Introduction to Mindfulness

This program explores what mindfulness is (and isn’t) through direct experience and discussion. Each week, you’ll investigate different aspects of mindfulness and its implications for your life. Introduction to Mindfulness is held live via Zoom or in person over 4 weeks for 1.5 hours per week.

Register for Introduction to Mindfulness

Questions or comments? Please reach out to the Bakken Center's community relations office if you have questions about our mindfulness programming ([email protected], 612-625-8164). We welcome the opportunity to connect with you! 

To make disability-related accommodations, please contact the Bakken Center's community relations office ([email protected], 612-625-8164).

Program Overview and More

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Topics

  • Mindfulness of the Body
  • Mindfulness of Thoughts
  • Mindfulness of Emotions
  • Mindfulness of Awareness and Attitudes

What You Will Learn

By the end of the class, you will be able to:

  • Define what mindfulness is – and isn’t.
  • Discuss at least two of the benefits supported by scientific evidence that you are interested in.
  • Articulate if you have seen any changes in yourself or your life with the practice.
  • Give yourself basic meditation instructions so you can practice on your own.
  • Identify the challenges you sometimes face when meditating and strategies to address them.
  • Identify at least two practices that you will do in daily life.

And we hope that you will set an intention to practice at least 10 minutes a day

Who This Class is For

This is a great class for adults (18 and older) who are interested in exploring what mindfulness is and how to start practicing it. It is especially useful for anyone who is looking for ways to address stress and daily anxiety or who wants to be more present, less reactive, and more open in their life.

What To Expect

  • Check in about our practice
  • Do a guided meditation
  • Discuss challenges and strategies
  • Share some interesting research about benefits of mindfulness
  • Learn about ways to practice in daily life

The intention is to provide a safe space to try mindfulness and share your experience with others in the class.  Are you doing it “right”?  The only way to find out is to try, ask lots of questions, and hear from others how normal your perceived challenges are—and how easy it is to address them!

This course intersperses teacher presentations with meditations and experiential or reflective exercises. Each week, we invite participants to discuss their experiences in small groups and the class as a whole. While we offer self-reflective options, you might be more comfortable in class if you are open to sharing with other participants.

We'll provide access to recorded guided meditations for use between classes.

Additional Resources


In addition to the course, we provide:

  • Facilitator-led guided meditation audios so you can practice on your own
  • Suggestions for daily practice activities
  • Text summary of key points from the week
  • Tips to address challenges and enhance your practice
  • Supplemental readings/viewings

Outcomes

By the end of class, you will know, through your own experience as well as exposure to the research evidence, the benefits that mindfulness could offer you personally.  Most importantly, you will have the ability to practice mindfulness on your own, both as you practice at home and in daily life.

Facilitators

Center courses and workshops are facilitated by our experienced facilitators, who have deep experience in teaching mindfulness and meditation courses, workshops and retreats within the University, community, and organizations.