Tag: Mind-Body

What is Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)?

— and How Can It Support Your Mental Health.

by Sandra Wiebe

In the midst of a busy life — juggling relationships, career changes, caregiving, or even just the quiet shift into a new chapter — it’s not uncommon to feel overwhelmed, anxious, or disconnected. For many midlife women, stress becomes a near-constant companion. But what if there was a gentle, evidence-based way to relate to stress differently — with awareness, compassion, and intention? Enter Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR).

What Is MBSR?

Originally developed in the 1970s by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, MBSR teaches participants how to use mindfulness to manage stress, pain, and illness, encourages moment-to-moment awareness — noticing your thoughts, feelings, and body sensations without judgment.

It’s not about clearing your mind or achieving a state of bliss. Rather, it’s about learning to be with whatever is present, with greater clarity and calm.

Why It Matters in Midlife

The midlife season is often one of reflection and transition. It can bring hormonal shifts, changing family roles, grief, health issues, or questions about purpose and identity. These layers of stress can quietly build up, impacting your mental well-being and sense of self. MBSR offers a way to pause, breathe, and come home to yourself.

Through regular mindfulness practice, many women report:

  • Feeling less reactive and more grounded
  • Improved sleep and concentration
  • Greater self-compassion and emotional resilience
  • Relief from anxiety and low mood
  • A renewed connection with their body and inner wisdom

The Science Behind It

MBSR has been widely studied, and the research is encouraging. Studies show that participants in MBSR programmes often experience reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety, improved emotional regulation, and increased grey matter in brain regions linked to learning, memory, and emotional balance.
Put simply, mindfulness helps rewire the brain — creating new patterns that support peace, presence, and mental flexibility.

A Simple Example

Imagine you’re having a difficult day — perhaps you’re feeling criticized, overlooked, or stretched too thin. Instead of spiralling into harsh self-talk or numbing distractions, mindfulness invites a pause. You might notice the tightness in your chest, the swirl of thoughts, the urge to react. With practice, you learn to soften, breathe, and choose a kinder response. That’s the heart of MBSR — not avoiding stress, but transforming your relationship with it.

You deserve tools that help you not just cope with life’s challenges, but meet them with strength and softness. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction isn’t a quick fix — it’s a compassionate pathway back to yourself.

If you’re curious about integrating mindfulness into your healing journey, feel free to reach out — I’d be honoured to walk alongside you.

Beyond Talk: How Yoga Therapy Enhances the Counselling Journey

by Claire MacEachen (Guest Post)

Research shows that mindful movement, deep breathing, and meditation can lower stress hormones, reduce inflammation, and improve mental well-being.

What Is Yoga Therapy & How Can It Help You?

Yoga is more than just poses and flexibility—it’s a powerful tool for healing. As a yoga therapist, I use pure movements to help reduce pain, down regulate your nervous system with breath work and stillness practices to integrate and heal. Unlike a regular yoga class, which focuses on general fitness and well-being, yoga therapy is tailored to the individual. It’s a holistic approach that considers your unique needs, whether you’re dealing with chronic pain, stress, anxiety, or recovering from an injury.

How Does Yoga Therapy Work?

Yoga therapy combines movement, breathwork, meditation, and mindfulness to promote healing. Each session is personalized, meaning we don’t follow a one-size-fits-all routine. Instead, I assess your concerns and design a practice supporting your health goals. For some, this may include granular movements to improve how your body moves. For others, it may involve breathing exercises to calm the nervous system.

The goal is to create balance—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

The goal is to create balance—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Whether you struggle with back pain, insomnia, or high stress, in yoga therapy, I help you listen in to your body’s signals. From there you can start to build a library of movements as well as breath and stillness practices that you can access at anytime.

Who Can Benefit?

Anyone can benefit from yoga therapy, but it’s especially helpful for those dealing with:

  • Chronic pain conditions like back & hip pain, foot pain, tight shoulders, arthritis
  • Stress and anxiety
  • Post-surgical recovery and rehabilitation
  • Those wanting to get back to activities they love but have put them on the back burner due to pain and believing it’s not possible.

I believe it is!

Yoga therapy complements other care such as chiropractic, acupuncture and physiotherapy.

What to Expect in a Session

A typical session starts with a conversation. I’ll ask about your health history, lifestyle, and goals. Then, we’ll work through a sequence of movements, breath exercises, and mindfulness practices designed specifically for you. I may also suggest simple techniques you can use at home to continue your progress.

Unlike a fast-paced yoga class, yoga therapy moves at your speed. The focus is on gentle, intentional movements that support healing. Over time, you may notice less pain, improved mobility, better sleep, and a greater sense of calm.

Why Yoga Therapy Works

Yoga therapy is backed by science. Research shows that mindful movement, deep breathing, and meditation can lower stress hormones, reduce inflammation, and improve mental well-being. It activates the body’s natural healing processes, helping you regain balance and resilience.

If you’re looking for a gentle, effective way to improve your health, yoga therapy might be the answer. Whether you’re dealing with a specific condition or simply want to feel better in your body, personalized yoga therapy can help you find relief and restore your sense of well-being.

Interested in learning more? Reach out—I’d love to guide you on your journey to healing.

About Claire MacEachen

Claire trained at Functional Synergy, an IAYT school for yoga therapists and has been a teacher of yoga since 2008. She specializes in helping people move beyond pain and regain strength, mobility, and confidence. Through this work, she has overcome her own pain, grown stronger than ever, and returned to activities she once set aside, like running and weight training. This personal transformation fuels her passion for guiding others on their journey to pain-free movement—so they, too, can get back to doing what they love.

You can contact Claire at Body Motion Yoga to book a Yoga Therapy session or join a yoga class where she incorporates many of the techniques and principles of Yoga Therapy.

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