What previous attendees have said

I found the MBSR course run by Tessa and Jacqui very beneficial. They facilitate the course always with a high level of professionalism – always well prepared, open to questions and feedback, and provide a safe space for self exploration through practical experience. Highly recommend!

Claudia, 2023

Tessa and Jacqui create a safe space to explore and practise the gift of mindfulness.

Ilka, 2023

I heard the call to be still many months ago. I ignored it. This course helped me heed that call. I found a peace I could never obtain from any book or any TED talk or any drug. I found it simply by being with myself and noticing…

Sheron Forgus, 2023

A beautiful holding space to learn how to slow down, be more patient and kind to oneself and the world. Highly recommended as a growing space / time

David Kibel, 2023

It’s a great course. Do it!

Nicole Vellios, 2023

Excellent course. Wonderful opportunity to learn and practice mindfulness and self care.

(Sandra, 2023)

Tessa and Jacqui have a way around this stuff! They invite you in and together the group discovers a way to use meditation to begin to unravel some difficult emotional knots. Not really easy but oh so valuable.

(Participant, March 2023)

The teacher’s approach and manner… it felt like a safe space in which to explore new and difficult things

(Anonymous, 2020)

The concept of mindfulness was not new to me but this course showed me the value of mindfulness in my life in a profound and experiential way.  Most valuable to me was the structure of regular groups, commitment to and accountability for regular practice and teacher input when facing hurdles and difficulties that otherwise would have derailed my practice.

(Anonymous, 2020)

It has allowed me to look inward to myself more often and created a sense of calm for me in my volatile work setting.  I get less perturbed by people and am able to calm myself more easily now focusing on my breath

(Anonymous, 2020)

The organization, benefit and value of this course cannot be overstated. I can confidently state that I am a reformed cynic. Not only do I believe that the continued implementation of these learnt principles into my daily life will make me a better person, but also a better doctor.

(Anonymous, Cape Town. 2020)

I found the programme incredibly insightful and practically useful, to this day I still find myself returning to the readings and tools provided during the course during times of stress and uncertainty. I feel like this sentiment is shared amongst most of the students that attended the course alongside me, and that the experience of and tools learned during the course provide a useful arsenal of coping mechanisms that can be turned to when needed.

(Anonymous, Cape Town. 2020)

Feedback from our previous courses:

How likely are participants
to recommend the MBSR?

We scored an average of 9,3 out of 10

Participants have identified the following benefits from the programme:  
  • A time to be more open, kind, curious to myself, and then to others to slow down
  • I enjoyed that the course was practical and skills based
  • It helped that the sessions were weekly which allowed for practice and reflection in between sessions
  • I loved the poetry
  • I loved the retreat, please invite me again!
  • They provided me a calm and safe space
  • A beautiful restful venue, the gardens are soulful.
  • Interesting thought provoking discussions
  • To have such dedication and attention from two guides during the 8 weeks – its worth the money
  • The workshop enabled me to move from one form of meditation to another – wonderful
  • The lack of babble and comparison – it was so gentle and non-judgemental

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

This is an 8-week programme which offers a grounding in mindfulness practice in a supportive group environment. Developed at Massachusetts Medical School, it has been taught internationally for decades in a multitude of contexts, with extensive research showing its benefits for health and wellbeing. MBSR is suitable for all people who would like to explore this life affirming way of approaching ourselves and our lives. All participants have an individual intake interview before starting the programme. The programme runs for two hours a week for 8 weeks and daily guided home meditations are provided. The programme is available online and in person in Cape Town.

Who is this course suitable for?

  • Anyone who is looking for more ease, peace and spaciousness in their lives
  • Those who wish to learn a way to reduce stress and suffering and improve their health

What to expect?
Mindfulness is a way of being, taught through a range of very simple exercises that bring our awareness to what is happening right now. It allows us to gain perspective, to step back from the intensity of our experience and see what is really going on. With this perspective, we can act with more wisdom and clarity. We can enjoy our lives more fully when we are truly present and discard the layers of stress we add through trying to control the uncontrollable.

Where is MBSR from?
MBSR was started by Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.