Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Online

Next sessions:
Tuesdays 6-8:30PM US Eastern beginning Jan 27, 2026
Saturdays 9-11:30AM US Eastern beginning Jan 31, 2026

10% discount on course cost for all first-time MBSR participants

"East Coast Mindfulness provides expert online MBSR teaching and high level training for others to teach the MBSR course with high integrity and depth.”

Jon Kabat-Zinn, Founder of MBSR and author of Full Catastrophe Living

East Coast Mindfulness is proud to be listed as one of Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Mindfulness Connections for MBSR Training.

Mindfulness begins by being present—so simple and so very difficult. While we want to be awake and aware in the moments of our life, too often we aren’t, and instead shift into autopilot, shut down emotionally (or become overwhelmed), or settle for simply getting through the day.

The MBSR course is an evidence-based, intensive exploration of the practice of mindfulness, and what it means to practice mindfulness in your own life. This course is taught by Rebecca Eldridge, who created an online interactive MBSR course and trained faculty at the UMass Medical School’s Center for Mindfulness to teach MBSR online, or by an experienced MBSR teacher certified to teach online MBSR. The online MBSR course provides all the instruction and materials you need to practice mindfulness weekly within a group, and daily on your own. You must supply the strong commitment to stick with the course and to practice every single day—when it’s pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral.

People participate in the MBSR course for many reasons—to relieve stress of all kinds, to soothe emotional and physical pain, to live and love more fully, to establish a regular practice of mindfulness, and more.

Course Details

We will practice mindfulness in many forms in class, sometimes in silence, and there will be opportunity for small and whole group sharing, checking in, asking questions, and so on. You will receive audio to guide much of your daily, at home practice. Beyond the 8-week course, you will be provided a way to continue to connect with other course participants, if you choose.

It is imperative that you attend the classes, but classes will be recorded for you to review if you must miss one class (if you know that you will have to miss more than one class this cycle, you are invited to participate in a future cycle; participating in the retreat class is a must).

What is required of you during the course:

  • Participate in the orientation, all eight classes, and the retreat class (all of these are online)
  • Practice daily for approximately one hour
  • Hold yourself and the other participants with respect and kind-heartedness
  • Stay curious about this live exploration
  • Be willing to be seen as human (imperfect and completely okay)
  • Stick with it for 8 weeks

What technology you will need:

  • High-speed internet connection

  • Please, no phones

  • Use a computer on which you can see at least 25 Zoom participants, without having to scroll

  • Ensure that your computer is situated on a stable surface (instead of resting on your lap, etc.)

  • Video and microphone capability (so that you can be seen and heard)

  • A private place for class that allows for being undisturbed

  • Current version of Zoom installed

See the MBSR Course Info Sheet to learn more about:
• The historical context of the MBSR program
• The MBSR course logistics
• What Mindfulness is and how it works
• Contraindications for the MBSR program
• Week-by-week content of the MBSR course

Interested in teaching MBSR?

It’s important to take this course for your own learning and growth. Once you’ve completed the online MBSR course, you may wish to train to teach others. Completing our online MBSR course satisfies one of the requirements to enter the professional MBSR teacher training pathway through East Coast Mindfulness and other MBSR teacher training organizations.

Our classes are limited to 25 participants

Course Schedule Course Cost Register Common Questions MBSR Teaching Faculty: Oct 2025 (Monday sessions) MBSR Teaching Faculty: Jan 2026 (Tuesday sessions) MBSR Teaching Faculty: Jan 2026 (Saturday sessions)

We have created a sliding scale to accommodate people in various financial situations. Generosity policy applies—to cover costs for our small business, to ensure adequate compensation for the instructors, and so that people with fewer financial resources can be accommodated, please pay at the highest level available to you.

NOTE: the East Coast Mindfulness MBSR course may be eligible for FSA/HSA reimbursement—a smart way to use your pre-tax dollars to invest in health and well-being. Most FSA/HSA providers will accept a letter of medical necessity from your physician, such as the sample form here. Please check with your FSA/HSA provider to be sure.

TIER 1: $600: Subsidizes Tiers 3 & 4
($40 Orientation + $560 Course)

TIER 2: $550: Covers our cost
($40 Orientation + $510 Course)

TIER 3: $500: Subsidized rate
($40 Orientation + $460 Course)

TIER 4: $450: Subsidized rate
($40 Orientation + $410 Course)

Course cost will be discounted by 10% for all first-time MBSR participants
for courses beginning in January 2026

REPEAT STUDENTS—all students who have previously completed the MBSR course live online or in-person with a certified MBSR teacher may retake the course for $350
($40 Orientation + $310 Course)

Deciding What to Pay?
Click Here

If Tier 4 is still financially prohibitive for you, please click the “Deciding What to Pay?” button above for more information.

Registration for the course beginning October 6, 2025, Mondays 6-8:30PM US Eastern, with Laura Smallwood, is now closed.

Stacks Image 4513366
Laura Smallwood

Laura began her training to teach MBSR with the Center for Mindfulness at UMass Medical School and completed her MBSR teaching certification through East Coast Mindfulness. In addition to teaching MBSR, Laura teaches mindfulness for veterinary workers and is also a regular guest on The Cairn Veterinary Podcast. Her interests include stress physiology, mindful communication, and the role that kindness and compassion practices can play in reducing empathic fatigue and burnout. Her personal practice is influenced by Pema Chödrön and Sharon Salzberg, among others. Yoga is also an important part of her daily practice. Laura’s joys include dancing, cooking, birdwatching, paddling, and spending time with her family.

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Rebecca Eldridge

Rebecca served as an MBSR Teacher and MBSR Teacher Trainer at the Center for Mindfulness at UMass Medical School, creating and training their teaching faculty to deliver their first online MBSR course in 2016. She is certified as a calibrated rater for assessing MBSR teaching, and is a member of the International Mindfulness Integrity Network, a worldwide group of teacher trainers exploring ethics and standards of mindfulness training programs. Beyond teaching MBSR and training MBSR teachers, Rebecca works with organizations to develop and deliver mindfulness programs for living with more authenticity, resilience, and joy; and meditation guidance for promoting restorative rest and sleep. Her personal practice is guided by her teacher, Pema Chödrön, and she was featured giving meditation instruction in two courses taught by Pema Chödrön: Making Friends with Yourself and How to Live with Compassion and Courage. She also loves growing things—from fruits, vegetables, and flowers; to a personal meditation practice that doesn’t fizzle out; to communities that welcome and encourage people as they are.

Stacks Image 4514308
Margaret Fletcher

Margaret Fletcher is an MBSR teacher and teacher trainer who holds an M.A. in Mindfulness Studies. She has taught mindfulness for various businesses, in healthcare, for government entities and for her own church community. She taught classes and trained MBSR teachers at the UMass Center for Mindfulness. Margaret co-founded East Coast Mindfulness in 2019.

  • Course Schedule
  • Course Cost

    We have created a sliding scale to accommodate people in various financial situations. Generosity policy applies—to cover costs for our small business, to ensure adequate compensation for the instructors, and so that people with fewer financial resources can be accommodated, please pay at the highest level available to you.

    NOTE: the East Coast Mindfulness MBSR course may be eligible for FSA/HSA reimbursement—a smart way to use your pre-tax dollars to invest in health and well-being. Most FSA/HSA providers will accept a letter of medical necessity from your physician, such as the sample form here. Please check with your FSA/HSA provider to be sure.

    TIER 1: $600: Subsidizes Tiers 3 & 4
    ($40 Orientation + $560 Course)

    TIER 2: $550: Covers our cost
    ($40 Orientation + $510 Course)

    TIER 3: $500: Subsidized rate
    ($40 Orientation + $460 Course)

    TIER 4: $450: Subsidized rate
    ($40 Orientation + $410 Course)

    Course cost will be discounted by 10% for all first-time MBSR participants
    for courses beginning in January 2026

    REPEAT STUDENTS—all students who have previously completed the MBSR course live online or in-person with a certified MBSR teacher may retake the course for $350
    ($40 Orientation + $310 Course)

    Deciding What to Pay?
    Click Here

    If Tier 4 is still financially prohibitive for you, please click the “Deciding What to Pay?” button above for more information.

  • Register

    Registration for the course beginning October 6, 2025, Mondays 6-8:30PM US Eastern, with Laura Smallwood, is now closed.

  • Common Questions
  • MBSR Teaching Faculty: Oct 2025 (Monday sessions)
    Stacks Image 4513531
    Laura Smallwood

    Laura began her training to teach MBSR with the Center for Mindfulness at UMass Medical School and completed her MBSR teaching certification through East Coast Mindfulness. In addition to teaching MBSR, Laura teaches mindfulness for veterinary workers and is also a regular guest on The Cairn Veterinary Podcast. Her interests include stress physiology, mindful communication, and the role that kindness and compassion practices can play in reducing empathic fatigue and burnout. Her personal practice is influenced by Pema Chödrön and Sharon Salzberg, among others. Yoga is also an important part of her daily practice. Laura’s joys include dancing, cooking, birdwatching, paddling, and spending time with her family.

  • MBSR Teaching Faculty: Jan 2026 (Tuesday sessions)
    Stacks Image 4514327
    Rebecca Eldridge

    Rebecca served as an MBSR Teacher and MBSR Teacher Trainer at the Center for Mindfulness at UMass Medical School, creating and training their teaching faculty to deliver their first online MBSR course in 2016. She is certified as a calibrated rater for assessing MBSR teaching, and is a member of the International Mindfulness Integrity Network, a worldwide group of teacher trainers exploring ethics and standards of mindfulness training programs. Beyond teaching MBSR and training MBSR teachers, Rebecca works with organizations to develop and deliver mindfulness programs for living with more authenticity, resilience, and joy; and meditation guidance for promoting restorative rest and sleep. Her personal practice is guided by her teacher, Pema Chödrön, and she was featured giving meditation instruction in two courses taught by Pema Chödrön: Making Friends with Yourself and How to Live with Compassion and Courage. She also loves growing things—from fruits, vegetables, and flowers; to a personal meditation practice that doesn’t fizzle out; to communities that welcome and encourage people as they are.

  • MBSR Teaching Faculty: Jan 2026 (Saturday sessions)
    Stacks Image 4514329
    Margaret Fletcher

    Margaret Fletcher is an MBSR teacher and teacher trainer who holds an M.A. in Mindfulness Studies. She has taught mindfulness for various businesses, in healthcare, for government entities and for her own church community. She taught classes and trained MBSR teachers at the UMass Center for Mindfulness. Margaret co-founded East Coast Mindfulness in 2019.

REFUND POLICY:
No refunds for the Course Cost will be granted once Class 1 is underway.

Questions? Please email us at info@eastcoastmindfulness.com

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Questions? Contact us!