Making in silence invites you to tune into your senses, your materials, and your inner experience, offering space to strengthen your mindfulness skills, uncover deeper insights, and carry a greater sense of presence back into daily life.
Cancellation & Refund Policy
A full refund is available for cancellations made up to 24 hours before the orientation session on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. After that date and time, no refunds will be issued. To request a cancellation, please contact the facilitator.
