MBSR 8-Week Certificate Course

This is the official standard 8 Week MBSR course, taught live & online by a authorized MBSR instructor. We follow the MBSR Standards of Practice. This training course qualifies as a prerequisite for MBSR Instructor Certification programs.

Your MBSR training certificate of completion certificate and badge can be shared with anyone via social media, a website, and via email. We use the Open Badge 2.0 credentialing framework. Your digital credentials are verifiable through www.credential.net and do not expire. 

The training program is eight weeks long, meeting live online once a week for about 2 1/2 hours per session (sessions 1 and 8 may be a little longer), with a day-long retreat on the Saturday between sessions six and seven. There is also a mandatory orientation the week before our first session.

There is a minimum of 45 minutes to over an hour of formal and informal home practice every day during the eight weeks of the MBSR course. Much of this is meditation using the guided recordings provided for that week, in addition to some informal activities and reflections.

MBSR or Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction is a course developed by Dr. Jon Kabat­-Zinn. It features sitting meditation, walking meditation, eating meditation, gentle movement, body scan, stress reduction, and informal, everyday practices. You can learn more about MBSR here.

Yes, but you would need to do so during the refund period. You would have to switch teachers within seven days of your orientation to request a refund or switch to another class that has not started. Once the first class has begun, we cannot make any changes.

No experience is needed to take MBSR. We'll guide you through every step of the journey you'll be taking with the other participants.

You may miss up to 1 session during the course and still receive your certificate of completion. If your circumstances create unplanned absences, please contact your instructor as soon as possible. It may also happen that you enroll in a session with more than one known schedule conflict. If this is the case, please contact your course manager to see about switching sessions within seven days of orientation.

The "All Day Silent Retreat" will take place over Zoom. Please join from a quiet area free from noise and distraction. Consider asking those who will be in the same space to give you the gift of time for this practice. Bring what you may need during the day, like water, medications, blankets, etc. to support your practice. Bring lunch since we will have an hour for a silent and mindful eating lunch practice. Wear comfortable clothing and know that you will be able to tend to personal needs throughout the day to visit the bathroom, take medications, or to drink water, etc.

The retreat is from 9:00 am - 4:30 pm ET.

While the retreats are mandatory, we do understand it may be difficult to set aside an entire day to be present. For those who cannot make their scheduled retreat, we do allow participants to attend a different full day retreat. Participants must reach out to their course manager as soon as they know they cannot attend to get a different retreat scheduled.

We stand behind our work and unconditionally guarantee your satisfaction with your purchase. If you’re not 100% satisfied, simply email us anytime within seven days of orientation for a full refund minus a $25 application fee. Once class one begins there are no refunds. 

With the variety of meditation teachings and styles available in contemporary society, the MBSR course may have meditations and other practices even experienced students may not have previously encountered. There is a great deal of information about the scientific study of mindfulness, as well as new connections that form while learning with others, which can be helpful in sustaining a personal practice in mindfulness-based stress reduction. In addition, this is the full MBSR course, which is the first step for those who may be interested in pursuing an MBSR Instructor Certification.

All our instructors are authorized to teach MBSR and have experience teaching mindfulness. All classes follow the official MBSR Standards of Practice. The main differences between the classes are the days and times when they will occur. 

If you purchased coaching, your instructor will reach out to you after class one to schedule with you. If you have not purchased coaching you can do so any time with this link. 

We request that you participate as individuals, from two separate devices, and two separate rooms. During the sessions, we often break into small groups, and sometimes groups of only two people, so sharing a screen creates a challenge. It’s important to experience MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) individually for the best outcome and to have your own, unique experience.

No. It takes the average MBSR instructor about 2-3 years to become an instructor. There are multiple classes that are needed before you can become fully certified. Taking the 8-week MBSR course is the first step on the MBSR instructor path. You must first be a participant in the class before you can teach the class.

Here are some helpful articles and resources that map out the full path to becoming an MBSR instructor from different institutions: MBSR Teacher Training Guide

We do not offer group discounts. We offer a "Pick What You Pay" pricing tier for our community to choose the price option that works best for them. The course is the same at all price tiers.

This course is accredited by Mindful Leader. Our certifications are managed on the Accredible platform and are Open Badges 2.0 Certified.