liveWELL partners with Brad Baldwin of Aperture to offer the 8-week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) to University of Iowa faculty and staff in a 50% or greater, regular position who are referred by either a Health Coach or EAP.
Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention intentionally to what is occurring in the present moment, acknowledging what is here with curiosity and open heartedness, even when things are challenging. Some common benefits of a regular mindfulness practice included better sleep, improved focus, responding more skillfully to emotions (anxiety, anger, or low mood), improved communication, and many more.
Spring 2024 Program Details
The Spring 2024 MBSR program includes eight weekly classes and a Saturday retreat. The program begins on Tuesday, March 26, and the weekly classes will be at University Capitol Centre (UCC) from 5:30-8:00 p.m. Some classes will involve getting on the floor so comfortable clothing as well as a yoga mat are encouraged. The Saturday retreat will be on May 4 from 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at Universalist Unitarian Society.
Weekly Meeting Dates
- Group Orientation Meeting on Zoom: Tuesday, March 19
- Class 1: Tuesday, March 26
- Class 2: Tuesday, April 2
- Class 3: Tuesday, April 9
- Class 4: Tuesday, April 16
- Class 5: Tuesday, April 23
- Class 6: Tuesday, April 30
- Retreat: Saturday, May 4
- Class 7: Tuesday, May 14
- Class 8: Tuesday, May 21
Fee: This program is free to eligible employees who complete seven out of the nine classes. However, if a participant fails to meet the required number of classes, they will be billed $450.
Eligibility:
- Must agree to attend a minimum of 7 of 9 sessions (and complete an agreement regarding this)
- Open to University of Iowa faculty and staff in a 50% or greater, regular position
- Must meet with a Health Coach or EAP counselor and obtain a referral to MBSR by March 15, 2024.
MBSR Teacher Profile
Brad Baldwin, CEO of Aperture and Mindfulness Teacher, offers MBSR at the University of Iowa. He is a husband, father, volunteer, and Iowa Hawkeye. He completed his training at the Mindfulness Center at Brown University.
Get started now
Are you ready to get started with a daily mindfulness practice now? Check out videos, resources, and apps to help you learn more about mindfulness and start practicing as a part of your daily well-being routine.
Frequently asked questions about MBSR
The MBSR program will be limited to a maximum of 25 participants.
Participants needs to be in a 50% or greater, regular position, and completed their Personal Health Assessment to be eligible for the MBSR program.
If you participated in MBSR when it was offered via UIHC (2021 and earlier) you are able to participate again. Participants who took the class in and since 2022, when liveWELL began to offer the program, are not able to obtain a free referral more than once. If you would like to participate again and are willing to pay for the service, please contact livewell@uiowa.edu.
The instructor is Brad Baldwin of Aperture.
MBSR class experience is enhanced through commitment to daily practice during the 8-week duration of class. General guidance suggests 45-minutes of daily practice.
After you have signed referral agreement, the MBSR instructor will connect via email and offer high level guidance on class expectations. As the start of class approaches, there will be a one-on-one zoom intake with the instructor as well as a group orientation via zoom. You are required to do both a one-on-one and the group orientation.