From Director Bev Klug to alumni of MBSR and MBCT programs:

I know that many of you were not directly affected by the floods and that some of you were. And, of course, as a community, we have all been. Now that some time has passed and, hopefully, most of the acute needs have been met, the longer-term process of integrating this into our lives continues. I hope that mindfulness practice has been helpful to you during these difficult times. Many of you have commented that sitting in meditation alone is different than sitting with a group and they each have their own value. So, perhaps this is a good time for us to sit together. Here are some options:

Mindfulness Retreat - Saturday, July 12 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. (or whatever part of that time works for you) at the Community of Christ Church, South Ridge Drive in Coralville. This is the retreat for the current MBSR and MBCT groups. If you have completed the MBSR or MBCT program, you are welcome to come for whatever amount of time you can, to give yourself a chance to stop the doing and be still and silent with others. Free of charge.

Mindfulness Sitting Meditation - Wednesday, July 16 from 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. and/or Tuesday, July 22 from noon to 1 p.m. The July 16 meeting will be held at UI Hospitals and Clinics in the Counseling and Health Promotion Services area, Elevator L, Lower Level. The July 22 meeting will be held at UI Hospitals and Clinics in the Adult Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic, Pappajohn Pavilion, First Level, near Elevator I.

Guided sitting meditation for people who have been affected by the flood and/or would like to be supportive by sitting with those who have been. Open to anyone who has completed the MBSR or MBCT programs. Time will be devoted primarily to sitting followed by some discussion. Free of charge.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program
We will make a few spaces available, free of charge, in the MBSR program this fall for people who have been displaced by the flood or severely affected by it in some other way. This will be limited to non-UI employees, so if you know of people who could benefit, please have them contact me directly after August 18. If you know of people affected who are UI employees, remember that they can get tuition support through UI Wellness to participate in MBSR by filling out the Health Risk Assessment at www.uiowa.edu/livewell and meeting with a Health Coach. Here's the schedule for the fall classes.