What are the real causes of stress? How can stress be overcome? What does this term "mindfulness" mean? What is the role of stress in illness?

The scientifically based six-hour course "Mindfulness & Stress Reduction" is designed to provide health-care professionals with information about techniques for reducing stress.

The course will examine relaxation methods and look at yoga.

The course will review how appropriate stress-reduction techniques can be useful in alleviating chronic fatigue, hypertension, and depression. The course will discuss how stress reduction can improve sleep quality.

The course will cover such Asian techniques as Tai Chi and how Tai Chi`s is connected with meditation, deep breathing, and what is called "visualization." The course will examine Tai Chi`s role in arthritis, heart failure, and the prevention of falls.

The course will show how meditation can be broken down into its basic components. It will cover how "mindfulness meditation" helps with weight loss and smoking cessation.

The course will cover the relationship between meditation and the brain, examining such areas as pain suppression and emotional control.

Participants completing this workshop will be able to:

1. Cite various effects of stress on the nervous system, including sympathetic arousal and the adrenal response.

2. Describe the role of chronic stress in physical and psychological illnesses.

3. Outline mind-body therapies suitable for integrative health practices.

4. Demonstrate the practical techniques related to mindful relaxation.

5. Discuss the role of meditation and breathing techniques in stress reduction programs.

6. Demonstrate simple exercises for use in alleviating stress symptoms.

7. Describe how the Relaxation Response engages the parasympathetic nervous system.

8. Describe strategies for integrating mindful stress-reduction methods into nursing, mental health, dentistry and other clinical practices.