Human Resources: eMindful and Duke Integrative Medicine Offer Free Stress Reduction to Those Affected by Wall St.

Vero Beach, FL (PRWEB) September 25, 2008 -- eMindful.com, a web-based mindfulness training resource, and Duke Integrative Medicine are offering free online classes in stress reduction to people affected by the recent events in the financial markets. Developed and taught by researchers at Duke Integrative Medicine, these classes are conducted in virtual classrooms where students can see, hear, and interact with live teachers and other students. Entering the virtual classroom is simple - and no software is required! Even novice computer users have easily accessed and enjoyed the eMindful classes.

According to the American Medical Association, stress accounts for approximately 85 percent of all illnesses. Excessive stress impacts people's sleep patterns, eating habits, and emotional well-being. eMindful's online, real-time classes offer simple, effective techniques for combating stress in day-to-day living.

The free classes will begin on Saturday, September 27th, and will be available periodically until October 10th at no charge. The courses are interactive and offer experiential exercises utilizing the techniques learned in class. Class times can be found at:

http://www.emindful.com/schedules/MBSR.html

There was a time in the not-too-distant past where people lent a hand to each other just because… eMindful and Duke Integrative Medicine would like to lend that hand now.

Email info[at]emindful.com if you are interested in joining one of the 1 - 2-hour stress reduction classes. Please include your name as well as the class and time you are interested in.

The following classes will be offered:

Five Good Minutes - taught by Jeffrey Brantley, M.D., and based on the popular book by the same name. This 90 minute class will teach brief stress reduction skills and focus on how to deal with anxiety and fear. Jeff is a consulting associate in the Duke Department of Psychiatry and the founder and director of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program (MBSR) at Duke University's Center for Integrative Medicine
Learning to Manage Stress with Mindfulness - taught by Ruth Wolever, Ph.D., Director of Research at Duke Integrative Medicine and Sasha Loring, M.S., M.Ed., a psychotherapist at Duke Integrative Medicine and long-time teacher of mindfulness and mindful eating. This one hour class will teach stress-reducing techniques and provide guided meditation.
Mini-Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction - taught by several of eMindful's MBSR teachers, this highly experiential two hour class will teach basic mindfulness skills and provide opportunities to practice them in the live classroom.

eMindful was founded in 2007 and offers online mindfulness courses for a variety of stress reduction and weight control issues. Classes specifically tailored for teens and children are available as well - please write info[at]emindful.com for more information or group discounts.

The interactive classes listed below offer CMEs for physicians and CEUs for nurses. For a full list of classes offering CME credits, please see eMindful's CME Information page.

Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction class is eight weeks in length and is designed to help people develop specific skills for deep relaxation and paying attention. The mind is known to be a factor in stress and stress-related disorders, and mindfulness has been shown to positively affect a range of autonomic physiological processes, such as lowering blood pressure and reducing overall emotional reactivity.
Mindfulness for the Adolescent: A Class for Teens is tailored for the specific stressors teens face today. Taking a minute to be here, right now and not always "up in your head" can reduce both mental and physical problems. How do we know this? Hundreds of teens with problems have been through this program and come out feeling a whole lot better about themselves and about life in general.
Mindful Eating is an important skill set in our weight management "toolbox". Research shows stress is an important factor in weight gain - this class offers stress reduction techniques specific to weight management. In addition, the class provides a step-by-step guide to creating a healthy relationship with food through a deeper knowledge of self, based on personal direct observations.
Mindful Awareness Programs (MAPS) for ADHD, taught by Lidia Zylowska, M.D., a psychiatrist and researcher at UCLA, provides an overview of ADHD and uses mindfulness meditation to enhance the well-being of adults with ADHD. The class discusses the latest scientific understanding of ADHD and meditation's impact on the brain and attention regulation.

Duke Integrative Medicine's Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program includes a variety of courses, ranging from four to eight weeks in length, designed to help people develop specific skills for paying attention and for deep relaxation, and to apply these in daily situations. Courses include:

Interpersonal Mindfulness deepens and optimizes personal and professional relationships.
Managing Difficulties with Mindfulness helps people cope with challenging situations.
Calming Your Anxious Mind, taught by Dr. Jeff Brantley, trains participants to deal with anxiety, fear, and panic using principles from his book by the same name.
Mindfulness Practices for Achieving and Maintaining a Healthy Weight, taught by mindful eating experts Sasha Loring, M.S., M.Ed. & Dr. Ruth Q. Wolever, teaches some of the principles used in the eMindful.com virtual program for bariatric patients.