The workshop will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 9:30AM - 12:30PM US Eastern Time.
Note: this workshop will be recorded and shared with all who register.
The Brain on Mindfulness: for Mindfulness Teachers & Professionals (and those interested in brain science) Online with Gus Castellanos, MDSat, Apr 18, 2026, 9:30AM-12:30PM (US Eastern)By Donation: Suggested range: $50-$75Limit: 35 participants
NOTE: This workshop will be recorded. The recording and the slides will be shared with all who register.
Mindfulness is often said to “change the brain,” but how, which systems, and for whom is more nuanced than popular accounts suggest. In this experiential, research-informed workshop, we’ll briefly explore:
- How the standard MBP practices (focused attention, body scan, open awareness, loving-kindness) engage different neural systems
- What current neuroscience supports, questions, and has yet to clarify
- Brain networks related to attention, emotion regulation, pain, stress reactivity, and self-referential processing
- Why individual differences matter—and why the same practice can be stabilizing for one person and challenging for another
- Common myths and oversimplifications in mindfulness-and-the-brain narratives
The session weaves together brief practice, accessible neuroscience, and reflective dialogue, with no prior neuroscience background required.
This workshop is designed for mindfulness teachers, mindfulness professionals, and those interested in brain science who are seeking a clearer, more grounded understanding of how mindfulness interacts with the nervous system, grounded in evidence but free of hype.
Dr. Gus Castellanos
Gus Castellanos, M.D., is a retired, board-certified neurologist and sleep-medicine specialist with over 25 years of clinical experience. Since 2009, he has focused on teaching Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and other mindfulness-based programs across healthcare, education, correctional institutions, and community settings.
Gus is certified to teach MBSR by the University of Massachusetts Center for Mindfulness and has trained in Mindfulness-Based Attention Training (with Amishi Jha) and Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (with Eric Garland). He has also been an active participant in Jud Brewer’s Mindshift Recovery community since its inception, engaging in ongoing dialogue at the intersection of mindfulness, neuroscience, and behavior change. He has served as a consultant, program developer, and researcher on mindfulness-based programs for multiple universities and PhD candidates, including current work at Florida International University.
A self-described “neuro-nerd,” Gus brings an integrative, evidence-based, and contemplative lens to understanding how mindfulness affects the brain, including where its effects are often misunderstood or overstated.
This workshop is limited to 35 participants
To register for this workshop:
- Please make a donation of your choosing (suggested donation amount: $50-$75).
- You'll receive a confirmation email from East Coast Mindfulness (please check your Junk/SPAM folder in case you do not see this arrive).
- Before the date of the workshop, you'll receive an email from East Coast Mindfulness containing the Zoom link for the session.
You can make your donation via PayPal or Stripe (both accept credit cards and do not require you to have a PayPal or Stripe account).
PayPal:
Stripe:
REFUND POLICY:
No refunds. All registrants will receive a recording of the session, whether or not they attend.
Questions? Please email us at info@eastcoastmindfulness.com