Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Offered at The Wellness Community Valley/Ventura

Westlake Village, CA, March 25, 2010 --(PR.com)-- The Wellness Community Valley/Ventura invites cancer patients, survivors, and family members to participate in a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course on Mondays from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, for eight weeks beginning April 19 and ending June 7. (Except the week of May 10, when class will be held on Tuesday, May 11.) The course will be held at 530 Hampshire Road, Westlake Village, CA 91361. An all-day class will be held on May 23 from 10am-4pm. Space is limited. Please call (805) 379-4777 to RSVP.

Based on best-selling author Jon Kabat-Zinn’s program at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center and described in his book Full Catastrophe Living, the experiential course combines meditation, gentle yoga, readings and group discussion. Many people with cancer credit the course with changing their lives. Offered elsewhere for $1,000, the course is free to people faced with cancer and their loved ones.

“Mindfulness has been demonstrated to reduce stress, increase self-awareness, improve attention, boost the immune system, reduce emotional reactivity, and promote a general sense of health and wellness. These things are particularly important for people facing the challenges of cancer,” states Marty Nason, Vice President of Programs at The Wellness Community.

Instructor Catherine Baum has studied with Dr. Kabat-Zinn and teaches the Stress Reduction Program at a variety of Ventura County Locations. She has also taught and practiced Hatha yoga for a number of years.

Founded in 1982, The Wellness Community is an international non-profit organization dedicated to providing free support, education and hope to people with cancer and their loved ones. In July 2009, The Wellness Community and Gilda’s Club joined forces to become the Cancer Support Community, one of the largest providers of cancer support worldwide. The combined organization is comprised of nearly 50 local affiliates, 12 affiliates in development and over 100 satellite locations. By offering professionally led support groups, educational workshops, nutrition and exercise programs, and stress-reduction classes, The Wellness Community and Gilda’s Club continue to provide support, education and hope to all people affected by cancer.

As a local affiliate, The Wellness Community Valley/Ventura serves over 3,000 community members affected by cancer each year with programs in the San Fernando Valley and throughout Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. Programs are offered in English and Spanish. For more information, to volunteer or to make a donation, please visit www.TwcVv.org or call 805-379-4777. Text COMMUNITY to 90999 to donate $10 to cancer support programs. Standard text messaging rates apply. For full terms visit mgive.com/a.

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