Your Wellness Matters.

We read about “stress management” and people tell us “you should meditate!” but to find the time? And even if we have the time, how do we decide which practice to choose? What kind of meditation? Self talk? Nature walks? How are we supposed to know?

The SMART wellness course was designed to teach you the most important aspects about stress and well being, give people experience in proven methods to help maintain calm amidst pressure and demands. It gives you tools to cope well when faced with challenges, and help you become aware of your own patterns of thinking and behaviors so you can “make your mind an ally, not an enemy”.

The SMART class provides you with information and practice about the most studied and proven methods within a supportive group environment. The model acknowledges the pressures and fears in our world, teaches skills to support you (and your loved ones) without giving the message that resilience is simply an individual strength. After the class you can continue practicing strategies that hourly and daily to support you going forward, and you can decide which of these practices you’d want to continue to pursue.

During the eight (8) week course participants learn strategies to create a relaxation response (instead of a stress response), manage demands in their life using adaptive, healthy mindsets, and learn and practice various contemplative practices that can be life changing. It uses mind-body techniques and self-care practices to reduce stress and improve quality of life. In this program, participants will:

  • Understand how stress affects their physical and emotional well-being

  • Learn different ways to relax and reduce stress

  • Learn to harness the power of adaptive thoughts and beliefs

  • Learn contemplative practices that are scientifically proven to support health

  • Learn the latest science of healthy eating, good sleep, and regular physical activity

If you make the commitment to your own health by attending this SMART course, you are signing up for:

Eight (8) two hour SMART classes filled with information, practice, and support. Before the course starts you’ll meet individually with Siobhan Masterson for about 30 minutes to review your learning needs and to set some small, concrete goals you want to accomplish by the end of the course. You can call her and discuss prior to committing, and you can cancel and get your money back up to a month before (March 5, 2024). Payment can be here on the site, or via Zelle, check or Venmo.

Certified Instructor Siobhan Masterson, LCSW, will teach practical strategies to help you make positive changes and improve your resilience and health. Topics of the course include:

  • Resilience and the Relaxation Response

  • The Science of Mind Body Medicine, the Stress versus Relaxation Response

  • Contemplative Practices such as single point of focus meditation, mindful awareness and mindful eating, and lovingkindness meditation

  • Identifying emotions, learning about negative automatic thoughts, and many coping skills such as problem solving versus acceptance techniques, and how to shift from thought distortions to creating adaptive perspectives

  • Healing States of minds: Learning about and practicing compassion, exploring root fear, empathy, learning to shift from negativity bias to savoring the good, altruism and how to support and strengthen your positive values, and social support

  • Latest science of sleep, exercise and eating

  • Humor, laughter, and staying resilient